Chapter Nineteen
Master
I’VE BEEN TRYING to catch sight of Taleah once again over the last two weeks. She’s good at disappearing when she doesn’t want to see anyone and it’s something I’m relearning about her. When we were younger, she would disappear for hours if she got mad or upset about something. One time was in the middle of school and her parents had to be called in to help find her. Her brother finally found her hiding in the gym behind the bleachers that were pressed up against the wall because no one was using them and the gym classes needed the room for class. The only time they’re open is when some game is happening or we had a pep rally. Taleah was small enough to fit behind them so no one could find her. The entire school literally searched for her almost all day long. This all took place because a boy treated her like crap and made fun of her in class. She couldn’t get to her brother to help deal with the situation so she hid. It seems as if she’s gotten even better at hiding as an adult. I’ve ridden by every place I could think of finding her and she hasn’t been there at all. Including Fantasy Realm.
There’s been talk about TJ getting released from jail before the trial. I don’t know what strings his parents are pulling, but something is going on. The last thing Taleah needs to deal with is seeing him when she’s been told he won’t be released on bail. I know he’s got a new lawyer that costs a fortune and his parents have a different one in the same law firm for the charges they’re facing based on the evidence I’ve been collecting behind the scenes. If I could keep him in jail, I would in a second.Unfortunately, I have nothing more to turn in at this point. I’ve kept my programs running to find anything else, but I’m coming up with nothing new. I’m honestly thinking of bringing in another hacker I’ve worked with in the past to help me because if I can’t find something, she usually can. I don’t know who she is other than her hacker name, but she’s amazing and has helped us out in the past.
Sitting in my office, I look down when my phone starts to vibrate on the desk in front of me. My sister’s name flashes on the screen and I immediately answer the call and place it on speaker.
“What’s goin’ on, Lar?” I answer her call and hear a beeping noise in the background. “Where are you?”
“I’m at the hospital. Have you talked to Tally in the last week? Or seen her around town?” my sister asks me, her voice coming out hoarse as I immediately sit up in my chair and pay attention to all the noise in the background of the call.
“Why are you in the hospital, Elara?” I ask her, my voice frantic as I press a few keys to keep my computer programs running because I have a feeling I’ll be heading for the hospital.
“I’m in labor. It’s not a big deal, Rex. Have you seen or talked to Tally in the last week? I haven’t been able to get in touch with her and that’s not normal,” my sister asks me again as panic begins to fill me.
“I haven’t seen her. I’ve been lookin’ for her myself and it’s like she’s vanished,” I tell my sister honestly because I don’t ever sugar coat things or lie to her. Especially when it comes to Taleah.
“Fuck! She needs to be here. I’ve got Mom and Dad with the kids. Tally promised she’d be here for the birth of this baby,”Elara pants and I can hear her husband talking to someone in the background of her call.
“I’ll keep lookin’ for her. I’m on my way there. I won’t come in your room now because I don’t need to see all that shit, but I want to be there when my niece or nephew enters the world,” I promise Elara before hanging up the call. I’m not about to listen to her tell me not to come. This is my sister and I’ll be there in case something happens to her.
I race from my office and almost run into Count. “Where you goin’ in such a hurry?”
“My sister is in labor and at the hospital. I gotta get to her,” I answer without stopping as I make my way out to my bike.
Count is right on my heels and heads for his own bike while making a call. I know he’s alerting the rest of the guys where I’m heading and what’s going on with my sister. He’s a good best friend but he won’t ever replace Taleah’s brother. Count and I ride through town and don’t stop until we’re pulling into the hospital parking lot. He follows me as we make our way up to the maternity ward and take a seat in the waiting room.
I did manage to grab my laptop on the way out of my office and placed it in the saddle bags for the trip here. It’s the only thing I grabbed from the bike after removing my helmet because I didn’t take the time to put on my bandana as I usually do.
“What are ya doin’?” Count questions me as he leans over closer to see what I’m searching for now.
“Taleah hasn’t been answerin’ my sister’s calls or anythin’ for a week now. She’s worried about her. You know I’ve been searchin’ for her and haven’t found her anywhere. I’m gonna see what I can find on the computer so I can finally track herass down,” I respond to Count as I start typing in one of my programs.
“Such a small girl has you goin’ out of your fuckin’ mind. Never thought I’d see you like this, Master. She’s got you wrapped around her little finger and doesn’t even realize it,” Count says, laughing as the waiting room slowly begins to fill with members from the club.
“She’s had me wrapped around her little finger from the first second I met her. Taleah is special and no one knows it more than I do. That woman has the ability to bring me to my knees with one look and that’s never happened to me before. I won’t get on my fuckin’ knees for anyone but her,” I say low enough for only him to hear as he starts laughing his ass off and the rest of the guys try to figure out what’s going on. I don’t say a word to anyone.
It’s been hours and Tim has updated us a few times on my sister. Her labor is progressing the way it should, but it could still be a while before she has the baby. Evan brings us all food the ol’ ladies made at the compound so we had something good to eat. I’ve been busy working on trying to figure out where the hell Taleah is hiding. I’ve been tracking her phone, but it must be off because I can’t pick up anything on it. At least not yet.
“Yes!” I finally say when her phone comes back on and I can get her location.
The one thing I did discover is Taleah has bought a new home and paid cash for it. It’s close to the compound in a nice neighborhood. Yes, I looked at the pictures online and it’s a really nice home. She has her own pool even if she can’t go in it more than the shallow end. I can see her sitting on the steps andletting the cool water wash over her legs on hot days as she sips a drink and reads a book. One she’s probably read a million times in the past. It’s a single story home with a large yard where she can plant flowers and do whatever else she wants. Bear will have a great time in the yard because there’s plenty of places he can lounge in the sun if he doesn’t want to play.
“You good over there?” Viper asks me, moving to take the seat next to me.
“Yeah. Taleah finally turned her damn phone back on. She has a new house that she just bought. Her location is showin’ there. You wanna take a ride out and make sure she’s okay? Elara hasn’t been able to get in touch with her for the last week. Taleah isn’t one to ignore calls or messages from my sister. Especially knowin’ she was so close to goin’ into labor,” I ask him as Count listens in to our conversation.
“Of course. Send me the address,” Viper tells me as he stands from his seat and Count joins him. “I’ll call you as soon as I get in touch with her.”
“I’m gonna go with Viper. She’s met us both before and if somethin’ is wrong, Viper might need back-up. Won’t let him handle a situation alone because we never do,” Count says as the two of them head out and I continue working on anything related to TJ and Taleah. The only thing I can do now is wait for them to let me know if she’s okay.
“Rex, your sister would like to see you for a few minutes,” Tim says, walking into the waiting room and stopping in front of me. “She’s all covered and the nurses won’t be in to check on her for a few minutes.”
Without a word, I stand up and follow my brother-in-law into my sister’s hospital room. Elara is laying in bed covered in sweat and looking as if she’s fought ten rounds with someone.My sister never allows anyone to see her appear this way, but I guess it’s different when you’re in labor. Not really top of the priority list of things to be concerned with.
“I can see what you wanna say and I don’t want to hear it, Rex,” my sister says as I step up next to her bed and look down. “Have you found Tally?”
