Belinda sensed Blaine’s movement and spoke. “No. Answer my question. Where is Adam? I know you’ve been talking to him, confusing him, and telling him he had choices. He’s underage, Trinity, and this parent will sue your sanctified ass for messing with my family. Get your own kids and leave mine the hell alone. Now, where is my son?”
Trinity’s eyes flicked toward the house and then back at Belinda. For a moment no one spoke. Water filled Belinda's eyes as her anger increased. This woman had been a thorn in her side for years, but up until now, the only person Trinity targeted had been Belinda. Perhaps Trinity assumed Belinda’s lack of response meant weakness or an inability to fight back. The reality was much simpler. Trinity did not matter enough to bother with. Belinda’s plate was full of daily challenges without adding Trinity. But the woman had gone too far this time when she messed with Adam.
“I don’t know why you’re accusing me of turning Adam against you. I wouldn’t do that. We were best friends once, though we’ve had our problems that’s for sure. I know how much your sons mean to you. Believe me, I do.” She shook her head. “This is a legal business, we help troubled youth. These young people are free to leave at any time. No hostages here.”
“Where is he?” Belinda yelled, moving forward.
Trinity’s nostrils narrowed. She took off her sunglasses and pointed at Belinda. “I don’t know and wouldn’t tell you if I did. Now get the hell off my property before I call the police.”
“Call them. I want them to search this place for my son. Call them Trinity. Get on your damn phone and call the police. Let’s see what they turn up.” Belinda stepped up into Trinity’s face. “All I want is my son. You can continue this set up or whatever you’re doing. Not my business.” Belinda shook her head. “But if I discover you had anything to do with Adam leaving home or that you talked to him even once, I promise you this.” She pointed her finger. “You will have a taste of hell on earth before you go to glory.”
Glaring, Trinity stepped back. “You are headed to hell, Belinda Moore. People have wasted prayers on you for years. If your son has left you, I wish him Godspeed. There was always a call on Adam’s life, I hope he finds what he needs to fulfill the plan of God for him. He certainly won’t find it living with you,” she spat as she walked around them and headed into the house.
“I really want to kick her ass right now. Just on general principle and the way she talked like she didn’t know what was going on…” she said, looking over her shoulder as she was gently lead to the car.
“You could tell she was lying, couldn’t you?” she asked Donnie, who held the door open for her.
“Yeah, she is. But we wanna reach the other ranch before it gets too late, plus it’s supposed to rain later tonight,” Blaine said.
She looked back at the house and whispered to Donnie. “Mess up her tires so she can’t leave. We need to buy some time.”
His brow rose before a small grin curved his lips. “Yes, Ma’am.” He closed her door, turned and walked around the van to get to the back seat. When he closed his door he said one word. “Done!”
She exhaled and looked at the house again.
Chapter 17
Belinda sat hunched in the front seat, looking out the window at the dismal landscape. All her thoughts centered around grabbing her son from Trinity’s claws. “Bitch,” she muttered as they passed another landmark.
“What’s this?” Donnie asked from the back seat while holding up an envelope so she could see. “Yours?”
“No. It wasn’t there before?” She twisted in the seat and took the envelope from between his fingers.
“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. I didn’t see it and I’ve been riding in the back the whole time. Open it. Maybe someone’s trying to help,” Donnie said from behind her.
“Stop,” she yelled as she recognized Adam’s wide script. “This is from Adam. Turn around,” she said as she scanned the short note. Tears filled her eyes as she rocked from one side to the other as Blaine executed a turn in the middle of the road and took off in the direction they had come.
Donnie’s phone beeped and he snorted. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Belinda exhaled and centered her thoughts so she could read Adam’s note aloud. “Why do you say that?”
“O’Connor clan’s pulling into the compound right now. Veronique gave them the address and they decided to check it out themselves.”
She stiffened. “Your dad too?”
“Probably.”
She looked out the window again with mixed emotions. Happy that her son was okay and that she’d be with him soon. Anger at meeting the man who'd robbed her of years with the men she loved. She froze.
Loved? Who was she kidding? She was still in love with them. Her heart dropped knowing nothing could come of it. It was like she was nineteen all over again, in love with two men when legally she could only commit to one and that wouldn’t work. Not with them.
“Can you read Adam’s note?” Blaine asked into the quiet. “I want to hear it.”
“Oh yeah, yeah…sorry.” She cleared her throat as he gazed at her son’s writing.
“Mom, I’m here in the basement. I want to go home.”
Frowning, Blaine glanced at the paper and then at the road. “I asked Louis if there was a basement and he told me no. Did I misread him?”
Belinda shrugged while wishing she could make the car go faster. “He seemed genuine, but he could be a good actor, look at Trinity. She seemed normal but is nuttier than a snickers bar. One couldn’t tell just by looking or talking to them anymore. Crazy has almost become normal and that’s scary.”
“Hmmm,” Blaine said without taking his eyes off the road. The rest of the drive was done in silence. Soon they were turning off the main road to the ranch. This time three additional vehicles were parked near Trinity’s van.
“Are they changing the tire?” Belinda asked as they pulled alongside Red’s truck. Frank, Red, and Abe were standing near Trinity’s van while a man she didn’t know worked on the tire.
“Not for long,” Donald said, sliding out from the back seat and walking over to the men.
She and Blaine exited the car and headed for the front of the building with a wave to the O’Connor clan standing outside. When she reached the porch, a red-faced Louis met them. She read his uncertainty but knew there was no way she was leaving without Adam.
“I am sorry but I have instructions to prevent you from coming inside, it seems I was wrong before. My apologies. Please wait for Ms. Trinity on the porch,” Louis said in a strained voice.
“No. That isn’t going to work for us this time, Louis. My son is here, in the basement, waiting,” Blaine said stepping closer to the door. “No way am I leaving him there a moment longer than necessary.”
Louis frowned. “Basement? We don't have a basement.”
“Yeah, you do. He had one of the teens slip us a note, that’s why we're back so soon,” Belinda said over her shoulder to him. “I just came for my son, that’s all. You can go back to your Pollyanna world as soon as I get him.” She opened the door and stepped inside, confident Blaine or Donnie had her back. Inside the dining area, Veronique’s eyes flicked over to her before returning to Trinity.
“What is wrong with you?” Trinity hissed when Belinda entered the room fully. “You sent your lawyer and some goons here for Adam? I told you he wasn’t here.”
“There is nothing more for Ms. Moore to say to you. She knows her son is here, he told her. If you don’t tell his father where he is in the next minute I will be calling the authorities and demanding they search this entire facility,” Veronique said in a no nonsense voice.
Belinda’s gaze slid to an immaculately dressed Veronique, who played the role of a high priced attorney to the max.
“Mom?” Abe said as he suddenly stood next to her.
“Call the police, Veronique,” Belinda said. “Adam is in the basement if she hasn’t moved him. But he is here, and no telling who else
she has hidden away.”
“I’ll start looking for the basement,” Blaine said, leaving the room with Frank and Red. Donald came in and stood behind Abe.
Trinity’s mouth opened and closed as she watched the men leave. Veronique stepped to the side and spoke softly on the phone. Belinda couldn’t make out the words but was confident the woman knew what she was doing.
“So Adam was right, his deadbeat dad showed up after all these years,” Trinity said into the quiet of the room.
“What?” A voice boomed from behind Belinda. “What you say about me grandson?”
Belinda’s hand tightened around Abe’s. She wasn’t ready to deal with this.
“Grandson?” Trinity stepped to the side and looked over Belinda’s shoulder. “Abe, you finally met your dad too, huh? How does that feel? You happy? Adam wasn’t. He didn’t trust the man who claimed to be his dad.”
Belinda hid a wince from Abe’s tightened grip.
“I'm happy to be with all my family. Where’s my brother?” Abe said in an even tone.
Trinity shrugged. “I talked to him a few times. He was unhappy over the situation at home…the men in and out of his life. He knows there is a call of God on his life and wanted to be sure his soul was right with his Maker. You should be more like him.”
“Geez, another fanatic,” one of the men said from the doorway.
“Yeah, all dolled up and empty upstairs. Stop the jabbering about matters that don’t concern you and bring the boy so we can be on our way.”
Belinda smirked at the flash of fury on Trinity’s face.
“Godliness is no joke. Don’t you understand His grace and mercy is infinite but conditional. He requires us all to worship Him and live according to his word. You may make fun of me, but Adam believes God has things for him to do. His mom knows this.”
“Enough woman, a man can serve God without leaving his family. He’s still a young’un and God woulda told his parents, not you, it was time for him to leave. Above all, God commands we obey the laws as long as there is no conflict. You are the only conflict here. Talking children into leaving home, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.”
Belinda had no idea who was blasting Trinity but she enjoyed the impact the comments had on her nemesis and Trinity’s inability to spout her indignation.
“Not coming home at night. You’re sleeping with two men and that’s a major sin.” Trinity changed tactics and pointed at her. “Your godmama is rolling in her grave over the woman you’ve become. No wonder Adam is confused, you’re a loose woman who has no idea who's the father of your children.”
“First off, godmama isn’t in her grave, she’s supposed to be with the Lord,” Abe said, stepping in front of Belinda. “Second, I know who my father is and that’s all that matters. Third, you talk about God as if you know Him, but your hateful actions say you got no idea who He really is. You chase my mom all over the country sending nasty, mean letters or leave disgusting text messages in the name of religion. You’re a joke. If being Christian means I have to harass people to get them to hear what I say instead of seeing Christ in the way I live, then I want no part of the message you’re peddling. It sucks big time. Why don’t you leave my family alone and go away?”
Belinda’s heart warmed as she listened to Abe’s defense. Trinity’s face reddened as she sputtered at his closing question.
“I’m not chasing anyone. I know she is with the Lord, it was a figure of speech. I apologized for the messages. You’re just a kid, you don’t understand,” Trinity finished lamely.
Blaine and his brothers returned…without Adam. Belinda turned to meet him. “We couldn’t find a basement,” Blaine said, looking down at her.
Anger and resentment swirled inside as she met his gaze. “Find the kid who left us the note, we need to know where he got it from.”
Donald stepped closer. “Hold on, talking with underage kids could present some legal challenges if we proceed without permission,” he whispered.
Frustrated, Belinda’s heart slammed against her chest in worry. What if Trinity wasn’t working alone? What if the basement was at the other ranch? Indecision rocked her. She didn’t know if she should go to the other ranch and search, or seek other leads. One thing for sure, her son either expected her to come for him or knew she was there. She wasn’t sure which.
“Which one of you left the note in the car?”
Belinda jerked backward, noticing the absence of the two other men. Frank and Red headed toward the stairs behind Louis.
Trinity glared at them. “So now you harass children?” She stomped past them and walked up the steps, leaving Donnie, Blaine, Veronique and Abe behind.
“She’s right, you can’t question minors without consent,” Veronique said as she tapped the keypad of her phone.
Abe turned and walked outside, slamming the door behind him.
“Do we go to the other ranch?” she asked.
Blaine stared out the window. “What if he thought he was in a basement? What if it wasn’t a basement and he thought it was.”
“Huh? Adam knows what a basement is, we have one at home,” Belinda said, trying to follow his train of thought.
“The mind is tricky. If I’m blindfolded and you’re saying this is a basement, it could be a cellar, or bunker. I wouldn’t know the difference,” Blaine said. “Where is Abe headed?” He pointed out the window. Dusk had fallen but she could make out Abe’s form. He was walking toward the fields.
Belinda shoved past Blaine and ran to the door. “I don’t know but I’m going with him.” Out the corner of her eyes she saw a tall, slim teen walking in the opposite direction. For a split second she debated whether or not to go after him, but decided to go for Abe instead.
“See that guy?” she called over her shoulder to the men following her.
“Yeah, got it,” one of them answered. That’s when she realized Red and Frank had returned from upstairs. Frank separated and went after the disappearing teen.
Moments later, they caught sight of Abe. He was kneeling in front of some barrels. When he saw them he stood and waved them over. “Help me move these.” He pulled on one of the top ones, moving it some.
Red walked over and placed his hand on the other side. “On the count of three, pull.”
Belinda stood a few feet away watching them remove the barrels. She stepped toward the large tool shed and tried to open the door. It was locked.
“Open this door for the bonny lass,” a voice spoke from behind her. Closing her eyes, she stepped aside as a tall, wiry, older man stepped to the door. His reddish brown hair identified him as an O’Connor, she didn’t know who. At that moment it didn’t matter. The door creaked open and he walked in without hesitation.
“Too clean for a tool shed,” he called out. “I’mma look around.”
She inched toward the door, peeked in, and then stepped inside. It was a large space with a cement floor. Every gardening tool was in its proper place. Even the floor was swept clean. “Who does that?” she asked.
“Someone who doesn’t want tracks to show.”
She jumped at the comment, having forgotten she wasn’t alone.
“Nate O’Connor. I’m the uncle of the twins and brother to the idiot who messed things up so badly. Pleased to meet you.” He extended his hand to her.
She took it, expecting him to shake hers. He kissed the back of it instead. “I remember the twins being gaga over you years before. They still are. That kind of fire never dies, believe me.” He winked at her as he released her hand. “Your boy is here somewhere, underground I’d bet. We just have to find out how to get to him. But we will, have no fear on that account.” He walked off.
Nodding, she glanced at her hand and then back at him as he searched the area, stopping every once in a while to tap a wall.
“There’s a hook in the crack,” Abe shouted. She returned outside as Donnie, Blaine, and Red strained to open what appeared to be some sort of panel. Based on the rust surrounding
the hatch, she was fairly certain Trinity hadn’t used that as a point of entry.
“In here me boys,” Nate called from inside the building.
Belinda met Blaine’s gaze and nodded. She followed Donnie and Red into the shed, choosing to walk with Abe and Blaine.
Abe squeezed her hand, she looked at him. “This guy outside, he told me he came here and told Adam what was going on earlier. He figured you were looking for Adam. He gave Adam some paper and then put the note in your car when no one was watching when you were here the first time.”
She nodded. “Who is he?”
Abe shrugged as they neared the others. “I dunno. He sneaks in here to rest sometimes when Trinity isn’t around, which isn’t that often. He was up in the rafters when Adam was brought in late the other night, blindfolded. Trinity and some other guy were talking to him. That guy don’t work here, though.”
“Okay,” she said as a steel door in the floor slid easily to the side. Blaine stepped down, followed by Donald and then Red. When she couldn’t see their heads, she started for the opening.
“Be careful it’s steep,” Nate said.
She glanced at the other man standing quietly beside him and surmised it must be Blaine’s father.
“We got him,” Blaine called out. “Coming up.”
She forgot about the older O’Connor as her heart sped in anticipation. Red came up first, swatting in front of his face and pulling spider webs from his hair. “That place’s not made for tall people,” he complained as he spit and pulled on his hair.
Blaine followed Red with a wide grin. He met her eyes and she read his relieved joy. Without thinking she moved forward and caught sight of her son. “Adam,” she whispered, holding her arms out to him. His eyes lit with happiness and something else. He walked into her arms and held her tight. Tears pooled and rolled down her cheeks as she rubbed his back in a circular motion.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I never should’ve… I’m sorry,” he kept repeating as he laid his face in the crook of her neck.
“It’s okay…you’re grounded for life, but otherwise it’s okay,” she murmured while watching Blaine. Donnie and Abe were talking softly in the corner while Blaine looked at Adam with longing.
Scandalous Heroes Box Set Page 104