Falling Hard (Hidden Secrets Book 6) (16 page)

Chapter Twenty

Nate

“You better start talking before I start punching you again. Jackson isn’t here to stop me either.”

“That was years ago Nate. I was in a bad way when I was in Texas. Followed the wrong group. Got mixed up with the wrong people. You know that. Then I had to prove myself and that was what I was sent to do. I never knew anything was going to happen to her. I never knew. I’m a cold man, Nate, but I’m not heartless.”

“She was a kid when you went over there! A kid! She’s been through hell and back just trying to stay alive. Now, she’s got Vin hunting her down because of it all. He just found out that she was the one that turned him in.”

“Fuck. I’m not with Chain and the gang anymore. I haven’t been for a few years now. I’ve straightened out my life. Err, well, I’ve cut some bad out,” he laughed awkwardly.

“You’re going to make this up to her. Do you understand me? Her life is in shambles partly because of you. I won’t let you hurt her or anyone else for that matter.” I paced back in forth. “Damn! I knew there was a reason I didn’t like you. I just hadn’t met her yet.”

“Hey now! I’ve done nothing but be supportive to this whole fucking crew here. I’ve not done anything mistrustful since I’ve been here. Give me some credit, will you? People can change when they’re given the reason to do so.”

“Oh, tough guy façade fading a bit, huh? Shannon’s going to flip a lid when she hears about this.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” he growled, stepping closer to me. “There’s one thing I won’t tolerate is people messing with my family,” Danger said threateningly bumping my chest with his.

“But it’s okay for you to mess with others. It’s okay for you to play God!” I roared. “My name is Danger. My daddy didn’t know about me and my mommy didn’t like me, boo hoo hoo,” I fake whined. “My mom didn’t want me either. I have no clue who my father is and if it weren’t for Jason I’d probably be dead by now. Everyone has a backstory, it’s our current stories that matter. What’s yours Danger? Huh?” I bumped his chest not backing down. “Are you going to continue to support the very people that are pulling at members or loved ones of members of your family? Or are you a selective asshole? Want others to be there for you and give their love unconditionally, but in the end you don’t really care about them at all?”

“What has gotten into you?” Danger growled.

“You! You’ve gotten into me! You’ve fucked with my girlfriend! You’ve fucked with her safety! You messed with the woman I love and I’ll be damned if I let you hurt her because you think you’re some kind of God’s gift to the human race because Daddy wasn’t around and Mommy hated you for it!”

“It’s not like that!” Danger yelled, shoving me back a couple steps, but I was right back at him throwing the first punch of many.

We scuffled back and forth until Jackson came downstairs and smacked us both in the head with pans. Groaning, we both fell to the ground holding our heads.

“That fucking hurt,” Danger groaned.

“Not as much as your sister will when she gets a look at you,” Jackson scolds.

I laughed as Danger stills and stiffened at the mention of his sister. Contrary to what I’ve acted like right now and some of our interactions, Danger is a good guy and it’s nice to have him around. I won’t ever tell him that, of course. The man has a big enough head already.

“Now if you two idiots are done beating the shit out of each other over something that can’t be changed. Maybe we can try and find a fix for this? That girl up there is very sick, but even then she was worried about you two idiots down here. Danger, can’t you help out by helping the police department track down Chain. He might be able to help bring down Vin before anyone gets hurt.” Jackson reasoned.

However, it was the mention that Kristy was very sick, but still worried about me that my brain hung on for a bit too long. Finally catching up to what Jackson had said, I looked at Danger.

“Well, what do you say? Will you help us?”

“Let me think about it, okay?” When I glared at Danger he stood, glaring back. “You have no idea what
I
would face by pigging out Chain. I’d have a wanted dead sign on my head the second they figured out it was me. Who do you think they’d threaten to get to me?” He said forcefully. “It’s not just me I have to think about here. At this point, if it were just me, I’d be all over it. I really don’t care what happens to me. But I do care what happens to Shannon, the boys, everyone… even you,” he looked at me.

The reality of what I was asking of him settling in my chest. “Danger, don’t worry about it. I don’t want to put you in that position or the rest of the family. I don’t even know what I was even thinking,” I hit him on the arm as I walked past him into my kitchen.

Seeing the bread on the counter, my thought immediately went to Kristy. She never got the toast she was wanting. Turning around, I asked Jackson if I should take it up to her.

“Yeah, you could. I think she might be sleeping, but getting something right now is important. She’s got to maintain strength. I’m going to pick her up tomorrow and take her to the office just to make sure everything is good. Food poisoning is nothing to mess with.”

“Thanks man. I really appreciate it.”

“You care about her?” Jackson and Danger look at me expectantly.

Letting out a deep breath, I gave my honest, no brainer response. “I love her.”

“I could tell. Things have a way of testing our bonds, Nate. Nothing is ever going to be smooth sailing. The seas will always get rough and rapid at points, but when you are with someone you love it makes getting through the storm easier. Remember that, okay? Lord knows, Shannon and I have been through enough of those rough waters. The only thing that matters is hanging on to the one thing that makes getting wet worth it.” He gives me a hug and leaves.

“I’m sorry about Kristy. I really never knew. The money was my own. Chain never sent it with me, just so you know. I really thought he’d honor his end of the deal because of what
he
gained out of it. That was naïve and stupid of me. I’ll make it up to her somehow.”

It was weird seeing that side of Danger, but he has from day one been all about Shannon and the boys. It’s just weird to see that he
cares
about someone outside of himself.

“Huh, you might be human after all,” I joked.

“Shut up. I need to get out of here. Time to find someone to burrow into for the night and kick out of my bed when I’m done,” he said grabbing himself.

“Nope, still an ass. I’m praying I’m around when you are knocked on your ass by a woman,” I laughed at his glare.

Once everyone was gone, I made Kristy’s toast and headed upstairs. It was amazing to have her in my home. The thought of never seeing her again weighed heavy on my heart as time dragged on. My stubborn side would have refrained from going over there too. Not that she wasn’t worth it, but that I felt I wasn’t worth it.

“Baby,” I said softly rousing her from her sleep.

She moaned and rolled over. Opening her eyes slowly meeting mine. She smiled at me. “Good to know you’re still here.”

“I wish you would have told me you were sick before. I wouldn’t have been forcing myself on you like a mad man,” I said sadly. “I brought up some toast and water if you want to try and see if you can keep some down. Jackson said it’s important to try and eat to help give you strength.”

“I’m so sorry Nate. I really am. I never meant for any of this to happen like this,” she sobbed.

Climbing onto the bed, I pulled her into my arms and on my lap. “No, don’t even. I hate that you’re sick, but I’m so grateful that you are here. Besides, you’re sick and I’m stuck working,” I laughed. “So really by the time you’re better, I’ll be off work and ready to ravage you,” I smirked and kissed her forehead. “Come on, let’s try and eat something. What do you say?”

She nodded her head and I handed her the plate. She took a small bite and rested her head back on my shoulder. My hands stroked her hair and arm.

“So anything exciting happen for the two months we were apart?” I asked softly.

“My brother found me.”

I stiffened. “What do you mean found you?”

She laughed softly, lifted her head, pressing a small kiss to my lips. “Not like that. Remember that guy that literally ran into me twice in the same day that I was telling you about. Yeah, turns out that was my brother. They’ve been looking for me, hoping I was still alive.” She paused for a moment. “It shocked me because of how they treated me before I ran away.”

“Did you talk to them?”

“Yeah. I actually found out why they treated me the way they did.”

“Why was that, not that anything justifies mistreating you.”

“They aren’t my biological parents. Apparently, my mum’s sister and my dad’s brother or was it my mum’s brother and my dad’s sister,” shaking her head, she continued. “I don’t remember, but yeah, they were killed shortly after having me. They knew they were in trouble, so they gave me to them to keep me safe,” she took a shuddering breath. “They were killed by the Night Hawks.” She looked up at me with tears and fear in her eyes. “What if that’s my fate? What if they kill me?”

“No one’s touching you, Dove! Do you hear me?”

She nodded her head and took another bite of toast, resting her head back in the crook of my neck. “They paid for me to come here. All my expenses. Lachlan is keeping an eye on the apartment or any suspicious activity.”

“Has he been checking on you? I’ve…”

“Yes, every night he called up to make sure that I was okay and no one had bothered me. He became a good friend. He always made me call before I left from work so he could time me getting to the apartment.”

“Hmm, seems I need to give him a bigger tip,” I said seriously.

She laughed. Finishing off her toast, she settled into my embrace. “Can you take me to my hotel to get my stuff? Unless you don’t want me to stay here, which I completely understand.”

“I’ll go to the hotel. What one are you at? Give me the card key and all that.”

“I can go, you know?”

“I know you can, but you are in my boxers and a shirt. Nope, only I get to see you this sexy.”

“Danger and Jackson saw me like this,” she teased.

“Good point. Well, I’ll be sure to hit both of them later,” I joked back, well semi joking.

“Has anything new and exciting happened here while we were apart?”

“Um, Jake married Vicky. They’re expecting triplets.”

“Vicky the one you said convinced you to come to Australia?”

“That’d be the one.”

“I want to meet her. I owe her a huge thank you for bringing you to me,” she smiled up at me.

“I’ve already thanked her. Until she screamed at me, actually. Still can’t believe they are having triplets. Jake is amazing with her, though. They are going to have plenty of Aunts and Uncles to spoil them.”

“Do, uh, do you want that… in your future?”

“Triplets? Hell, I don’t know if I could do three at once,” I teased.

“Not triplets, but a family.”

Taking a deep breath, I held her tighter against me. “Yeah, I do.”

The first thought that crossed my mind when she ran from the shower was that she was pregnant. It sent a small nervous shock through me, but there was more excitement there than anything, partly shocking me. The feeling only sealing how important she was to me.

Kissing the top of her head, I pulled away from her. “I’ll go get your clothes and check you out of your hotel. Be back in about twenty minutes. There’s water there on the stand, try and drink some and get some rest.”

I left to go and collect her things. Running over and over in my mind, everything that I’ve learned today. How am I going to be able to protect everyone? How was I going to be able to protect my heart?

Chapter Twenty-One

Vin

Pacing my office, as I’ve done for the past few months, wondering why the hell I’ve not heard anything on Kristy’s whereabouts. It’s not like my informant to not know what she’s doing. Oh yeah, I’ve learned a thing or two from the cops around here. I have my own informants that can give me what I need when I need it. Only, I had one thing that cops around the world didn’t have. My informants worked on fear alone. They were scared for their miserable lives, just as they should be. If they fucked me over or didn’t give me what I wanted, they were gone and I don’t mean fired. I will personally kill the fucking lazy ass pieces of shits.

A knock at my door brought my pacing to a halt. Barking for whoever it was to enter, I walked behind my desk and sat down. Looking up and watching as Ty walked in the door, my hopes of being put out of my misery were dashed when he walked in. It wasn’t who I was hoping for. Ty was new to the crew, but proved useful. I’ve got my doubts about him, but for one reason or another, my brother trusts him. My brother, though I’d let him get caught before me, is my family. So until it’s him or me, I’ll protect and trust him. Well, to a point.

Ty here though was a young one. Not young as in age because he had to be around my brother’s age at least, but young as in not used to this kind of life style. He was an innocent from the story my brother gave me. His blonde medium length hair, bright green eyes and almost childlike face, worked well in many situations. So, for now, as long as there’s a use for him, I’ll use him.

“We may have a problem, Sir.” Ty said the minute he stood next to my desk.

“How so?”

“Conway and Klinger went off the grid the last three nights.”

“Have we trailed them?”

“I have, personally, Sir.” He stood a bit taller. “I’ve witnessed them talking with Chester’s crew down near George Street. Something shady is going down, if what I saw was anything to go by.”

“And I’m just supposed to trust your word? Gut? I didn’t get where I am today, but trusting in anyone other than myself.”

“Thought you might react that way, so I took these,” he tossed an envelope on my desk.

“Why didn’t you just give these to me to begin with,” I sneered, looking at the pictures inside.

I’ve never understood why people sit there and tell you what they’ve seen, and then show you the proof. When it would all be so much easier if they’d just shown the proof in the beginning.

“Because I wanted to see where I stood with you,” he stated firmly.

He wasn’t a stupid man after all. Huh, genius actually. He just figured out that I didn’t trust him without me having to come out and say that to him directly. Damn this man just may be an asset after all.

“Job well done, Ty. Do you know where the men are currently?”

“Yes, Sir. Trying to,” he air quotes, “get the girls for a ride around hump town,” he rolled his eyes.

“Thank you, Ty. I may not have trusted you in the beginning, but this lifts the bar closer to trusting you. Do not leak this information to anyone else. Even my brother. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Watching closely as he left the room, though Ty seemed to be striving to get on my good side, something about him just didn’t settle with me well. Although, he did show me two huge problems that need taken care of right now. In my business, if someone meets a known rat, they are snitches that will drag you down. It is a common rule among us all that we do not associate with a known rat, or it can be a punishment up to death. My discretion is where the punishment severity will lie. This is just what I need to distract me from the fact that I haven’t heard from my informant in over two months. Where the fuck were they?

Heading down to find the Klinger and Conway in the theater room, they were sitting back watching a movie all on my fucking dime. All the while going behind my back and selling me out to the fucking rats. I wanted to rip their fucking heads from their bodies, but that would make a mess.

“Klinger! Conway!” I bellowed.

Jumping slightly, they turned to look at me. “Yes, uh, Sir,” They said together.

“We need to talk.”

They stood and followed me, not to my office, but to the interrogation room just outside the door that led down to the dungeon. I buzzed for Guy and Red to make their way up to the room. Guy and Red were my right hand men. They’ve been with me from the very beginning. From when I overtook the gang to everything after and before. They were the only two that knew why I was desperate to get a hold of Kristy.

Once the guys entered the office, you could practically see Klinger and Conway shaking. It was a heady feeling seeing grown men brought to their knees because of my presence. These men were about to get brought to their knees too.

“We have a problem, gentlemen,” I handed them the envelope that Ty had given me. “I want answers. Get them by however means necessary.”

“Understood. We’ll be in to talk when we’re done.”

Nodding to them, I headed out of the room. Those men would get my answers. They were just as sick and twisted as I was, making us the best matched to lead this group of fucked up men and women. But I have a more important problem on my hands now… Where the fuck was she?

Back in my office, I began my pacing again. Damn it! What the hell is going on? This wasn’t like her. Not coming here or calling when she was expected. Something’s wrong. Something has to be wrong.

The door to my office flung open and soon arms were wrapped around my neck and sobbing commenced in my neck. My arms wrapped around her as I tried to calm her down.

“Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I kept calling you. You never came. Why wouldn’t you come?”

“I’ve not heard from you in over two months.”

“Klinger said he gave you the messages.”

I growled. “What happened? Where were you?”

“I was in the hospital,” she sobbed. “Some of Chester’s crew found me…”

My hand immediately went to her belly. “Is he okay?”

“He is now, but he wasn’t. Vin I’m so scared. If anything’s wrong with him…”

“No, he’ll be perfect. Just like his Mom.”

When she first told me she was pregnant, I was pissed off. My first thought was that she was trying to trap me, that everything I thought we had was a lie. It took me three days to realize that what I had with her was real. And even less than that to get excited about the baby. After all, every man wants an heir for their thrown, right?

Letting go of her for only a moment, I grabbed my phone and buzzed into the interrogation. After several rings, Guy answered the phone.

“I want blood, Guy. I want fucking blood. They went after her. They almost…”

“Is she okay?”

“Yeah, now, but she wasn’t and Klinger withheld her calls. That’s why she hasn’t been around because she was in the fucking hospital!” I roared.

“We’ve got you covered, brother.”

Slamming the phone back on the receiver, my attention was back where it needed to be, knowing that things would be taken care of. Gathering her up in my arms, I carried her up to my room. Kicking the girls out of my room, I laid her down on the bed.

“Vin, will you ever be monogamous with me?” She asked sadly.

“Thought you understood that…”

“I know I just thought that if I loved you enough…” She trailed off with a shrug.

“I want what I want and take what I want. You knew that in the beginning. I love you. No one else.”

“Yeah,” she mumbled.

“So any word on Kristy’s whereabouts.”

“Yeah, they found her and she’s in the states with some guy named Nathan Lane.”

“Wait, what? You didn’t think I needed to know that!” I roared climbing off the bed.

“I was in the…”

“Get out!”

“What?” She gasped.

“Get out Rebecca!”

Tears fell down her cheeks, as she climbed off the bed, walking out of the room. My anger has risen to a level that even I was scared of. How could she sit there and keep something like that from me! She knew how important it was for me to get Kristy.

Stopping at the door with tears falling down her cheeks, she looked at me. “I’m sorry. Just so you know, I’ve done everything you’ve ever asked for even turning over my sister to you. One time of not getting the information to you right away because I was having surgery to save your son’s life and this is what I get.” She took a shuddered breath. “I’ll let you know when your son is born. I love you, Vin.”

Just like that she was gone. After a few minutes of storming around my room, I went down to my office. On the desk laid a stack of papers. Reading through them, I realized quickly this was the summary of what had gone on with Rebecca and my son. After reading how bad of shape she was in and our child, I realized how harsh I was with her. I’ll get Kristy in my hands, and then I’ll fix everything with Rebecca.

“Harry,” I said the minute the ringing stopped. “I need an emergency flight to the states.”

“Where to, Sir?”

“Wherever this Nathan Lane lives. Find out what you can and then get me there. Like yesterday.”

“On it, Sir. I’ll call you as soon as I have everything for you.”

Slamming the phone down on my desk, I worked to keep my anger at bay. The images of what condition Rebecca must have been in kept flashing in my head. The thought of my child in trouble because of these assholes. Pushing the intercom button to the interrogation room, I wait for an answer.

“Yes, Sir.” Red answered.

“I want you to make them bleed a slow death. Those fuckers put Rebecca in the hospital and emergency surgery had to be performed on my son. They don’t get to walk away from this. Do you hear me?”

“Fully understood, Sir.”

Leaving my office, I went up to my room to get my shit together to leave. I’m ending this now. Kristy will be on her way here in two days’ time.  Then all of this shit can be put to an end, finally.