Page 45 of Protectors

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ghost

WE’VE BEEN SEARCHINGthrough each camera in the city to find any sign of a vehicle that doesn't seem right. Maybe a missing license plate, plates that are stolen and just thrown on a vehicle, erratic driving, anything at all that could possibly lead us to Alana and the dead man walking. Terrence has had Alana for almost a full day and I haven’t slept, I’ve hardly eaten, and my eyes are burning from staring at the TV screens in front of me. King and I have been working relentlessly as we slowly go through each camera and all the footage right after Alana was kidnapped from right outside Phantom Ink. Fox has been helping us as he combs through other footage while also trying to figure out if there’s any way possible to get footage from the cameras at the shop that were tampered with. So far he can’t get anything from them, but Fox doesn’t ever give up and if there’s anyone who can figure it out, it’s him. King is the same way and I know between the two of them, they’ll figure this out.

Geek has been right at my side going through each page of the messages between Liz and Terrence for any sign of a location where he could be hiding our girl. All of us have a feeling he didn’t go very far because there’s nowhere left for him to hide. No one knows who he is in Pine View and once he does whatever with Alana, he probably thinks he can start over here and find some other young, naïve woman to fall for his shit so he can treat her like shit and use her for his own gain. It won’t happen because we’re about to fucking gut him like a fish when we get our hands on him. We’re gonna take our time and torture him as slow as we possibly can. I honestly have no problem keeping him alive for as long as possible in order to make him regret his life choices while also feeling every ounce of pain and fear that he made Alana feel.

Every minute that passes and we don’t find any lead, we’re both sinking farther and farther into despair. We know there’s no way in hell we’ll be able to live without Alana. She’s special as fuck and the one we’ve been waiting for our entire lives. If we’d only chosen not to give her the chance to live her life the way she needed to before becoming ours. Alana never would’ve met Terrence and been hurt for a year of her life. She would be our ol’ lady and we would already be married if Geek and I had our way. I don’t honestly know if we would’ve made the decision to move here to Pine View if we’d already been with Alana since her family is still in Clifton Falls. As long as she’s in our life, Geek and I wouldn’t bitch about it for any reason. Alana is our home and wherever she is, we’ll be happy as fuck.

Pops is still with us in the common room. He’s been sitting near Fox and King as they work on their laptops. If they need something from King’s office or anything else, Pops is right there to grab it for them. When he’s not running errands for the two, he’s flipping through more papers trying to make sure Liz and Terrence don’t have any property in their names they can be hiding out at. I don’t believe Terrence gave Alana his real last name since he literally has no past. No matter how careful people are, they always leave some kind of footprint online. Terrence literally has none and I don’t see how that’s possible. King and Fox are baffled as well. It’s just one more angle Fox and King are working as they continue to work on other stuff at the same time. I’ve never met anyone else who can multitask like the two of them. It’s kind of amazing and something I wish I could do if I’m being honest.

Cage and Joker took Skylar up to the room they’re staying in here at the clubhouse. She wouldn’t stop crying and they were going to try and get her to calm down before making her sleep. Honestly, I don’t see her calming down until Alana is back here where she belongs because she doesn’t know what the fuck to do when one of her children are missing. Skylar loves all six of her kids with every inch of her soul. She would literally die for them and has been the best mom with so many to care for.

Grim also took Bailey away. She was going off about killing Liz and beating the absolute shit out of her because she had something to do with her niece missing. We all know those aren’t threats from Bailey—those words are a promise because you don’t fuck with her family for any reason. There isn’t a single thing she wouldn’t do to ensure her nieces, nephews, and children are safe, happy, and loved. She’s their best friend, aunt, and confidant. When Bailey lets you in, she’s the best woman to have at your back.

The rest of the ol’ ladies are cooking and cleaning since the Phantom girls aren’t here. Personally, I think they’re just trying to stay busy so they’re not thinking about Alana being kidnapped right out behind one of our businesses. Our moms who are in town are with the kids at Vault and Annabell’s home. Again, they’re trying to remain busy and keep their minds from thinking about all the possibilities that are happening to Alana.

As I continue to look through the camera footage, I suddenly hear a commotion from behind us. Geek, King, Fox, Pops, Deegan, Zayden, and I all turn to find Bailey and Skylar dragging Liz through the door leading down to the basement. Liz is fighting their hold on her and trying to escape any way she can. Bailey stops walking long enough to slap her before dragging her by her hair into the common room and forcing her into one of the chairs.

“What the fuck are ya doin’, Bailey?” Pops asks, standing from his seat and taking a few steps over toward his daughter and daughter-in-law with a smirk on his face and his eyes glaring in her direction.

“We’re fucking dealing with this scheming slut and showing her what happens when you fuck with one of our own,” Bailey answers as Skylar hands her zip ties and duct tape. I’m not sure I really want to know what they’ll be doing with all of that shit, but we’re about to find out. “You’re not fucking going anywhere, slut. I suggest you sit the fuck still and just accept your fate.”

Skylar lets Bailey get Liz strapped into the chair as Vault, Grim, Cage, and Joker rush into the common room. Fear and anger fill their faces as they take in the scene before them. I watch with Geek as Cage and Grim drop their heads in defeat because they both know there was zero chance this wouldn’t happen with Bailey here in the clubhouse and Liz locked up in one of the cells in the basement. Vault is just staring at the scene as Bailey steps back and takes a look at Liz to ensure she won’t be getting out of the chair no matter what she does or how hard she tries to fight.

“Ghost, Baby, are you really gonna let these psycho women do this to me? I don’t even understand why I was down in the cells to begin with. Alana’s man is here to get her and I was just helping him out. Ghost, you’re mine and it’s time you started acting like it. Cut me loose and take me up to your room and show me how much you love me. This time we won’t have to fuck in the cells downstairs. It’s so nasty down there,” Liz says, her voice a purr she thinks is sexy when it does nothing but turn my stomach as I finally start to process her words and rage fills me.

“The fuck did you just say? I haveneverfucked you and I’ve told you countless times that I never will. I’m in love with Alana and she’s my woman. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved and no one will ever compare to her because of who she is and how she makes me feel. She defends my best friend from desperate skanks like you when he’s one of the best men I’ve ever met in my life. He’s my best friend for a reason and will never be pushed aside because of a woman who can’t accept the relationship we want to have. Alana accepts us for who we are and gives us every piece of herself without wantin’ anythin’ back in return. You want my money and for me to act as if Geek is nothin’ to me. Not to mention my role in the club. Stop your fuckin’ lyin’ and tryin’ to come between my woman and me,” I growl, stepping closer and closer to the woman who’s face is turning red as anger fills her and her eyes appear as if they’re on fire because I’m calling her out on her bullshit in front of others in the common room and my voice is so loud more people enter to find out what’s going on.

“That’s a lie, Baby. You were down there with me for hours,” she tries again, glancing around the room with a smirk on her face.

“Really?” Pops questions her, his voice hard and cold as he comes to stand next to me and put his arm on my shoulders. “I’ve been in this common room all night long and Ghost hasn’t left his seat other than to go to the bathroom. Where I’m sittin’, I can see every move he made and know he never once went down into the basement for any reason. The only thought on his mind is Alana and bringin’ her home.”

“You’re so fucking old there’s no way you haven’t gone to bed and taken a nap. Shut your fucking mouth when you don’t have the first clue what you’re talking about. Ghost is my man and he loves me. He fucked me for hours when I was locked in that horrible cell. Alana doesn’t want him and you’re all sitting here defending her like she’s some kind of royalty. She’s nothing more than a fucking slut spreading her legs for every single man in this club and anyone else she comes across on a daily basis,” Liz says, a large smile on her face as we all remain frozen with the vile words she just said about one of the best women I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting in my life.

The sound of a loud smack echoes in the common room. My eyes dart to Liz to notice her head off to the side with blood trickling out of her nose and a red mark already forming on her cheek. Skylar is standing in front of the bitch with her hand still raised and a manic look in her eyes. This is a side of Skylar I’ve never seen before and I’m not sure what she’s gonna do next.

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