It wouldn’t. He wanted 75k and he’d given her a week to get it. He wasn’t disappearing.
It would take much more than simply having Zach around, at least until Dal and the remaining members of the club could either be scattered again or taken into custody. The thought was almost enough to make her sink to her knees and weep.
“Hey,” Chloe said, coming over and putting a reassuring arm around her. “It’s going to be okay. Zach and Ryan and the rest of the guys will make sure you and Ana are safe. They’ll make everything better. I swear.”
Kayla pulled in a breath. “I hope so.”
“They will,” Chloe said, giving her a little shake. “I know from experience.”
“Be honest—did you believe it before it happened, or were you still scared?”
“Oh honey,” Chloe said on a sigh. “I was terrified. When Travis kidnapped me, I just knew he’d won. But then I realized Ryan would find me. I had such faith that he would. And he did. But sure, I was scared stiff. I spent a lot of time before Travis showed up again worrying about what would happen if he did. I can’t lie about that.”
Kayla wrapped her arms around herself. “That’s what I do too. I was worried James would get out of prison or something. I never thought of somebody else coming after me, but it happened.”
“I knew that man was bad news yesterday. I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Ryan told me what he wants. I’m furious for you. Just furious. I hope he drives his motorcycle off a cliff or something.”
Kayla couldn’t help but snort a laugh. There wasn’t much humor in it though.
“That would be awesome. I don’t think it’ll happen, much as I wish it would. I didn’t know Dal very well when I was with James, but I heard some of the women talk about him. He liked to hit girls. He also liked choking them during sex. They said he killed one of the girls he was pimping, but I don’t know if it’s true.” Kayla shivered and Chloe hugged her harder. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth about him, but I didn’t want to involve any of you.”
“Oh honey, it’s okay. I’m sorry you went through that. Boy, you and I sure picked a couple of losers before we found the winners we have, didn’t we?”
“Definitely.” Kayla bit her lip. “Do you ever worry it won’t last, Chloe?”
Chloe frowned. “You mean with Ryan? No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t think like that at all. I just know he’s the one for me—and I’m the one for him. I have no doubts. I’ve never felt this way before. Neither has he. I believe him when he says that.”
Kayla nodded. She’d never felt this way before either—but so far, Zach wasn’t on the same page as her. Maybe he never would be. Maybe she was hoping for more than she deserved.
“Do you doubt your feelings for Zach?”
“No, not at all. But Chloe…” She blew out a breath and said what she wouldn’t dare say to her sister. “He’s not in love with me.”
Chloe smiled softly. “Oh honey, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I saw him with you yesterday. And he took you to Home Depot for paint for that baby girl, right? He might not know he loves you yet. But he does. Mark my words, he does.”
Chapter Fifteen
Neo sat at his desk, searching through files on his computer, when Camel’s voice came from behind him.
“You find anything on those bastards?”
Neo nearly went through the ceiling, but he managed not to show his reaction. Or at least he hoped he managed it. Camel’s stealth game was strong. He thought the dude did it on purpose sometimes, just hoping to make one of them scream in terror. Camel would never sneak if they were armed, but inside HQ was safe enough. Nobody was going to shoot him. And nobody’d get the drop on him either.
“Nothing we don’t already know. The Feds seized the land the compound was on and sold it. The big players are still in jail, though it looks like James Dunn’s got a new lawyer who’s trying to get his conviction thrown out on a technicality.”
That had been an unpleasant surprise, but so far nothing had come of it.
“Shit,” Camel said as he grabbed a chair and dragged it over to sit beside Neo so he could see the screen. “No way I want to tell Bailey that Dunn might get out.”
He wasn’t telling Kayla either. Not until he had to. She had enough to worry about without worrying over Dunn too. “I wonder if Ian Black knows?” Neo mused.
“Yeah, I wonder too.” Camel scrubbed a hand over his face. “Christ, Bailey and Kayla deserve better than that.”
“They do.”
“Ella has Ana, right?”
“Yep. And Kayla rode to work with Chloe. The women won’t let her out of the salon on her own, and they know to call if Gentry shows up again. Or anyone suspicious.”
“I don’t like that Ana’s involved. Complicates everything.”
“Yeah. She can’t keep staying with Ella, and we can’t farm her out to different babysitters either.”
“Bailey can keep her on the days she doesn’t have class, but I think Ana going to work with Kayla has to end for a while.”
“Agreed.” He thought about it for a minute. Kayla might be angry with him for this, but he’d sworn to protect her—so that’s what he was going to do. “Ana would be safer in daycare on base,” Neo said. “And Kayla would be safer in base housing.”
Camel’s brows lifted.
