Page 32 of Trouble

“They were a match?” Trinity asked, though it was clear she already knew. “Of course it was a match. I had a shitty mom, was abandoned by the man who I thought was my dad, and the real one - biologically speaking - is a criminal who I think kidnaps women and does who knows what with them.”

“We’re going to put that to an end soon, baby girl.” Bishop made the promise and Quickshot gave him a look that said if he could wring his neck in that moment, he would. “Not like she doesn’t know more than enough to understand the dire circumstances, Quick. The girl is smack dab in the middle of this bullshit, has been for longer than any of us realized, but more since the incident at High Shoals.

“I think he knows,” Trinity said and her eyes swept across all of us in the room before they landed back on Quickshot. “WhenI pulled away from the gas station, he called out to me and said he’d be seeing me soon.”

“Damn!” Quick huffed. “We were hoping he didn’t have a clue.”

“I think it’s safe to say Trinity should remain on lockdown until we can pinpoint where the bastard is hanging out.” I suggested.

“I was just promoted and offered a partnership with the women of S.H.E. for Paramour. I will not let them down by bailing on my responsibilities the minute the shit hits the fan in my personal life.”

“Sweetness, this is a matter of your security.”

“Fine, then replace useless Brian with some of the club men and be picky with them. Anyone who was friends with Battle before he left is out, for obvious reasons. I won’t object to staying here when I’m not working.”

“What about when you’re vulnerable going to and from work?”

“Can’t you guys put your heads together and come up with some of the answers? For shit’s sake, I work for one MC and have too many ties to count to the other one. Between the S.H.E. MC and Aces High, I think you can figure out a way to keep me safe, use me as bait, or whatever needs to happen to bring this shitty episode of my life to a permanent close.”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face as my woman proved to everyone why she was the only one for me. She had tenacity. “Don’t plan on using her as bait,” I added. I might like the fact that she wasn’t afraid to fight for her happiness, but that didn’t mean I wanted her put in harm’s way again. “People shooting at her when we were stuck near High Shoals was bad enough. I can’t do that again.”

Trinity offered a little comfort as she snuggled deeper into my side. I wrapped my arms around her and wished like hellthat we never had to part ways again.I didn’t want her out of my sight, let alone far enough away that I couldn’t reach out and touch her.

CHAPTER 21

DADDY ISSUES

TRINITY

Despite his bestattempts to stop it, the plan that was put in place involved using me as bait. There wasn’t really a way around it, especially after Hannah failed to turn up to work. The women of S.H.E. hadn’t gotten to her in time and I took that personally. Not that I blamed them. I think the minute I dropped her off she was already lost to us.

They were looking for her. We hoped that once we caught Warren, we would be able to get answers from him. Well, not me. I didn’t want to give the man more of my time that was absolutely necessary. Between the two clubs, they were capable of getting information out of a man. Hopefully, it would lead them back to Hannah and she would still be whole when they found her.

When I left the compound, it appeared that I was alone, but there were men and women from the two clubs stationed at intervals along the route. They wouldn’t be noticed by someone who had their focus pointed my way, so it would appear as though I drove there on my own. It also helped that I was the manager of Paramour, so I went in an hour before my staff arrived.

The minute I noticed the car behind me, my heart ticked up a few beats faster than normal. I continued to bob my head to the nonexistent music as I spoke out loud to my Jeep. “He’s not alone,” I warned while making it look like I had been singing along.

“We’ve got your back, sweetness. I still don’t agree with this shit, but no one is going to harm you or take you from me. Trust in that.”

“I do,” I called back. I didn’t want to get too sappy, since I knew Trouble wasn’t the only one listening.

“Trust me too, sister-cousin.”

A series of groans erupted on the comms as I laughed without making it obvious to the person who followed along behind my vehicle. When my turn came up, my palms started to sweat. “It will look like no one is at Paramour, but I promise you, we are here and we have your back.” That was exactly what I needed to hear as I turned my Jeep off and gathered my bag as I normally would. “Okay.”I whispered just before I turned to get out. Before I was able to, my passenger door opened and Warren Anderson climbed inside.

“Hello, Trinity.” I wondered briefly if I should play like I didn’t know who in the hell he was, but decided against it. Despite being a shitty criminal, he was still a crude man. It was his impatience that always got him hemmed up in the end. “Do you know who I am?”

“The man from the gas station,” I stated coolly.

“I think you can do better than that.”

“Okay, you’re the asshole who just climbed in my Jeep without my permission.” I didn’t even see the slap coming. His reaction was swift and violent. It was a flash of the impatience he was known for.

“When I ask a question, I do not want some smart ass remark in response. Nod once if you understand.” I did as he asked.“That’s better. “Now, this is the last time I am going to ask. Do you know who I am?”

“If you mean did my mother point the finger at you possibly being my biological father, then the answer is yes. She showed me a picture.” That was a bold lie. Momma hadn’t even told me that there was a possibility that I didn’t belong to Tommy Monroe. She did with her actions, since she blamed my existence for him leaving her. The woman couldn’t own up to her own cheating and decided it was all my fault. Still, I didn’t want to lay all my cards out for the asshole who just slapped me. I knew Trouble could hear and that someone probably had to hold his ass back from charging out here, but none of them could speak once contact had been made, so it felt an awful lot like I was out there on my own with the psychopath who fathered me.

“Good, at least she got one thing right before she croaked.” I flinched at his absolute callous nature. He chuckled at my response. “Come on, out of everyone in her life, you had to experience it the most. She was only ever after what felt best for her. Never met a more selfish woman in my whole life. So selfish, I didn’t even know you were mine until a few days ago when I saw you at that gas station. I left town years ago and tried to make a go of some things out in the big world. I decided I liked being the big fish in the little pond better, so I came back. By then, your mom was dead, so I never saw her around. Didn’t know she ever had a daughter until I saw your face. I knew then. It’s all in that pert little nose of yours and the stubborn set of your chin. They remind me of Whitney. I’m sure you know my niece.”

---