She shook her head. “Only Keefe knew.”
“Would Shona?”
Her head popped up and her brows furrowed. “Maybe.”
“Stay here,” I told her, kissing her quickly. “I’ll be right back.”
She didn’t try to stop me. I could see how much this was destroying her, so much so that I knew I desperately needed to make this right for her. We’d taken care of the threats to her, so if it was her mother, I would mow that bitch down in a heartbeat to protect my woman.
“Shona,” I called over to her. She was talking with Kayleigh and Orla by the porch. She came over to me instantly. “Do you know where Darby’s mother is at?”
If she’d been surprised by the sudden question, she didn’t show it. “You think she’s connected to this?”
“Darby does, and if she’s worried, then it’s my job to make sure she’s not a threat.”
Shona nodded. “Take Savage with you.”
“What do I need to know, Shona?” I asked her, realising Darby may not be losing her mind at all.
“Clara disappeared for fear of her life, sure, but she didn’t take Darby. She’d never really cared about her, and I’m sure the drugs they pumped into her had a lot to do with that. I think the main reason Clara would want revenge on this club was because of what happened to her when she visited here…it was just after I had left the Destructive Sons but Keefe told me what took place.”
Savage had joined us, his arm wrapping around Shona instinctually.
“Alasdair and Donald were coming to some sort of agreement together from what I was told. It was Butch who explained that Alasdair offered Clara up to Donald for a few days, where he could do whatever he wanted with her. We all know what that means. She begged my father not to do it, but he refused to listen and went to party with the boys, leaving her with Donald. She was never the same again. It was all for nothing anyway, the deal didn’t go through and the clubs became enemies.”
It was hard to believe Ace came from such a sick fuck like Donald. He’d been into some nasty shit back then.
“She knows Donald is dead though,” Savage offered. “Why would she attack us here and now?”
“I don’t know, and it may be a wild goose chase…”
“But if it puts Darby’s mind to rest, I will hunt her down,” I told them. Savage nodded. “I’ll go talk to Darby…then she doesn’t leave your sight, Shona, yeah?”
She nodded in agreement and I headed down the hall. I hated to leave her, but I couldn’t be at my best if I was worried about her. Darby had the uncanny ability to get into trouble everywhere she went. I opened the door and saw her sitting in the same space she had been when I left. Kneeling down so I could look into her eyes, I placed my hands on her thighs and squeezed slightly.
“I need you to stay here,” I told her. “Stay with Shona. I’ll be back soon.”
She nodded and I kissed her, slow and hard, a kiss to show her just how fucking much I loved her.
“Will you kill her?” she asked me. I wasn’t sure if it was fear in her voice or if it was something else.
“Not unless she forces me to. You good with that?”
Resolve. That’s what I saw when I looked at her expression. “Yeah, I’m good with that. She’s no mother to me.”
I kissed her again and left the room before I changed my mind and chucked her on the back of my bike to come with us. It was amazing how much I wanted to be with her, how much I would sacrifice to protect her…and after only knowing her for a short amount of time.
I felt blinded by her. Everything was about her, and although I loved that, it scared me a little. The thought of losing her was heavy on my mind and it frightened me more than my own life ending.
Shona nodded at me as she saw us off after telling Savage how to find the bitch. As soon as she was out of Darby’s life, she’d be better off. A fresh start with me. I was her family now. The club sure, but mostly me, and I would do everything in my power to make sure she was happy all the damn time.
Darby
It was getting dark.
Savage and Rebel had been gone most of the day. Brogan had even come by to talk to Ace about what he found out and still no word. I was getting worried. Shona hadn’t left my side, even when I wantedto sit there and read in my room. She came and sat next to me. I knew it was because Rebel had told her not to leave me alone. I loved him for thinking of me, but I wasn’t fragile. I wasn’t going to break into a million pieces.
“They should be back by now,” I said softly when she got to my side of the bar. I had been sitting on a bourbon and coke for the past half hour. It was probably warm by now, but my fear was doing weird things to me.
