Page 48 of Vex

“I wanted to come talk with you about Tessie missing. I can only imagine how you must be worried. I’m so sorry this has happened,” Bella says softly.

“Thank you, Bella. Yeah, I’m worried. Scared to death, actually.”

“Can I tell you how I came to live here?” she asks.

“Yes, please do,” I answer knowing already that she’s adopted but not knowing the story behind it.

“My real mom’s a bad woman. She sold me for drugs. Sold me to a sex trafficker and I was on my way to a buyer when the Devil’s stepped in. They saved me and brought me here instead. Several members offered to adopt me, but Petey and Trudy got the vote. That day, I gained a mom, dad, brother, sister, uncles, aunts and every other relative there is. My life now isn’t scary, it’s great. I love it here and I love my family. I’m loved, cared for and safe.”

“Oh my God, Bella. I’m so sorry you went through all of that,” I tell her.

“It’s okay, Taja. It ended well. But that’s not why I’m telling you this. I want you to know the lengths the Devil’s went to for me and for others in the same position. They didn’t stop until they broke that trafficking ring up. They risked themselves to make others safe. They’ll do the same for Tessie. They WILL get her back because to them there’s no other option. But when they do, give Tessie some space. I know from what happened with me, I needed people to care and to be close but not push for details. I still haven’t talked about everything that happened, but I’m doing it at a pace I’m comfortable with. I think that’s the best thing everyone has given to me. They’re there to listen when I need it but nobody insists on anything I’m not ready to say.”

“I get it, Bella. Thank you, I’ll do that. I know you have a lot of people willing to listen, but you have another one now too. Here if you ever need anything, honey,” I tell her sincerely.

“I’ll remember that. I hope Tessie gets back soon.”

Chapter 20

Vex

It’s been two days and none of us have spotted Tessie yet. I’ve texted often with Taja, and I can feel her terror through the phone. I want to get Tessie back with us safely and then get both of us back to her sister. I’m worried about Taja and how she’s holding up, but Freddy’s sticking close to her and that helps keep me calm. I know he cares about her and will do all he can to help her through this. Suki’s been there for her too. But I want to be the one she’s leaning on, and I know that’s just being selfish. I need to be here because Tessie and Taja both are counting on me to make this right.

We’re meeting with the rest of the club members in a few minutes to decide our next move. Rex found us an isolated roadside park where we won’t draw attention to ourselves, and I’m impatiently waiting for the others to arrive. Planting my ass on a picnic table, I pull out my smokes and light one. Pooh sits down next to me, Cash standing nearby, when I hear a bike in the distance. We watch as Trigger rides in and parks next to Cash’s bike. He dismounts, walks to us and stops directly in front of me.

“Any eyes on Tessie yet?” he rumbles.

“No. Rex located Rooster’s woman’s shop, though. She lives above it so someone needs to sit on it,” I reply.

“Other’s will be here soon. We’ll figure out who’s doing what then,” Pooh adds.

Over the next ten minutes, we watch as club members pull in and park. Some in trucks, a van and a couple more bikes. Everyone gathers around the table and waits for Gunner to speak.

“I’ve spoken with a few of our support clubs and they’re willing to help. We have a few options. We can increase our numbers and take down each location we think she might be in. If we do that, we need to effectively end all of them. We can wait another day or two hoping to find where she’s at exactly and only hit that place. Or, we can find ways to see into the buildings or get eyes and ears into them to locate her. Rex sent some electronic things we can plant near or in the different locations. We just have to get close enough to do it and that’s not easy considering the lay of the land around their compound. Also, word of warning. I’ve been told the last biker Rooster’s club had a beef with ended up dead. Skinned alive and left in the desert. They don’t play around, so everyone needs to be fucking careful.”

“I’ve located a house a couple of the members share by following them when they left the clubhouse. It’s a few miles from there. I can get inside and plant those devices. Maybe we’ll hear them talking about Tessie or Rooster’s plans for her,” Cash adds.

“I can do the same with the barn at the clubhouse. Get in, get out. Someone in there has to be talking about this,” Pooh states.

“Let me do the one at the barn. You cover me. You’re a better shot than most of us anyway, especially at distance,” I tell Pooh.

I watch as Pooh struggles to agree with me. He wants to be the one at risk, not me. That’s just who he is and that’s why he’s so valuable to our club. But he also knows me better than anyone, and he knows I need to do this for a young lady I hope to have as my family. I need to do this for Taja, Tessie and myself. Pooh gives one quick nod, agreeing with me.

Gunner leads the rest of the conversation and hands out everyone’s duties. Looking around the group of brothers we’ve become, I see a lot of angry faces. Not one of us can wrap our head around a father using his daughter as a bargaining chip. There’s not a man standing here that Rooster should be unafraid to face.

Talking is done and we’re all on the move. Grabbing something to eat on the way, Pooh and I drive back to the clubhouse to await darkness. After eating, Pooh pulls out his M40A1 rifle with its 10 power, mil-dot crosshair Unertl scope. It’s a beautiful piece of workmanship with deadly consequences for who, or what, ends up in those crosshairs. After checking it over, Pooh looks my direction.

“I know we need to get Tessie back, no question. But we need you whole, too. Don’t take unnecessary risks. If you can’t get the bug in place, we’ll find another way. Taja doesn’t need both of you hurt or MIA.”

“Heard. Something I need to say in case shit goes south. You know I have family in Hawaii. A mom and a younger brother. I don’t count my dad as family. Anything ever happens to me, contact my mom. My family’s been into real estate development for generations now. Dad married into the wealth but controls my mom and brother with an iron fist. I rebelled and left when nothing I did was good enough for him. I’m not the kind of person to sit behind a desk in a high rise. I was more comfortable with a hard hat on but that was beneath us according to my dad. Point I’m trying to make is to contact my mom and have her sign my trust fund, company shares, property and investments over to Taja. Only speak with her and no one else. In the safe in Gunner’s office, is paperwork I had drawn up a few years ago giving you rights to handle my affairs if needed. Mom’s name and contact info is included,” I tell him saying more about my history than I ever have in one sitting.

“So, what you’re saying is you’re pretty AND rich? Like Ivanka Trump but with a dick?” Pooh questions with his usual smirk.

“You’re jealous now, right?” I smirk back.

“Not quite yet. You’re filthy rich yet live in a room at the clubhouse that still smells like pig shit. What the fuck, Vex?” Pooh says laughing his ass off.

“It only smells like that because of you and Craig, you worthless fuck.”

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