Reckless calls church and we all head out. I grab my laptop while Count takes the files from the table. He’ll stash them in my office so they’re ready when I need them. Grabbing my phone and gun from Evan, I head for my bike. Riding through town, I don’t pay attention to anything else as I try to figure out the upcoming conversation I need to have with my girl. I’m not sure how she’s going to handle this new information, but I’ll be right there with her through it all. I’m notabout to leave her alone if I can help it. If she moves onto the compound, I can protect her while keeping everyone else safe as well. No one around Taleah will be safe if they really want to get their hands on her.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Taleah
REX CAME BACK from the clubhouse a few days ago and sat down to talk with me. When I was still in college, there were a few times, I was almost taken off of campus and no one knows about it. I knew my parents would worry about me if I told them what happened. Elara would have transferred schools to be with me and I didn’t want her to leave a school she loved just because of her fear something would happen to me. So, I kept the information to myself until Rex had that conversation with me.
I’m sitting on the couch with my laptop in front of me when Rex walks back in the house. He walks up to me more serious than I’ve ever seen him and sits down next to me before removing my laptop from my hands and setting it on the table in front of us. Before I can ask him what’s going on, he takes my hands in his and holds them tight.
“Doll, we need to have a conversation and I don’t know how you’ll handle what I’m about to tell you. I’m pissed the fuck off about new information I’ve just come across and it will probably hurt you,” he says as panic begins to fill my body and I start shaking.
“Just tell me, Rex. Rip the Band-Aid off so I’m not wondering what it is,” I say, looking at him and nowhere else.
“I got a call from Link to go to the clubhouse for church early this mornin’. We don’t typically get called in like that unless somethin’ major is goin’ on. I don’t know how muchyou know about Annistyn’s past but it seems as if it’s come back again. There’s a traffickin’ ring that’s very small and just startin’ out but it’s bein’ led by one of the men who was there when everythin’ went down with Annistyn. He managed to escape. As I was diggin’ into everythin’, I made a shockin’ discovery. TJ’s dad is the one ultimately in control of the entire thing. When you were in college, you were almost kidnapped a few times, yeah?” he asks me, a vein sticking out in his neck as he continues looking at me.
“I was. No one knows about it because I knew everyone would be worried and I didn’t want to put that on anyone,” I answer him honestly because he deserves to know the truth of where I was mentally at that point.
“TJ’s dad was behind it. He wanted to fuckin’ break you and then include you in a batch of victims bein’ sold to the highest bidder in an auction. I found communication where he was gonna make TJ watch him break you so he’d know what to do in the future. I knew he was a horrible man, but I never once thought he’d be such a vile monster. Somehow, he’s still managin’ to connect with the leader from jail and that’s why he wants to be bailed out so badly. The leader of the ring isn’t doin’ what Mr. Bond wants him to do and it’s drivin’ him insane. I don’t know if they’re gonna come after you again because now he’s got revenge on his mind because of TJ and the bullshit note he left behind blamin’ you for his shit. I know you just moved into this home and you don’t want to leave, but we might have to think of somethin’ else, Doll. I have a house on the compound and we could stay there until this situation is taken care of. If you need to go to therapy more or anythin’ else, I’ll make sure you have what you need,” he says, his hold even more gentle than before as I think about what he just told me.
“Ya know, I always knew there was a reason I didn’t feel comfortable around TJ’s dad. I was only at their home a few times, but it was more than enough for me. He’s a damn creep. Now, it makes sense. I really don’t want to leave my home, but I won’t put anyone else’s safety at risk either. If you think I’d be safest there, then that’s where I’ll go. What about Fantasy Realm? I don’t want the girls who work for me at risk when they’re completely innocent of the situation,” I ask him as he leans forward and presses a kiss against my forehead. A lone tear escapes my eye and he wipes it away with his thumb.
“Thank you, Doll. I need you to be safe and that’s the only way I can guarantee it. As for Fantasy Realm, I think you need to stay away from there for now. If you go there to work, it will definitely put the girls at risk. So either you stay away or give them time off,” he says as I nod my head.
“I’ll stay away. They need the money and I’m okay without it. The house is paid for so I don’t have a mortgage and I have my inheritance if I absolutely need money. I’ll go pack a bag so we can head over there today,” I say as I stand from my seat on the couch and make my way to my room so I can pack my belongings to leave my home.
Rex follows me in and helps me as much as he can.
“What about my bike? I don’t want to leave it here for something to happen to it,” I ask him as I realize it will need to be moved. I don’t want anything to happen to my Jeep, but that can be replaced easier than Bhodi’s bike.
“You ride your bike there and I’ll drive the Jeep. I’ll have Count come over and ride my bike back to the compound. Let me call him now so he gets here while we’re closin’ up everythin’. We’re gonna need to empty the refrigerator and freezer so nothin’ goes bad before you can come home. I don’t know how long this is gonna take, Doll. I’m bein’ completelyhonest about that. We know of an event takin’ place in three weeks, but that’s about it. Things might actually take a little longer than that,” he responds while pulling out his phone and calling Count.
I pack my largest suitcase with a variety of clothing options. Half of my wardrobe is in there as I zip it closed and wheel it out of the closet. I don’t know what we’ll be doing so I want to have options. Next, I grab my toiletries from the bathroom and pack them in a smaller case. It’s mainly my hair products since I don’t use a lot of make-up. I’ve never liked wearing it. I’ll bring it with me, but it will more than likely sit in the bag and I won’t touch it. By the time I’m done packing everything I need, Count is here. He’s helping Rex clean out my refrigerator and freezer, loading everything in the reusable bags I keep.
“Doll, I really don’t want you out in the open on the bike, but I won’t ride it. That’s Bhodi’s bike so we’re gonna make this trip as quick as possible. I want you between Count on my bike and me in the Jeep. Keep your head low and focus on everythin’ around you. You feel off about anything, let Count know. He’ll have my helmet on so you’ll be able to communicate with him once you make sure the comms are still linked up. I’ll call the Prospect on the gate when we get close so it will already be open. Pull over in the parkin’ lot and then you can follow me up to the house. Count will park my bike at the clubhouse,” Rex says as I wheel my suitcase into the living room.
“Okay. I’ve gotta grab some stuff from the office and then I’ll be ready to go. Oh, and I have to grab my charger. Do you have a printer at your house?” I ask him as I turn to head for the office.
“You know I’ve got everythin’ you need, Doll. If not, we’ll buy it,” he answers and I just shake my head because he’s going to end up spoiling the hell out of me if I let him.
Now, I’m staying in his house on the compound and it’s almost empty. He’s got a couch and bed for furniture. The only room that’s fully furnished is his office. I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw it because it’s not surprising at all. Rex would spend more time in the office than any other room of his house. He’s already said he rarely spends time here, preferring to sleep at the clubhouse with everyone else. It’s only when he needs some space from everyone that he goes to the house for quiet time. The only food he has in the house is what we brought from my house. We’re missing key items so I did a delivery order after asking Rex if it was okay. He assured me it was okay. No one would be allowed to enter the compound, but one of the Prospects would bring it directly to the house as soon as it showed up.
Once the order got here and I put everything away, I tried to read and then watch a movie, but I couldn’t get into anything. So, I got changed into a pair of jeans, a tank top, and one of Rex’ hoodies before walking down to the clubhouse. Rex is working in his office there and told me I could show up to hang out if I wanted to. I’m not being kept away from everyone at his house. Walking down, I enjoy the sun on my face and take in the area. I can see where bikes have been ridden in the grass and in the distance, closer to the clubhouse, there’s a small playground set up. This club is family oriented and I love it. I never realized clubs would make things so kid friendly, but these men have made the decision to do that for the kids already running around here.
Walking into the common room, I find Annistyn and Cali already sitting at a table. It’s not as far back as the one we were at on my first night here.
“Hey,” I greet them as I look at the kids playing nearby while Annistyn holds her son.
“Hey. We were wondering if you were gonna come down. I was about to head up to Master’s house to find you. You doing okay?” Annistyn asks me as I sit down next to her and stare at her son. He’s so damn cute.
“You want to hold him?” she asks me when she notices where I’m looking.
“Can I?” I return, not sure if she’s serious or not.
“Of course. I trust you, Taleah. You’re not some new nobody here. I’ve talked to you and been around you a few times now. You wouldn’t be in the clubhouse if Rex wasn’t absolutely sure you were trustworthy,” she responds, handing Ridge over to me. “And I’m doing as well as can be expected with everything going on. It was a shock to learn things are coming back to haunt me, but Debbie is on standby and Roger is ready to come pick me up the second I think I’m going to have a breakdown. Link has plans in place and is ready to support whatever I need. What about you?”
“I’m about the same as you. I don’t know all the details of your situation, but I’ll also be there if you need me. Debbie knows I might need her, but for now I’m okay with my regular appointments,” I tell her as she nods in response. “Rex is always on standby and ready to do whatever I need. The one thing I want is for my parents and his sister to be kept in the dark for now. The less they know, the better off they’ll be.”
“I agree. We’ve decided to have dinner here tonight. You good to eat with us or do you have plans with Master?” she asks me as I look down at her son.
