“And where is the boy?”
“He was taken out of my arms a year ago come February.”
“Who took him?”
“Vito Bianchi, the head of the Bianchi Mafia.”
“He’s Player’s son, isn’t he? That’s why you were asking for Reggie. Reginald Buchannon.”
“Yes.”
Healer sighed and sat down next to me. He didn’t say anything for a while, but when he did, he said, “Does Player know?”
“No. The night our son was conceived, I was shipped home to the old country to finish my studies. Only that never happened. My brother sold me to Vito. It was shortly after that I learned of my condition. When Vito found out, he sent me to his Nona’s, saying he got a two for one price. I didn’t understand what he meant by that, but when my son was two years old, I understood because Vito came back and took him from my arms, saying he would fetch a good price, that he was young enough to be trained. After that, I kind of lost it. I fought him as best as I could, Healer. I really did, but he was so much stronger than I was. In the end, Vito took Colin, and I haven’t seen him sense. I promised Colin that I would always protect him, no matter what, until we found his daddy. I didn’t keep my promise.”
Healer placed his hand over mine and said, “I know you know nothing of the Golden Skulls, but what I want you to hold onto is that you are one of us. You are part of our family now, and we take care of our own. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever harm you again. And when we get your son back, that little boy will be loved and protected for the rest of his life. And believe me when I say this, Catarina. We will find your son if it is the last thing we do. We will make sure he is back in your arms again.”
I sobbed as his words rang true in my heart. I knew he wasn’t lying. He meant every word. Just hearing him say those words was enough to give me hope.
Healer quietly got up and left the room, leaving me alone once again with my thoughts.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the images of what happened out of my head. I’d never been with anyone but Reggie until my own brother sold me to Vito Bianchi. I thought I knew evil men, but none were like Vito. For four years, I was in the clutches of pure evil. My body still held the scars he inflicted on me. Then one day, he said he was done with me. That he sold me to another. I was transported back to the states, where I thought my absolute nightmare would begin. Instead, I was given another child to care for. A sweet boy named Samuel. I took to him instantly as he reminded me so much of my Colin.
For the brief time I looked after Samuel, I did what any mother would do. I loved that child. I cared for him. I played and read to him. I was his whole world, and for a short time, he was mine. When the Golden Skulls rescued us, I worried when a man I didn’t know took Samuel from my arms, but I quickly realized he was the boy’s father. He had been looking for his son like I was looking for mine. His son, like mine, had been taken. I was happy to see Samuel reunited with his father. But it did nothing to fill the despair of not having my own son in my arms.
I prayed that whoever had him loved him and cared for him as I did Samuel. I liked to believe that by caring for another man’s child, I somehow ensured the safety of my own son.
Only time would tell if my assumptions were correct.
Six
Player
“You, okay?” Ghost asked as he took a seat next to me on Gio’s private plane. I was starting to hate this aircraft. I missed my bike. I missed feeling the air in my face as I raced down the road. The freedom of it all. Instead, I was crammed into a tuna can again, only this time, we were heading west, just not to California. For some reason, we were going to Las Vegas. Chaos, Massacre, and a few others in Louisiana were hanging back to transport all the bikes back to California.
God, I wished I was one of those guys right now.
“No.”
“Look, Reaper doesn’t do things lightly. Trust that he has a reason for keeping you two apart.”
“Yeah. Whatever,” I said, looking out the small window as I watched the world get small and smaller. I knew I was being petulant, sulking like a child, but I didn’t care. I never asked for anything from this club. The only thing I wanted, I was told no.
So yeah, I was sulking like a baby.
“I called Healer before we left. He said she is waiting for you. He put her in your room.”
“Well, that’s something, I guess.”
“I’ve talked with Reaper. As soon as we talk with Layla in Vegas, we are heading home. Hopefully, it won’t be but a few hours before we’re on another plane. She will be in your arms soon, Player. I promise.”
“You can’t promise that. You don’t know what Reaper will do.”
“Let me just say this. Even if Reaper doesn’t get the information he wants in Vegas, I will personally put you on a plane myself, okay.”
I looked at Ghost.
He was being cryptically weird.