Chapter Twenty-Six
Carly
Opening my eyes, I yawn and stretch my arms over my head, squinting at the sunlight flooding into the room from the windows. How do I always forget to close those damn blinds?
“Don’t move,” Chance grumbles, tightening his arms around my body and I peek over my shoulder at him.
“Why not?”
He peels one eye open to glare at me. “I’m comfy.”
“Well, I’m hungry,” I say, rolling over to face him as my stomach growls. He scowls but the smile in his eyes gives him away. Before he can say anything else, his phone starts ringing and he groans, rolling over to grab it off the bedside table.
“What’s up?” he asks as soon as he answers it. After listening for a second, he sits up and runs a hand through his hair. When he glances over at me, I know it’s time. I’ve been waiting for the past four days to hear what Streak was able to dig up on Julian and each day that passed only made me more anxious. “Yeah, we’ll be there.”
He hangs up and turns to me. “Everyone’s meeting at the clubhouse to go over your sister’s case.”
“Okay.” I nod and jump up, flinging the covers behind me as I rush into the bathroom and throw my hair up into a bun. After Chance took me to the animal shelter, I was able to relax a little bit but worry over Ivy has always been at the edge of my mind and I’m more than ready for answers.
“Baby, we got a little time if you want to slow down and maybe eat some breakfast,” Chance says from the doorway as I brush my teeth and I shake my head. I spit in the sink before turning back to him.
“I can’t. I just want to go to the clubhouse.”
He sighs and nods. I know he’s concerned that I’m worrying too much but with the imminent onslaught of information, my stomach is rolling and I’m not sure I could keep anything down. Besides, food seems so trivial now that we’re finally going to start talking about how to help Ivy.
“I’ll get dressed then. But after the meeting, we’re getting you some food, deal?” he asks and I nod.
“Promise, babe.” I give him a quick kiss before going back to brushing my teeth and he turns back into the bedroom to get dressed. When I’m done, I go to the closet and pull a pair of jeans and white t-shirt out of the dresser, quickly throwing them on and slipping on black leather booties.
Chance’s eyebrows shoot up as I walk back into the bedroom and he fights back a smirk. “You look hot as hell, Princess.”
“Thanks,” I reply, glancing down at my simple outfit and grinning. He stands up from the bed and stalks toward me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Wanna take my bike today?”
My heart rate spikes and I stare at him for a moment before nodding. I’ve never ridden a motorcycle before, but the thought thrills me as much as it scares me. He leans in, claiming my lips in a quick but passionate kiss, before leading me out of the bedroom. In the kitchen, he grabs his keys off the island where he tossed them last night when he came over with movies to watch and I grab my bag off the entry table. I hand him my keys as he closes the door behind us in the hallway and he locks up as I glance down at the elevator and I bite my lip.
I have no idea what Streak is going to tell us about Julian Henshaw, so I have no way to know if I’m prepared for it at all. I think I am. I hope I am but there’s just so much, so many awful things that he could be doing to my sister and I know I’m not prepared to deal with it. In the darkest corners of my mind, I’ve wondered if she’s going through the same thing I did but I can only handle a few seconds of that before I’m on the verge of sobbing. It’s a miracle I haven’t fallen apart yet and the only reason for that is the man standing next to me.
The elevator doors open, snapping me out of my thoughts and I suck in a breath as we step on. Chance squeezes my hand and I look up at him.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby.”
I shake my head. “You don’t know that, Chance, but I appreciate you saying it.”
He doesn’t say anything else and I know that he’s just as worried about how I’m going to handle all this as I am about Ivy, but neither can be helped. Until my sister is safe, out of harm’s way, I won’t be able to relax. When the elevator doors slide open on the first floor, we step out and he leads me outside to his bike.
“You ever ride before?” he asks and I shake my head. “It’s pretty simple. Just lean with the bike when I turn, don’t put your feet down if we stop, and hang on to my waist, okay?”
My gaze roams over the bike before I nod and sling the strap of my bag across my body. “Okay.”
Chance hands me a helmet and puts his on before climbing on and holding out his hand to help me climb on behind him. Once I’m comfortable, I wrap my arms around his waist and grip his shirt, my heart pounding in my ears. He fires it up and the deep rumble of the bike seems to reach right into my chest. As he slowly pulls out of the parking spot, I bury my head in his back and close my eyes, not brave enough to glance up yet.
Oh, God, what the hell was I thinking?
Chance makes a couple of turns before speeding up and I guess that we must be on the interstate now. He rubs one of my hands with the death grip on his shirt and I glance up, my eyes widening. We’re flying down the road, weaving in and out of the few other cars on the road this early on a Saturday morning and I feel free. It takes my breath away and a wide smile stretches across my face.
The rest of the drive to the clubhouse goes way too quickly and I pout a little as he pulls into the lot and parks the bike. He pushes the kickstand down and climbs off before helping me down and I grin up at him as I take my helmet off.
“We’re definitely doing that again.”
He flashes me a grin that makes him look more boy than man and warmth hits me in the chest. “Anytime you want, Princess.”
Turning away from him, I stop and stare up at the clubhouse, my nerves returning full force. He steps up next to me and takes my hand.
“Ready to do this?” he asks.
“Yes… and no.”
He squeezes my hand. “I’ve got you.”
No truer words have ever been spoken. I don’t doubt for one minute that Chance has my back and always will. The man would walk through fire for me. It was one of the main things that settled my fear and made it possible for me to trust him, even when I didn’t want to.
“Let’s do this,” I whisper with a nod and we walk through the door. At first glance, it seems like everyone is here, milling around and eating breakfast or just bullshitting with each other. They all glance up when we walk in, some nodding in our direction, others offering me sympathetic looks.
“There’s breakfast in the kitchen if you’re hungry,” Storm tells Chance and he glances behind us to the steel door.
“Who made it?”
“Red’s old lady.”
Chance’s stomach growls and I can’t fight back my smile. “Aw, hell yeah. You want some food, baby?”
I know Chance wants me to eat something so I nod. Besides, it kind of seems like we won’t be starting until everyone gets some food anyway. He instructs me to sit down at one of the tables while he grabs me a plate and I walk over to the table in the corner, away from everyone else before sitting down. As soon as my butt hits the chair, Smith walks up and sits down next to me.
“Hey, how are you doing?”
I shrug. “I’m all right.”
“Listen, we’re gonna do everything we can to help your sister,” he says, his face full of compassion. I know this is what the club does but I’m still so touched they would step up to help me save Ivy.
“Thank you for doing this. I really don’t know what I’d do if y’all weren’t here to help me.”
He smiles, shaking his head. “No worries, Darlin’. You’re Chance’s girl which makes you family and there ain’t nothing we won’t do for family.”
“Smith!” Kodiak yells from the door. “Your little brother is here and he looks like he’s high as fuck.”
“Shit,” Smith hisses, jumping up. “I’ll see you around.”
He rushes off before I can reply and I watch him jog outside, wondering what the deal is with his brother. A plate full of biscuits and gravy lands on the table in front of me and I glance up as Chance sits down in the seat Smith just vacated.
“Red’s old lady makes the best biscuits and gravy I’ve ever had. You’re going to love ‘em,” he says, cutting one biscuit in half and shoving the whole thing in his mouth. Some gravy runs down his chin and I giggle as I wipe it away, shaking my head at him.
“You’re a mess.”
“Try the food,” he insists, pointing to my plate. “Then, you’ll understand.”
Pursing my lips to hide my smile, I cut into the biscuit and take a small bite before moaning. “Oh my God, that’s so good.”
“That’s what I’m sayin’, Princess.”
We eat in silence for a little while and when he shoves his plate away, he sighs and I turn to him.
“Why did Smith say I was family?” I ask. We’ve been together for a little while, but Chance and I just started officially dating so it seems a little early to be throwing words like family around.
“Because you are. No one in this room is going to let anything bad happen to me or someone I love if they can do anything to stop it. By loving me, you also get all these guys. You ever need anything, all you gotta do is pick up a phone and they’d all be willing to help,” he says, gesturing to the men around the room and I sit back in my chair, watching them. It feels weird to think I have seven quasi brothers I can call if I ever need anything but it’s also nice. It’s more family than I’ve ever had in my life and something I desperately need in this moment.
“Let’s get started,” Blaze calls out from one of the open doorways. All the guys stand and start heading toward the door. I suck in a breath and stand up, adrenaline surging through my veins. Chance grabs my hand again and we walk into the room together. He leads me to one of the chairs and sits down before pulling me into his lap.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers in my ear again and I nod.
“All right,” Blaze says and a hush falls over the room. “You all know why we’re here.” A few guys nod and glance over at me. “Carly, I’m sorry your family is going through this but we’re all here for you. Your family is our family.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, nodding as my gaze sweeps over the room.
“Streak, why don’t you go ahead and get started?” Blaze suggests and Streak nods, standing up and setting a little white box down on the table. A couple guys chuckle and I look at Chance, who just shakes his head.
“Jesus, did you make another PowerPoint, Streak?” Fuzz asks, laughing and Streak shoots him a glare.
“Shut it, you’re going to be thanking me for this.”
I wring my hands together, unable to sit still and Chance holds me tighter as a white screen fills the back wall of the room. Streak sits down at his computer and after a few clicking noises, a photo of my sister in a gorgeous gold ballgown pops up on the screen. Her gray eyes sparkle as she laughs at something someone says and my heart aches.
“As far as I can tell, this is the first time Julian Henshaw saw Ivy Mills,” Streak says and my breath catches in my throat. “They were both at the same charity event held on New Year’s Eve.”
I gasp. “I was there.”
Everyone turns to look at me.
“Do you remember seeing him there?” Streak asks and I shake my head.
“No, but it’s not impossible. There were a ton of people there that night.”
He nods and turns back to his computer. “After that night, Henshaw hired a private investigator. I can’t know for sure what the PI was hired to do unless I hacked his system, which, of fucking course, I did.”
A few of the guys laugh but Streak keeps talking.
“He has multiple files on Ivy, everything from where she lives and her phone number to the lunch spot she frequents, bank account information, health records. When I say this guy found everything, I mean it.”
“But why?” Storm asks and Streak nods at him.
“That’s the million-dollar question. It seems Julian started inserting himself into Ivy’s life in any way that he could. But even that doesn’t explain why he needed all this other stuff.”
I remember my lunch with Ivy just after I met Chance. She was head over heels and said it felt right but everything she knew, everything Julian did was designed to make her fall for him – to trap her in that house.
“It was all orchestrated,” I whisper and everyone turns to look at me.
“What?” Streak asks and I shake my head.
“When Ivy first told me about Julian, she said he just got her and how they connected on so many levels but that’s what he wanted her to think. He learned everything he could about her so he could mold himself into her perfect man.”
All the guys are quiet, somber, as they look around the room at each other.
“And the bank information?” Blaze asks.
“He cut up her debit card. Could he have messed with her accounts at all?”
Streak shakes his head. “It doesn’t look like he’s touched any of her money but it’s possible he could be monitoring it to make sure she doesn’t try to run.”
“You have anything else for us?” Blaze asks.
“Honestly, I feel like I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole here, Boss,” Streak says, blowing out a breath and running his hand through his hair. “When I started investigating, I never expected to find all this and it seems like the more I dig, the more there is to find. I just end up with more fucking questions.”
“Like what?” I ask, scared to hear his answer.
He looks down at his computer and pulls up a bank statement. “Like the five separate hundred thousand dollar transfers he made into an account in the Cayman Islands starting three days after the charity event. Or the numerous calls to two different burner phones starting just before the event. Not to mention, the two guards he’s got on your sister whenever she leaves the house.”
“Why would she need guards?”
“So she can’t get away, Princess,” Chance whispers in my ear and I tense in his arms. Good God, this whole thing is a mess.
“This started out as any other case but it’s obviously so much bigger and I’m working my ass off here, but I haven’t been able to crack it yet.”
It’s quiet as everyone in the room stares at each other, like we’re each hoping someone will have some answers for us. Finally, Blaze sighs. “Well, keep looking, Streak. In the meantime, we need to figure out how we’re going to get her out of there.”
“It’s gonna be damn near impossible with two guards on her ass all the time,” Moose says and I feel my heart sinking. I hate that he’s right. How are we ever supposed to get Ivy out of there with two men dedicated to making sure she can’t get away?
“Let’s take this one step at a time,” Blaze says, ever the voice of reason. “We need to get her a phone so she can get into contact with us.”
“Is there any way you could get that to her?” Storm asks, his gaze locked on me and I shake my head.
“I don’t know. Julian has cut her off completely and I doubt I’d even make it to the front door if I tried to go see her.”
Chance rubs his hand over my back and it fights the hysteria I’m barely holding back. “What about Rosie?”
“Who’s Rosie?” Fuzz asks, sitting forward.
“She’s the maid who brought me the note from Ivy. She doesn’t want to be involved but I get the feeling she wants to help my sister so that might work.”
“Henshaw has a tracker on her car, though,” Chance adds and Fuzz blows out a breath as he leans back in his seat.
“Dude’s got some serious control issues.”
That’s the understatement of the year.
“That may be our best bet right now, though.” I glance around the room and a few of the guys nod. Blaze sighs and nods.
“Let’s give it a go and if we need to reassess, we will. I’ll give Rodriguez a call today, too.”
Everyone seems in agreement and Blaze ends the meeting, banging a gavel on the table before coming over to Chance and I.
“Hey, Darlin’. I’ll have Chance get you a burner tomorrow and then hopefully you can pass it along to Rosie.”
I nod. “Yeah, that sounds good. I just want to thank you for all your help.”
“Don’t mention it,” he assures, shaking his head. “Speaking of, Chance, can you make sure she has all our numbers in her phone?”
“You got it, Boss,” he says from behind me.
“If you need anything, you can call any one of us,” Blaze says, meeting my eyes and I’m reassured by the sincerity in his gaze. I believe, without a doubt, I could call these guys in the middle of the night and they would come running if I needed them.
* * * *
Early morning sunlight blinds me and my heart drums in my ear as I creep down the tree-lined street, scanning each mailbox for the address Streak gave me yesterday. Thank God for his expert hacking abilities because I don’t know how I would have found this place, otherwise. Glancing down at the slip of paper in my hand, I reread the address one more time and scan the left side of the road. When I finally spot the little blue duplex with pink flowers planted in front of the windows, I pull over across the street and let out a breath. The building is run down and I wonder how little Julian must be paying his employees if Rosie can’t afford anything more than this.
Leaning back in the seat, I slide my sunglasses on my face and cross my arms over my chest, hoping this plan works. Rosie was less than enthusiastic about helping the last time I spoke to her but all I can do is hope that she’ll come around. If she doesn’t, I don’t know how else I’ll get the burner phone to Ivy. I’m also anxious to hear how Ivy is doing after more than a week of no word from my sister.
A black sedan pulls onto the street behind me and I watch it in the rearview mirror until it slows to a stop in front of the duplex. The windows are tinted and I can’t see inside so I wait with bated breath until Rosie steps out. I grab the burner phone out of the cup holder and open the door.
“Rosie!”
She glances over her shoulder and her blue eyes widen before she peeks down the street. “What are you doing here, Carly?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“You can’t be here,” she hisses, her gaze frequently drifting to the empty street behind me. Why is she so nervous? Would Julian really have her followed?
“Please, Rosie,” I plead, staying by my car to make her feel more comfortable. “It’s really important.”
She shakes her head. Her gaze flicks down the road again before focusing back on me. “I can’t be seen talking to you.”
“I’m begging you. I need your help to save my sister.”
She sighs, studying me for a moment and I can see the war in her eyes. Rosie wants to help but no doubt she’s scared after the things she’s witnessed in that house.
“We can’t talk here,” she says and relief overwhelms me, almost knocking me on my ass as I’m filled with hope.
“Okay. Where then?”
Rosie shoves her hands into the pockets of her sweater and spares another glance down the road. Streak was right. There is so much more to this than a domestic violence case and I’m anxious to figure out what it is.
“There’s a coffee house three blocks over. I go there every Monday morning and if I just happen to run into you there.” She shrugs and I get the message loud and clear, nodding my head.
“I’ll be there.”
Without another word, she turns and heads into the house as I slide behind the wheel and look up the coffee shop on my phone. After I set the GPS, I pull away from the curb and let out a breath. Finally, we have a little bit of progress. Now, I just need to convince her to help us.
My phone rings as I turn at the end of the street and I answer it, switching it over to speakerphone.
“Hey, baby. How did it go?” Chance asks.
“I’m not really sure yet. She didn’t want to talk at her house so I’m meeting her at a coffee shop a couple of blocks over.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “I don’t like this.”
“What do you think she’s going to do? Sell me out to Julian?”
“That’s exactly what I think, especially if it comes down to you or her. I wish you had let me come with you.”
I sigh as I make another turn. “If it’s really bothering you that much, I’ll text you the address of the coffee shop and you can sit outside.”
“Yeah, do that.”
I can already hear him rushing on the other end of the phone and I roll my eyes as I say goodbye and hang up. I know he’s worried, but I truly believe Rosie is a good person. She risked a lot to bring me the note, so she wouldn’t sell me out to Julian… at least, I hope not.
So, what if she did anyway? It’s not like he’s going to do anything to me. Then again, he could hurt Ivy. The thought makes my heart twist as I pull into a parking space in front of the coffee shop and text Chance the address.
No, I can’t let my thoughts go down that dark path.
Climbing out of the car, I scan the street even though I’m not really sure what I’m looking for and walk into the coffee shop. At the counter, the barista smiles at me.
“Hello, what can I get for you?” she asks.
“Large vanilla latte with a double shot.”
She nods and turns away to make my drink as I wring my hands together and glance out the window, looking for Rosie. The road is relatively clear and I don’t see her car anywhere so I sigh and turn back to the counter.
“Of all the coffee shops in this town,” a voice says behind me and I recognize it instantly, tensing as I turn to face Damian.
“Yes, what a coincidence.”
What the hell is he doing here?
“It would seem coffee shops are our thing.”
I force a smile to my face. “I wouldn’t say we have a thing. We barely know each other.”
“I would ask you to have coffee with me so we could get to know each other better but I have a feeling I’d get shot down… again.”
I nod, my smile feeling more strained. “Yes, well, I still have a boyfriend and he’ll be here any minute.”
As the words leave my mouth, the bell over the door rings and Chance walks in, looking every bit the sexy biker in his jeans and leather jacket. I fight back a smile.
“Hey, Princess,” he whispers, grinning as he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into a kiss that cranks the temperature of the room up a few degrees.
“Hey,” I say, breathless as he pulls away. Damian clears his throat and I jump, glancing over at him as I fight back a smile at his sour expression. I’m pretty sure he’s got the message now.
“Your coffee is ready,” he snaps, pointing to the barista as she holds the hot cup out in front of her.
“Thanks, Bud,” Chance says, squaring his shoulders a little bit, making it clear to me, at least, that he remembers Damian from dinner a few weeks ago. Chance hands a twenty to the barista and takes my coffee from her. “Keep the change.”
She beams and thanks him as we walk away from the counter. He leads me to a table in the corner and slides into the booth next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“What’s the fucking deal with that guy?” he asks, glancing over his shoulder to watch Damian storm out of the café, his expression murderous.
“I’m pretty sure my mother tried to play matchmaker like always and he’s not accepting rejection very well.”
“Fucking prick,” he growls, his gaze locked on Damian as he pulls away in his expensive sports car. Before I can say anything else, Rosie pulls in to one of the open spaces in front of the café. We watch her walk in and she spots us in the corner. She turns toward the counter and I hold my breath as she orders a coffee. After paying, she tentatively walks toward our table and slides into the booth across from us.
“Thanks for coming, Rosie.”
She nods. “Of course, but I already told you I can’t help you.”
“How is Ivy?” I ask.
“Okay.”
I nod. “Has he hurt her again?”
“Not that I can see but Mr. Henshaw is smart and would hide it under her clothes if he had.”
I’d been afraid of exactly that ever since I saw the bruise tucked under her shirt. “And how is she emotionally?”
“As well as can be expected, I think. She’s quiet and most of the time, she stays up in her room.”
I quirk a brow. “Her room? She doesn’t sleep in Julian’s room?”
“Please, I can’t be talking about these things. Mr. Henshaw will ruin my life if he ever finds out I was here talking to you.”
I reach across the table and lay my hand on hers. “I understand, Rosie. And I know you’re reluctant to help us, but I think you may be the only one who can.”
“There has to be someone else,” she whispers, her eyes widening and all the color draining from her face.
“There isn’t. I probably couldn’t even make it to the door and who else would be able to slip her this?” I set the burner phone on the table and her gaze drops to it.
“What is she going to do with that?”
I release a breath, relief coursing through me. At least she’s considering it. “Tell her she has to look for an opportunity to get away from the guards and all she has to do is call any number on this phone and we will drop everything to come get her.”
“She can’t get away from the guards. They follow her everywhere.”
Chance squeezes me to his side and leans forward. “Rosie, there has to be a moment when they let their guards down and she needs to seize it. She can’t overthink it and freeze up. If she wants to get away, this is how we have to do it. We’ve gone over everything and this is the only way.”
She blows out a breath, covering her forehead with her hand as she stares down at the phone and I can practically feel her fear from across the table. “I don’t know if I can.”
“Please, Rosie. Do you have a sister?”
“Yes,” she says, nodding. “Two.”
“What would you do to save them if they were in danger?”
“Anything.”
I nod. “Me, too. I would do anything to save Ivy, but this is my only option. I’m counting on you and Ivy needs you. Please.”
She lifts her gaze from the phone to look at me before glancing at Chance. Finally, she nods. “Okay. I’ll get it to her.”
“Thank you,” I practically sob as I grab her hand again.
“Make sure you tell her everything we told you, okay?” Chance stresses and Rosie nods.
“I will but I have to go now.”
I hand her the phone and she slips it into her pocket before grabbing her coffee and rushing out as she scans the café. We watch her climb into her car and drive away before I turn to Chance and bury my head in his neck.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby. This is going to work.”
I pray to God that he’s right.