by B. C. Falls
“I know, baby girl. Don’t do it though. It’s too risky.” I feel the tears start to run down my cheeks. The tears that tell me that I know what I have to do. “Royce?”
“I gotta go, Blake,” I say with out worry. “I love you.”
“No Royce! Don’t you dare! Don’t fucking do it!” I hang up and quickly shut the phone off before she can call again. I reach under the kitchen sink and grab the gun I hide there tucking it into the back of my shorts.
I walk back to the living room and lean down to Dane’s ear. “I’ll be right back, baby. Just gonna grab a shower and some clean clothes,” I whisper. I kiss his neck but quickly decide that I need more before I leave. I turn his cheek until he’s looking at me over his shoulder, his lips inches from mine.
He’s my world and this baby is proof of that.
I kiss him. It’s different than what we are used to. I take my time tasting every inch of his mouth, tasting all of him. I try to not speed it up too much but the feel of him taking control makes me wild with need every time.
Dane slows down and whispers, “Royce,” against my lips. My heart sores because I know he wants to say it.
He is everything I could ever want in a partner, in a man, in a best friend.
I run my fingers through his beard, I try to burn this into my memory, his words, the feel of his skin against mine, and the flow of our love between the inches that separate us. “Come here,” he nods his head for me to come around the couch.
“I want to shower first,” I kiss him one last time before I turn and head for the stairs.
I make it to my room and as quickly as possible and get a bag together. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t tell Dane. He’d stop me and if I want a future with him I have to fight for it. Boxer starts whining quietly when I pull my backpack up and over my shoulder. He knows something is wrong. “Come on boy,” I turn the shower on and get my pills before quietly walking down the stairs. I peek around the corner to find Dane still in the same position but with a big smile on his face. “What am I doing?” I whisper, but quickly shake it off because I know.
I go for the front door with Boxer right on my heels, but I can’t take him with me either because he’ll be in too much danger. I quickly shut the door with him on the other side. He starts to bark immediately so I take off for my truck knowing I only have seconds before Dane is going to get worried and find me leaving.
As soon as the truck is started and I’m pulling out of the drive way, Dane is running out the front door. “Royce!” he yells out. His phone is to his ear but I left mine behind and off. “Stop!” he yells again but I keep going, leaving the man I love behind with a life I have to fight for.
Dane
“Royce!” I yell. Boxer is still barking from beside me. My whole world is driving away and I have no idea why. My phone rings in my hand and I don’t even check to see who is calling and answer quickly. “Royce?”
“No, it’s Blake.” I don’t even twitch at the thought of her being alive. I knew she was. “Is Royce there?”
“No she just took off!.”
Blake takes a deep breath, “Dane, don’t freak out okay?”
I run a hand through my hair “Don’t make me feel like I need to freak out by saying shit like that!” I almost yell.
“I said don’t freak out!” I go back in the house and grab my keys and gun out of the safe by the door.
“Just fucking tell me!” I yell as I walk back out to my truck. “I’m about to get on the road and go after her. Tell me what I need to know.”
“She’s helping me.”
“Helping you?”
“Yes. You know Trent,” I laugh, she knows I know Trent. “Well, he’s my man,” I laugh again cause that’s a stupid way to describe him to her. “Fuck you, Dane. Just fucking listen and stop laughing so you can go save our girl!” I grunt. “So back in the day when Trent and I got hot and heavy we ran into some trouble. He had his and I ended up having mine. His just lead to mine and I don’t blame him or anything. It’s just crazy though, you know. Life took me on a path that lead me to—”
“Blake! Focus!” I interrupt. Boxer jumps into the truck ahead of me, obviously eager to get to Royce as much as I am.
“Sorry. Okay so I got caught up in all this shit and faked my death. I moved to Kentucky and a couple years ago I met Royce again, for the second time. She was in a tough place and we made the best of it after some changes, but when Kady’s parents left Royce had no way to adopt her. The social services wouldn’t let her because she wasn’t family and didn’t have a stable job at the time, she was about to graduate, but it wasn’t enough for them. They didn’t give her an option. So because she could come back here and have a cover she offered to help me. Help the Marshals.”
“Who are you involved with?” I ask, the mention of Marshals getting my blood pumping red hot because if you are involved with those dick heads you must have some fucked up shit going on.
“The cartel. A small part of it. My mom got caught up way back in the day and borrowed some money that got this cartel guy in trouble when she didn’t pay it back, and now he’s like a boss of a small group in California. Well I guess he held a grudge because he came back for the money and revenge.”
“You got Royce wrapped up in this?” I’m beyond pissed. Furious doesn’t even cover what I am. “What the fuck, Blake? I thought you loved her?”
“I do fucking love her! Asshole! Jesus. I told her not to do it. I told her to leave it alone, to let it go but because of Kady she couldn’t. It was the only way for her to get custody and I told her I would help her find different options but she didn’t listen to me and I’m her fucking person!” her voice trails off, the words getting more and more defeated as she speaks. “So don’t fucking sit there and judge me or accuse me because I tried. I tried to get her out.”
I take a deep breath trying to calm myself down from everything she just told me. “Where would she go?” I ask.
“Jeff.”
“Fucking shit!” I growl. I feel defeated. For her to turn back to the guy who beat her into submission is making me feel like a low life compared to him.
“I know, but his dad is helping us. The same guy who is after me for similar reasons murdered his wife. He found me and helped me get out. Even though I was in the program, he helped me get a better life than what they offered, he kept me safe. It’s how I found Royce again.”
“It all seems like a big coincidence. The guy moves you to Kentucky where Royce is? Because of a guy whose son used to beat Royce?”
“I know, that’s what I thought for a while. Especially after Royce was being moved down there,” she says. “The Marshals say it’s all good though and I couldn’t not trust them. They were my last hope.”
“I have some friends. I’ll look into everything. Where is Jeff?” I lean my head down on the steering wheel, trying to get my world back into focus for two seconds before Blake tells me more bad news.
“I don’t know, he’s not answering and I think Royce is using the burner phone now. She has two, one I have the number to and the other I don’t.”
“Real fucking smart,” I can’t help but be pissed off at this point. “Where are you?”
“Getting on a plane. I left my handler behind and Jeff’s dad sent security guards to me. I’m on my way home.” I sigh, that is the last thing we need. “We have a plan. If I go home, maybe we can draw out the guys who are behind this and get them before they get to Royce.”
“I can’t fucking lose her, Blake,” I admit, my voice sounding broken and pathetic.
“I know, Dane. I know how you feel about her, she talks about you all the time and how you make her feel. I know you’ll do anything for her.”
I take a deep breath. Royce would’ve helped her as much as she could’ve under any circumstances. I shouldn’t hold that against Blake, it’s not her fault. “Come to the club house. You’ll be safest there.”
“Okay.”
“We’ll g
et our girl back,” I tell her, I hang up without another word. I text Danny as quickly as possible to get Kady back to the clubhouse and tell him she might be in danger, though I don’t know the extent of all of all of this. I call Maddie as soon as I get out of the driveway.
“Hey big bro! Heard the great news huh?” Maddie says in a very happy voice.
“What news?” I ask. “Never mind. Look, Royce took off a little while ago, she’s in some trouble and I just—” I trail off cause I don’t really know why I called.
“What kind of trouble?”
“She’s was helping a friend and I don’t know everything yet but it was the only way to get Kady. I don’t know why though. I have no clue as to why she would just take off to her ex.”
“She went to Jeff?” Maddie practically yells. “Dane, you have to find her,” she says in a panic.
“Why do you sound freaked out? What’s going on?”
“You remember when Royce’s blood pressure shot up last week? At Mom and Dads?”
“Yeah, she just was nervous about everything.” It’s why I let her get away with not telling me everything that was going on with Blake.
“No. She wasn’t nervous about that at all. She loved mom and dad. She was nervous because we finally figured out why we couldn’t get her blood pressure under control with the new medication.” I take a deep breath because I feel it in my gut, my whole world is about to change. “She’s pregnant,” Maddie waits for me to say something, but I don’t know what to say so I hang up.
I drive faster.
Dallas comes running out of the clubhouse bar as soon as I pull in. He looks pissed and I definitely know it’s because I told Danny to bring Kady here.
I get out of the truck just in time for Dallas to pin me to it. “What the fuck is going on? Where is Royce?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. “She left about thirty minutes ago.” He fists my shirt in his hands almost pushing me off my feet. I refrain from doing anything because I know he’s just as upset about this as I am.
“What did you do?”
“Nothing. She’s helping Blake,” I tell him. I look up and find Trent standing not that far from us. He hears my words and smiles just a little then his face falls. “It was the only way to get Kady.”
Dallas loosens his hold on me. “So what she just left? To do what?”
“Blake didn’t say. She’s on her way here,” I’m still looking at Trent and now his face has turned a shade of white. “Don’t freak out man,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “I’m just trying to prepare my dick for when I see her. I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself.” Everyone around us laughs despite the situation were in. Everyone but Dallas and I.
“Dallas, I need to talk to you,” I tell him, “Privately.” He nods before leading me into the bar and back into his office. He sits down behind his desk and gives me a look that speaks volumes. He’s pissed. “Royce is pregnant.” His eyes go wide and he shoots up from his seat. “Calm the fuck down. I just found out from my sister who is also her doctor.”
He takes a deep breath before settling back down at his desk. “What are we going to do?” he asks.
“I don’t know Dallas,” I sigh, my defeat must be evident all of over my face. “Her ex. Jeff. He used to beat her. She went to him because some how he’s tied up in all of this. She’s been through a lot, Dallas. Way too much than she deserves and I need her back. I love her and this baby, this is my family, Dallas. I’ll get them back.”
“He beat her?” he asks, his fists curl into his palms turning his knuckles white. “For how long?”
“Years. When she met Blake, she got out of the relationship.”
“Luke said she talked about him like he was a good man.”
“She never wanted y’all to find out. She made me promise not to tell, but I need your help and you know me Dallas I wouldn’t ask for help unless really I needed it.”
“I know you wouldn’t and this is my daughter. I failed her so many times,” he stands and walks towards me. Putting his hand on my shoulder he says, “We’ll get them back, Dane. I promise you.” When he says them I smile a little, but it quickly fades because my world is a long way from being good. “And when we do, you’ll be putting a ring on that finger of hers.”
“Yes sir, I will. It was always in the plan.”
“Good. Let’s inform the guys of the situation and get this going. We need to find Jeff and figure out where they are.” I nod.
Royce’s brothers are pissed. Grayson and Kayden seem to blame me for letting her go. Danny and Luke aren’t thrilled I let her get away without so much as a word, but they get that I didn’t see it coming. Trent is sitting anxiously by the bar nursing a beer in the middle of the day to calm his nerves. I would be too if I the love of my life was about to walk through the door after ten years of being away.
“So what now?” Grayson asks folding his arms over his chest. “Get the boys rounded up and take care of this shit?”
“I called in some favors. My guys are looking for Jeff and Royce now. We’ll find her and bring her home,” Dallas tells everyone.
“What about the stupid fuckers who are after Blake?” Trent asks, “They obviously are going to try and get to her and Royce.”
“We’ll get to that once we have more information. For now, focus on getting my girl back,” he tells him. Trent starts to get upset.
“Trent, I’ll do anything to help Blake and you. I just need my girl back first,” I tell him.
He sits back down on the stool. “Whatever, man. Let’s just get this done.”
My phone rings and I answer right when I see it’s an unknown number, I know it’s Royce. “Royce, baby, where are you?”
“I’m sorry ,Dane,” she whispers. I turn away from everyone. “I wanted to tell you everything but it was so much, and I knew you would try to stop me once I did.”
“It’s okay, baby. Its going to be okay. We just need you back here. I need you back here.”
“I need to do this. It’s the only way to get what we want.”
“No it’s not. Baby, it’s not. We can figure this out together. Blake’s on her way back here, we’ll help her stay safe. The club, your dad and brothers, we can keep her safe.”
“No you can’t. They’ve taken so much already. I can’t let them have this.”
“Baby I need you safe. I need you both safe.” She gasps. “I know, Maddie told me, and I can’t let you do this Royce. You have our future in you and I need you here by my side. Please,” I lean my head against the wall.
“I’m doing this for our future. We won’t ever be able to raise this baby in peace. I can’t do that Dane.”
I try to stay calm. “Then let me help you. Let me protect you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You aren’t, Royce. I’m telling you. Just tell me where you are.”
“I love you, Dane. Know that.”
“Royce don’t—” She hangs up. “Fuck!” I punch the wall in front of me putting a hole there. I feel a hand on my shoulder, it’s small and when I turn around I find a woman standing there. “She wouldn’t tell me where she is,” I assume it’s Blake.
The girl is petite, about five-foot-four, with long brown hair, with the ends dyed turquoise. Her eyes look sadder than I’ve ever seen someone’s eyes look.
“Hi,” she whispers.
“She said she loved me,” I tell her. “But why would she do this if she loved me?”
“She thinks she’s protecting you. I did the same thing to Trent ten years ago.” I look up and see Trent standing behind her, about ten feet away. His hands are stuffed into his pockets like he’s trying to hold himself back, he looks pissed that Blake is even touching me at all. Blake see’s where I’m looking and gasps when she finds Trent there. Most of the guys have left, the brothers and Dallas are all that’s left in here with us. “Trent,” she whispers.
“Come here, baby,” he te
lls her. She slowly walks toward him, her nerves evident in her body language. “I missed you,” he reaches out and takes Blake into his arms, hugging her to him as tightly as he can. “Never again, Blake.”
“I promise,” she whispers before leaning back to look up at him. The kiss they share is something you see in movies. It’s more than just a kiss to them, I’m sure. Every time I kiss Royce it feels like more.
“Any word?” I ask Dallas who shakes his head. “I can’t just sit here. Blake,” Blake pulls away from Trent and turns to me, “Where is he?”
“I don’t know. His dad is looking for him but it could take hours,” she says.
“So what now?” I ask. “We just wait till we hear something?”
“Yes.” Dallas sits down and take a beer out of bucket in front of him. “We wait.”
Royce
I’ve witnessed a whole lot of hell in my life. My mama was never around, I was always hungry and angry. Life gave me nothing from the time I was born, until now at least. Now I have something to fight for. Something I will never willingly give up.
I’m sitting in my truck outside of Jeff’s cabin debating wither or not to go in. I know this is stupid. I know I shouldn’t even be considering walking back into Jeff’s life, but this has to be taken care of or I’ll never get peace.
“Royce?” My window is down and I look to my left finding Jeff walking up a path from the woods. “You heard?” I simply nod. “You came alone?” I nod again. “Why?”
“We need to get this drop finished.” I reach over and pull out the bag, the one full of every drop of money from the bank. “I was followed,” I nod behind me, no one is there right now but I drove slow enough and found a black suv following me a half hour ago. I actually fucking smiled.
I’m an idiot.
“I don’t see them,” Jeff says. “You sure they saw you?”
“Yes. Two guys driving a black suv. I’m pretty sure they pulled away once they realized where I was going.”