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Brynlee was found. Sort of anyway. We had her picture printed and passed out everywhere. Add to the fact that she wasn’t even a year old yet, and the clubs would be dropping everything to make sure she was found. Shady or not, most of them had families of their own, so I prayed that they would do as they’re told and bring her home to us. To Piper. I didn’t overly care about me, but I did care about Piper. She was fighting it, but I could sense that she was losing herself and falling within.
“Where is she?” Piper demanded as we walked hand in hand down the hall toward where everyone was.
Dad was sitting in a booth with a few other guys. Catch and Tray were the only ones I knew. Cheesy walked up to them, placing a tray of beer on the table.
“Jaron.” Dad stood when he saw us approach.
“Greyson, where’s my baby?” Piper asked, her voice shaking.
“She was last seen at a gas station about two hours from here. She was spotted on the camera in the arms of a man.” He looked at me. “We need to talk.”
The hackles on the back of my neck rose. “Who the fuck was he?”
Dad’s face softened. “Jaron.”
“No.” I could feel Piper’s eyes burning into me, but I didn’t care. “Tell us.”
“We need to have this conversation in private.” Dad went to sit back down when I charged for him.
“Tell me where the fuck she is!” I yelled, shoving him back.
In a quick move, he grabbed me by the collar and slammed me up against the nearest wall. “Careful, boy. I don’t give a shit that you’re my son. You put your hands on me again and I’ll be bringing your mother to your funeral.”
He was so damn close that I could see the specks of gold in his blue eyes. “I need my baby. For Piper,” I murmured, knowing when to back down.
Dad leaned his forehead against mine. “I know, Jaron. Trust me, I know. I’ve been where you are. I know how you feel. I do.”
I remembered when he and my mom told me about how I was taken when I was first born. I had been so focused on my own issues that I forgot that my dad could relate.
“Let’s go talk.” He leaned down to my ear. “I don’t trust Shadow’s crew.” He released me, fixed my hoodie, and patted my cheek. “You are so much like me, it’s unreal. But there’s something you have that I don’t.”
“What’s that?” I asked, feeling all eyes on us but the only one I cared about was Piper’s.
“You have your mom’s fire.” Dad went up to Shadow who was sitting at the bar, watching the whole exchange. He said something to him, looking back at me over his shoulder.
Shadow nodded, standing and clapping dad on the shoulder.
“Jaron.”
I looked down, finding Piper standing right in front of me. She had been so quiet this whole time, I didn’t even hear her approach.
She slid her fingers in mine and started leading me out of Shadow’s club.
Sammy and Cyrus followed behind us, muttering to themselves, but all I could focus on was how much I loved the woman holding my hand. How much I needed her. How I couldn’t go on without her. How stupid I was for wanting to go after Brynn myself. But with the information that dad was withholding, I knew that she was with the mayor. How he played it off, I had no idea. The press would be all over him. Maybe he convinced them he adopted a baby. I wasn’t sure but then a thought came to me.
“Have you seen anything in the news about the mayor or his whereabouts?” I asked the twins. “Or anything online?”
A knowing glance passed between them before Sammy pulled a pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket of his cut. He stuck a smoke between his lips and for whatever reason, that act alone sent a tremor of rage rushing through me.
Releasing Piper’s hand, I stomped up to him and pulled the smoke from his lips.
He raised an eyebrow. “We gonna play, Jaron?”
“Sammy,” Cyrus warned.
“What?” Sammy frowned. “He’s clearly itching for a fight.”
“Jaron.” Piper came up beside us. “Stop. We don’t want to do this here.”
“You should probably listen to your girlfriend.” Sammy stuck another smoke between his lips and that set me off.
I shoved him, pulled my arm back, and slammed it against his jaw.
He stumbled to the side, a slow grin spreading on his face.
“Jaron,” Piper gasped.
Sammy caught his bearings and in two steps, he threw his own punch. When his fist connected with my jaw, my head rang. Pain shot up the side of my face, but it felt so damn good at the same time.
“Stop this, please!” Piper cried.
But as much as I knew this wasn’t right, I couldn’t stop.
“What the hell is going on?” That was said by my dad, but I still didn’t stop.
Sammy and I landed blow after blow on each other. We fell to the ground, shoving and kicking. It was messy and not the least bit organized but the pain rushing through me forced these new feelings to the surface.
I was scared. No, I was damn near terrified that if something happened to Brynn, that it would be it for Piper and me. Our relationship was rocky at best. While we loved each other, we had already been through so much in such a short amount of time. I couldn’t lose her.
My chest tightened, a sob of anguish lodging its way in my throat.
“Jaron.” Sammy straddled my waist, clutching the collar of my hoodie.
“Fuck.” I lifted a trembling hand, trying to cover my eyes. I didn’t need him to see me cry. I didn’t need any of them to see me break.
“Go back inside,” Cyrus instructed. “There’s nothing to see here.”
“You heard him. Do as you’re fucking told for once,” Shadow barked.
Sammy slid off of me and knelt at my side. He helped me to a sitting position and wrapped his arms around me. “We’ll find her.”
I latched on to him, a sob finally breaking free. “I can’t...I can’t lose them.”
“I know.” Sammy squeezed me. “You won’t. If it’s the last thing I fucking do, I promise you, Jaron. You will not lose them.”
“Jaron.” Piper was suddenly beside me, her arms wrapping around my shoulders.
Sammy released me, giving me a crooked smile with his cracked lip and bloody nose.
A shuddered sigh left me. Roughly wiping the tears from under my eyes, I chanced a glance at Piper.
Her cheeks were wet.
“I’m sorry.” I swiped a thumb under her eye. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
She shook her head. “Thank you.”
“For what?” I asked, taken aback by her words.
“For finally breaking,” she said softly.
Instead of answering, I crushed my mouth to hers. A sharp pain shot through my bottom lip, forcing me to pull back.
“I got you good, J.” Sammy stood, holding out his hand.
I let him help me up, pulling Piper along with me. “Thank you for knowing what I needed.”
“Anytime. I’m actually surprised it hadn’t happened already.” He cupped my shoulder. “We used to fight all the time.”
Cyrus grunted. “That was until Aunt Eve almost kicked our asses worse than what we did to each other. Remember when Jaron had to pop his shoulder back into place?”
Sammy chuckled. “Oh yeah. I thought she was going to throw up.”
“Hey.” Piper turned me toward her. “You okay?”
“No.” I bent at the waist and brushed my nose against hers. “But at least my nose isn’t broken.”
“What the fuck ever man.” Sammy gently shoved me, pulling the hem of his shirt up to wipe his nose. “You’re bigger than I am.”
I scoffed. “Right.”
“You two fuckers done fighting, so we can get this shit on the road?”
All of us turned at the sound of Shadow’s deep voice as he stalked toward us. “The shit I have to clean up while my son is off doing fuck all. He’s lucky I enjoy pretending that I’m still the president.” He held two ice packs in his hands. My dad followed behind him with Tray and Catch on either side of him.
“We’re good,” was all I said. I wasn’t but fighting it out, mixed with the pain from Sammy’s punches, helped more than one would think.
Piper stepped closer to my side, wrapping her arm around my lower back.
I looked down at her and kissed the top of her head. “We’ll find out what’s going on and then go home.”
“We can stay at the clubhouse,” she murmured. “I just want to get out of here.”
“Okay.” I kissed her head again.
“You good, Son?” Dad asked me, clapping my shoulder.
“No but I will be. Both of us will be.” I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry about—”
“Don’t worry about it.” Dad walked away. “We’ll meet you at home.”
Linking my fingers with Piper’s, I led her to the twins’ SUV. “Thank you for everything, Shadow.”
“No thanks needed. You don’t even owe me this time,” he said, following us.
I helped Piper into the back seat before turning to him. “What’s the catch?”
He grinned, scratching his jaw. “No catch.” He nodded toward Piper and handed Sammy and me an ice pack each. “I like your girl.”
I raised an eyebrow, the hairs on the back of my neck tingling. “Should I be concerned?”
A laugh boomed through him. “You’re a jealous fucker. That’s not what I meant. I like her as if she were my own granddaughter. She makes me not miss Bee so much.” He shook his head. “I like them young but not that young.” His laughter shook his shoulders.
“I’ve come over here with Sammy and Cyrus,” Piper explained. “I would have a drink with him while the rest of the guys did their thing. Since he’s not president anymore.”
“She kept me entertained. Spent many nights talking about you, Jaron.” Shadow leaned an arm on the hood of the SUV. “You don’t need to worry about anything. You have Piper’s heart.”
I knew that but it still didn’t mean that I liked the fact that he got her alone when she should have been with me. But my stupid temper got in the way and ruined everything.
“We should go,” Cyrus said, his eyes flicking to mine.
“Right.” Shadow closed the door, give us a two-finger salute, and headed back into the club.
“What did your dad find out?” Piper asked softly, snuggling into my side.
“I don’t know.” But I had a feeling that we were about to find out something that neither of us could prepare ourselves for.
No matter how much we tried.
Piper
Once we reached the Hell’s Harlem clubhouse, I was met by both of my parents. Tears of relief streamed down my face that I had them with me, but anguish ripped through my soul just the same. I had given them their one and only granddaughter and I knew that the fact she was missing, hit close to home. My parents struggled in the beginning. Together and apart. My dad was a dick, his words, and he vowed to this day that I would end up with someone who wasn’t like him.
“Daddy, I’m...” I looked down at my hands folded in my lap. “I’m going to have a baby and the father is Jaron Mercer.”
When my father had covered my hands and gave me a small smile, I knew that it was Jaron I was meant to be with. I had dated a handful of guys, Ashton and Aiden not counting, and my dad never liked any of them. But he never questioned what I had with Jaron. Not once. I often wondered why but with everything that had gone on, I never had a chance to ask.
“Greyson told us everything,” Mom said once we were inside and seated in the living room. It wasn’t a spot I had been in before, since it was on the side of the house where Greyson and Eve spent most of their time. But he wanted to give us some privacy. I appreciated it. I appreciated all of it.
“I don’t know what to do,” I finally said. I expected the tears to continue but when they didn’t, it concerned me. My pain was turning to rage and that didn’t sit well with me. Jaron had gone through the same thing and was taken from me. This time, I could sense the fury in him, and I knew that he was going to go after whoever was doing this shit.
Whether I liked it or not.
“You’re strong, baby.” Mom wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me in close.
I didn’t know where Jaron was but even though he was close by, I missed him. No, correction, I ached for him. I missed his wrath, his rage, his passion as we argued.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked softly.
“He’s with Greyson, probably trying to figure out what the hell’s going on and make it so Jaron doesn’t burn the world down in the process.” Mom sighed. “I never wanted this for you. I prayed for an easy life. You would meet someone, have babies, if that’s what you wanted, and spend the rest of your days happy and content.”
“No mother wishes this on their kid.” I leaned my head against the back of the couch. “I just hate not knowing what’s going on. I hate not knowing where my daughter is. I hate that this is making Jaron lose himself. I hate...” My throat closed, working hard over the lump suddenly lodged in it. “I hate what it’s doing to us.”
“You’re strong,” Mom insisted.
I jumped to my feet and began pacing. “Are we though? It’s not like our relationship is conventional by any means. He went to jail before we could ever date. I had his kid by myself. And...” I cupped my stomach. “I’m going to have his second baby.” A shuddered breath left me.
Warm hands covered mine. “We will help you through this.”
“But I don’t want help. I want my daughter back,” I screamed, shoving away from her.
The door suddenly opened then, revealing Jaron. He didn’t say anything. Just stared at me and probably wondered what the hell was going on and why the sudden outburst.
“I’ll give you two some privacy,” Mom said softly. She pulled me into a side hug.
“I’m sorry.” I returned the embrace but kept my eyes locked on the man who had invaded every inch of my damn soul.
“Don’t be.” Mom released me, went up to him and whispered something in his ear.
He nodded.
When she left the room, finally leaving me alone with him, she shut the door behind her.
Jaron stalked toward me, closing the distance in two strides before he was on me.
“Jaron,” I whimpered, my eyes welling.
“Shhh...” He held me tight, enveloping me in his strong arms.
I grabbed a fistful of his hoodie, trying to pull him even closer, but it wasn’t enough. Not until we got our daughter back. Not until we could move on and finally be happy. I thought we were. Happy and all. But life was cruel and was like a kid using a magnifying glass on the ants trying to scurry away from him.
“I love you, Piper.” Jaron fisted my hair, backing me up until I hit the wall.
“Stop.” But even though that single word left my mouth, I couldn’t push him away. It wasn’t like I wanted to anyway.
“I’m not doing anything.” His mouth found my cheek and then the corner of my lips before covering them completely.
I sighed, opening to him almost instantly.
The kiss picked up speed, bordering on desperation.
He pushed his pelvis into me, the hard lines of him proving how much he wanted me. How much he would always want me.
When he didn’t take it further and only kissed me instead, a sob broke free.
“Let it out, baby.” He licked up the saltiness of my tears, his mixing with my own.
“Jaron.” I broke away from him, but I knew it was only because he let me. “I need her back.”
“I know.” He grabbed my hand before I could walk away for good. “We know who has her.”
I stopped, spinning on him. “Why the hell didn’t you lead with that?”
“Fuck, Piper.” His jaw clenched. “I’m losing you. Forgive me for wanting to kiss you.”
“So it could lead to more, Jaron?” I knew my accusation wasn’t warranted but I was pissed, upset, hurting over the fact that someone had taken our baby girl.
“No.” He pulled me back into his arms, much to my dismay of course. “Stop fighting me.” He cupped my face, tilting my head back. “I kissed you because you are my strength. You are the reason that I keep fighting. You’ve been the damn reason all along. You are my rock, Piper.”
The back of my eyes burned, my nose tingling as a new wave of anguish threatened to rip me apart. “Tell me,” I whispered.
He sighed. “You know that pictures of her have been sent around. Thanks to the people my father knows, every police service in the damn country has an image of her. She was last seen at a gas station in the arms of...”
I leaned back, frowning. “Of who?”
“Price.”
I gasped, pushing out of Jaron’s hold. “What?”
“I’m sorry, Piper. I’m so fucking sorry. I knew he had it out for us, but I didn’t think he would go through this much trouble. I should have followed my gut when I saw him the first time. I should have done more to protect you and Brynn. This is my fault.” Jaron fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around my middle.
My eyes widened.
“Please forgive me.”
Tears finally fell free, rolling down my cheeks and dripping off my chin.
“I’ll find her. If it’s the last thing I fucking do.” He pushed his face into my stomach. “Please, Piper. I need you to forgive me. I need to hear you say it.”
But I couldn’t. Not that I knew if this could have been prevented or not but if the mayor had made threats back in the beginning and Jaron didn’t take him seriously... “Did he say he was going to take her?”
“Piper, I—”
“Did he, Jaron?” I pushed out of his hold.
His shoulders slumped. “He threatened to take both of you.”
Bile rose to my throat. “Did you think he was kidding?”
“What?” Jaron’s eyes widened. “No.” He shoved to his feet and closed the distance between us. “Not at fucking all.”
“Then why the hell didn’t you take us to your parents’ place?” I pushed him back. “Why didn’t you do something? Anything?” Sobs wracked through my body that I would never see my baby girl again. If I didn’t, I wasn’t sure if I could ever forgive Jaron. No matter how much he said he was sorry.
***
