Page 71

Remy

“Gone? What the fuck do you mean they’re gone? No,” I whisper. “No, Rex, they can’t be gone. They were just here. They were just...”

My words trail off as another contraction grips me. I double over, clutching at my swollen belly, a low moan escaping my lips.

The pain subsides, and I straighten up, my eyes wild as I scan the crowded street. But I can’t see them. I can’t see my babies.

“Rex,” I gasp, gripping his arm so tight my knuckles turn white. “You have to find them. Beaux and Birdie were right here. Right fucking here!”

My voice rises to a shriek, drawing curious glances from nearby revelers. Rex’s face is a mask of conflicting emotions. “I can’t leave you like this,” he says, his deep voice strained.

“Please,” I beg when I can speak again. “Please, Rex. Find them.”

I see the moment he makes his decision, his jaw clenching as he nods. But before he can move, I catch a flash of familiar leather cutting through the crowd. Cheyenne, her Voodoo City Queens cut, a beacon in the chaos pushes her way towards us.

Cheyenne’s eyes widen as she takes in the scene. My panicked expression, Rex’s rigid stance, the way I’m clutching my belly. She doesn’t need to ask what’s wrong.

“The kids,” Rex says. “They’re missing. And Rem’s—”

Another contraction cuts through me like a knife, and I can’t hold back the cry of pain this time. Cheyenne is there in an instant, her strong arms supporting me as my knees buckle.

“I’ve got her,” Cheyenne says to Rex. “Go find the kids.”

But I can’t let go of Rex’s arm. The thought of him disappearing into the crowd terrifies me almost as much as the thought of our children lost in this chaos.

“No,” I gasp, shaking my head. “No, I can’t—I need to help find them.”

“Remy, you’re in no position to help. Rex will find them. They probably just ran off chasing some of the performers.”

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog of panic and pain. “No, Cheyenne, you don’t understand. Something’s wrong. I can feel it.” I grip Cheyenne’s arm, my eyes boring into hers. “Call the VCQs. Get them here, now. We need everyone looking for the kids.”

“Do you want me to call the parish police?” “We’re already here. Getting through this crowd will only delay them.”

Cheyenne nods, pulling out her phone. Her fingers fly over the screen as she types out a mass text to our sisters. I turn to Rex, who is shifting from foot to foot, torn between staying with me and racing off to find our children.

“Go,” I tell him. “Find them, Rex. Bring our babies home.”

He cups my face in his large hands. “I will,” he promises, then presses a quick, fierce kiss to my forehead before disappearing into the crowd.

As Rex vanishes out of sight, I feel a fresh wave of panic rising in my chest. I close my eyes, trying to steady my breathing, but all I can see are Beaux’s bright blue eyes and Birdie’s golden curls. Where are they? What if someone took them?

Cheyenne’s voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts. “Harlow and Maya are here.”

I open my eyes to see my sisters coming towards us, their faces etched with concern. Harlow’s fiery red hair is a beacon, and Maya’s dark eyes are scanning the area, already on high alert.

“What’s going on?” Harlow demands.

“The kids are missing,” Cheyenne explains quickly. “And Remy’s having contractions.”

“Shit,” Harlow mutters, her eyes widening. “Okay, we need to split up. Maya, you stay with her. I’ll start with the east side of the Quarter.”

As they talk, a thought strikes me. “Wait,” I gasp, fumbling for my phone. “Tinsley. We need to call Tinsley.”

My fingers are shaking so badly I can barely unlock the screen. Maya gently takes the phone from my trembling hands. “I’ve got it, Rem.”

Maya puts the phone on speaker as it rings. Tinsley picks up on the second ring, her voice barely audible over the noise in the background.

“Hey, I’m so sorry I’m late. I got caught up at work. I just parked by the shop. I should be there in like five minutes.”

“Tinsley,” I gasp, fighting through the pain. “The kids are missing. Beaux and Birdie. We need your help.”

There’s a beat of silence. “Where are you?”

“You’re at the shop? Can you check to see if they’re there?”

“We need to get you to the hospital,” Maya argues.

“Not until I know they’re safe.”

“They’re here! I can see them through the window of the shop!”

Relief floods through me so intense it nearly brings me to my knees. “Are they okay? Are they hurt?” I demand.

“They look fine,” Tinsley assures me quickly. “But...there’s a woman with them. Blonde, I don’t recognize her.”

My blood runs cold. “Maya, call Cheyenne and Rex. Tell them to get to the shop now,” I order. Maya nods, her fingers already flying over her phone’s screen.

As she makes the calls, I struggle to my feet, ignoring the protests of my body. The world tilts and sways around me. But I push through it all, my mind laser-focused on one thing – getting to my children.

“Remy, you can’t—” Maya starts, but I cut her off with a glare.

“Don’t you dare tell me what I can’t do.”

I take a stumbling step forward, and Harlow and Maya exchange a worried glance before flanking me on either side. Their strong arms support me as we begin to make our way through the throng of revelers.

The journey to Papa Midnight Customs is a blur. The world spins around me as we push through the crowd, my sisters’ arms the only things keeping me upright.

We turn the corner onto Decatur Street, and I catch sight of the familiar neon sign of Papa Midnight Customs. My heart leaps into my throat. So close. My babies are so close.

Another contraction rips through me. I bite back a scream, tasting blood as I bite my lip. I ignore the pain and keep pushing forward. Nothing will stop me from getting to my children.

As we approach the shop, I see Tinsley standing outside, her usually perfectly styled hair disheveled. She rushes to meet us, her high heels clicking on the pavement.

“Remy, thank God,” she says, reaching for me. “Rex just got here. He’s inside with the kids and...and the woman.”

I nod, unable to speak through the pain. We stumble towards the open door of the shop.

The bell above the door jingles, the familiar smell of motor oil and leather hitting me like a wave. But I barely notice it. My eyes are locked on the scene before me, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. Tinsley follows us inside, shifting to stand next to Cheyenne.

There, in the middle of the shop, stands Meredith Crane. Birdie’s mother.

Her bleach blonde hair is a mess, and her blue eyes are wild, desperate. She’s gripping Beaux and Birdie’s wrists so tightly I can see their little hands turning red. My babies. My precious babies. Beaux’s dark curls are disheveled, his blue eyes red rimmed from crying. Birdie is trembling, her bottom lip quivering as she tries not to cry.

Rex towers over Meredith, barely containing his fury. His fists are clenched at his sides, his whole body rigid. I can see the veins in his neck pulsing as he speaks.

“Let them go, Meredith. Now.”

Meredith’s laugh is high and brittle, like shattered glass. “Do what I asked, and you can have them back.”

I can’t hold back anymore. “Get your fucking hands off my kids, you psychotic bitch!” I yell, lurching forward.

Meredith’s head snaps towards me. Her eyes widen as she takes in my swollen belly and the way I’m leaning on Maya and Harlow for support. A cruel smile twists her lips.

“Well, well,” Meredith sneers, her grip on the children tightening. “If it isn’t the pregnant queen herself. How convenient for you to show up now.”

I take another stumbling step forward, ignoring the pain radiating through my body. “Let them go,” I order. “Or I swear to God, Meredith, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” she snaps, her eyes wild. “Look at you. You can barely stand. Face it, bitch. You’re not in control here. I am.”

Rex moves closer. “This is your last warning, Meredith. Let. Them. Go.”

Meredith’s grip on the kids tightens, making Birdie whimper. The sound cuts through me like a knife.

“Not until I get what I want,” Meredith hisses. “This could have all been avoided if you’d have cooperated earlier. This is on you, Rex.”

The realization hits me like a freight train, stealing the breath from my lungs. The call Rex got earlier. The one that sent him rushing off. It wasn’t about the clubhouse at all. It was Meredith.

Rage boils up inside me, hot and vicious, threatening to spill over. I want to scream, to lunge at her and claw that smug look off her face. But I force it down, swallowing the bitter taste of betrayal. Now isn’t the time, not with my babies still in her grasp.

I lock eyes with Rex, and I can see the guilt and shame written plainly across his face. He knows I’ve figured it out. His jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. But I push that aside, too. We’ll deal with that later. Right now, all that matters is getting Beaux and Birdie away from her. He and I can fight later.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. “Okay, Meredith,” I say, forcing my voice to remain calm. “What is it you want? Money? Is that it?”

Meredith’s laugh is sharp and brittle. “I don’t need anything from you. Rex, on the other hand.”

“You help me, and I’ll give you the kids back. Plain and simple,” Meredith says, dripping with venom. Her blue eyes, so similar to Birdie’s, but far more cold and calculating.

Rex’s fists clenching at his sides. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you think—”

“Rex,” I cut him off. Our eyes meet, and I see the conflict raging within him. He wants to lash out, to solve this with his fists like he’s done so many times before. But we both know that’s not an option.

I turn back to Meredith, forcing myself to stay calm. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I’m about to say. “Okay, Meredith,” I say, my tone steadier than I feel. “We’ll help you. But under one condition.”

Meredith’s eyes narrow suspiciously. “What condition?”

The words taste like ash in my mouth, but I force them out. “You sign away your parental rights.”

The shop falls eerily silent. I can hear the muffled sounds of the celebration outside, a stark contrast to the tension crackling in the air around us.

Meredith’s face contorts with rage. “You bitch,” she spits. “You can’t do that. You can’t take my rights away!”

I stand my ground, even as another contraction hits. “I’m not taking anything away. I’m asking you to give them up. Willingly. You want something from Rex? Fine. But this is my price.”

Meredith’s grip on the children tightens, making both Beaux and Birdie cry out. The sound cuts through me, but I force myself to remain steady.

“You don’t deserve them,” Meredith hisses, her eyes wild. “You think you’re so much better than me, don’t you? Little Miss Perfect with your bike shop and your biker gang.”

I laugh, the sound harsh and bitter. “Better than you? I’m six months pregnant, in labor, and ready to rip your throat out with my bare hands. I’m far from perfect. But at least I’ve never used my children as bargaining chips.”

Meredith’s face twists with rage, but before she can respond, Rex steps forward. “Enough. This ends now, Meredith. Sign the papers, and I’ll do what you want. But if you hurt one hair on their heads, I swear to God there won’t be a place on this earth where you can hide from me.”

For a moment, the only sound in the shop is the heavy breathing of everyone present. Then, slowly, Meredith’s grip on the children loosens. Her eyes dart between Rex and me, weighing her options.

“Fine,” she grits out. “I’ll sign.”

Relief floods through me. But I can’t relax yet. Not until my babies are safe in my arms.

“Tinsley,” I declare. “Can you draw something up? I want her signature on something right now. We can file it with the courts later. “

Tinsley nods, her heels clicking on the floor as she rushes to the back office. The tension in the room is palpable, everyone holding their breath, waiting.

Beaux, my brave little boy, speaks up. “Mom? Are you okay?”

I force a smile, trying to keep the pain from showing on my face. “I’m fine, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”

Tinsley returns with a stack of papers, her hands shaking slightly as she places them on the counter. Rex moves forward, his eyes never leaving Meredith as he grabs a pen.

“You first,” he demands, holding out the pen to Meredith.

For a moment, I think she might refuse. Her face contorts, a war of emotions playing across her features. But then, with a roar of aggravation, she snatches the pen from Rex’s hand.

“You’ll regret this,” she hisses as she scrawls her signature across the bottom of the page.

“I doubt it,” he huffs.

“There. It’s done.”

As soon as Meredith’s pen leaves the paper, Rex moves with lightning speed. He grabs Beaux and Birdie, yanking them away from Meredith’s grasp and pushing them behind him. In an instant, Cheyenne and Maya are there, ushering the kids towards me.

“Remy!” Birdie cries, her little arms outstretched.

This time, I really do fall to my knees, ignoring the pain shooting through my body as I gather my children into my arms. Tears stream down my face as I hold them close, breathing in their familiar scents.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “You’re safe now.”

Beaux’s small arms wrap tightly around my neck. “I was so scared, Mom,” he mumbles into my hair.

“I know, baby. I know. But you were so brave. Both of you were.”

Over their heads, I lock eyes with Rex. His face is a storm of emotions - relief, anger, guilt. But there’s no time to address any of that now. Another contraction rips through me, stronger than the others.

I grit my teeth against the pain, forcing myself to focus on Meredith’s outraged face. “You said you’d help me!” she screeches, her bleached hair wild around her flushed face.

Despite the agony coursing through my body, I manage a cold smile. “I never said when,” I reply. “We’ll be in touch.”

Meredith’s face contorts with fury, but before she can lunge at me, Maya and Harlow step between us, their stances protective and threatening.

“Rex,” I gasp through another contraction.

He’s there in an instant, his strong arms scooping me up as if I weigh nothing.

“I’ve got you, baby. Just hold on.”