26. Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
Torrent smirked at Calliope explaining to Mammoth that he’d been a great Santa Claus, but she was old enough that she knew the truth. He had to admit, seeing the big man arrive decked out in a full white beard, Santa suit, and a huge pillow stuffed under to make him look round was a sight to see.
The not-quite four months since Cecilia and Calliope had come into his life had been a series of ups and downs that he wouldn’t trade for anything. His life was full. He’d been busy with his club, but the girls, the animals, and the love he and Cecilia had made his life whole.
With Monster around, Cecilia had slept through the nights when he was on runs.
Not that living with the animals was easy.
Beast had a penchant for taking things left out and hiding them in their room.
If anything went missing in the clubhouse, everyone checked Beast’s crate first. Torrent had no idea why the crazy raccoon did that, but his girls were happy with the animals, and so was he.
Calliope was attending school and doing well. They’d found a counselor the club could trust, and she and Cecilia both went to her.
Unfortunately, as far as Torrent was concerned, Useless was still alive and the Police Chief.
The club had held off on having the helicopter pilot come and search the area.
Instead, the club had taken to long rides through the surrounding areas each weekend, which were a cover for searching for the cabins.
Jonah and Abby said they were close, and Abby had even been able to plant a couple of listening devices in the Chief’s car and office. She had wanted to do his home, but Jonah deemed it too dangerous.
Maverick had headed out after lunch with leftovers packed up for Jonah and Abby. The club had bought a couple older sedans at auction with no ties to the Grave Prowlers to use when they met with the undercover Honey Creek Badgers MC members.
Most of the time, they met at different locations, but because it was Christmas, Maverick would be dropping it off at Abby’s house, which was toward the edge of town and was hidden from the road by trees.
“Torrent, would you teach me how to make the birdhouses?” Calliope asked with her please-please look on her face. He didn’t have a hope of saying no to her, not that he wanted to. He’d love to spend more time with her, teaching her how to use the woodworking tools.
“Of course,” he promised.
“Great. I was thinking of making five of them in different colors and hanging them on the tree that’s across from my bedroom window. It would be really cool this spring to see what birds they attract. Does it matter what type of house for what birds it attracts?” she asked.
“I made them to have something to occupy my mind after I got out, and they were decorative. How about we do some research and plan from there?” he suggested.
Calliope nodded and jumped up and down, throwing her arms around him.
“Love you, Torrent,” she cheered, then ran off toward their room before he could reply.
It was the first time Calliope had said the words to him. He’d told her many times because Sally had chatted with him about how important it was for kids to know that. It had reminded him of how Sally and Dragon had welcomed him in and shown him so much love.
Not something he and his brothers talked about, but it was in the threads of their relationships woven together. They might all be big, gruff bikers, but their love for each other and the club was absolute. His Ol’ Lady and Calliope were a part of that.
“You did good,” Sally said, slipping an arm around him.
“You think?” he asked.
“I know. The boy who Dragon and I brought home has become a man who loves deep and protects his club and family. I love that for you, Torrent,” Sally beamed with pride and love.
He nodded, his throat too full to say anything.
Dragon walked up. “Darlin’, are you making trouble?” he teased.
Sally chuckled. “Nope. Just telling our boy how proud of him I am,” she shared.
“He has done well, hasn’t he? Maybe he should give some lessons to Maverick so he can settle down too,” Dragon mused.
“Well, speak of the devil,” Dragon noted, as his phone rang with Maverick’s number.
“Hey, Maverick, you on your way back?” Dragon asked.
“What? When?” Dragon growled, snapping his fingers and pointing for someone to turn down the music.
“Okay, we’ll get on the road and meet you. Don’t do anything stupid, and don’t fucking go in without us and a plan,” Dragon ordered.
“What happened?” Torrent demanded. Maverick could be a little crazy, but he wouldn’t endanger himself unless there was something seriously wrong.
“All right, listen up. We’re on lockdown.
Gunner, I need any video from near Abby’s house and roads leaving Demise.
Cauldron, Fury, Ashe—you’re with me and Torrent.
We’ll meet Maverick, who is following up on a lead of where Abby was taken.
Bravo, you and Mammoth, head to Abby’s to help Jonah.
He’s been shot and has a head wound but was aware enough to tell Maverick that Useless had taken Abby.
Deacon, you’re in charge until we get back.
Get Willow here behind compound walls. I don’t want to worry about someone using her, too,” Dragon bellowed.
Torrent walked toward their room to retrieve his guns, grabbing Cecilia’s hand, leading her with him.
“I’ve got to go. We’ve gone over what to do. I’ll let you know what’s going on as soon as I can,” Torrent explained, grabbing his extra guns and ammo, putting them in a backpack.
“I’ve got this at home. Don’t worry about us. Be the hero I know you are and help them. Love you. Be safe,” Cecilia urged, kissing him, then pushing him toward the door. He ran down the stairs, stopping to drop a kiss on Calliope’s head.
“Stay inside. Love you too,” he said as he ran out and got on his bike.
“Roll out,” Dragon shouted, twirling his finger in the air and pulling out.
Torrent followed, hoping that they could find Abby before Useless had done something that she couldn’t come back from.
His thoughts drifted to his best friend.
Even though Dragon had given an order for Maverick to wait, Torrent knew his friend, and if it was a choice between keeping Abby safe or keeping himself safe, Maverick would choose to protect someone else every time.
The ride to Demise went quickly with Bravo and Mammoth peeling off to tend to Jonah. When they stopped, Torrent needed to check if anyone had called Mace because as the President of his club, he’d want to know one of his members was missing. Dragon pulled over and Torrent pulled in behind him.
“Maverick, what’s going on?” Dragon stared down at his phone, his jaw tight.
Torrent got off his bike, wanting to hear what Maverick was saying.
“Maverick, are you there?” Dragon barked into the open line.
“What’s happening?” Torrent asked.
“The phone rang with Maverick’s number, but he wasn’t there. I could hear breathing, then a scuffle, I think. The line’s still open,” Dragon said.
“We can track it then,” Torrent asserted, calling Gunner to get him on tracking Maverick’s phone. Gunner answered and wasted no time in tracking the phone. Once they had a location, Torrent and the guys pulled out.
Torrent rode, not knowing what they’d find but knowing when they got there, that just like their code said, no brother would be left behind. And it was time for Useless to realize that his time on this earth was over.
Thank you so much for reading my first book in the Grave Prowlers MC Shared World.