“Everything alright?” It can’t be. Not if she texted me at almost midnight and said we needed to meet as soon as possible.
She shrugs her shoulders and gives me a long stare before finally clearing her throat. “If you want to get her back you need to move now. There’s another woman trying to get out, someone who needs help as much as you did back then.”
I draw my brows together, not understanding how someone else’s actions move up my timeline. “Why does this affect stuff on our end? I should have plenty of time. They just got settled here in Boston. They shouldn’t be moving, so—”
“Eric re-married. He re-married and his wife is trying desperately to get out. She sought me out, or rather one of my associates in our Boston office. She has a son with him, Vanna. The woman’s not just worried about her and her son, she’s trying to take Peyton out too.”
Everything clicks in my mind and the reality is that there’s no time to waste. I need to tell the club everything and there’s not a doubt I need to do it soon. I know Boss will stand behind me and we’ll go get my baby girl, but the reality is the secrets I’ve kept are going to impact the relationships around me. This out of them all is the biggest one . . . and I don’t know if Ricochet will be able to turn a blind eye to it. I hope he will, or I hope he’ll forgive me and understand why I kept things so private, but I don’t know. I only hope my secret doesn’t destroy everything we’re building together.
“It’s not just herself that she’s worried about . . . she’s told me they’re abusing girls who grow up in the cult, right around the age of fifteen, sixteen . . .” Beretta’s voice grows softer, like she’s gently touching the subject but luckily I can read between the lines. She clears her throat. “It’s not only in one form of abuse either. They’re beating women too, and . . . the last time I met with her, I paid for a phone. The type you get from a gas station. Well, she snuck it in and was able to obtain some photographs for me.” Beretta pauses for a moment and removes her sunglasses, setting them down on the table. “I wish I never saw them, Vanna. I think I know why you left now, besides for obvious reasons.”
“I’m sorry you had to see.”
“They use your story as a way to scare people into submission if they start stepping out of line, that’s what I’ve learned from her, in addition to so much more.”
I shake my head, sickened by the thought, but I’m not surprised. They’ll do anything to keep their precious members, even if it means terrifying them to the point where they don’t think they have another choice.
Beretta takes out her phone and taps away and shortly I have a text message. I glance down at my phone and see it’s an address in Boston. “Is this what I think it is?”
“Yes, it is.”
Inhaling deeply through my nose I nod. “What do I owe you for this?”
“Nothing, just get her out, get as many out as you can.” Beretta grabs her glasses and puts them back on, then reaches for her wallet.
I hold up my hand. “I got this. After what you’ve given me, it’s the least I can do.”
Beretta gives me a nod in thanks and disappears the same way she came from. And as she leaves the realization of what I need to do weighs heavily on me. I need to get back to the club and I need to do it now. There’s so much I have to tell them and we’re running out of time.
Chapter Seventeen
Ricochet
I’m standin’ in the kitchen with Boss, Destiny, Cowboy, and Iris, while the three of us adults share some coffee. It’s been a nice mornin’ so far, but Venom wasn’t in bed when I woke up this mornin’. I went all through the club to see if I could find her but had no such luck. Seein’ her bike wasn’t in the garage told me she must’ve been out on a ride or something.
I guess it’s my fault, if I’d woken up on time, I would’ve kept her busy in other ways. And man, the two of us mesh so well when it comes to the bedroom. Last night I finally used those handcuffs on her, and fuck if I won’t use them in every naughty way I’ve dreamed about.
I turn my head and listen as the sounds of footsteps come trampling through the place. I glance over to the doorway and in comes Venom, a shocked look on her face and her chest rises and falls with what I’d assume is nervousness.
“I need to tell you something, and I need you guys to know how sorry I am for not saying anything, I wanted to, but I was afraid,” she starts off, lookin’ from me over to Boss.
Boss sets down her coffee and comes over to the doorway that Venom just walked in. “Okay, let me ask a question before you get started. Are you alright?”
“I . . . I think so,” Venom blurts out, but I doubt anyone here believes her.
Boss turns to look behind her. “Iris, can you take Destiny for a bit?”
Iris immediately goes to take the little girl from her daddy’s arms and then leaves the kitchen area. Boss leans up against the island and looks straight into Venom’s eyes. “Okay, tell me everything.”
Venom’s hands begin to shake and she looks right at me. “I’m so sorry for keeping this from you and I hope you can forgive me for it,” she says with watery eyes so I know this must be damn
