by K. J. Dahlen
Cassie shook her head. “He was always high or drunk. He blamed me and Mom for his own failures. Even when I was three I knew that much. I remember the fights they had. I’d wake up to their screaming at each other. I doubt the man could remember his own name at times.”
“That doesn’t explain the sales,” Deke reminded them. “How do so many kids disappear without someone noticing?”
“They didn’t,” Peaches whispered. “That was the big secret in that house. When she sold one of the kids she replaced them with another throw away kid.”
“What?” Lance sat down with a thud.
Cassie nodded. “You found Josette Rearden but you won’t find Callie Blake.”
Everyone turned to look at Peaches. “Aren’t you Callie?” Deke finally asked.
Peaches shook her head.
Cassie held out her hand to Peaches. Their fingers entwined. “No, she came after Callie disappeared. She was five years old but she’d been through a trauma and couldn’t remember who she was. She couldn’t even speak when she first got there. It took months before she spoke.”
“Did she ever remember her name or anything about what happened to her?” Lance asked.
“No I didn’t,” Peaches answered. She looked over at Cassie. “But that never made a difference to Cassie. She didn’t care who I was or what happened to me before I came to the Pierce house.”
“So, we still don’t know where Callie is,” Lance stated.
“Oh, I know where she is,” Cassie admitted.
“You do?” Lance frowned.
“Yup.”
“Where is she?” he demanded.
“She’s buried in the woods behind the house. Along with four other kids who never were reported as missing.”
“What happened to them, babe?” Deke asked.
“They pissed off Mrs. Pierce, that’s what happened.” Cassie growled.
“Do you know where they are buried?” Lance asked.
“Yes, I know where the bodies are. That’s one of the reasons she wants me back. She has to make sure I don’t talk to the police.”
“We need to get on this before she has a chance to move the bodies,” Lance said.
“She can’t,” Cassie replied.
“What do you mean?” Deke asked. “Didn’t she bury them?”
Cassie nodded, then grabbed Peaches’ hand. “She did but I dug them up and reburied them where she wouldn’t find them again. I couldn’t leave them all alone out there. At least this way, they would be together.”
“But you were just a kid when all this happened.” Deke felt stunned. “How could you do all that when you were a kid yourself?”
Cassie shrugged. “You just have to find a way to get it done. I did what I had to do.”
“Mrs. Pierce never knew what Cassie did. Once she buried the bodies she never went back to them, she never checked on them. It was Cassie who got up at daybreak to make breakfast for everyone. Mrs. P always slept until noon. When one of the kids had a bad dream it was Cassie who sat up comforting them,” Peaches told them.
“I’m not a saint,” Cassie protested.
“No, you aren’t but you are a very good person.” Peaches countered. “All the kids except for Robbie looked up to you. That was the reason she beat you so much. You had control where she didn’t.”
“This means you’ll have to come back to Boston and show us where the bodies are,” Lance stated.
Cassie shook her head. “I can give you a map, but I’m never going back. Even if you put that bitch in jail, my life is still in danger. The people associated with her are dangerous. I will never be free to simply live my life. I’ll always have to watch my back.”
“No baby, you won’t,” Deke spoke up. “We’ll protect you, I’ll protect you.”
Cassie shook her head. “I can’t allow you or your men to put their lives in danger for me.” She wrapped her hands around his face. “I don’t want anyone to die for me.”
“You aren’t leaving here,” Deke stated. “We won’t let you go.”
“I don’t want to leave.” Cassie glanced at Peaches.
For a moment, neither said a word then Peaches got to her feet and ran to the kitchen crying.
Reva frowned and followed her.
~* * * *~
“What is it?” Reva asked the sobbing girl.
Peaches just cried harder.
Reva wrapped her arms around her shoulders and rocked her for a moment. Peaches laid her head on the older woman’s shoulder. “Are you okay hon?” Reva asked.
“No, but I will be,” Peaches finally whispered. “Cassie made sure of that.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She’ll make sure Lance Sullivan will find out where I came from. She always promised me she would do that. Find out who I was, I mean,” Peaches told Reva.
“She’ll be there when he does that,” Reva assured her.
“No she won’t,” Peaches whispered hanging her head. “She’s leaving soon and this time, she won’t be back.”
Reva’s heart stopped. “How do you know?”
“I just do. I always know.”
“You have to tell Deke,” Reva told her.
Peaches shook her head. “It won’t make any difference. He can’t keep her here. She won’t put anyone’s life on the line. She doesn’t think she’s worth someone else’s life.”
“Well, she’d be wrong about that. These boys will protect her. They may belong to a motorcycle club but they are all good men.”
“If Cassie don’t want to be found, she won’t be found,” Peaches whispered with certainty in her eyes.
~* * * *~
Cassie turned and stared at Lance Sullivan. “After you deal with the bitch, I want your promise that you will find out who Peaches belongs to. I want you to find her family and return her to them. She deserves that much consideration. She can still make something of her life.”
Lance nodded. “I can do that.”
“You’d better because if you don’t, I will come after you,” she assured him. “Even if it’s from beyond the grave.”
Deke wrapped his arms around her. “Baby, that bitch isn’t ever going to touch you.”
Cassie rested her forehead on his chest. Then she tipped her face up to his. “Will you promise me something?”
Deke nodded.
“Please make sure Peaches is okay when this is over. Help me keep my vow to her.”
“You both will get through this. I promise you that.”
Cassie patted his chest. “Thank you.”
Before Deke could say anything, Wiley came to the door. “Boss, I think you need to see this.”
CHAPTER NINE
Deke and Cassie went to the door.
Cassie gasped and Deke growled when they saw what was waiting for them.
In front of the locked gates stood three men in dark suits. Every three feet, along the fence on both sides of the men, stood soldiers. They were armed and had their weapons pointed at anyone and everyone standing inside the fence.
Cassie looked around, not one of the men inside the compound moved. Their hands were raised in the air. Most of the men wore frowns and the look in their eyes showed they were not happy.
Deke turned and glared at Lance. “What the fuck is going on here?”
Lance stood and began gathering the evidence Cassie had given him. “I had no choice but to call in the FBI who were associated with the case. When they knew the girls were here, they came along in case you wouldn’t allow the girls to leave.” He looked up at Deke. “I know this doesn’t sit well with you, it doesn’t sit well with me either, but I need those girls back in Boston to answer questions. With their testimony, we have a chance to lock down one of the biggest child porn rings this country has ever had.”
“I should fucking kill you where you stand,” Deke whispered.
Lance nodded. “I know what you’re feeling. I didn’t want to bring them here either, but I had no choice. They
want that ring busted up.”
“What’s going to happen to the girls, once the feds have what they want?”
“They will go into witness protection,” Lance stated.
“But you told me you’d find Peaches’ family!” Cassie cried out.
“I’m sorry.” Lance shrugged. “But it’s better this way.”
Cassie charged at Lance with her fingers curled like talons. “You bastard!”
Deke caught her around the waist and held her to him. ‘Don’t. I’ll find you and bring you home again.”
Zipper disappeared for a moment then when he returned, he had two denim vests in his hands. “Before you go, we’d like to present these to the girls.”
Lance stared at the vests. They were simple blue jean with the Satan’s Spawn logo on the back. He shrugged. “I think it’s okay. I mean I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Zipper handed one vest to Peaches and carried the other vest over to Cassie. “Please wear these with pride and make sure you don’t lose them.”
Cassie stared at the man for a moment then his fingers lingered on hers for a moment after he handed her the vest. She narrowed her eyes and nodded. “Thank you. I’ll wear this with pride and always remember the men behind the patch.”
Zipper grinned while Deke helped her don the garment.
Peaches and Lance joined them by the door.
Lance looked over at Deke. “I’m sorry things worked out this way. I know you’re mad about this but think of the bigger picture. With their help, we can do so much more than anyone knew.”
Deke growled low in his throat. “Watch your back, one day I’ll be there to return the favor of stabbing you in it.”
Cassie wrapped her arms around Deke’s neck. “One last kiss, please.”
Deke’s mouth covered hers and when her lips parted his tongue delved into her mouth. Their kiss was hot, wet and heavy. Cassie felt the tingle of his possession all the way to her toes. When she pulled back, she had tears in her eyes. “That is what I’m going to miss the most,” she whispered.
Deke watched as she turned to follow Peaches and Lance to the fence.
Gator was there to punch in the code that opened the gate. He waited until the three of them were outside the gate, then he punched in another code that closed the door.
Everyone watched as the soldiers backed away and began loading into the vans. When the doors closed behind Cassie, Peaches and Lance as well as the three men in suits, the vans backed out of the driveway.
Deke and the others stood and watched until the vans disappeared. Deke turned and slammed his fist into the wall, splitting the wood. “I’m gonna fucking kill that man. When I find the girls I will kill him!”
“You don’t have to even search for her boss,” Zipper told him.
Deke snapped his head around and glared at the other man. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I know where the girls are going.” Zipper smiled.
“What are you talking about fool?” Gator growled as he joined Deke.
Zipper shrugged his shoulders. “I had those vests made with a very special reason in mind.”
“Cut to the chase Zipper,” Deke ordered.
“I placed a tracking device in the collar of each vest,” Zipper announced. “We can track where the girls are taken.”
“And if we can track them, we can retrieve them and bring them back here,” Deke whispered.
Gator placed his hand on Deke’s shoulder. “We can’t just ride into Boston and take the girls back. It’s too dangerous.”
Deke nodded. “I know. The Sinners aren’t going to be happy we’re there.”
“Unless we can make it worth their while,” Gator said.
Deke looked over at his friend and vice president. “What are you suggesting?”
Gator shrugged. “Hell…I don’t know. There has to be something that fucker wants that we got.”
Deke scoffed. “If there is, I don’t know about it.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Iceman hasn’t gotten his rep by being a man who’s easy to talk to.”
“No.” Gator laughed. “The bastard is after his own name painted with fortune and glory.”
“Maybe you can appeal to his better side?” Zipper suggested.
“He doesn’t have a better side,” Deke snapped. Even as he reached for his phone, his mind was racing with empty ideas. He dialed a number he rarely used.
“Who the fuck is this?” Iceman growled into the phone.
“Iceman, its Deke Tory, President of Satan’s Spawn in New York.”
There was silence for a moment then Iceman spoke, “What the fuck does Satan’s Spawn want with me?”
“I’m calling to ask if my men and I can come through your town on a rescue mission,” Deke spoke with the upmost respect in his voice.
“Now, why would you and your men need to visit my city? Who are you gonna rescue?”
“The Feds and one Lance Sullivan who took my girlfriend from me,” Deke informed him. “They claimed she was the only person who could bring Mrs. Eleonore Pierce down.” He paused then asked, “Have you heard that name before?”
“Fuck yeah!” Iceman growled. “Been watching her for years. Do you know what she’s mixed up in?”
“Yeah, I know what the bitch is doing.”
“Can this girl bring her down?” Iceman sounded very interested in Deke’s answer.
“Yeah…She can bring the bitch down.”
“Then maybe, she’s where she needs to be right now.”
Deke took a deep breath and let it out. “I can’t lose her.” He admitted. “The Feds are putting them in witsec as soon as the Pierce woman is taken down.”
“Brother, I hate to help the Feds do any fucking thing but this would be a good happening. This Pierce woman is bad news. She peddles kids for Christ’s sake.”
“I know what she does,” Deke growled. “You and I peddle pussy, so we could be considered just as bad.”
“No, brother,” Iceman corrected. “The pussy we peddle is of legal age. Kids under the age of ten are not.”
Deke exhaled. “I just need passage through the city. I want to find my girl and get the fuck out.”
Iceman hesitated then admitted, “Now, is not really a great time.”
“Why is that?”
“The ruling family is not happy.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Deke asked.
“The Vincinti family,” Iceman explained. “Cal Vincinti left last week to run down a clue to the whereabouts of his kid. He got back today and he’s not happy. The city is on lockdown until he gets over his disappointment. Believe me brother, you don’t want to be here right now.”
“I have to be there,” Deke replied. “I have to get my girl back.” He ran his fingers through his hair again in frustration. “What’s the story with this Vincinti anyway? He can’t find his kid, so he holds an entire city hostage?”
“No my friend, it’s deeper than that,” Iceman explained. “Sixteen years ago Louisa Vincinti was killed in a car accident, young Peaches disappeared and Cal can’t find any sign of her. It’s driving him crazy.”
“What did you call the girl?” Deke demanded.
“Her name was Peaches. Well, I guess it would be her nickname. I don’t really know what her real name is.”
“What is her father’s name?” Deke asked, remembering something Cassie had once told him.
“Calderone Luca Vincinti.”
“Fuck me!” Deke whispered. After a moment he asked, “Do you know how to contact this guy?”
Iceman was silent for about thirty seconds then he blurted out, “What the fuck do you want to contact him for? Are you fucking nuts?”
“No, I’m not.” Deke chuckled. “What does his daughter look like?”
“Hell, I don’t know.”
Deke heard him move around for a moment then he came back on the phone. “I had an old info wanted poster hanging on the wall. It came out about the
time the girl disappeared. It’s got a color photo on it. The girl is blonde with long curly hair.”
“Are her eyes gray?” Deke asked.
“How the hell did you know that?”
“I’ll tell you when I get there,” Deke stated. “Just call this guy and set up a meet. I promise you he won’t be sorry and you can take the glory. I just want my girl back.”
“If you’re wrong, he’ll hang us both.”
“I hope to hell I’m not wrong then.” Deke ended the call and glanced at his men. “I found us a way in and maybe, just maybe found an answer to whom Peaches has been searching for.”
“Do you really think she belongs to the Vincinti’s?” Gator asked.
“I guess we’ll find out when we get to Boston.”
“Let’s hope you know what you’re doing,” Gator muttered.
Deke motioned to his men. “I want twenty five of you guys to ride with me. Gator will choose. The rest of you stay and protect home base. We ride in twenty minutes.”
~* * * *~
Three hours and twenty minutes later, Deke and his men slowed and pulled in to the wayside just outside the city. When he came to a stop, he faced Iceman and his men. He took off his sunglasses and reached out his hand to Iceman.
Iceman grasped it and they shook. “He wants to see us as soon as you get here.”
Deke nodded.
“Is your info true?” he asked. “Do you know where his daughter is?”
“I think I do.” Deke stared at him.
“Let’s hope you do brother, otherwise he’s gonna kill us both.” Iceman started his engine and led the way.
Deke rode side by side with him and his men followed. When they reached the warehouse district, Iceman raised his hand and curled his fingers into a fist. Deke did the same.
The Satan’s Spawn and Sinner bikers sat on their rides and watched as their leaders rode up to the warehouse alone. Everyone watched intensely as their bikes stopped beside the open door, they dismounted and walked inside.
As Iceman and Deke walked inside, they could see several armed men standing around. Their footsteps echoed as they made their way to the table where a single man sat.
Deke kept his eyes on the man and he hoped this man was the one. As they got closer to the table, Deke caught his eyes.