“I’ll apologize, baby. Come here.” He holds his arms open for me. And no matter how upset I am, I know that I’m gonna feel better one I’m tucked into his chest with his strong arms banded around me. “I’m sorry, baby. I swear to you, I let my anger override my mouth and my good intentions went flying out of the window. I can’t say that I won’t ever screw up again, but I’m gonna work harder on biting my tongue until it’s just the two of us. Okay?”
“Okay,” I enunciate as I get lost in the comfort of his arms.
Chapter Seventeen
Shamus
It’s time to ride out, and my mind is working in overdrive. All kinds of questions are whirling around in there. Will tonight be the night we finally get rid of Jamie? Is my woman gonna be safe and stay where she’s told? I know that she’ll be tucked away in a vehicle with Tyson while we do the dirty work, but my woman has a bleeding heart for those that were locked up and in the same position that she was previously in. Will she try to play the hero and help the woman we’re following?
Not gonna lie, that’s my biggest fucking fear.
That she’ll not be thinking about herself, but extracting the woman and helping her find her own brand of freedom, inadvertently placing herself in danger. We’re only rolling out of here with three bikes, the rest of us will be in cages in order not to draw attention to us. The three on bikes will be hidden in the darkness, a few blocks away and will follow at a slower pace. They’re more there as back up in case things go awry. You can have a fool-proof plan, and still things can get massively fucked up. No matter how prepared we are, at the end of the day, we don’t know what sort of protection or weapons that Jamie fucker will have with him.
Star’s never ventured out with the woman that is Jamie’s flavor; so, she has no clue if he sees her on his own, or if he carries a platoon of soldiers with him. This is where we’re going in blind.
The little bit Star knows about this woman, is that she was captured and forced into this life because her brother owes Jeremiah copious amounts of green. It seems that he not only sells human flesh to the highest bidder, but he’s also a fucking loan shark. He has such high-interest rates that it’s next to impossible to pay him back.
Just as I place the last bag in the back of the van that Star and I will be riding in, she comes walking out of the door, Ella resting on her hip, jabbering a mile a minute. Looking over Star’s shoulder, I see Jessia hesitantly standing next to Malice; a look of pure, unadulterated fear can clearly be seen in her eyes and stance. Malice leans over and whispers something in her ear, her head furiously nods in response, but even from here I can see the tear trickle down her face. Texas walks up behind her and pulls her back into his chest. Texas and Malice have some sort of silent communication before grasping each other’s hand in a shake. Malice leans down and plants a kiss on Jessia’s lips and I nearly burst out laughing when I see how red she becomes. When Malice lets her go, Texas turns her in his direction and mirrors Malice’s public display of affection.
“They’re gonna give her a run for her money,” Star laughs as she makes her way next to me. Ella reaches her arms out for me to take her, and I happily extract her from her mother’s arms and plant her in my own.
“I’m gonna miss you, Mr. Shamus,” Ella says, in one of the sweetest voices I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.
“Gonna miss you too, princess Ella,” I reply, clutching her tighter to me. This little girl may not have my blood running through her veins, but she’s mine in every other way that counts. I may not have had a hand in making her, but I choose her and love her as if she was. “You be good for Auntie Jessia and Mom and I will be back before you even have a chance to realize we’re gone.”
“I’ll be good, I promise,” she guarantees. Her smile brightens my world and I lean over and plant a long, dramatic kiss to her forehead.
“Come on, little girl, let’s get you back to your aunt. It’s time for us to leave now,” Star says, breaking up our little moment. Ella reaches over and smacks a drool-filled kiss to my cheek.
My arms feel empty and bare once she’s no longer in them. Needing to keep myself busy so I don’t follow the two of them like some pathetic pussy, I head over and make sure the rest of the vehicles are packed up and ready to go.
Once we’re all rounded up and proper goodbyes have been made, our convoy of vehicles and motorcycles hit the road.
We ask Star more questions about this dancer we’re gonna be following. She doesn’t know much, they didn’t really communicate with one another, but she informs us from what she can tell, she’s very shy and timid. I hope she grows a backbone before the night concludes. She’s gonna need it.
Star
When we pull up behind the club, my hands begin to sweat as memories of days from not that long ago begin to resurface. Memories I’d rather forget, that is next to impossible with my prison staring me right in the face.
“There’s the vehicle that she normally uses.” I point out the sedan that’s idling at the side entrance.
