“According to the police report, Balthazar Miller, also known as Ghost, is a member of the Golden Skulls Motorcycle Gang, from upstate California. It is believed that Miller abducted Aariaani Nichols out of her home in Salem, Oregon. Miller is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous. Police are asking the public if you see Miller, do not confront him. Please call your local police station. It is believed that Miller fled California with Ms. Nichols and is now traveling East. Miller is also wanted in conjunction in the murder of known gang member James Doherty three years ago.”
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered as Chaos barged into my room.
“Are you watching?”
Nodding, I turned up the television as Chaos sat next to me.
“James Doherty, the Golden Skulls President, was shot and killed three years ago in a drug deal gone wrong. According to reports, Miller was the last one to see Doherty alive, and it is believed Miller fired the fatal shot to take over the gang. Police say that Miller fled the crime scene immediately after and disappeared for five years before resurfacing only to kidnap Ms. Nichols. Police are investigating the possibility that Nichols may have a connection to Miller, but until Miller is captured, there are more questions than answers. This is Angela Anderson reporting.”
I turned the television off and stared into nothing.
“What the fuck?” Chaos said, getting to his feet. “That was a bunch of bullshit. So much for real news. Fuck. Reaper is going to lose his shit when he sees that crap.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You think that’s why Reaper told us to hole up here?”
I wanted so much to say no, but I knew differently. There was no way this was going to end well. Skeletons were walking out of the closet. Secrets never stayed silent for long. I knew that. I’d seen it happen too many times. My life was a secret, and lately, the edges of my life had started to fray. Everything was beginning to fall apart, and the further I was away from those I cared about, the better. I did not want any of them around when the fallout arrived…and it would, soon.
“I don’t know man.”
“Look, I know you aren’t too happy with having me tag along. I get it. I never wanted to be an enforcer for the club, but you follow when the president gives an order. I may hate it, but it is what it is.”
“It’s not that Chaos. I just have a lot on my mind.”
“I get it,” Chaos nodded as if understanding. “I’ve got family too. I have two sisters who depend on me, need me. I don’t like being away from them either, but we signed up for life. This isn’t some day job that we get to go home at five o’clock. We live above the law. We have a code and will bleed for that code. You understand that, right?”
“It’s not that,” I said, looking away. There was no way in hell I could explain my situation to Chaos without him putting a bullet in my head. The club may have its secrets, but I had my own, deadly secrets that could get me killed. So yeah, my problems were more than anyone believed. If Chaos wanted to believe my problems were my wife and kid back home, I would let him think that. I didn’t have the time or the patience to explain myself. The time would come soon enough, and though I wasn’t looking forward to it, there was only one man I owed an explanation to, and he would be here tomorrow.
I just hoped when he arrived, he didn’t ask.
The hours slowly trickled by as I waited for Reaper and the rest of the boys to arrive. Chaos had long since returned to his room and was more than likely sleeping. I wished I could, but my mind wouldn’t shut off as I replayed and thought of every contingency, I could think of to get me out of this mess.
I had tried calling Kitty a few times, but each time her phone went to voicemail. I wasn’t concerned too much. She did keep herself busy, but she was generally good at calling me back. When I hadn’t heard from her by midnight, I called the one person I didn’t want to talk to.
“What do you want? I’m busy getting my dick sucked. So, make it quick.”
“Well, I’ll wait a few seconds, and then you’ll be done.”
“Fucker,” he growled, then said, “Go take a breather, Darla. Asshole wants to talk.” I heard the cut slut moan, then a rustling of clothes. Sighing, I wondered why I even bothered calling him. He was either sleeping, getting laid, or fighting someone. The man didn’t have a single brain cell in his body.
“You owe me, asshole.” He muttered a few minutes later.
Whatever. Instead, I got right to the point. “I can’t reach Kitty.”
“So?”
“Is she home?”
“Yeah.”
“Savage, I really need to talk to your sister. She isn’t picking up the phone. Is everything okay?”
He sighed. “Yeah, she’s fine. Just busy with Hailey.”
I pulled my phone away from my ear to double-check I called the right person because never once had I ever heard Savage call my kid by her given name. He always referred to her as ‘the kid.’ Placing the phone back at my ear, I grinned. “Hailey, huh?”
“Shut up, man. I know I fucked up, and I’m making up for it. Okay?”