Chapter Twenty-One
Carbon
AFTER PICKING THE kidsup from Peyton’s parent’s house, I take them all home and try to pretend nothing is wrong.I know I’m failing miserably because Cedric won’t leave my side and he continues to look at the front door of our home.There’s a worried expression on his face and I know he’s ready to ask me a million questions.Cedric holds them in and plays with Caydence while the twins sleep in the bassinet we have in the living room for them.I busy myself with preparing something light and simple for dinner for the kids.They have to eat and I know there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to eat a damn thing.My stomach has been twisted in knots since learning Peyton disappeared and the entire time I was out searching with Knuckles.
We spent over four hours searching for any sign of my girl.I saw the SUV parked in the grocery store parking lot.The driver’s side door was left open and the battery is now dead.Rooster had it towed back to the clubhouse once I called him and let him know we found it.I’m sure others had seen it, but no one would think twice about an SUV being in the parking lot of the grocery store.The only reason I stopped is because it’s brand new.I bought it for Peyton when she has to take all the kids out at the same time.She still has her car and can use it whenever she wants, but she’ll have options available to her if it will make her life even the slightest bit easier.
Knuckles and I rode all over Frostford after the SUV was towed away from the parking lot.There were groups of club members riding all over and we crossed paths more than a few times with the guys I call my brothers as we all searched for any sign of Peyton.The entire time I had thoughts of what was being done to Peyton racing through my mind.Each thought was worse than the previous one.It got so bad, Knuckles made us pull over until I could get out of my head and ride safely again.We had to do that more than a handful of times before he finally called Rooster who made me go home and get off the roads before I hurt myself or someone else.The last thing I want to do is do something reckless that could cost me everything I hold close to my heart.So, I went home to pick up one of the club’s SUVs so I could get the kids and bring them back to the compound.
Peyton’s parents and sister are worried as hell.They’ve been making phone calls to everyone they can think of for any sign of our girl.She doesn’t have a lot of friends outside of the women at the clubhouse and Barb.Jennifer is the one she spends most of her time with besides Barb and Kimber.However, they have the numbers of people connected to Clark we don’t have in our possession.If this is connected to Clark in any way, they’ll figure it out based on who they talk to.At least that’s our hope.
As I set the plates of food on the table for Cedric and Caydence, my phone vibrates in my pocket.I usually have the ringer off when I’m home with my family and today is no different.I’m so in tune with everything around me that I don’t miss it vibrating.The second my hands are empty, I pull it from my pocket to find Brick’s name flashing on my screen.
“Did you find her?”I ask, answering the phone as my heart beats out of my chest.
“I did.I followed the cameras from the grocery store.She’s here in town about fifteen minutes from the compound.It’s the house Clark bought for his actual wife.That stupid bitch actually had her taken there,” Brick informs me as relief fills me for the first time since I got the call about the fire at the bar.“Kimber’s on her way to the house now to stay with the kids.I’ve also called Peyton’s parents so they know we’ve found her.They’ll be waitin’ on our next call to let them know we have her with us.”
“I’m gettin’ ready now,” I state before hanging up the phone and sliding it back in my pocket.
Cedric continues to watch me as I wait impatiently for my sister to get to the house so I can get ready.It wouldn’t be a big deal if the kids weren’t eating dinner.We don’t ever leave them unattended when they eat because it only takes a second for something to happen.Especially with Caydence who is just starting to eat food on her own that’s not baby food we give her.
“I’m here,” my sister calls out just a few minutes after I get off the phone with Brick.“Get ready and bring our girl home where she belongs.”
I rush from the table with the kids and head straight for the bedroom.Walking in the closet, I stop at the safe I have in here to grab my guns and extra ammunition.After putting the code in, I grab what I need and close the door once again.Not only do I have my two favorite guns, but I also take one of the knives I keep locked up while knowing my bat is already in one of the vans.There’s always a bat in the vans for me.Sometimes it’s good to hit someone instead of using a gun, knife, or other weapon.It allows me to get rid of my rage and beat the fuck out of someone.Yeah, I could use my fists, but there’s something about using a bat to beat on an enemy that soothes the monster I keep locked deep in my soul.
After checking everything I grab, I quickly make my way out of the bedroom and head for the front door.I barely take the time to say anything to my sister and the kids.
“Cedric and Caydence, I love you very much.Kimber, the twins will be wakin’ up soon to eat.There’s bottles in the diaper bag you can feed them.Brick or someone will update you on what’s goin’ on when we have any news,” I say, not pausing my steps to leave the house as I head outside and find Knuckles, Brick, and Homicide waiting for me.
“We’re headin’ to the clubhouse to put a plan in place,” Brick informs me as I climb on my bike and start the engine.
With a nod of my head, we all pull away from my house and head for the clubhouse.This time, we don’t waste time parking in line but just stop in the parking lot and quickly make our way inside for church.By the time we get in our meeting room, the table is full and we’re the last to get there.This isn’t where I want to be, but I know we need to go over the house plans and figure out the best way to get inside to Peyton with as little risk as possible of something more happening to her.
***
Brick came up witha great plan to surround the house so a few of us can get inside to find Peyton.The house has two bedrooms right next to one another besides the master room.Brick believes Peyton’s being held in one of them instead of the basement because this woman is stupid as fuck using her own home.Plus, the floor plans really don’t show a basement.It’s more of a crawl space.The bedrooms are the only options for this bitch to hold anyone in.She really didn’t think this plan through at all.Especially once she realizes Peyton has no money from Clark and that she’s spent the time since his death paying off his debt.A debt she shouldn’t have had to deal with since they weren’t actually married.This fucking other woman should have been the responsible one for everything he owed.Just one more thing that pisses me off about this entire situation.
We pull up on the road where the house is located and park our bikes in a small group of trees.It’s not a forest or anything like that, but it works for what we need.On foot, we make our way to the house and quickly surround it while Brick, Knuckles, Omen, Grudge, and I head inside the house.There aren’t any guards on the outside, which works out perfectly for us.Still, we don’t want to fill the house with too many men because it’s on the smaller side.We have no clue how many men are actually inside the house either.There’s Clark’s wife and we know there’s at least three men.That’s how many took my girl from the grocery store.
“Did we manage to get the Slayer Slit who lied to Peyton to get her away from the compound?”I ask Brick as we quietly head inside the house.
“Yeah.She’s at the clubhouse in a cell.Kat’s on her way there now to help us deal with the bitch,” he answers me as we make our way toward the bedrooms where we believe Peyton is being held.
It doesn’t take us long to figure out which room my girl is being held in.A woman is screaming her fucking head off and I know she’s pissed as fuck.We’re gonna have to handle this situation with care.Standing behind Knuckles, Brick gives the countdown before Knuckles kicks the door in.I’m the first one inside and what I see has my blood boiling and rage consuming me.
