79. Spencer
SPENCER
It was the middle of the night, Caleb and Abi were asleep on the bed while I stared out the motel window from this polyester, upholstered chair.
I spun my phone in my hands, watching the parking lot. The kids' bags were packed by the door, their escort would be here any minute.
We’d been without Kiera for two days. And the wedding was today.
Just after midnight, we had just twelve hours until Isaac would be walking down the aisle to marry Kiera’s mother. And we still didn’t know where our girl was being held hostage.
Every second was killing me, a new knife to the chest.
In the neighboring room, Dom and Leo were triangulating cell phone signals. The motel was a far cry from the Ritz, food crumbs in the corners of the rooms and flickering lights outside our doors.
We knew that it was temporary, we’d only be here until the wedding. And we were willing to put up with it if it gave us the wifi we needed to hack Zeus’ goons.
We knew he’d taken her, or that he had possession of her by now. Whatever he planned — something Dom assumed the worst of — Isaac would need Kiera nearby for the ceremony.
But most importantly, this gave us a target. We’d started with a broad search of cell phones which turned out to be too unspecific, leaving us with too many geese to chase. We stared at our screens all day, desperate for any sign.
By the time I left Dom and Leo’s room for the night, we’d narrowed the signals down to a select group of suspects. Anyone out lurking around after midnight was worth looking into.
I’d only tapped out for the night to come watch the kids. Their dad was up my ass, threatening to call the cops after my face showed up on the news.
I knew it was all bullshit.
And even if it wasn’t, I’d go to prison before I let Isaac’s henchmen anywhere near those two.
When the kids were awake, I did what I could to keep them entertained. I hated that I had to ask Caleb for so much help. But he’d really stepped up and I knew that one day he’d be the responsible, kind man that I’d raised him to be.
That didn’t change that when the lights dimmed and the room grew quiet, the reality of what I’d done hit.
The weight of it sat heavy on my shoulders. I’d lifted my visor. It was how they found Abi and Caleb, how Isaac tracked them from their home to Dom’s.
I didn’t regret protecting my family. Fuck, I’d never regret that.
But more than that I’d gotten all of us into such a mess to begin with.
I couldn’t help myself. Not when Kiera was unable to move, stuck under that overpass and terrified. Someone had to reach her.
A gentle rap at the door signalled the safehouse escort's arrival. Blinking the exhaustion away, I gently nudged the kids. “Guys, time to get up.”
Caleb rolled out of bed, yawning and stretching. My little Abi, who’d grown so much but still looked so small when she was sleeping, rubbing sleep from her eyes with balled fists.
We ushered them out the door and walked them to Roman’s car.
Wrapping my arms around them, I held them close. “I promise this will all be over tomorrow. And then I owe you guys some ice cream.”
“Maybe a few gallons.” Caleb laughed into my hug.
Behind us, Dom and Leo stood in their doorway. “On me.” Dom called out.
Roman looked between the three of us. “I’ll keep them safe. On my honor.”
“Good, Bull.” An exhausted smirk from Dom was as close to a handshake as they’d get.
Piling into the car, Roman made sure the kids were buckled in before peeling out of the driveway. Two motorcycles rode along with her, one in front and another in the back.
They’ll be safe. I’d protect Roman’s family like my own too.
It was our promise to each other when we took our oaths and branded our skin. A new kind of family.
The motel lot got quiet, crickets filling the emptiness.
Turning on my heels, I faced Leo and Dom. “Back to work.”
We gathered in their room, pulling open a laptop of my own as we got back to watching the small red dots move around Greene County.
Watching over Leo’s shoulder, I bit my cheek. “What if they took her farther out?”
Dom shook her head. “They didn’t. He wants her close.”
My eyes caught on a clump of dots. “Wait. What the fuck is that?”
What were five to ten cellphones doing in the middle of the woods after midnight. We knew it wasn’t our friends over at Laniidae — they were out searching for Kiera.
Squinting, I took a closer look. “It’s that old brick factory. They told us not to go there.”
Dom nodded as she got closer. “Told us the mob would cut our eyes out for taking a peek.”
Meeting Leo’s gaze, I nodded. “That’s gotta be it. That’s her.”
I felt it, deep in my bones, that she was in there — afraid and alone in the dark. And there was no more time to waste.
Leo slammed her computer closed and grabbed her brown leather jacket off the chair. “Let’s go get our girl.”