Chapter 10

Emma

Honey and I get back to the house with Dbag and Spike. The note I received earlier had gotten me riled, but after talking to Hawk and Honey about it and being away from the house for a bit, I had begun to relax. That is, until now. Being back at the house reminds me of the feelings I had when I discovered the note. I was so sure that someone was in the trees watching me.

We all walk into the house and once the door is closed and locked, I turn to Spike and say, “Spike, I know this might sound a bit paranoid, but I think it is important for you to know that when I discovered the note on my car I was sure that someone was in the trees watching and listening.”

“You sure? You don’t think that maybe you were just freaked out by the note?” he asks.

“At first, I did think that, but then a feeling came over me. You know, that one where your stomach falls to the grounds and your skin begins to prickle? I would bet money that someone was there.”

“Ok, darl’n. Dbag and I will go check it out.”

“Thank you.” They pull out their guns and hold them at their sides as they walk out the door.

A few minutes later the guys return. Spike says, “Well, Miss Emma, I don’t want to scare you more than you already are, but I think you’re right. There is a pile of cigarette butts behind the tree over by the driveway. If any of our guys were out here, they wouldn’t be hiding in the trees and wouldn’t need to hide their cigarette butts.” He starts walking through the house and making sure that all the windows and doors in the house are locked. “You ladies don’t go outside for anything. Not even the mail. You hear me?” Honey and I both nod.

Just then my phone starts to ring. I walk over to my bag and pull it out. Checking the caller ID, I’m delighted to see that it’s Caden. “Hey, handsome!” I say into the phone as I walk into the other room for some privacy.

“Hey, beautiful! How’s my best girl?” I want to tell him everything about what has happened today, but then I remember Hawk’s words. Hawk was right, Cade has a lot on his plate right now and until we know more about this, it is best to not say anything.

“Emma?” he says again, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’m sorry, babe. I’m doing good. Honey and I have tried to keep busy so we don’t miss you too much.”

“You can miss me. It’s ok,” he says with a chuckle. “Actually, I would prefer it if you missed me.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t miss you, I said I was just trying to keep busy so your absence was more bearable to take. Better?” I tease.

“Better.”

“So, how was your flight? Are you in Dublin? Or have you already made it to Belfast?” I know I’m spouting off questions, but I want to know everything.

“Easy babe, one at a time. Our flight was good. Spent a lot of time on the plane doing some research into the IRA. And, to my surprise, I was also able to get some sleep.”

“Oh, good. Did you find out anything helpful in your research?” I ask.

“I did.”

“Tell me.”

“Babe, I think it is better that we don’t get into that. I don’t have too much time to talk. Right now, I just want to hear your voice.”

“Oh, ok. Are you in Belfast?”

“Yes, we got to the house about an hour ago.”

“And have you met your family yet?”

“Yeah, some of them, but I’ve been told that there are a lot more I haven’t met yet. But with all that needs to be done, I doubt that I will.”

“Are you ok?” I’m worried about him. He’s got so much to deal with and he is always so strong for everyone. It’s a lot to take in: being in a strange country and meeting a family that he never knew.

“Yeah, babe, I’m good.” He pauses for a moment and then says, “I hate to cut this short, but I gotta go, babe.”

“Ok,” I reply sadly.

“Emma, darl’n, I don’t know when I’m gonna get the chance to call you again. If I don’t get back to you tomorrow, please remember that I love you and I’ll be home soon.”

“I love you too, Cade. Be safe,” I reply. And then, he’s gone.

I hate this! I am hormonal and I want him home. And now I have to deal with the mess of this note without him. Hopefully Hawk is right and this is nothing more than someone trying to mess with us. Maybe Skid, like we thought. I’m sure Cade stepping in with Brianne hurt his pride a bit, not to mention that Grayson was his friend.

I walk back into the kitchen area where everyone else is hanging out. “Was that Ice?” Spike asks.

“Yes. They made it to Belfast.”

“Good.” He walks over to me and puts his arm around me, giving me a slight squeeze. “He’ll be home before you and that baby know it.” I like Spike. If I could pick one of the club members as my big brother, I’d pick him or Rebel.

“Thanks, sweetie. Hopefully you’re right.” I pause and then add, “This whole note thing has got me worried. Hawk says not to bother Caden with it, but all my instincts are shouting at me to tell him.”

“Trust Hawk. He has been around the block a few times and knows what he’s doing. His first priority is his loyalty to Ice. He won’t steer you wrong.”

“Yeah, when you put it like that it does make it a little easier to accept.” He is right. If Ice didn’t trust Hawk implicitly, or even if he couldn’t count on him to do the right thing in any situation, then the whole club would crumble. When you are dealing with anything that involves more than one person, like an MC or a club, the foundation of that club is its leaders. If you can’t trust the leaders, then you have nothing.

“So, Honey girl, whatcha cooking me and Dbag for dinner?” Spike asks.

She laughs. “Who says I am cooking you boys anything?”

“Awww, come on, Honey. We’ve missed your cooking since the clubhouse blew.” He then adds, “Besides, we’re your protection. You gotta keep us nourished, right?” He sounds just like a little boy who’s asking his mom for one more cookie.

As I expected, Honey caves. Although I assume that she was planning on cooking for them all along and was just teasing him.

She says, “I think I am going to make some chili. Does that sound good?”

“Oh, hell yeah!” Spike cheers.

“Fucking A! That sounds awesome, Honey. Can we help?” Dbag adds. These boys may be big, tough bikers, but offer them some good home cooking and they turn to mush.

“Naw, Emma and I got this. You boys go hang out in there or shoot some pool or just do whatever it is you boys do.” Honey says as she shoos them off. She’s so good at handling everyone; I wonder if I’ll ever get to that point.

We finish dinner and Honey and I clean up the kitchen while the boys finish their game. When all is said and done, the boys check the house and grounds, then double-check that all the doors and windows are locked. When the house is secure, we all turn in for the night. Spike takes the room that Rebel slept in while he was here last week and Dbag sleeps on the couch.

I offered him one of the other guest rooms, but he was insistent that it would be better if he were out in the living space in case he was needed. I assume that meant in case someone tried to break into the house in the middle of the night, but I’m not going to ask him to elaborate on that. Sometimes, it’s definitely better to not know everything.

I get to the top of the steps and walk into my room. I flick on the switch of my bedroom and what I see laying on the bed leaves me speechless. Words can’t even emerge from my mouth as shock overwhelms me. As I stare at the single-stem rose and note laying on my bed, all I can do is make a sound that isn’t human, but a terror-filled wail of horror that chills me to the bone. Whoever left the note this morning has been in the house!