Dagger
Telling Zoe about my past hadn’t been easy, but it had been the right thing to do. Not just because she might be my wife, but it had changed things between us. She wasn’t afraid of me, and had relaxed more. I’d even seen her smile a few times since we’d left the compound. To say my brothers were shocked when I grabbed the keys to an SUV, then left with Zoe was an understatement. I had no doubt I’d be getting a call from the Pres, asking me what the fuck I was doing with her. He’d made it clear they weren’t here for our amusement, even though it seemed at least one of my brothers didn’t listen. It still pissed me off that someone had tried to touch her.
One way or another, I was going to find out who had done it, and kick his fucking ass. I just had to get her to trust me enough to open up. She was silent on the drive to the store. I had a feeling she was going to be difficult when it came time to buy the things she needed. I wondered how long it had been since someone took care of Zoe. I looked at her, really looked. I could see the circles under her eyes, and the stress lines bracketing her mouth.
“There’s usually a pen and small pad somewhere in the club vehicles. See if you can find them. I want you to write down the name and address of the woman who has your son,” I said. I wanted to make sure the bitch still had the boy and wasn’t taking Zoe’s money, but I wasn’t about to tell her that and make her worry even more.
She dug around until she found them in the passenger door. She started writing, then ripped off the page and handed it to me. I folded it and shoved it into my pocket. While she shopped, I’d text the info to Outlaw and get him to check on the boy by whatever means necessary. I couldn’t imagine leaving my kid behind, but I understood why she had. There probably hadn’t been a lot of opportunities for her back home, and I knew the assholes who had brought her here wouldn’t have let her bring the kid. Not unless they had a reason. Just sucked she got caught up with some bad men who were taking advantage. I had no doubt she’d have worked herself to the bone for years before they’d killed her and dumped the body. She’d have never seen her boy again.
I parked as close to the door as I could. After I shut off the engine, she reached for the door, but I placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. “You wait right there.”
She released the door handle and nodded. I got out and walked around to the passenger side to open her door and help her out. I made sure the vehicle was locked, then placed a hand at her waist and led her inside the store. She stared at everything with wide eyes and I wondered if she’d never been shopping at a place like this. Since she’d been sending her money back home, she’d probably shopped at the dollar-type stores for her essentials. This place wasn’t on the same level as the mall shops, but it was definitely better quality than those cheaper spots.
“Let’s start with the bathroom items, and we’ll work our way around to the clothes and shoes,” I said. She opened her mouth, no doubt to say she didn’t need all that, but I silenced her with a look.
I let her push the cart, thinking it might keep her hands occupied when I started grabbing stuff I knew she’d need. I could already tell she was going to argue with me. Or try. There was no fucking way I was walking out of here without making sure she had everything she needed. Didn’t matter if it came from my account or the club’s money. The fact no one had made sure she had the basics made me want to punch something. Yeah, Beau had said he’d prep the apartments for the women, but it was obvious Zoe had needed clothing and shoes as well. The Pres might have given her cash for those things, but not a damn brother or Prospect had ensured she actually got them. And I was no fucking better. I hadn’t given a second thought to those women.
“Princesa, anyone else sending money home? Are you the only one who didn’t buy clothes and shit when Griz gave you that cash?”
“I think everyone else went shopping,” she said. Then her brow furrowed. “Except maybe Franny. She went with them, but she only came back with one bag. The others bought more.”
So Franny probably sent her money elsewhere too, unless she was saving it for something else, like a way out of the compound. Griz wouldn’t let them loose unless he knew they could take care of themselves. I filed that info away for later. I knew Wolf had been keeping an eye on Franny, or had been trying to without being obvious. I’d let him know she might need some shit.
While Zoe eyed the shelves, I pulled out the slip of paper she’d given me, snapped a picture, and sent it off to Outlaw. Check on the boy.
I’d get the kid here, whatever it took, but I’d have to come up with a plan. The border patrol wasn’t going to let me waltz back into the US with a little boy in the back seat who didn’t have the proper documentation. Sneaking across wasn’t as easy as some people seemed to think, and I wasn’t about to use a fucking coyote to get the boy here. Didn’t trust them for a second. Little kid would fetch more money than they’d make getting him here. I could easily see them selling the boy before I got him to his mother.
We made it all the way down three aisles of girly shit without Zoe reaching for a single item. She was going to piss me off. I didn’t have a clue what sorts of scents she liked, or know the damn difference between the brands lining the shelves. The only dresses I’d ever seen her wear had flowers on them. I didn’t know if that was due to a lack of options or because she liked floral stuff. It was a gamble, but I grabbed some soap and lavender-scented lotion. I added one of those poofy things women washed with, and a pack of razors with some shaving cream. If she didn’t like it, she could damn well pick out her own stuff.
Zoe narrowed her eyes at the items in the cart, but was a smart girl and didn’t say a damn thing about any of them. Her hair was long and beautiful, but I knew damn well to keep it shiny and soft she needed something better than the basic shit those apartments had stocked. I’d gone with Outlaw once when he’d picked up a few things for Elena. I remembered the brand of shampoo she’d gotten, but there were about six different kinds. I grabbed one that had a matching conditioner available and tossed them into the cart. Then I grabbed a brush, a comb, and a few different hair things. I didn’t know what any of them were called, but I’d seen Meiling, Elena, and some of the club whores wearing this sort of stuff. Not that I would dare compare Zoe to a club whore, but she had long hair and most of them did too.
“Dagger, it’s too much. I don’t need all this,” she said, reaching into the cart.
“Princesa, you take so much as one item out of there and I will spank your ass right here and now.”
She gasped and yanked her hand back, but I noticed her cheeks were flushed and I didn’t think it was entirely from embarrassment. She might not be experienced, but with the right man, I’d be willing to bet she’d try just about anything once. Not that I’d be finding out, unless she decided she wanted me to marry her so we could bring her boy here. It wouldn’t surprise me if she accepted. Not because I thought I was such an awesome catch, but because it was clear she’d do whatever it took to keep her son safe and have him in her arms again. I wanted nothing more than to go after the kid and bring him home to her, but I wasn’t stupid enough to try it on my own. I’d need some help, and if Outlaw wasn’t going to lend a hand, I didn’t know if my club would back me up on this one or not.
We left the bathroom shit and I led her over to the clothes. From the stubborn set of her jaw, I knew this was going to be fun. If she didn’t tell me her sizes, I’d have to get creative. I held up a shirt that seemed feminine yet thick enough no one would be looking through it. “You either tell me a size, or we’ll head into the fitting room while I pull this over your head to see if it fits.”
“You wouldn’t.”
I arched an eyebrow. Oh yeah, I certainly would. And I’d gladly pull that dress off her first. Except I’d be tempted to shred the fucking thing so she’d never wear it again. She must have seen all that in my expression because she answered quickly enough. I was a little disappointed. Part of me had hoped for a bit more of a fight, and maybe getting to take a peek under her dress. It hadn’t been a lie about taking her to the fitting room. I’d have done it whether the staff in the store liked it or not. What were they going to do? Ask me to leave? Right, because that was terrifying.
“I wear an extra-large in shirts, but I need an eighteen or 2X in pants. Sometimes a little bigger if they’re cut slim.”
I eyed her up and down, wondering how the hell she needed something that big with as little as she looked. Yeah, she was curvy as shit, but the height of a pixie. Personally, I liked the extra padding, but I knew some men wouldn’t. Never did understand men who liked skinny women. Then again, I was a big guy and didn’t want to worry I might break the woman I was fucking. To each their own. I could admire the beauty of a woman regardless of her size, skin color, or even her damn hair. Didn’t mean I wanted them in my bed.
I found her size in the shirt and grabbed a pair of shorts hanging on the same rack. Figured it meant they went together like a matching set or something. Getting her to pick out anything was a damn nightmare. I hoped she liked the shit going into the cart because I planned to get rid of all the rags she’d been wearing. Starting with the one on her body right now. I made sure she had at least ten different outfits, and tossed in a few nightgowns. I stood staring at a rack of bras.
“Don’t even think of asking me what size I wear,” she muttered.
“I suggest you pick some things out before I do it for you. Unless you just like my taste in women’s fashion.”
She huffed at me. “If I let you pick my underwear, you’ll end up getting the ones that go up your butt. I’ll pass.”
I snickered as she went through the racks, selecting two bras and a package of cotton panties. Nope. No. There was no fucking way I was letting her put that boring shit on her hot body. Even if I wouldn’t be the one looking at it, she deserved something better. I took note of the sizes of the items she’d added, then found her four more bras and a half dozen pair of sexy panties.
“Dagger, you can’t pick out my underthings,” she said in a loud whisper. “What are people going to think?”
“That I’m making sure my woman has everything she needs?”
She opened and shut her mouth, then nodded. She might not be my woman, but no one here would know that. I started to lead her back to the shoes, but as we passed the baby department, I hesitated. I was bringing her son here, and I had a feeling he’d need things too. Although… my chest hurt at the thought that the people she’d trusted might not have him anymore.
I checked my phone and saw a message from a number I didn’t have programmed into my phone. Alabama area code. I opened it and saw a picture of a dark-haired boy with blue eyes. My throat grew tight when I realized it was Zoe’s son, and he was alive. I scanned the message that came with it and wanted to beat the hell out of someone.
Boy is alive but in trouble. Bitch who had him sold him to the cartel.
I tried to take a calming breath, then returned the text. I’m getting him back.
My phone rang a second later with the same number popping up. I answered, having no doubt it was Wire. He was the only man I knew in Alabama who could get this shit to me, especially as fast as he had. “What did you find?”
“It’s bad, man. So far, they haven’t hurt him, but there’s no good reason for those fuckers to buy a kid. You know he’s on borrowed time. Luis Lopez is three years old, and too fucking cute, if you ask me. Outlaw says you might be claiming his mom.”
“Yeah, well… Ball’s in her court on that one. It was Outlaw’s suggestion.”
Wire growled and I heard something slam. “Are you fucking shitting me? He backed you into a corner, didn’t he? Refused to help if you didn’t keep the mom?”
“Something like that.”
“Why the hell would he do that?”
“I think it’s so she’ll have someone in her corner.” I eyed Zoe, but she was too busy looking at the baby clothes with longing to pay any attention to my conversation. Some of the stuff she was checking out would be way too small for a toddler, though. It made me realize she hadn’t seen her son in so long, she probably had no idea what he wore or how big he’d gotten. “Said he wouldn’t make them citizens unless I married her.”
I heard the keys clicking on his keyboard and Wire muttered to himself for a few minutes. While he was busy, I caught Zoe’s attention. “Princesa, get a few things for Luis. Whatever he’ll need when we bring him home. Just remember he’s grown some and is not the bebé you left behind.”
She gave me a nod and moved over to some bigger clothes, things that looked like they would fit her son. I hated to remind her it had been so long since she’d seen him, not that I thought a moment went by she didn’t worry about him. It was clear she’d done what she had out of love for the boy.
“You like her,” Wire said softly.
So? It wasn’t like she was ugly or mean. Zoe was a sweet woman, but she deserved to be loved, and I wasn’t sure I knew a damn thing about that emotion. It had been a long time since someone had loved me. I’d seen the way my mother and father were together, and my grandparents. I’d always wanted what they had, but I didn’t know how to get it.
“Is she nearby?” Wire asked.
“Yeah, she’s right here.”
“Let me talk to her,” he said.
I handed the phone to Zoe, who looked at it like it might bite her. I explained who was on the phone and she took it from me, but I could tell she was nervous about speaking to a strange man, even if I did vouch for him. She spoke softly and I took a few steps away. I didn’t know what Wire needed to ask her, but I thought she might want some privacy. As much as she could get in the middle of a large store.
When she handed the phone back to me, her cheeks were flushed and she wouldn’t hold my gaze. Curious, I put the phone back to my ear. “What the hell was that about?”
“Congratulations, Daddy. You’re now a husband and father, or you will be in a few hours. By morning at the latest. International shit takes a little longer, even with Lavender helping me. She chose you, Dagger. Don’t know if that’s what you wanted, but I’m betting she’ll bend over backward to make you happy.”
Shit. Shit. Shit. I glanced at Zoe, but she still wouldn’t look at me. I’d left it up to her, and it seemed she’d made her choice. Now I had to man up and deal with it. I wasn’t sure if she only wanted me, or if she was open to having another man in the relationship. Now wasn’t the time to ask, but we’d be talking about it soon. Really fucking soon.
“I told her I’d get what you needed to bring him home,” Wire said. “Without her having to be your wife. If that tells you anything. So don’t be pissed at her. For whatever reason, she wants you by her side.”
I gave a grunt of acknowledgment and hung up the call. It seemed I had a wife and kid. Zoe was holding a pair of small shorts, but she hadn’t put them in the cart. Just kept staring at them. I moved closer to her. Reaching out, I took the shorts, and grabbed her hand to pull her against me.
“Zoe, look at me.”
She shook her head. “Lo siento. I’m so, so sorry.”
“Princesa, eyes up here.” Her gaze lifted to mine and I saw she was close to tears. “I’m not mad. I told you the choice was yours and you made it.”
“But I ruined your life. I’m not who you wanted,” she said. “He said I didn’t have to marry you, but I…”
“Corazoncito, I walked away because I didn’t want to scare you. I was hard as fuck, and it wasn’t because of Jared. Did I hope for something different? Sí. But that doesn’t mean I won’t treat you with the respect you deserve. Now, let’s get what our boy needs, then I’m going to do whatever it takes to bring him home.”
A tear trickled down her cheek and I wiped it away. I brought her against me, holding her tight. I didn’t know what to do with a crying woman, or a kid for that matter, but it looked like I’d be figuring that shit out real soon. Oh, fuck. Grizzly. He was going to have my ass. The second Outlaw had given me that damn ultimatum, I should have called the Pres. I didn’t know why I hadn’t, except I wasn’t too keen on him finding out Zoe was in my house.
Griz was going to be pissed.
“Come on. Let’s finish shopping and go get some food. You have to be hungry.”
She took a step back, but the dejected look on her face nearly ripped my heart out. I made a decision I hoped I wouldn’t regret. Reaching out, I cupped the back of her neck with my hand and held her still as I lowered my mouth to hers. The kiss was soft, brief, but I hoped it was enough to make a point. She touched her lips as I backed away, an awestruck look on her face, and I had to wonder if that was her first kiss. If it was, then I’d just fucked up even more because it was hardly a kiss.
I took her hand and we picked out a few more things for Luis. I also made sure she had two pairs of shoes. I was hoping Adalia or one of the other ladies might want to go shopping with her, so she could pick out something else. Maybe even go to a real shoe store or hit the mall. If Zoe was going to be a part of my life from this point forward, then I wanted her to feel like part of the family. I might not have blood relatives still alive, but I did have my brothers at the club and their women. I hoped it would be enough for her.