Wolf
Ghost comes running in my office without knocking. “They have her!”
I look up and respond to his outburst. “Calm the fuck down. Who is her and who is they?
“Pepper. She left with a Dweller.”
My heart skips a beat, or twenty. “What do you mean she left with a Dweller?”
“After the meeting, I decided to look at the video feed, thinking we might have missed something. I saw Pepper walking behind the garage, so I looked at the other camera on the fence side. Two guys with Dweller cuts on held the fence open for her, and she walked through and got in a huge four door pickup truck with them. They drove off with her. She left on her own."
My chair flips when I jump to my feet and run upstairs to my bedroom with Ghost following behind me. Tearing into the room, I look everywhere, not wanting to believe what he told me. She's gone along with her stuff. Everything else seems like nothing compared to her leaving me. I drop onto the bed, not believing what she’s done. When I'm about to get worked up and turn my anger out onto my room, I see a note on the nightstand.
With a sinking feeling, deep in my stomach, I grab the note and read.
Wolf, I wouldn't have left if I didn't think it was a good idea. I know you can take care of me, but we needed to remove me so I can't be used against you. I'll call you soon, so don't do anything until then. I'll explain when we speak. Love, Pepper XOXO.
I hand the note to Ghost, who reads it. “What do you want to do?” he asks.
“We'll do exactly what she asks and wait for her to call. If I don't like what she says, we'll go find her. I want to go over all the recordings and see if we missed anything before she calls." What the fuck does she mean by someone using her against me? Someone said something to her. And whoever it was is about to get their ass whooped when I find out who. They should've come to me with any info about my MC or my woman.”
“I'll go set up for us to look them over again.”
“I'll be there in a few minutes.”
Sitting on the bed, I try to piece together the situation, wondering who's after the club, and who's brave enough to even try. Something inside me believes the Dwellers aren't a part of this. If not, then they kidnapped my woman and I don't think even Hitch will cross that path with me. For right now, I’m still going to let the rest of the club believe it is all about the Dwellers, though. Before I leave my bedroom, my cell rings with an unknown number. I flip it open. “Speak.”
“This is Bane. I'm calling to let you know your woman is safe. She'll be calling you in just a little bit.”
“Thanks man, but don't think someone won't pay for this going on behind my back. Nothing better fucking happen to her on the Dwellers’ watch or it'll be a war like you've never seen.”
“I know but this is the best way. You'll understand more when she calls. I got to go.”
I lock my door before leaving the room, not wanting anyone to know Pepper is gone yet. Ghost is ready to go over the footage when I get there. “Before I left my room, I got a call from Bane. He wanted to let me know Pepper is safe.”
“You believe him?” He's shaking his head in disbelief.
“Out of all the Dwellers, I've always respected Bane, so I feel like we have no other choice but to trust nothing will happen to Pepper,” I answer even though I'm still doubting the whole situation. If I knew where she is, I'd be gone already to drag her back. But, I have no clue, and if I leave, it'll be a wild goose chase and then wasted resources that could be used protecting the club and figuring out what the hell is actually going on.
Ghost has the video at the point when I'm outside with Hitch. He switches to a different screen and we see where Pepper and Crystal came out into the yard while Hitch stood there. Then, Pepper engages him and I'm pissed all over again before she goes back into the club house.
I know what happens after that. "Find out where Pepper and Crystal were right before coming out."
When the screen comes up, it shows me leaving our room and then Crystal showing up not long after.
Pepper lets her in, and about five minutes later, they come out and go downstairs. "Now show me after Pepper went back upstairs." Speeding up the camera, we watch Pepper go back up to the bedroom, with Crystal following her right after.
Another fifteen minutes pass. The door opens with Pepper and Crystal coming out. Both walking down the steps carrying Pepper’s stuff, they go out the back door. They didn't run into anyone with the meeting happening at that time. Ghost switches the cameras as they move to each area. When they came out of the garage, Pepper hugged Crystal. Crystal went back into the clubhouse while Pepper crawled through the hole in the fence.
Ghost switches cameras again to where they see Pepper coming out from behind the garage. She walks up to the gate. Waiting for her are two Dweller club members. They have cut the fence so she can walk through it. Taking her suitcase and the rest of her things, one of the guys puts it in the back of a black pickup Ford for her.
Ghost looks at Wolf. “What do you want to do now?”
“Like I said before, we will wait for her call, and decide what to do then.”
“Should we at least talk to Crystal?”
“No, not yet. I still want everyone to think Pepper is still here until we know exactly what’s going on. Someone may get suspicious if we ask for her.”
“Okay, I think I will go over some more footage to see if we missed something else.”
“Good. I'll be in my office until she calls, which better be soon.”
I go back to my office and punch the wall. If she gets hurt, I'll lose it. I'm not sure what happened but Pepper has wiggled her way past my barriers and I have fallen for her. I'll do anything to keep her safe, but I'd rather have her with me.
My cell rings after what feels like the span of my life. I answer the unknown number before it gets a second ring. “Hello?”
“Hey honey, it’s me Pepper. Bane is letting me call now. We have a little more to travel.”
I want to yell at her for leaving. Rather, I manage to hold back that part of me and try a softer approach. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Yes, they've been very considerate. I know you didn't want me to leave with them. The Dwellers are not what you think and they aren't the ones after you. I asked about Moose and they said it wasn't them. He did what he did on his own and will be taken care of. I don't want to know what that means. I only have about ten minutes to talk, so I'll talk quick. To make a long story short, there's a MC trying to align with others to take out your chapter. No one is certain who is behind it. From what Hitch has found out, you have a mole. Someone from the Freedom MC has been talking and one of Hitch’s guys just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He overheard I was going to be used against you, so he pulled me out. Crystal should be able to help answer questions if you need some more. Please don't do anything to her. She's been trying to help everyone.”
"What made you trust them? They could've been the ones planning to kidnap you and are manipulating you." She's too innocent to think different.
"I'm not that naïve. I promise. I trusted them for the same reason I trusted you. Instincts. For the most part, mine have always worked for me. I wasn't wrong about you and I don't think I'm wrong about Crystal and the Dwellers."
If she trusts them, then I need to do the same. Pepper may be the craziest, bravest damn woman I ever met. "Baby, please be careful. I promise no one is going to hurt Crystal. When can you call me again?"
“Not anytime soon, Bane said that we'll be out of cell service where we're going.”
“What about your meeting?” That's not something that's priority for me but it is for her.
“Bane will take me if nothing has been resolved and then back to where I'll be staying. Don't worry, it seems there will only be me, a lady, and two men from the Dwellers.”
“Fine, I'll go along for now, but I don't like you being away from me.”
“I'm already missing you, so I know what you mean. Oh yeah, if Bane has to take me to the meeting, I'll be able to call you then."
“I really want to be the one to take you, so we can spend some time together.” I want to do everything with her and every second I miss with her will be taken out on whoever is after my Chapter. My family.
“I know. Bane is telling me I have to get off the phone. He wants to talk to you first.” She doesn't say goodbye before Bane's voice comes over the line.
“Hey man, just want to let you know we'll take good care of her.”
“You better, or you will be very sorry if anything happens to her.”
He laughs. “Yes, you’ve said that. Talk to you later.”
I throw my cell down on the desk. I know I need to get my act together. We need to find the mole. We need to find out which MC wants to take over our territory, and why. First things first—find the mole. Since everyone is a suspect, I'll let each member in on a need to know basis. I can rule out Ghost. He wouldn't have brought the footage to my attention or let me know Pepper had left. Crystal is good. Funny how I can trust the newest person in our club more than anyone else. Shooter can be trusted, too. I need to get them in my office to talk.