Chapter 14
Zachariah
Before I knew it, spring was upon us. The rain turned into spring showers, the birds began to chirp, and everything was born anew. Only if my heart would be too.
After the phone call from Avidya on Christmas night, I finallygrew a pair, as everyone kept telling me. I became the hard man I was known to be among my men and others that knew me. I was feared. A feared monster.
I ran my club, making sure everything was going smoothly. I ordered new equipment with the plans to expand to increase the member count. It all brought in more money, which was the main reason in doing everything I was.
Both of my parents seemed to be happy. Apparently, Avidya called them a number of times the past few weeks. Mom said she’s doing well, and hopefully would return home sooner rather later. God, I hoped so.
I didn’t hold too much hope on that. She hadn’t called me again. I wished she would. I wanted to hear her voice. I wanted to know where she was at. I just wantedher!I had looked for the number that she called me from, but it was blocked, so I had no way of calling her myself. It didn’t stop me from answering the phone every time it rang.
Currently, Travis was away looking for any leads on where she may be. He was the best man to track down anyone that didn’t want to be found. He had mentioned that she may be closer than I thought to look. Did that mean he knew where she was? Was it possible that she was so close that I didn’t even know it?
Jonas was my own personal bodyguard as I continued to dig up information on Aaron and his gang. I knew he wasn’t working alone. I just had to figure out who was working on his side. There wasn’t all that much digging to do, though, as the man was pretty much an open target. It just wasn’t as fun and thrilling now that I didn’t have to chase him down. I knew right where he was, but I was biding my time. He’d come to me soon enough.
Lynn had come crawling back a few weeks ago. She was upset her daughter wasn’t here with me, and refused to listen to reason. I didn’t know what to do about her, so I sent her away. What else was I supposed to do? Her daughter wasn’t here, and I didn’t know if Avidya would even want to see that woman.
Although she appeared calm on the surface, Lynn was skittish like something would jump out and attack her at any given moment. She was tight-lipped about what made her that way, too. I could only gather she was afraid that Aaron was coming for her. Little did she know, that man wanted nothing to do with her. He only wanted what was mine.
I was able to talk her into just going home with a promise that I’d let her know if her daughter ever turned up. If she really cared, she’d do more than she had so far. Like actually try to be a parent. I was sure she knew I wasn’t happy with her; it was pretty clear about that. When a mother gave up their child for their own sick pleasure, I didn’t look on too kindly about the choices.
Sure, she may have done what she thought was right, but it would have just been better if she’d have gone to my father and ask for our protection instead of going behind everyone’s back to do it.
Personally, I didn’t care what happened to her. My wife hadn’t really cared, either, as far as I knew. Avidya never asked for updates; never asked for me to look harder. Everything was just as it had been with no change.
The ringing of my phone jarred me from my thoughts, thankfully. More and more applications for people who wanted to join the club kept coming in, it was increasing weekly.
“Travis,” I answered, rubbing my dry eyes at the same time as I leaned back in my chair. My lack of sleep was slowly catching up with me.
“I have some information,” he answered easily. The sounds of cars were heard in the background.
“I’m listening,” I answered.
“Avidya is in Cali,” he said. “Living with a man named Taylor Shantez.”
“Ah, the mystery of where that man has been is solved,” I muttered, but happy for some good news.
“Yes,” he said. “I can’t get close, though. He won’t be afraid to shoot me on sight if he sees me. I saw her leaving the house this afternoon, and she looks…well, happy.”
“That’s good,” I said. I think. I wasn’t sure if I wanted her to be happy. Why should she have to suffer, but why should she be happy, either?
Yeah, I know. I don’t know what I wanted my wife tobe. Alive, at least. Alive. That I could deal with.
“Can you talk to her? Bring her back?” I fired off.
“I will,” he said. “She left with a red-haired chick and a kid. Not sure where they went since the redhead chick drove a car, and drove like a bat shit crazy lady.”
“How long did it take for you to track her down?” I asked.
“Wasn’t all that hard, really. I listened to small talk at the diner about a new girl in town that was sweet, and she was staying with the quietest man in town,” he stated. “Only took me about a day to track what house she was staying in.” He paused, thinking over something before continuing. “I’ll catch her when she returns home. It’s early enough, maybe she has a job or something.”
“Keep me posted,” I stated before hanging up.
I trusted Travis to talk to her. Maybe he could be the only one that could talk some sense into that crazy woman that I loved more than life itself. At least she was alive, safe, and healthy. It was all I could ask for at this point in time.
Oh, but when I would have her back here in my arms, she’d get punished. My palm ached to swat that round ass of hers until she begged me to stop.
