SATAN-SPAWN-COLLECTION-To Load

by Dahlen, K. J.

  For a moment, Joshua just stared at her. “Troy huh?” he repeated. Then he nodded. “I guess I was headed that way anyway. Hop in.”

  Cricket laid her hand on the window opening. “I don’t want any trouble,” she told him quietly. “I don’t want to drag you into this mess. Cordy is not going to be happy about this. She doesn’t know I know anyone in the neighborhood. I wouldn’t want to bring down her wrath on you or anyone else. By giving me a ride she might come after you.”

  Joshua frowned as he stared at her. “Now, why would I have the time to talk to your sister? I’m on my way to Troy to visit with some old army buddies. Might be gone a day or two.”

  Cricket cocked her head to the side.. “What about Miss Rosie and Simon?” Miss Rosie was a neighbor on the other side of the house Cordy rented. She was an older lady and her cat Simon meant the world to her. Cricket had met her about three months ago when they first arrived. Rosie was outside when she tripped and fell. She laid there for over an hour before Cricket had seen her. She rushed out and helped the old lady back into her house. Rosie had insisted she wasn’t hurt and had talked the whole time and Cricket hadn’t minded a bit. Over the next few weeks, she and Dusty had become friends with the old woman.

  Joshua nodded. “I spoke to Miss Rosie and she told me her brother was coming to pick her up for a visit. Said she might be gone for a few days.”

  Cricket closed her eyes in relief. “Good. I’m glad she’ll be safe.”

  After getting the kids settled, Cricket got into the front seat with Joshua. Putting on her seatbelt, she looked over at him and found him watching her. “What?” she asked softly.

  “You know everybody’s been watching you over the time you’ve been in our hood.”

  Cricket knew a moment of fear. “How so?”

  “We like to know what’s going on in our little circle,” Joshua told her.

  “And what did you discover about us?”

  “We know your sister is Looney Tunes, but you and the boy are right fine people,” Joshua told her as they drove down the road.

  Cricket laughed. “Cordy is more than crazy, she’s bat shit crazy and you all have to watch your backs after today. She’s not going to like it when she gets back to an empty house.” She glanced back at the girl in the backseat. “She has her brother with her and while I don’t think she’ll hurt him, she might do anything.”

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Joshua glanced in the mirror and saw the girl she spoke of. His friend Amos had called him yesterday and asked him to come over. Joshua didn’t know what was going on but if Amos was calling around for help, it must be big.

  A little while later they entered the city limits of Troy. All the way from Albany, they had been passing scores of men on motorcycles. Now as they entered the city, everywhere they looked, the men were present.

  As Joshua searched their faces, he could see they were not happy men. He couldn’t help but wonder what the hell was going on. Then he glanced over at Cricket and wondered what she might have to do with all of this.

  Cricket finally spoke, “You can drop us off anywhere along here.”

  Joshua pulled the car over and waited while she got the kids and her stuff out. “Are you going to be okay?”

  Cricket picked up the little girl and nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Reaching out to take Dusty’s hand, she turned and started down the street. Before she took a few steps, she turned back to Joshua. “Thank you for the ride. I wish I could warn you about Cordy but I have no idea what she’ll do next. Just be careful.”

  “Don’t you worry about me, Miss Cricket.” Joshua chuckled. “I can take care of myself. I made it through the war. I think I can survive your sister.”

  Hitching the girl higher on her hips Cricket turned and made her way down the street. Dusty walked beside her and when Joshua started the car again, she was gone. He made his way down the street in the opposite direction.

  A few more turns and he found Redemption House. Joshua just watched the building for a moment or two then turned off the engine and got out of the car. He watched as the front door opened and three men came out. Joshua smiled as he caught site of them.

  His grin widened as one of the men saw him. Sarge hadn’t changed much in the years since Joshua had seen him last. He still looked as ornery as ever. Joshua took a step forward and reached out his hand. “Sarge, you old sonofabitch, you are still the ugliest man I ever knew.”

  Amos smiled. “Corporal Joshua Marky.” He grabbed the other man’s hand and shook it. “Thanks for coming. We need some good men on this mission.”

  Joshua frowned as he looked at the other two men beside Amos. “What kind of mission are we talking about here?”

  “Recon,” Amos said. “We need intel and we need it fast. We got two missing kids and the President of the local MC is a friend.”

  Joshua finally understood the situation. “I don’t think I’d worry so much.”

  Amos snorted. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”

  “No you don’t know what I do.” Joshua nodded. “Let’s go and talk about it. I’ll tell you what I know and you can tell me what you know. But right now, I could use a cup of coffee.”

  ~* * * *~

  By late afternoon, everyone in the clubhouse was edgy. No word had been heard from anyone on the whereabouts of Sammy and Jemmia. Deke was pacing the length of the main room while Cassie sat at one of the tables.

  She looked pale and she hadn’t eaten since her children had been taken. She knew she should, she had another child to nurture but she just couldn’t get the food past her lips. She felt her baby move from within and Cassie placed her hands on her belly. She smiled sadly, wondering if this child would ever know her brother and sister. She had to hope she would.

  Cassie searched the room for Deke and found him over by the table with Zipper, Sam and Mountain. They were studying the security tape from Redemption House. Zipper had been trying to clear up the tape enough to see the face of the woman who had taken Sammy and Jemmia.

  Zipper looked up from the tape. “That’s as clear as it’s ever going to get boss.”

  Deke stared at the woman with tired eyes. Being up all night and half the day was exhausting. He stared at the woman on the tape. There was something familiar about her but he didn’t know what it was.

  Sam leaned in closer. He was studying not her face but the mark on her wrist.

  Suddenly the quiet within the club was shattered by a baby’s cry.

  Deke’s head snapped up and he glared at the main door. His feet were moving toward it before he even realized what he was doing.

  ~* * * *~

  Cricket and Dusty walked through the woods, just outside the city limits of Troy. It had been a long day and Cricket lifted the little girl higher up in her arms for the millionth time. She was getting heavy and Cricket was getting tired. She had to ask where the clubhouse was located and right now, everyone in Troy was nervous about strangers asking questions. She had a feeling it was because of what Cordy had done. But she finally made it. She was where she needed to get the baby girl to.

  Just ahead, she saw a break in the trees. She was almost there. Her heart pounded in her chest and she stopped a moment. Looking into the face of the little girl, she could see the trust in them. Her blue eyes looked around her with the wonder of innocence she still possessed.

  “Are we there yet?” Dusty asked. “I’m getting tired.”

  “Yeah sweet boy, I think we’re here.” Cricket knelt down beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “As soon as she gets to the gate and someone finds her, we can go.”

  “Good.” Dusty rubbed his nose with his fingers.

  “You know this isn’t going to be easy,” Cricket warned him. “We have to be very careful because your mom isn’t going to give up on finding us.”

  “I just wish we could have gotten her brother back too,” Dusty told her.

  “Me too buddy.” Cricket patted his back. “Me too. Ok
ay, now I need you to find a place to hide and I want you to promise me you won’t come out until I call you. I have to make sure someone finds her but I can’t do that if I’m worried about you.”

  “I know what to do,” Dusty assured her. “You just be careful you don’t get caught.”

  Cricket grinned. “I don’t plan to. Now hide yourself, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  She turned and walked to the edge of the trees.

  The little girl in her arms began to bounce with excitement. She saw the clubhouse and she knew her parents were close by.

  Cricket put the girl down and watched her toddle off toward the front gate.

  She squealed as she ran along the road. Suddenly, the door was flung open and Deke rushed out. When he saw his daughter he shouted, “Jemmia.” Then rushed to her.

  Cricket watched from inside the trees. Tears filled her eyes as she watched who she assumed was Jemmia’s mom join Deke and together, they hugged their daughter. Then she watched as the mom turned toward the gate and called out, “Sammy. Sammy are you there?”

  Cricket had to swallow hard knowing Sammy wasn’t there to answer his mother’s call. She was about to turn back when someone grabbed her by the arms. She screamed and fought back but the hold on her was strong. She struggled and got at least one good kick in before a fist came flying toward her head. When it connected, Cricket dropped to her knees stunned.

  “Don’t you hurt my Cricket, you big bully!” Dusty screamed as he rushed forward.

  She tried to tell him to run but she couldn’t get the words to come out of her mouth. The blow she’d taken had stunned her badly.

  When Dusty reached them, he kicked the man standing over Cricket in the leg. When the man stumbled backward, Dusty sucker punched him in the nuts.

  The man grabbed his privates and groaned as he fell to the ground.

  Suddenly, the area was crawling with other people. One of them grabbed Dusty and lifted him off his feet. Another man shoved Cricket to the ground and wrenched her arms behind her back. She screamed as the pain in her back made itself known. Then she felt the bite of the rope as someone tied her wrists together but her head was too foggy from the hit she took to object.

  “Hold it!” Deke shouted as he finally reached them. “What the hell is going on here?”

  “We found her when you caught up with Jemmia. She’s the one that brought her back here.” The big man that Dusty hurt got to his feet. He looked to be in pain but was able to walk.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  “Bring them both to the clubhouse.” Deke turned away and went back to the club.

  When he got inside, he saw Cassie holding their daughter. She had tears in her eyes.

  Deke went over to her, wrapped his big arms around his wife and daughter then for a moment…just held them both.

  When everyone came inside, he turned and watched as Raine led the young woman over to a chair and pushed her down into it.

  The young boy was dropped to the floor and scrambled over to the woman and wrapped his arms around her.

  Deke went over to them and asked, “Who the hell are you and why did you have my daughter?” He paced back and forth. “Where is my son?”

  Cricket looked up at him but didn’t say a word. With her hands tied behind her back, she couldn’t check her wounds. Her jaw felt on fire and she could feel a trickle of blood run down from the corner of her mouth. Her head was beginning to clear. She gazed at Deke and said, “My name doesn’t matter. I returned your daughter because it was the right thing to do. As for where your son is, I don’t know but I hope you find him.”

  “You’d better pray like hell I find him.” Deke growled.

  Cricket raised her head a bit higher. Looking him directly in the eye, she told him, “You’re going to have to hurry and find him then, because my sister is crazy and he won’t be safe very long.”

  Deke stomped over to her and grabbing her shirt, he hauled her to a standing position. “Where is my son?” he growled.

  Cricket shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  Deke raised his hand and slapped her. When she wouldn’t cry out, he slapped her again. Something metal flopped around on a chain around her neck. Deke paid no mind to it, in fact he didn’t even see it, he was so intent on watching her face. “Where is my son?” he shouted. “Where is he?”

  Cricket hung her head but didn’t say anything and when he let her go, she fell to her knees.

  Dusty cried out and wrapped his arms around her. Looking up at Deke he said, “You don’t have to hit her. She didn’t take your kids.”

  Deke growled at him.

  Then Sam rushed over to her and reached out. Grabbing the chain around her neck, he pulled out the necklace and laid it flat on his outstretched hand. He studied the design on the locket, turned it over for a second, then lifted his eyes and studied the girl’s face. “How have you been Cricket?” he asked quietly.

  Cricket closed her eyes against the pain in her heart. “Hi Sam,” she acknowledged quietly.

  “What the fuck?’ Deke growled. “Do you know her?”

  Sam got to his feet. “Yeah I do and so do you,” he told his son.

  Deke turned his head and studied the girl. “I don’t know her.”

  “Yeah, you do,” Sam insisted. “This is Cricket Tannis. She’s Captain’s kid. One of them, anyway.”

  Deke frowned. He had to think hard to even remember who Captain was. He hadn’t seen or heard about anyone from his father’s old MC in years. When he left seventeen years ago, he thought he left everything and everyone behind. “The last time I saw her she was six years old,” he grumbled. “How the hell was I supposed to know her when she’s all grown up?”

  Sam turned back to Cricket. “What happened Cricket? Did Cordy take the twins? Why would she do something like that?”

  Cricket felt tears roll down her cheeks. When she shook her head and didn’t say anything, Sam pulled out his knife and moved toward her.

  Dusty screamed and moved to stand in front of her. “You bastard, you aren’t gonna hurt my Cricket!” His little hands clenched into fists and he stood his ground.

  Sam stopped and shoved the boy out of the way. “I ain’t gonna hurt your Cricket,” he claimed as he bent over her to cut the ropes around her wrists. Then he stepped back and looked at Raine. “Check her out and make sure she’s okay.”

  Raine looked toward Deke and at his nod, he stepped forward. Assisting her back to the chair, he began examining her wounds.

  Reva brought out a basin of warm water and he began cleaning the blood from her face. Raine then wrapped her torn wrists. He looked at her jaw and pronounced her okay.

  Deke brought over a chair and sat down next to her.

  Dusty settled on her lap and he glared at Deke.

  “Okay Cricket, tell me what you know. Why did Cordy take my kids?”

  Cricket wrapped her arms around Dusty and held him tight. She didn’t answer him right away. She couldn’t look at Deke or anyone else either. “Did you know she looked for you for the last seven years? We left Bangor after Dad died. I wasn’t but fifteen, so she dragged me along with her. She was determined to find you and claim you as her own.”

  Deke frowned. “Why would she think I was hers? I haven’t seen or thought about her in years.”

  Cricket raised her head to stare at him. “You were the first man who ever paid her any mind. When she was a kid, she fell in love with you. Do you remember the summer before you left Maine? You were all she could talk about that summer. It got to the point Captain told her to grow up. He told her you would never want her that way, but she wouldn’t listen to him. She even tattooed your initial on her wrist when she was a few years older. Captain got so mad at her and the others, but Cordy didn’t care. She kept you alive in her heart all those years. Then Captain died in the explosion and she became a different person. She packed up and we began our search. Before long, she realized she was carrying another man’s child. She would have got
ten rid of the baby but I told her I would care for the child. She gave birth to Dusty in Vermont and after that, we continued with our search. She worked while I kept the house going. We finally settled in Albany a few months ago,” she paused and looked around.

  Everyone stood around as they listened.

  “Then three days ago, she came home and said she found you. She was so happy then her joy turned to rage and she said you had moved on and now you had another woman in her place. She ranted that she would get you back. She said you would either be hers, or no one’s. Then she got this look in her eyes that said she had a plan. Apparently, she could see that you loved your children. She said that would work to her advantage. If she took your kids, she could make you come to her. She was going to make you give up either your children or your other woman for her.”

  “Cassie is my wife.” Deke growled. “There’s no way I would have given up either my wife or my children.”

  “I swear by all that’s holy, I didn’t know what her plans were,” Cricket vowed. “She woke me up and had me go to the store for food babies could eat but I didn’t know she was going to take your children until she came home with them the night before last.”

  “And my son?” Deke asked. “Is he all right?”

  Cricket shrugged. “He was this morning. She was supposed to go to work but changed her mind at the last minute. She said she was going to take the boy with her to run errands. When they left in the truck, I got the hell out of the house. I planned to walk all the way here to return your daughter but then a friend gave me a ride. He said he was coming to Troy anyway.”

  Deke ran his hands over his face in worry. “Would she go back to the house if she thought you would betray her?”

  Cricket shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t think she thought I would ever do it.”

  Cassie walked over with Jemmia still in her arms. “Why did you? Why did you betray her?”