Page 2 of Regret

“I’m done,” Vault says as he steps back in front of the fucker and accepts a gun from Chrome.

It’s not the gun my brother typically uses because that one is actually registered in his name and we’re not going to have anything linking this asshole to us. So, with Vault’s final words to him about rotting in hell, he pulls the trigger and we’re done. Chrome takes the gun back to be disposed of as we all start leaving the cell to let Martin and George take care of what’s left of the guy.

The second I’m out of the cell, I strip out of my clothes and toss them in the garbage can just outside the door of the cell we were in. Red will personally see that they’re all burned out behind the clubhouse so there’s no evidence of what was done today. Grabbing my phone, I check to see if I have any missed calls or messages. There’s a ton of calls from Savannah’s cell phone as fear fills me. I don’t give a fuck that I’m standing naked down here and that I’m surrounded by the men in the club. If Savannah is calling me after almost six years of silence from her, something is wrong.

“Valor!” Ava cries out the second she answers her sister’s phone.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why are you answerin’ your sister’s phone?” I question her, dread and fear filling my gut as I wait for her response.

Ava is the oldest of Savannah’s sisters and the quietest one of them. She prefers to stay in the background and rarely speaks if she’s around people she doesn’t know. Ava watches everything around her and gets lost in books more often than not. When she got used to me and started to open up, I realized the reason why she is that way. Her mother would bring men into their home on a daily basis. Sometimes more than one man throughout the day. These men would always stare at the girls and make them feel uncomfortable. Ava learned to hide and make the world she was born into disappear with a book in her hands.

Right now, Ava is sobbing uncontrollably and she’s trying to talk to me, but I can’t make out anything she’s saying. Vault, Chrome, and Court surround me and are trying to figure out what’s going on the same time I do.

“Ava, sweetheart, I need you to calm down. I can’t understand anythin’ you’re tryin’ to tell me right now,” I say, keeping my voice gentle despite wanting to yell to get Ava snapped out of the tears so she can talk to me.

I hear her suck in a deep breath as I put the phone on speaker.

“Valor, we just got home from school and found Vanna passed out in the living room of the house. She’s been beaten up and it’s really bad. None of us can get her to wake up. We don’t want to touch her because she’s bleeding and her entire body is covered in bruises and cuts,” Ava says in a weak voice that’s wavering from the emotion filling her.

Rage fills me like I’ve never felt before in my life. Someone put their fucking hands on Savannah and beat her to the point she’s not waking up. I’m shaking from the anger and fear coursing through me. I can’t think straight and I know this is my fault. If I had gotten my head out of my ass sooner, she wouldn’t still be in Benton Falls. Savannah and the girls would’ve moved to Pine View with me so I could continue taking care of them. But, Savannah started pulling away long before I even left Benton Falls.

“Sweetheart, I’m on my way. It’s gonna take me some time to get back to Benton Falls. I need one of you to run over to get Slim and the guys. They’ll take care of Savannah until I get there. Can you do that for me?” I ask her, finally finding my voice as Court and Vault place their hands on my shoulders in comfort.

Court knows all about Savannah and the girl. He knows that I fucked up when it comes to Savannah and I’m not sure how to make it up to her. I might not have done all the shit Vault did when it comes to Annabell, but I have hurt Savannah in my own way and I’m not proud of that.

“Miracle already went over to get someone. I’m scared, Valor. I don’t think she’s breathing right,” Ava informs me, her voice almost a whisper as my heart stutters in my chest.

“Everythin’ is gonna be okay, sweetheart,” I tell her, hoping I’m not lying to the both of us by saying that. “I’m gonna stay on the phone with you until the guys show up. When we get off the phone, I’ll call Slim to find out what’s goin’ on. In the meantime, I need you to look after Miracle and Chloe. Can you do that for me?”

“Yeah. I’ll make them dinner and help them with their homework. We can have sandwiches for dinner, right?” she asks, not sure what she can do but knowing she’ll step up to take care of her younger sisters just like Savannah did.

“Sandwiches are perfect for dinner tonight, Ava. Don’t forget about your own homework,” I tell her, pulling on new clothes and quickly dressing as Court and Vault do the same.

“I’m goin’ with you, Valor,” my brother states, his voice harsh as he rushes from the basement to let Annabell know what’s going on. At least that’s what I’m thinking he’s doing right now.

“You’re not leavin’ without me, either,” Court states, remaining at my side as I slide my boots on my feet and don’t bother tying them this second.

I race up the stairs after getting dressed, shoving everything in my pockets, and sliding my cut on my back. Court is right at my side the entire time as I run through the common room and head straight for my bike in the line against the clubhouse. We both straddle our bikes and I keep my phone close as I shove on my helmet and finally tie my boots while I wait for the guys to get to Savannah’s house.

“Ava, where’s Savannah?” I hear Slim’s voice yell through the house and relief fills me that someone else is there with the girls.

“Right here, Slim,” she says, tears filling her voice as the phone lets me know she’s moving around. “They’re here, Valor. I’m gonna get the girls out of the way. Shy’s here too.”

“Okay, sweetheart. Listen to Shy and stay out of the way so the guys can help your sister. Tell Slim I’ll call him in a few minutes to find out what’s goin’ on,” I tell her, listening to her promise me she will before hanging up the phone.

“Someone beat up Savannah?” Vault asks me as he bursts out of the clubhouse with the rest of the guys.

“Yeah. She’s not wakin’ up. Slim and the guys just got there. Shy showed up too. I gotta go, Vault. I can’t stay here and do nothin’ knowin’ my girls are hurtin’,” I tell him, turning my pleading eyes to my twin as he stands next to me.

“I know you do. Not gonna ask you to stay here and do nothin’, Zach. I’m gonna stay with Annabell. She pointed out that Savannah won’t want a ton of guys around her so there’s no reason for me to go until we know what’s goin’ on. Chrome is goin’ with you and Court. If you need anyone else, call and let me know. Bell can’t travel again right now and needs to rest.”

“I know. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“You bringin’ her with you?” he asks, a knowing look on his face as Annabell stares at me with tears filling her eyes.

“I’m bringin’ all my girls back with me. I know Savannah’s gonna fuckin’ fight me, but they’re comin’ home,” I state with all the confidence I can pull forward. There’s no other option for me at this point.

“I’ll have the construction crews finish up your house while you’re gone. I think they’re almost done on it. Annabell and I will go get everythin’ you need to furnish it so you don’t gotta worry about anythin’ but focusin’ on Savannah and the girls. I’ll see ya when you get back, Zach. If you need me, fuckin’ call and I’ll be on the road in a second,” my brother says, walking over and giving me a hug before letting me leave with the other guys.

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