When she sent me the picture of the pregnancy test kit this morning, all bets were off. I wasn’t gonna sit around twiddling my thumbs while the woman I love and the mother of my unborn child put herself in danger. I was coming to get her. I tried calling to give her a heads-up but it wouldn’t connect. I figure she had it switched off or was in an area with no signal.
I’m on my way to Sacramento and filling my bike at a gas station when my phone buzzes in my pocket. Pulling it out, my heart sinks when I read the words.
Natalie: He knows I found the evidence. Get me out. Now.
Shock roils through my gut and I leap into action.
First, I forward her message to our group chat, so the other brothers know we need to move. Then I call Siege, just in case he didn’t see the message.
“What’s up, brother?” he asks.
“Check the group chat,” I spit out.
“Damn.” He pauses for a moment then says, “Where are you, now?”
I glance at the road. “I’m on 1-80, about thirty minutes from Sacramento. You wanna join me and get those assholes?”
There’s a dark chuckle. I’m about to call out my Prez for laughing at a time like this, but I stop myself. His voice is determined as he grits out, “We can be there in an hour. Reckon your woman can hold out that long?”
I’m already shaking my head. “No. I’m going there now. If there’s no sign of trouble, I’ll wait for you. But if she needs me, I’m going in all guns blazin’.”
“Your call,” Siege says.
I shoot them all a text with the address and get back on my bike.
***
When I pulled into the neighborhood, I was ready to do battle. Though what I saw when I got to the end of the street made me think twice. A man, I’m assuming her asshole foster father’s brother, was loading boxes into the back of a sedan. He didn’t look panicked or ruffled. Just deadly calm.
Getting rid of the evidence.
I decide to wait for my brothers. Thankfully, they must have ridden like the wind because it’s not long before they pull in behind me.
Thirteen sets of boots hit pavement. Thirteen cuts gives us more than enough manpower to deal with whatever we’re gonna find here. The car is still in the driveway so the first thing I do is slash its tires. I’m not having him driving away with the evidence.
We make our way up the steps and shove the door open without knocking or announcing ourselves because we’re not the fucking police. Inside, in the living room, Natalie’s foster parents back up, hovering together in the far corner of the room. They look pale, jittery and guilty as hell.
David Elliot stammers, his voice sharp with panic and fury. “You don’t have permission to be in this house. You think you can just barge in here like animals?”
Just when I’m thinking about grabbing this fucker by the neck and squeezing information out of him, Jeremiah steps out of the shadows. His expression is calm, his voice low and steady. “This is unlawful entry,” he says evenly. “You’re making a very serious mistake. I’d advise you to leave now—before things escalate in ways none of us can undo.”
He’s standing tall and trying to look calm and in control. But I see all the things he’d like to hide, like his hair is messed up, he’s sweating and his knuckles are grazed. I recognize the injuries. I’ve gotten them before when I’ve been in a fight. For a moment I see red, thinking of my woman and what he’s done to her. But then I pull myself together. It looks like he’s been beating on something, not someone.
I immediately pivot and stalk over to him. As I move, Siege’s voice rings out, rough and angry, “Search every goddamn room in the house. Find Bear’s old lady.”
Jeremiah’s eyes widen when he sees me coming for him. He can’t control the look of cold, hard fear that jumps onto his face. My hand collides with his throat just hard enough to let him know I mean business before my fingers wrap around. I drag him forward, pulling him off balance.
“Tell me where my old lady is, before I snap your neck. Where’s Natalie?”
To say this man is rattled would be an understatement. The last remnants of his calm façade melt as he realizes that whatever he has planned, he’s outmanned. The fucker should be terrified. If he has so much as harmed a hair on Natalie’s head, then I’m gonna put him in the ground.
Siege moves in behind me. “Bear, you’re gonna have to ease up on his throat if you want him to answer you.”
When I don’t immediately comply, Siege slams the palm of his hand against Jeremiah’s forehead. Thank God, I have the fuckin’ common sense to open my hand as he staggers back and falls to the ground.
Rigs’ deep voice cuts through the room. “You two, get on your knees. Now.”
I glance over to see the foster father dropping to his knees first. For some reason, he moves his hands forward and places them on the floor until he’s in the doggy position.
