by Wilder, L.
“Damn, y’all. You’re making my dick draw up just thinking about that shit,” Riggs complained.
“Sorry,” I scoffed. “I couldn’t help myself.”
“No, no. I completely understand. This guy definitely has some bad mojo coming his way. You can count on that.”
“I hope so.”
Our conversation had given me a brief reprieve from my anxiety, but it quickly returned when I looked out of my passenger window. As soon as I saw that we were getting closer to our destination, I felt my stomach twist into a knot. We pulled up to the convenience store and waited as Gus pulled around to the back of the restaurant and let David out of his SUV. It wasn’t long before David came walking down the alley. I watched with disgust as he adjusted his suit jacket and tie before stepping into the diner.
I was biting at the bit as I sat there waiting for some sign of Harper, each moment passing more agonizing than the one before. Finally, after twenty minutes or so had passed, David came walking out of the restaurant with Harper in his arms, and for the first time in days, the tension in my body started to fade and I felt like I could actually breathe. Seeing that Harper was so close made me want to jump out of the SUV and race over to them, but that wasn’t an option. I had to stick to the plan. Gus had arranged for us to meet David down the street, away from any watchful eyes, so I just had to be patient for a little longer.
As soon as David was back in the SUV with Gus, we followed them down several blocks to a hotel parking lot. Riggs barely had a chance to park before I was out of the SUV and rushing towards David and Harper. The second I made it over to them, I reached for Harper and pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly. Tears of utter relief streamed down my face as I cried, “Oh, my sweet baby. I’ve missed you so much!”
As she hugged me back, she said, “My momma.”
“That’s right, sweetie. Momma is right here.”
David ran his hand through his salt and pepper hair as he sighed and said, “I told them I’d get her back.”
I was caught off guard by his black eye, busted lip, and various other bruises and scratches that were covering his entire face, but I didn’t bother asking what happened to him. I honestly didn’t care. As far as I was concerned, he deserved much more. In just above a whisper, I snapped, “Do not say another word, David, or I swear to god, I’ll tell the whole world what you’ve done.”
“You don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he barked. “I haven’t done anything except bring your daughter back to you.”
“You’re a real hero, David.” I didn’t want Harper to hear anymore, so I took her over to Cade’s SUV. Once I had her settled inside with Riggs, I picked up her stuffed rabbit and offered it to her. Her little eyes lit up as she reached for it and cried, “Fwoppsie!”
“She’s been missing you.” Harper hugged the rabbit close to her chest as I told her, “Momma has to talk to your daddy. I’ll be right back.”
Harper nodded, and once Riggs closed the door, I went back over to David.
“You’re a real piece of work. You know that?” I snapped. “You took bribes from those men, and by doing so, you put our daughter’s life in danger! What the hell were you thinking? I should expose you for what you’ve done … let the people of Nashville know who they have elected as mayor!”
“I didn’t have a choice! My campaign was going down the toilet, thanks to you. I was going to lose the election if I didn’t do something!” he shouted. “I’m not going to apologize for fixing the mess you made.”
“The last time I checked, it takes two to conceive a child, but if it makes you sleep better at night, blame me.” I took a step towards him as I said, “I’ll gladly take the blame for bringing Harper into this world. In fact, blame me for everything that’s gone wrong in your life.”
“That’s it, August. Spin this into something it’s not, just like you always do,” he complained. “Don’t you ever get tired of that holier-than-thou act you’ve got going on?”
“Screw you, David.” I was too busy giving him the riot act to notice that Gus, Shadow, and Cade had walked over to us. “At least, I’m not in bed with the mob.”
“No, you’re in bed with a bunch of fucking bikers.”
“Watch yourself, Mayor,” Gus warned.
David’s eyes skirted over them with pure revulsion. “I’m done with this. You and your friends have a nice life.”
With that, he stormed off. When he got into a cab, Riggs got out of the SUV and brought Harper over to me. “She’s been asking for you.”
“I’m right here, sweetie,” I told her as I took her into my arms. “I’ve got you.”
I was still hugging her tightly when I heard Shadow ask, “Is it just me, or was that too fucking easy? Polito just handed her over … no questions asked. Doesn’t seem right.”
“That’s because it isn’t. If they took her, there’s nothing to keep them from doing it again, or worse,” Gus grumbled. “We’re going to have to find a way to make sure that shit doesn’t happen.”
My voice trembled as I asked, “How are you going to do that?”
“Let us worry about that. You just focus on having your daughter back.” Gus turned to Harper and me, and as he looked down at her, he smiled and said, “Her pictures didn’t do her justice. She’s beautiful like her momma.”
“Thank you, Gus.” I reached up and hugged him. As I held him close, I thought back to what Mom had said about not judging a book by its cover. She couldn’t have been more right. Gus might’ve been a tough MC president, but at the same time, he was kind and compassionate, making me wish I’d had the chance to get to know him even better.
“No need to thank me, August. It was my pleasure.” He gave me a quick squeeze, then turned to Cade and said, “Gunner, I’m gonna need you to hang back and stay with them for a couple of days to keep an eye on things.”
Concerned that Harper might still be in danger, I asked, “Do you really think that’s necessary?”
“Don’t want to take any chances.” Gus looked over to Gunner as he said, “You good with staying? Need anything?”
“I’m good. Got a change of clothes in the truck.”
With Gus and Shadow following close behind, we walked over to the SUV. I was about to get inside when I heard Gus call out to me. “August?”
“Yeah.”
I turned and found him standing behind me with a strange expression on his face.
“I got something I need to discuss with you.” He didn’t sound like himself—self-assured and confident. Instead, his voice was filled with uncertainty as he continued, “Now isn’t the time, but I would like to get in touch with you soon. You okay with that?”
“Yeah. Absolutely. I’m definitely okay with that.” The anguish I saw in his eyes made me ask, “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing for you to worry about. Just some unfinished business.” His eyes grew even more intense as he ran his hand over Harper’s head. He studied her for a minute, then turned his attention to me. We both stood there quietly for several moments and it was clear that he was struggling with something, but I had no idea what. Finally, he broke his silence and said, “I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Okay.” I was beyond curious about this unfinished business but decided not to push it. “I’ll be looking forward to it.”
He helped me and Harper inside the SUV, and once we were settled, he closed the door. After talking to Cade for a few seconds, he followed Riggs and Shadow back over to the other SUV. Before pulling out of the parking lot, Cade turned to me and asked, “You said you lived in Hillsboro Village, right?”
“Yes. My address is 802 Cabin’s Creek Road.”
“Got it.”
As soon as he had the address plugged in, he drove out of the parking lot and started towards the house. Knowing my mom was waiting to hear from me, I reached into my purse for my phone and dialed her number. As soon as she answered, I told her, “We got Harper back.”
“Wh
at? When?”
“Just now. It’s a long story, but she’s fine. All safe and sound, sitting here next to me.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful, sweetheart. The best news I’ve heard in … forever.” I could hear the excitement in her voice as she asked, “When can I come see her? I’ve missed her so much!”
“Give me an hour or so. I’m going to run her by the doctor’s office just to make sure she’s okay. You can meet us over at the house when we’re done.”
“I’ll be there. I can’t wait.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then.”
When we hung up the phone, I turned to look at Harper. She was sitting quietly as she stared out the window—which I found odd. Normally, she would be talking ninety to nothing, asking questions and trying to tell me something that she thought was cute or funny. I had no idea what she’d been through during the past few days, but it had clearly taken its toll on her. I placed my hand on her little head and asked her, “Are you okay, sweetie?”
“Um-hmm.”
She didn’t look at me, letting me know she was far from okay. “Can you tell Momma about where you’ve been? Did they hurt you?”
Without turning to look at me, she shook her head. “No.”
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to get you, baby. I didn’t know where you were.” When she didn’t respond, I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “It’s okay, Harper. You’re with me now. You don’t have anything to be afraid of.”
My heart literally broke when she turned and looked at me with those dark, sad puppy-dog eyes and said, “I no want to, Momma.”
Before I could respond, Cade looked over his shoulder and said, “It’s not my business, but you might wanna give her a little time. She has to be a little shaken up by everything that’s happened.”
“I just want to know if they hurt her.”
“I know you do, and she’ll tell you when she’s ready,” he assured me.
“You’re right.” I looked down at her as I said, “I’ll stop pushing.”
I’d wanted to talk to him about the night I’d had too much to drink, but with everything that had been going on, Cade and I hadn’t really had time alone together. He’d spent the early morning hours helping his brothers prepare for some run they had to make, and he was quiet and anxious while they were gone. I didn’t think it was the right time to broach the subject, but I’d held it in as long as I could. His mood seemed better since his brothers’ return, so I figured it was time to clear the air.
While I didn’t remember every word that was said, I did remember that I’d kissed him. Even though I was mortified by my behavior, that kiss was absolutely incredible. In fact, it was the best kiss I’d ever had. A part of me thought it would be better to just pretend it never happened, but there was another part of me—a part of me that wondered if that kiss had been just as incredible for him as it had been for me. There was always that possibility that he was completely unaffected and had already forgotten about the brief moment we’d shared. Either way, I felt the need to clear the air. “By the way, I’m sorry about … kissing you like I did. I drank too much and got carried away.”
“It’s understandable. You were worried about Harper.”
“I know, but that doesn’t excuse my actions.” Suddenly feeling awkward, I looked down as I said, “You were being sweet, listening to me and being there for me, and I had to go and …”
When my words trailed off, he glanced back at me for a moment, then said, “As far as I can remember, you weren’t the only one in that room last night … I think it’s best if we just put it all behind us and forget it ever happened.”
CHAPTER 7
Gunner
I’d always prided myself on being a man who was honest and upfront, no matter the situation. I’d never backed down when things got difficult and had always faced whatever I was dealt with head on, but with August, I found myself not only lying to her, but to myself. It was the only way I could get through this. I decided I’d do the job Gus asked me to do. Nothing more. Nothing less. I kept that mindset as I walked the perimeter of August’s house, checking for any security issues that might arise. She lived in a nice middle-class subdivision with average-sized homes that were closed in with their own personal wooden fences. There were people out mowing their yards and walking their dogs, each of them seemed friendly enough, but none of them actually spoke. They just gave a quick wave or a nod which suited me just fine.
As I made my way around to the backyard, I could see August standing in the kitchen with her mother. Samantha was a beautiful woman, just like her daughter, and she had a warm smile. I watched as she and August doted on Harper, hugging and kissing her as they chatted back and forth. Samantha was not only stunning but loving, which made it easy to see why Gus had been so fond of her. I continued forward, and when I made it to the back fence, I noticed that several of the boards were coming loose. I was looking to see how I could fix it when my burner cell started to ring. I pulled it out of my back pocket, and as soon as I answered, Gus asked, “How’s Harper?”
“She’s good. August ran her by the doctor, and everything checked out fine.”
“Good. Glad to hear that. You make it back to her place okay?”
“Yeah. We’re here now. Everything’s good … August contacted the detective that was handling Harper’s case and let him know she’d been found. He didn’t seem surprised.”
“He didn’t have a lot of questions?”
“Not like he should have. Hell, he didn’t even send someone over to corroborate her story.”
“That’s fucking insane.”
“I thought so too. Only person who’s even been by here is August’s mother, and she was just here to see Harper.” Assuming he’d want to know, I told him, “Samantha seems good. Looks just like her daughter.”
“Um-hmm … and her husband? He there, too?”
“No. He’s not here.” With the run and everything else we had going on the day before, I hadn’t had a chance to tell him what August had told me about the husband or Samantha’s parents. “I meant to tell ya … that dude’s long gone, Gus. He ran out on Samantha a few months after her parents died. It’s just Samantha now.”
“Wait … Samantha’s parents died? How the hell did I miss that?”
“No idea. They were killed in some car accident or something several years ago, and the husband left not long after. Don’t know much more than that.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. I think it took a toll on both of them.”
“Fuck. I wish I would’ve known. It would’ve been nice to know a lot of things.” He paused for a moment, then said, “So, no sign of trouble?”
“No. Everything looks good here.”
“Hopefully, it’ll stay that way. Just let me know if anything comes up,” Gus ordered.
“You know I will.”
After Gus hung up, I continued checking the backyard for any other possible issues that would need tending. Once I was finished, I made note to come back and fix the fence, then headed back inside. Harper was in the living room coloring while August was still in the kitchen talking to her mother. It looked like Samantha was about to leave, so I slipped down the hall into the guest bedroom in hopes of not disturbing them. I pulled off my cut and draped it across the chair before sitting on the edge of the bed. I was just about to start taking off my boots when I felt someone staring at me. I looked over at the doorway and was surprised to see Harper standing there. After all she’d been through, I had no idea what I should say or do, so I just said, “Hey.”
“Hi.”
She stood there, studying me with her brows furrowed and her head cocked to the side. Something was clearly bugging her, but I had no idea what it was. After a couple of minutes, I asked, “You got something on your mind?”
“You bad man?”
“No, sweet-pea. I’m not a bad man.” I tried to keep my voice calm and steady as I told her, “I came here to keep you and your mo
mma safe.”
Her chubby, little cheeks were rosy red, and her hazel eyes were wide and full of hope as she asked, “Fwom bad man?”
“Yeah, from the bad man.”
She took a step closer, then whispered, “I no wike bad man.”
“I don’t like the bad man either.” I didn’t want to push her, but I had to ask, “Did the bad man hurt you?”
“He skeer me.”
“He did?”
“Um-hmm.” She nodded. “He mean and skeerwie”
Her little eyes filled with tears, and it nearly gutted me. “How was he mean and scary?”
“He welded bad wods at me and Gab-we-ella.”
“Who’s Gabriella?”
“I dunno?” She shrugged. “A gorwl.”
“Was she a little girl like you or a big girl?”
“Big wike Bar-bee. See pweddy … see was nice to me.” She took another step closer as she said, “Da bad man wock-ded us in da woom. I no wike it. She no wike it. I wa-ned my momma, buh he no wet me see her.”
“I’m sorry he did that, but I’m here now.” I looked her in the eye as I promised, “I won’t let him scare you like that again, Harper.”
Her eyes grew wide with hope as she asked, “You pwomise?”
“Yeah, sweet-pea. I promise.” Relieved, she eased over to me and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. I gave her a quick squeeze and patted her on the back as I told her, “Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.”
I was just about to release her when I noticed August standing in the doorway. When I saw that her eyes were red with tears, I knew she’d overheard our conversation. Harper took a step back, and when she looked at me, the tears were gone and she was actually smiling. “You wanna nack?”
“Yeah. A snack would be great.”
She reached for my hand and gave me a quick tug. Chuckling, I stood up and followed her over to the door. When she reached August, she said, “We wanna nack, Momma.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Let’s go to the kitchen and see what we can find.” As we stepped into the hall, August looked over to me and whispered, “Thank you.”