“Daniel did reach out to Robert.” Onyx pulls up another image. “Striker found this in the message section when he was snooping for intel.” The message is short. Onyx reads the short message out loud.
“My name is Daniel Terrance. I am fifty-eight years old, and I live in Long Beach. I recently took a DNA test, and it genetically matched me to you. I believe we are biologically related, possibly twin brothers. If you’re willing to speak to me, my phone number is below.”
I stammer, “Robert never opened it.”
Flint’s hand closes tighter around mine. “We’re gonna figure this out. Remember, I promised we would, and now we’re one step closer.”
I glance up to find him looking at me intently. “You’re right. This is exactly the kind of break we needed.”
“We got an address for Daniel?” Flint asks without taking his eyes off me.
“Striker pulled the registration data from the website. He listed a home address instead of a PO box. It’s a small apartment in Long Beach. It looks like he’s been there for nine years. I had some guys from our LA chapter ride past his house. They talked to the building manager. He’s been getting mail returned because his box at the complex is full. Nobody’s seen him for a while, but his rent is still comin’ out of his account through an automatic draft he set up.”
Jinx gives his opinion. “Well, maybe his adoptive family took him back to their parents’ house. Or some other type of safe house they use. They’re a fuckin’ crime family after all.”
Flint states quietly, “There may be something in the apartment that tells us where they took him.”
“No way,” Onyx says. “The last fuckin’ thing we need is a breaking and entering charge in LA. Striker is workin’ on tracing all the Terrance family holdings, including real estate. He promises me that he’ll have everything by tomorrow morning, even the property they own through shell companies.”
“Then we rest up and plan to tear outta here in the morning, right?”
“Yeah,” Onyx responds. “That’s the best move.”
I speak up. “I want to go with you. I want to help find him.”
“Absolutely not, Jules.”
I bring my hand up to tap against my chest. “I’m the one he reached out to in the dark that night. The one he pleaded with for help. I want my face to be the first thing he sees, so he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s rescued. I need to do this, Flint.”
Onyx and Jinx are both quiet. I know they agree with Flint that taking me is a bad idea. Maybe it is, but I have the right to make decisions for myself, and I think Flint gets that.
“Darlin’, please don’t do this.” I can tell by the look in his eyes that Flint would rather gnaw off his own hand than take me to LA with him. But part of me believes that it’s more than showing up for the man who reached out for me. It’s proving to Flint that I’m an adult who can make good decisions and hold my own in a crisis. I can do this, and I need him to see that.
Finally, Jasper’s voice comes from behind us. “She’s right, brother.”
“What the fuck?” Flint responds as his club president walks up to the table.
“She’s right, Flint. This man ain’t gonna see four rescuers when we break down that door. No matter where we find him, he’s gonna see four men wearing one percent cuts and assume it’s another complication.”
“I don’t want her in danger,” Flint grounds out.
“She can ride in one of the trucks. She’ll be covered and not get out of the truck until we’re sure it’s safe. She’s wearing your cut, brother. Ain’t nobody with any sense gonna mess with her. She won’t be out of our sight for a second.”
Flint closes his eyes and tilts his head back for a long moment. Finally, he looks back down at me. “Fine, but I don’t want you to leave my side. And don’t take your property vest off for anything.”
“I’ll do exactly as you say,” I promise. I know how overprotective he is and how hard this must be for him.
He tells me, “See that you do.”
Relief surges through my body that he’s listening to me, respecting my choices, and not just letting his protective instincts run wild.
Jasper speaks up. “We meet in the chapel at seven in the morning to hear Striker’s report. Then we hit the road. It’ll be the two of you, Onyx, Slate, and me. I know that four of us doesn’t sound like a lot against the mob, but we’ve got thirty brothers in LA who know all about how to deal with these fuckers.”
The others mutter their agreement and wander off to the bar area.
Flint stands, tugging me to my feet. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
I follow Flint out of the meeting room, thinking that now definitely isn’t the right time to tell him I’m pregnant with his child. That’ll send him spiraling one way or another, and I can’t have him distracted when he’s going into a dangerous situation.
