I’m unable to focus on anything as Tristan drives back through town.None of us speak as my mind races with all the possibilities of what’s being done to Keaton right now.If Dillon was willing to kill his girlfriend and the mother of his son in public during broad daylight, I have no clue what his depraved mind will come up with to hurt Keaton.We need to get her back sooner rather than later.The more time she’s with him, the more she’ll be hurt by Dillon.
When we get to the clubhouse, Tristan drops Zach and me off at the front door before heading to Wren and Judge’s house.Running inside I take the stairs to my room while pulling my keys out of my pocket.Unlocking my door, I step inside and leave the door open because I hear steps making their way down the hall toward me and I know it’s either Lock or Judge.I’m sure Judge told my best friend what’s going on and he’ll want to be here for me.That’s just who he is.
“What do you need from me?”Lock asks the second he’s in my room and closes the door behind him.
“I don’t know where to start, Lock.I have absolutely no clue where the hell Dillon would take Keaton,” I state as I turn on my laptop and wait for it to boot up.
“Let’s think.Dillon is a fuckin’ scumbag and he’s only gonna go so many places.He won’t take her anywhere too public because he’s out on bail right now.Even if he doesn’t give a shit who sees him hurt another person, he can’t possibly be stupid enough to commit another crime in front of witnesses.What about his apartment or house?Not sure where he lives, but you could look it up and find him.Search under Nora’s name.I’m sure he doesn’t have his name on any official documents unless it’s relatin’ to court or somethin’ else like that,” Lock tells me as I pull up a program and start typing in Nora’s name.It’s a really good idea and one I would have had if I were able to think straight.
As my program does its thing a knock sounds on the door before it opens.Judge and Fury stand there for a second before entering and closing the door again.
“Agony found her car.It was at the grocery store.Zach is headin’ to Whittaker’s to grab the flatbed so he can bring it here and park it.Her groceries aren’t any good by now if she bought them before whatever happened took place.We’ll check it out once Zach is back.Zeus is also diggin’ up information on Keaton.Who else are we lookin’ into besides Dillon?”Judge asks me as he steps closer and keeps his eyes locked on me.
“I don’t even know.I’m lookin’ up Nora’s previous address.Lock gave me the idea and it’s a good one.Dillon won’t have his name on anythin’ if he can help it,” I say, looking at my computer once more.
“Good.You keep doin’ that and we’ll meet in church in five.Bring your laptop with you so you can keep workin’ while we talk,” Judge says, pulling out his phone and I know he’s gonna let Zeus know what to do so we can both work to bring Keaton home where she belongs.
I grab my laptop and follow Judge, Fury, and Lock from my room.Lock and I head directly for church where Wyatt grabs our phones before we enter and take our normal seats around the table.A few other guys are in church waiting as they keep their eyes on me.I can feel them staring as I focus on the screen in front of me while Lock leans closer and looks at my screen right along with me to pick up anything I miss when my mind is so fuzzy with fear.A feeling I’m trying to tamp down so I can do my job and not panic or lose my shit before Keaton is back with me.Soon, the rest of the table fills up with the men of the club and we’re closed in.Judge calls Zeus on speaker so we can all talk about this situation.
Chapter Twenty
Keaton
WAKING UP, I take alook around despite the headache making my entire head throb and nausea build up that I desperately try to hold back.There’s a sharp pain in my arms and I realize they’re tied behind my back, whatever is holding them in place digs into my skin.My breath catches as I realize I’m in Nora’s apartment.It’s the first time I’ve been allowed inside because she never wanted me to see the way Dillon and her lived.Now, I understand why.There’s broken furniture from a fight between the two of them, dishes and garbage all over the place in the living room, and an atrocious smell coming from somewhere in the apartment.I can tell the garbage and dishes have all been left around recently.This isn’t how Nora would keep anywhere she lived.Especially with Bridger in the same house.Nora was always a neat freak and it only got worse after she gave birth to her son.She was constantly worrying about him getting sick or grabbing something once he started moving around more and choking on it.This is fucking disgusting and I know Dillon is even worse than I thought he was.
Reminders of Nora are all over the place as I look around the room I’m in.It’s clearly the living room but I can see into the kitchen and a small hallway to the right of where I’m sitting.Dillon’s tied me to a chair from the kitchen table if I had to guess since one is missing.Though, it could have been broken when he was in one of his rages.Anyway, there are pictures of Nora and Bridger lining the walls and sitting on every available free space.She loved to take pictures and display them.If there is one thing in this world Nora was proud of, it’s her son.Not only did she love him with every beat of her heart, but she was constantly telling me all about the amazing things he did and learned on a daily basis.
In front of the TV that’s mounted on the wall sits a stand with vases of daisies in a variety of colors.Nora has always loved that flower and as I look closer, I realize they’re all the ones I got her over the years for one reason or another.All of them have different vases now and I have a feeling it’s because Dillon smashed the original ones.It wouldn’t surprise me after seeing how bad he is when he flies into a rage.I still have nightmares of that day and being covered in my best friend’s blood for hours afterward.
On the small wall separating the living room from the door of the apartment, Nora’s purse rests as if she’ll be back at any time.Like she’s just run to the store or something.On the coat rack, Nora’s favorite jacket from high school hangs.Dillon has never liked that coat because it’s from one of Nora’s close friends.Jake was a football player and wanted to be with Nora.She never saw him like that.One night he gave her his coat when we were at a beach party.My best friend was cold because she didn’t want to wear a coat over her outfit so he gave his up when she could no longer deny she was freezing.Nora kept the jacket all these years because Jake never wanted it back.He wanted her to have a reminder of him in the hopes she might one day choose him.Nora never did because Jake was one of her best friends and she didn’t want to lose that bond they had.I’m not even sure if he knows she was killed.It’s not like I kept in touch with anyone other than Nora once I left high school.
There’s pairs of her shoes lined up against the wall and I know there’s a ton more in her closet.Nora had a thing for shoes and bought as many pairs as she could when a huge sale was going on.It was something I always teased her about and we’d end up laughing our asses off because Nora had enough pairs of shoes to start her own store at one point.I’m not sure that’s still the case since Dillon always manages to destroy everything close to him.Everything in this apartment is something Nora picked out with precision.The dishes she agonized over because she was torn between two different patterns, glasses of all sizes she chose based on the drinks she imagined Dillon and her having, and all of her blankets and bedding.
Bridger’s things are also in the living room.There’s one of those vibrating chairs, a swing, an open box of diapers sitting on the coffee table, and a few other things Nora talked to me about as she was shopping.My girl chose every single item with heart and soul because she wanted the best she could provide for her son.Nora did hours of research into the best products for a baby and was always so worried about Bridger having an allergic reaction or irritating his skin for some reason.She bought everything for him with concern, love, and the best of intentions.
“Ow!”I finally hear Dillon shout and look around as he comes out from the hallway.He’s glaring at me as he stumbles and almost falls multiple times on his way closer to me.“You’re finally fuckin’ awake.”
