by K. J. Dahlen
“I’m hoping Zipper can clean up the video, so we can at least see her face,” Deke explained.
“Or her arm,” Sam muttered.
Deke turned to his father. “What? What about her arm?”
Sam nodded at the laptop. “She has a tattoo on her left wrist. If we can see that, we might be able to identify her.”
“Do you have any idea how many women out there have tattoo’s on their bodies?” Deke asked his father.
“Trust me, there’s something familiar about this bitch,” Sam assured him. “At least I think there is. Let’s just wait and see what your pal Zip comes up with.”
~* * * *~
Mountain, Dominic and Izzy were sitting at the kitchen table talking when Mountain’s phone rang. When he answered the call, his face changed from pleasant to worried. He hung up, then glanced over at Izzy. “We got a situation.”
“What kind of situation?”
“I’m not sure yet, but there’s trouble.” He looked from her to Dominic then back to her. “I need you to go to the clubhouse and wait for me there. Can you do that?”
“I can but why?” she asked.
“Somebody kidnapped Deke and Cassie’s twins.”
“Do they know who or why?” Dominic asked as they both heard Izzy gasp.
When he turned to look, she had her hands spread over her belly. Fear touched her eyes and Mountain knew she was worried. “They just found the babies gone. They don’t know anything else yet. I need to get over to Redemption House. But before I go, I need to know you’re safe.”
“I’ll take her over there myself,” Dominic offered. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Mountain shook his head. “I don’t know yet.”
“What about Boone?” Izzy asked. “If trouble is coming, shouldn’t he be at the clubhouse too?”
“Yeah, he should be.” Mountain nodded. “I’ll have someone pick him up from the PT and take him out there.”
Izzy got up and walked over to him. Resting her hands on his shoulders, she told him, “You’ll call and keep us informed?”
“Yeah, I’ll let you know,” Mountain promised. “But I got to go.”
Izzy leaned over and kissed his lips. “Take care and call to let us know what’s going on.”
“I will.” Mountain walked out the door.
A moment later, they heard his cycle start up.
“Maybe we should get you out to the clubhouse,” Dominic stated.
Izzy nodded. “Yeah, let’s go. I don’t want Mountain to worry. He’s got enough on his mind.”
“Yes, let’s hope Deke and Cassie get their children back.”
CHAPTER NINE
Cricket watched as the sun set. She was also waiting for Cordy to get home. The two toddlers had been feed and were now sleeping. The cough syrup had worn off and the babies had cried all afternoon. They were afraid and she couldn’t blame them.
Dusty had been great with them and that helped, but now the day was done and this feeling of dread had been growing in her stomach all day. The kids were sweethearts and they didn’t deserve what Cordy had done to them.
“Cricket, what is going to happen to them kids?” Dusty asked.
Cricket turned her head and observed him. At the tender age of six, he had experienced more than any child ever should have to face. It broke her heart that Dusty had to suffer but she didn’t see any other way. Cordy kept a hard watch on her sister, almost as if she expected her to run. Cricket had thought about running so many times, but she was looking at the only reason she stayed. Dusty. She would never leave him behind but she also didn’t want to spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder either.
Cordy was bat shit crazy and she had killed before. Cricket knew if she left and took Dusty with her, one day her sister would find her and she would kill both of them. “I don’t know baby.”
“I wish you were my mom,” he whispered.
“I wish I was too,” Cricket whispered back. “Maybe then, this madness would go away.”
“Can’t you take the kids back to where they belong?” Dusty asked. “You know they don’t belong with us. They have a mom and a dad of their own, don’t they?”
“Yeah baby, they do,” Cricket admitted.
“Does their mom and dad love them?”
“Yes they do, very much.”
“Then we have to get them home again.” Dusty got to his feet. “We can’t let her hurt them.”
Cricket felt tears gathering in her eyes. Dusty was right. Cordy might have taken them but it would be up to Cricket and Dusty to get them back to where they belonged. She felt a ripple of fear rush through her. This wasn’t the first time she’d tried to go against her sister but if she got caught, it would be the last time.
Dusty saw the lights of the truck pull into the driveway. His eyes widened and he scampered off to the bedroom. He knew Cordy probably wouldn’t be in a good mood tonight and he didn’t want to be caught in the middle. He knew she didn’t want to see him and he knew how to make himself scarce.
Cricket tensed and waited for her sister to come inside. When she heard the screech of the door scraping along the floor, she turned and watched as Cordy entered.
She was stumbling, so Cricket knew she had been drinking at work.
She looked over at Cricket and muttered, “So how were the brats?”
“They were fine, scared but okay. Dusty helped a lot,” Cricket informed her sister.
Cordy laughed. “Who knew the little bastard would come in handy one day?” She weaved her way over to the sofa. Flopping down, she laid her head back and closed her eyes.
“So what are you going to do with the kids?” Cricket asked.
Cordy smiled without opening her eyes. “I’m going to make Deke sweat for a day or two, then maybe I’ll let him know where his kids are. He’ll go nuts looking for them.” She chuckled. “Then when I know he’s ready, I’ll give him the ultimatum.”
Cricket shook her head. “You are actually going to tell him either you and his kids or her?”
Cordy sneered. “Yes, I am. I love him and I know deep down, he loves me too. He left before we could do anything about it, but now we can be together. We can raise his kids together or give them to his ex and let her raise them but one way or the other, I will have my happy ever after.”
Cricket was stunned. She knew Cordy was emotionally stunted and cruel but she truly realized now that her sister didn’t live in the real world. Deke would kill her before she got her happy ever after. The fact that she stole his kids would be enough to earn his everlasting hatred. She could only hope she was nowhere near when he found Cordy.
Cricket knew she had to get his kids back to him. It was the right thing to do and maybe if she asked, Deke could protect her long enough for her to disappear with Dusty. That was all she wanted…Freedom and the right to raise Dusty without being under Cordy’s thumb.
Cordy had laid her head on the back of the sofa and had her eyes closed.
Cricket stared at her and she couldn’t believe they were related. Cordy was such a different person since their father was gone. Before, she’d been the homemaker after their mother, Grace died. Cricket thought back to when their mother was still alive. Cordy had always been a mean kid, but she was much better at hiding it. Then their mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, there was no time for anything but taking care of their mother. Then after she died, Orrin moved them from New York to Maine. He was home less and less, then Cordy didn’t have to hide her dislike anymore.
It would be years before Cricket would know the real reason Cordy hated her. It seemed Cordy wasn’t Orrin Tannis’s child. Their mother had gotten pregnant with her before she met Orrin. The only parent they shared was the mother that died and Cordy was stuck taking care of Orrin’s true child. Orrin wasn’t her father but he still gave her orders, he still made her take care of Cricket.
Then after Orrin died,
the abuse Cordy heaped on Cricket got that much worse. Others in the MC tried to stick their nose in Cordy’s business and that just pissed Cordy off. She packed them both up and they left the MC.
When they left Bangor, Maine that day seven years ago, Cordy had told her she was going to find her Deke. She didn’t care how long it took or where they ended up, she was going to find him.
What Cordy didn’t know was when they left Maine that fateful day, she already carried a small piece of someone else. She hadn’t wanted to keep the child she carried but Cricket did. Cricket promised to take care of the baby and that was a good thing. Cordy used the baby every time she wanted Cricket to do something and while Cricket hated the power Cordy had over her, she loved the baby. She would protect him always.
But Dusty was right, they had to make sure Deke’s kids got back to him. Cricket had to think about how she would do it but she would do it. It was the right thing to do.
Cordy sat up and rubbed her face. She looked tired. “I’m going to bed. I work the early shift tomorrow, so keep the brats quiet tonight. I need my sleep.” With that, Cordy got up and stumbled to the second bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Cricket then heard her flop down on the bed.
~* * * *~
At that moment, eight miles away in the main room of the Sin’s Bastards clubhouse, Deke growled with impatience and fear. His children had been missing for hours and no one had found even a clue as to who took them or why.
Cassie was at the house and all the Old Ladies of the club were there with her, trying to keep her from going crazy.
Deke stomped over to where Zipper was busy tapping keys on his computer. He’d been looking for anything that could tell them who this woman was and for what purpose she had kidnapped two innocent children.
So far, nothing they tried had worked. They still didn’t know who she was or why she’d snatched the kids. Security cameras hadn’t captured her likeness very well at all.
“Well, do you have anything?” Deke muttered angrily.
Zipper shook his head. “Sorry boss, these tapes aren’t telling us anything.”
“I don’t want to hear that!” Deke slammed the back of Zipper’s chair.
Sam came over and grabbed Deke’s arm. “That isn’t helping.”
Deke wrenched his arm out of Sam’s grip and scowled at the older man. “I know but I can’t help it. They’ve been gone for hours and we don’t have a fucking clue where they are or who took them.” He began to pace. “Cassie is barely hanging on and I’m not much better.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I need some answers before it’s too late.”
“We all need answers,” Sam told his son.
“If that bitch hurts them, even down to a tiny scratch I will bring hell’s own fury down on her head. I will burn her myself for what she’s done,” he vowed.
“Hell,” Sam grunted. “I’ll hand you the matches.”
CHAPTER TEN
Cricket turned to look out the window again. She had plans to make, like how was she going to get three kids and herself to Troy? She didn’t have a vehicle or money for a cab. She didn’t have any money period. Cordy always made sure of that.
Troy wasn’t that far away but far enough. She couldn’t walk the distance and she couldn’t call anyone to come and get the kids. She still needed a way for her and Dusty to get away.
Cordy would view this as the ultimate betrayal, one truly worthy of her revenge.
Something inside her broke free and she suddenly realized that this was her ticket out, if she did this it would be her step toward freedom. Hers and Dusty’s. Sweat beaded her forehead, as she got lightheaded at the thought. She would finally be free of her sister!
She would be able to do whatever she wanted. Cricket had her own dreams. Dreams she’d never told anyone about. Cordy didn’t care enough to ask and she had no one else to talk to, except Dusty. And while he was a great kid, he was only a kid. What did he know of hopes and dreams?
No, she thought to herself. She had to make this right. She must break away and do what she could to gain her freedom. Freedom for her and Dusty. She knew she would never leave him behind no matter what the cost. If she did, she knew her sister would really hurt him even though he was her son.
Cricket tried to close off her mind to what Cordy could and had done in the past when she hadn’t gotten her way.
Then she thought back to what Cordy had said this morning. Something about where she had picked up the kids. What had she called the place? Redemption House? Could that be a way out? Cordy wouldn’t go back there. She wouldn’t dare, not after what she did.
Then a sound broke the silence and Cricket hurried to the bedroom. One of the babies was crying. The two babies were laying on a blanket on the floor while Dusty was sleeping in the bed.
The two of them often shared the bed, as there was only one in each room. She never minded and the closeness gave Dusty security. Deke’s son was crying out in his sleep. Cricket knelt on the floor beside him and shushed him softly. She began singing a lullaby she often used when Dusty was this age.
She knew their names because they had them on their clothes when Cordy took them away from everything and everyone they knew. It broke Cricket’s heart that they missed their mother and father so much.
Little Sam quieted down and went back to sleep and Cricket scooted over and sat with her back to the wall. She watched over the three of them. She laid her head on her knees and closed her eyes for a moment.
The next thing she knew little Jemmia was patting her on the cheek. She had tears in her eyes but she wasn’t crying.
Cricket gathered her into her arms and the baby settled down. She glanced over to the window and noted the sun was coming up. Looking around, she saw Sam wasn’t in the bedroom. Cricket felt a moment of panic and got to her feet. Rushing out to the living room, she found the baby sitting on the floor while Cordy sat on the sofa smoking a cigarette.
Cordy glared at her then turned to frown at the boy. She got a calculating look on her face. “I think instead of going to work today, I’ll just run some errands.” She flicked her fingernails together. “And I think I’ll take the kid with me.” She motioned toward the baby on the floor. “I’m sure you’ll be okay with just the two of them today.”
“What kind of errands are you going to do?” Cricket asked. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She didn’t like the look in Cordy’s eyes when she stared at Deke’s son. “It won’t be any problem to keep all three of the kids.”
“No I don’t think so,” Cordy assured her. “I’ll keep the kid with me today. Don’t worry about him.” Cordy turned to stare at her sister. “You’ll have your hands full with Dusty and the girl.” She paused then added, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him. I need him to get Deke back. It might be a different story once I have him back but for now, I need this kid.”
Cricket nodded. There was nothing she could do about this new wrinkle. All she could do was use the time to get herself, Dusty and Jemmia away. If everything worked out, then Deke could worry about getting his son back.
Cricket’s hand went to the necklace around her neck. It was something she got from her mother before she died. Cordy had one too. Their mother Grace had gotten them for her daughters when she knew she was dying. She wanted the girls to have something to remember her by and Cricket could feel her mother standing beside her when she thought about her hard enough. Right now, Cricket needed her mother’s strength to do what she had to do.
When Cricket had the children fed, Cordy grabbed her purse and Sammy’s hand. She smiled wickedly at Cricket. “See you later then. You have fun today.” Jerking the boy’s hand, she half dragged him to the door.
She ran to the door and watched as Cordy lifted the boy to the backseat of the truck. She kept an eye on the truck as Cordy took off. Seeing the tail lights disappear Cricket turned and began gathering what she would need to start her life over.
; Knowing she couldn’t take much, Cricket packed only the essentials. The last thing she did was pack food for their trip. Troy might only be eight miles away but walking with two small children was going to take a while, maybe all day. They would have to travel carefully and be ready to hide along the way, if the need arose.
Cricket found her hands were trembling as she committed to her journey. Her plan might not be the best she could come up with, but she had to take this chance. This might be her only way out. Glancing over at the baby girl sitting on the floor playing with Dusty she knew she had to do it. She had to take this little girl home to her Daddy.
Finally, she picked up the baby and looked over at Dusty. “Are you ready for this?” she asked him quietly.
She saw him swallow the lump in his throat. She knew he was as afraid of what was about to happen, as she was but he also knew they didn’t have a choice. Finally, he looked up at her and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Cricket reached her hand out and Dusty took it. Wordlessly, they left the house. The sun was mid sky by this time and Cricket couldn’t help but wonder if they would make it.
They rounded the corner and began walking down the back way. The road here was a simple dirt road. It was hot and dusty and soon their shoes were coated with dirt. A while later, they heard a vehicle coming toward them from behind. Cricket stepped off the road and rushed toward the ditch. She’d been so absorbed in putting one foot in front of the other, she hadn’t paid any attention to the traffic.
Glancing around behind her she was glad to see the vehicle coming toward them wasn’t Cordy’s truck. The older car belonged to a neighbor and as it drew closer, she found herself gazing into the face of old Joshua Marky.
Shifting the baby in her arms, she narrowed her eyes against the brightness of the sunny day. “Oh Joshua, you scared me.”