by Geri Glenn
“Look, Sweet pea. If you are who you say you are, this is definitely a good idea.” He sighs and squeezes my hand. “Listen, just go in there and say what you gotta say, and if after that if you still want to leave I’ll take you home myself, okay?”
I stare at him, my eyes filling with tears, and nod. My heart pounds in my chest. I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I should do this. Reluctantly, I follow him. I don’t have much choice seeing as my hand is still trapped in his. He gently guides me through the door and into the building. We enter directly into a room that looks just like a seedy bar. Considering it’s barely nine o’clock in the morning, there is nobody around.
He walks me even farther, pulling me down a long and narrow hall. I look around, trying to ignore my pounding heart as I take in everything around me. Finally, he comes to a stop just outside a wooden door at the end of the hall. Knocking on it, my breath catches in my chest while we wait for an answer.
“Come in.”
The voice comes from inside and my heart jumps into my throat, racing the entire time. I tug on my hand again as the biker pushes the door open, but he just gives it a reassuring squeeze and pulls me inside.
The room is large and dingy, paperwork stacked untidily on every surface. The walls are covered in naked and half-naked women, and a large wooden desk sits off toward the back of the room. It’s the man behind that desk that is causing my body to tremble.
He looks almost exactly the same as he did the last time I’d seen him — back when I was only six years old. Sure, he’s a little older looking and has more tattoos than he did back then, but there’s no doubt that this is him.
The man stands slowly, his brow furrowed in frustration. “What the fuck, Bosco? You know I don’t let bitches back here! Who the hell is this?”
My body locks tight at the sound of his voice. If there was ever any doubt in my mind, it’s completely gone now. I still hear that voice in my sleep sometimes.
“Funny you should ask,” Bosco drawls. He turns to me and gives me a reassuring smile. “I’ll be out in the hall.”
Staring into his eyes, I nod gratefully, glad that he’s not abandoning me entirely. Bosco nods in return and winks before he backs out of the room and closes the door. I stare at that door, wishing I could run through it myself and never look back. But I’m here now, and this is my best shot. I need to take it.
Turning, I face the angry looking man behind the desk and paste on a phony smile. “Hi Daddy,” I whisper.
Daniel
As much as I hate my sister’s boyfriend, he’d been decent enough to text me this morning to let me know that Gabby was safe. About an hour ago I received another text from him, letting me know that she would be home shortly.
So here I sit, on her front step, waiting. I can’t believe she just hopped on the back of that guy’s bike and took off. And gave me the finger. We will definitely be talking about that. I don’t know what it is about this girl that gets me so uptight but when she left with him, I just about went crazy. If it weren’t for Travis reassuring me that she was fine, I just may have.
The roar of a motorcycle snaps me from my thoughts. I look up from my spot and see Gunner, the president of the Kings of Korruption MC, pull up with Gabby on the back of his motorcycle. Her eyes widen when she sees me, but she says nothing. I stand from where I’m sitting and watch as she climbs off the bike and the two exchange a few words that I can’t hear from where I am. I watch as Gunner says something to her, his face soft. She nods her head and turns to face me. Over her shoulder, Gunner narrows his eyes at me and shakes his head. Then he pulls away from the curb and is gone.
I look to Gabby and see her approaching. “What are you doing here, Daniel?”
I walk towards her, slowing to a stop when I get to where she stands with her hands on her hips. I know she’s still pissed at me for this morning, but I don’t care. I’m pissed at her, too. Her narrowed eyes and angry posture just about pushes me over the edge. Grabbing her arms, I pull her into me and look down into her angry eyes. “Fuck, Gabby! I was fucking worried! What the hell? Do you ever think before you do crazy shit?”
She stands on her tiptoes, getting right back into my space, eyes flaming. “Yes I think! And why do you even care? Your job is to find my brother, not play babysitter to me!”
I don’t know what makes me angrier. The fact that I still don’t know why the hell she went to the Kings or the fact that she’s right. What she does is none of my business — so why do I care? “Why were you with the Kings?” I snarl.
“Because Gunner is my father,” she snarls right back.
We both freeze. Her father? Gunner Monroe is Gabby’s father? She’s still up on her tiptoes, looking slightly less angry, but still not backing down. I realize now that her chest is pressed against mine and we’re both breathing heavily, causing our chests to brush against each other.
“Your father? Why didn’t you tell me that?” I ask, all my anger is gone and now I'm just confused. I profiled Gunner Monroe myself and never once had I discovered that he had children.
She drops back to her feet, moving herself out of my space and nods. “Because I haven’t seen or spoken to him since I was six years old. I didn’t even think of it until I saw that biker on your front step. When I saw that younger one sitting on his bike, I just told him who I was and that I needed him to take me to my father.” Her eyes fill with tears. “Asking Gunner for help was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
Her impulsive actions in the last twenty-four hours, while admittedly crazy, kind of make sense. The girl is desperate to find her brother. If Laynie ever went missing, I’d stop at nothing to find her.
Taking her hand, I lead her to the front step of her house and together we sit side by side. “What did he say?” I ask, careful to keep my voice gentle.
She sniffs and wipes away a stray tear. “He was happy to see me. When I told him about Derrick, he said he’d help right away. I think he’s worried too, which is weird considering he hasn’t even seen Derrick since he was about a year old.” A sad smile flits across her face. “When I was six and my brother was just a baby, my parents fought… a lot.” The quiver in her voice makes me want to pull her into my arms and comfort her, but I don’t. I sense she needs to tell me this on her own. “Since I’ve grown up, I’ve learned that my mom wasn’t happy with my father’s biker lifestyle. She gave him an ultimatum, and he chose the Kings. After he left he sent money to my mother every month, but at her request, he never attempted to contact us.”
I reach out and wipe away another tear from her cheek. Having been raised in a stable home with both parents, I can only imagine what she is going through, how much courage it took to go to him after he’d abandoned them like that. “Gabby, you didn’t need to do that. You don’t need them. I’m going to find Derrick for you.”
She snorts without humour. “You can’t promise me that.” Her eyes meet mine. “Look, Daniel, I know I shouldn’t have gone to them, and I know that they’re way of doing things is a little … ” She looks off to the right as she searches for the right word. “Different than yours, but I need to know that I’m doing everything I can to find him. I’m the only one that even notices he’s missing. I’m all he has, and he’s all I have.”
I barely even know this woman, but seeing her so worried tears me apart. I hate that sad look on her face. I hate knowing the desperation she feels. Reaching over, I wrap my arm around her and pull her into my side. “I can’t promise you that I’ll find him, but I can promise you that I’ll do everything I can. And if that fails, I’ll do even more.”
She looks over at me then, a ghost of a smile playing across her full lips. “Thank you, Daniel. And I’m sorry I gave you the finger.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, that wasn’t very nice.” She laughs with me and nudges me with her shoulder.
“You were right, though,” she says. “I’m kind of impulsive.” She gives me a sheepish grin. “I tend to act first
, think later.”
I feign shock. “You don’t say!”
We both chuckle, but the chuckle quickly fades for both of us and we end up staring into each other’s eyes. I know I shouldn’t be here. I know I shouldn’t touch her. But it’s like I have no control. I’m drawn to her.
Reaching out, I tip her chin up and move in closer. “Trust me, okay?” She nods, and I hear her swallow thickly. Her eyes are glued to my lips. Moving in, I brush my lips lightly against hers. “And no more crazy shit. Got it?”
She nods again, and I just smile, our lips barely touching. I’m about to pull away, not wanting to take advantage of her worry when she leans forward and presses her lips against mine. I freeze for a second, not sure what to do. When her hands come up and grasp my hair, I decide to go for it. Leaning into the kiss, I part my lips against hers.
When she pulls me even closer, I realize how bad this looks. An officer taking advantage of a civilian outside in the open. Pulling back, I paste on a smile. “Now that I know you’re okay, I have some work to do. Go inside and relax. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
She stares at me and nods, and I can’t help myself. I lean in and give her another soft brush with my lips. Pulling back, I smile. I wait for her to get inside her house and then try to ignore my erection as I walk to my car.
Gabby
It’s hard to believe it’s only three o’clock in the afternoon. So much has happened today. I woke up in a strange bed, jumped onto the back of a strange biker’s motorcycle, flipped off a sexy cop, confronted my estranged father, and then kissed that same sexy cop. The kiss was the best part.
I just met Daniel yesterday, but already we have been through a lot together. Sure, he’s bossy, which pisses me off, but I feel safe with him. It’s strange really, because I don’t feel safe with any man. No man, including my father, has ever given me reason to. Neither has my mother for that matter. I have always been my own safety net. So how come just two days with Daniel makes me want to finally trust someone else to do the job for me?
I walk into the bathroom, my thoughts swirling, but I stop in my tracks when I see my reflection. Good God! Is this what I’ve looked like all day? I look scary. And I kissed Daniel like this!
Flipping on the shower, I start peeling off my rumpled clothes and jump inside. The water beats against my skin, doing little to wash away the tension I feel. After getting out, I go about my regular beauty routine, put my mass of curls up with a red bandana and pair my look with a cute little sundress I bought at a second-hand store last week.
I open the fridge to make myself something to eat, but am quickly reminded by the bare shelves that I haven’t had time to get to the grocery store this week. The cupboards are just as bare. Deciding the fresh air would do me some good, I slip on my shoes, grab my purse and walk the three blocks to the nearest café.
The Bean has a Caramel Macchiato that is sure to wake me up. I order the largest size and pair it with a Tuscan turkey wrap. The cashier writes my name on the tall plastic cup and I move to the line-up of people waiting for their orders to be made.
The bell on the door dings just as a trio young men spill inside, laughter echoing around the small coffee shop. Everyone eyes them uncomfortably, taking in their blue clothing and rough exterior. Crips. I look at the three men, foolishly hoping that one is Derrick. My heart flips when my eyes land on the third man.
Rushing forward, I grab his arm and pull him off to the side. “Tommy! I’ve been trying to reach you!” I keep talking, not even noticing when he yanks his arm from my grasp. “Derrick hasn’t been home in –”
“Bitch, you need to back the fuck off me,” he says, his face distorted in annoyance. “I didn’t call you back because I didn’t want to fuckin’ talk to you.” He glances back at the two guys he came in with, shaking his head in disgust. The two men eye us both, tension crowding the room in an instant.
I stare at him is shock. “What did you just say to me?”
“Bitch, you heard me. I know why you fuckin’ called. I just don’t care. Now if you don’t mind, I’m here to get a coffee and then me and the boys got shit to do.”
I grasp the front of his shirt and yank his body to mine. “You listen here you little shit. It wasn’t so long ago that I used to wipe the SpagettiO’s off your chin because your mother was too drunk to feed you. You remember that, Tommy?” I motion to the guys behind him and lower my voice. “You want to be tough in front of your boys, that’s your deal. But I swear to God, if you don’t tell me what happened to my brother, I will rip your balls off with my bare hands and use them to flavour your coffee. You hear me?”
He stares down at me as I speak, the anger in his face replaced with sadness for just a flash and then it’s gone. After a moment, he yanks himself out of my grasp and shakes his head. “Yeah I hear ya, Gabby. But if you were smart, you’d just let it go. Your brother got what was coming to him. It’s done now. Don’t get yourself involved. Do you hear me?”
I stare back at him, my eyes wide. What does that mean? Before I even get a chance to ask, Tommy shakes his head and walks out of the coffee shop, his buddies right on his heels and the barista is calling my name.
I don’t even approach the counter. My head spinning, I head for home, Tommy’s words playing over and over in my head. Your brother got what was coming to him. It’s done now. What the fuck did he mean? Tears cloud my vision as I close the door to my house. Pressing my back against it, I sink to the floor, wracked with harsh, gasping sobs.
Daniel
My phone rings from an unknown number just as I’m finishing up my paperwork. “Hello?”
“Lawson?”
I don’t recognize the gruff voice. “Yeah.”
“Gunner Monroe.” My body freezes. What the fuck would Gunner have to say to me?
“What can I help you with Mr. Monroe?”
“Well, Officer Lawson –”
“Sergeant. It’s Sergeant Lawson.”
He chuckles. “Okay. Sergeant Lawson… I couldn’t help but notice that you were sitting on my daughter’s doorstep when I dropped her off earlier. Are house calls a service that all city cops offer?”
I grit my teeth. “What’s your point Monroe?”
“Bosco also informed me that she came running out of your place this very morning. Is that true?”
I sigh. “That’s none of your business.”
An angry silence fills the line. “That’s my daughter, Lawson. I’d say that makes it my business.”
“Well, sir, I disagree. I met Gabby yesterday and I bet you that I already know her a hell of a lot better than you do. Now if you don’t mind getting to the point, I have work to do.”
“Fuck you, Lawson. You’re lucky your sister is family, or I’d have fucked you over months ago. Stay out of our shit and we won’t have any problems. That also means stay the fuck away from my daughter.” My jaw hardens at his tone. “Gabby and Derrick are family, and the Kings will find my son. We take care of our own.”
I snort. “Yeah. Sounds like you’ve done a great job when it comes to your kids. Look… the Kings are already being watched. I tell you that as a brother, scared for his sister, not a cop to a criminal. Let the cops do their jobs Monroe, and keep your boys out of trouble.”
I disconnect the call without waiting for a response. I’m just stuffing it back into my pocket when it rings again.
“Hello?” I drawl, sure that it’s Gunner calling to get the last word.
“Daniel?” Her voice is filled with tears and barely understandable. My gut clenches.
“Gabby! What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
She sobs softly. “I went… ” She sobs again, her voice muffled. “I … ” She blows her nose and I hear her take a deep breath. “Sorry… I went to the coffee shop to grab a late lunch. When I was there, Tommy walked in.” Her voice wavers again. “I tried to talk to him and he told me to back off. He said that–” I can hear the exact second she loses what little control she had, b
ut she pushes through, her voice heavy with tears. “He said that Derrick got what was coming to him and that it’s done now.” Another sob takes over. “What the hell does that even mean Daniel?”
It means that Derrick is in serious trouble, that’s what it means, but I’m not about to tell Gabby that. “I don’t know, baby. Where are you right now?”
She sniffs. “Home. I called you as soon as I got back.”
I stand up, already moving to my car. “Okay, baby. You hold tight. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“No, Daniel. You don’t have to do that.”
“I said, I’ll be there in ten minutes. No arguments.”
Another sniff. “Okay. But Daniel?” I swing into my car and start it up, waiting for her to argue again. “Can you bring me something to eat. I’m hungry and I never did get my Tuscan turkey wrap or my macchiato.”
I chuckle as I pull out of my parking spot. “Yeah, babe. I’ll bring you some food.”
I hear a small smile in her still sad voice as she whispers, “See you soon.”
I disconnect the call and drive down the street, pushing the Bluetooth button and directing it to call dispatch.
“Ottawa City Police. How may I help you?”
“Hey, Nancy. Lawson, here. I need you to look up a Tommy Lewis for me. Approximately 19 years old. Lives on the west side. I need everything you can find on this kid. Address, known hangouts, priors, any warrants — everything. I’ll call back in a bit and get the info from ya.”
“You got it Sergeant Lawson. I’ll see what I can find.”
“Thanks Nancy.” I disconnect and tap my fingers on the steering wheel. This Tommy kid and I need to have a little chat.
Gabby
Waiting for Daniel to show up at my house gives me a little time to settle down. Now I’m just angry. Tommy and Derrick have been best friends since the day they started school, fifteen years ago. Over the years he spent way more time in our house than he did in his own. I hadn’t been lying when I reminded him about how I fed him. I have. For years I have.