Page 19 of Lord

“That night you walked in and found Jen, if you think about it, my cock wasn’t hard. Of course, that doesn’t make it right, but my mind was on you and only you. How I was going to live without you, I didn’t let her continue but drank until I passed out,” I persisted, trying to make her realize no other woman has ever mattered to me aside from my mother, and now my little Rowena.

Sophia put her arms around my midsection, holding me tight, causing a sigh of relief from me. “Rowen, it was so hard for me. I was broken, pregnant, and alone. My aunt was a godsend taking me in and helping me stay on my feet; dad understood that I couldn’t stay here and be close to you; it would kill me. I didn’t want to do anything, but I had to get up every morning to provide and be there for Roe. So, I managed to put the hurt aside and get on with my life, but the minute I stepped into the clubhouse, it all came back, and it still hurts.”

I pulled her onto my lap, holding her tight. “Sophia, I think we can agree that I have a lot to make up for, and the hurt you feel will take time to heal, but let’s move forward, let the past go because holding onto it will solve nothing. I know we both want to be a family and give Rowena everything she deserves, and we can do that together by letting things happen and fall into place the way they were meant to fall. My love for you is strong, and I know you feel the same about me; we were made for each other. So don’t let the hurt control you because I vow to you I will never fucking hurt you again.”

THE REST OFthe weekend after Rowen and I talked went great. I let go and focused on the here and now. I know he is right that holding onto the past hurts won’t accomplish anything other than making me bitter. Have I one hundred percent forgiven him?

Nope, that hurt will take time, but it will happen.

I will say I am sexually satisfied for the first time in three years. Rowen has made sure of that. Even with Rowena back, Rowen finds ways to grab a quickie, like the one just now in the supply closet at the nightclub. “I have to get going, Shadow is my watch partner tonight at the clubhouse, and he will be waiting,” Rowen said, zipping up his pants, then leaning down to kiss me. “I will see you when you get back from work,” he finished as we walked out of the closet, him walking toward the exit and me going back to work.

I didn’t ask why the men were suddenly patrolling the grounds because I knew Rowen wouldn’t tell me, but it made me nervous. That’s the problem with one-percent motorcycle clubs; there was always a threat somewhere from something, mainly rival clubs. I shrugged the worry off and finished my shift. I had been riding to work with Rowen this week on the back of his bike, but since he needed to leave early, I brought my car.

I exited the back door, bee-lining for my car; I hated dark parking lots. But as I got closer to my car I heard a woman crying. I stopped listening, my hand going for my pepper spray in my purse. It was coming from the edge of the parking light that was shrouded in shadows. I walked slowly over to where the sound was coming from, and I couldn’t see anything.

Something wasn’t right, and my mind screamed danger.

I turned around. I would find Viking and let him check this out, but I was jerked back before I could move out of the shadows. A pair of strong arms held me, but I couldn’t see who it was, and I started fighting; there was no way I was going without a fight. I kicked and clawed, drawing blood and grunts of pain from my captor. “You stupid bitch! You’ll pay for that,” a man growled right before a pain shot through my head, and my world went dark.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THIS WAS BORINGas hell. Shadow was on one side by side, and I was on the other, riding around the grounds. I know it needs to be done, but that doesn’t make it any more exciting. I am watching the gate, waiting on Sophia to roll inside; she should have already been here. I took out my phone to call Sophia, but she didn’t answer.

I had a bad feeling, and my gut said something was wrong.

I hit Viking’s name on my phone; I knew he would still be at the club. “Yeah,” Viking answered.

“Hey man, did Sophia have to work late?”

“No, why? she left over an hour ago.”

“She hasn’t made it back here yet and isn’t answering her phone.” I was now worried and going to find Shadow.

“Let me go see if her car is gone,” Viking said, and I could hear him opening the door to the outside.

“Sophia’s car is still parked here; let me look around.” I heard him shuffling around as he walked the parking lot and then saying, “Don’t panic, but I found her purse over by the edge of the lot and spots of blood. I‘m going to check the cameras. I’ll see you when you get here.” He hung up.

Shadow rode up to me as I was parking. I had to find Sophia. “Something happened to Sophia; she was taken from the nightclub parking lot. I’m heading there now.” I didn’t wait for him to answer as I jumped on my bike and sped toward the gate, my heart pounding. I had to find her, and knowing blood was involved made my stomach clench, which meant she was hurt. What if I lost, Sophia?

I shut that line of thinking down. I cannot accept losing her. I won’t.

I pushed through the nightclub doors heading to the security room, finding Viking there with Soldier. “What did you see?” I hurried to ask.

“Sophia walked toward her car and then stopped and listened like she heard something and then went toward the edge of the parking lot, she disappeared for a minute in the shadows and reappeared for a second before someone pulled her back, she wasn’t seen after that,” Viking said, his brows creased in worry.

I felt such panic at hearing what Viking said my head was spinning. Shadow, Vampire, Silver, and Stonewall came through the door as Viking finished. “What the fuck happened to Sophia?” Silver growled, clearly upset. Viking repeated what he told me and played the footage for the room.

“Where do we even begin to figure out who took Sophia,” I asked, sweat beading my brow and a feeling of helplessness overwhelming me.

“Kickstand is getting access to the street cameras as we speak. Unfortunately, there isn’t much more we can do until we hear from him and see what Kickstand found,” Shadow answered.

I looked at Silver. “Where is Rowena?”

“Jane and Mary are going to take care of Roe until we find Sophia; she’s in good hands,” Silver said. I knew without a doubt she would be. And then another thought occurred to me.

“Who is guarding the clubhouse? This could be a distraction,” I asked.

“I thought of that. Black, King, and Domino are on the grounds. With the other members on alert, their families safe inside,” Vampire said.

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