Page 28 of Bayou Knights

“Why do you want to stay home?” I try to soften my voice as to not upset him.

“What if my mom comes back?”

“Go to school, Gage. If she comes home, I’ll come get you, I promise. But she would want you to be in school,” I say, and he nods.

“I miss her,” he says, and I grab him by the back of his neck, giving him a quick hug.

“I know you do, so do I,” I mumble, “go to school. Tex will inform you if anything happens.”

Him and Noah head for school and I slump in my seat. I’m at a loss and it’s fucking with my head.

“Bones,” I call out to my VP who flops down on the couch in my office.

“What’s up? Besides the obvious,” he says.

“I need to go to Texas. I need to see for myself,” I tell him and he actually agrees.

“We got this from here. You and Dixon should ride. He needs a distraction. The boys will be looked after.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks,” I say as I shut off my computer and go to pack a few things. I meet up with Dixon at the school so we can tell Gage, who I know will be pissed he can’t come.

“I can’t go?” he asks.

“Gage, you need to stay here. She will need you here,” I tell him.

“What if she needs me there?”

“Too dangerous, son. I will call you every day and update you on the status if that will help,” I tell him.

“Grandpa too?”

“I’ll call you too,” Dixon grabs him in a bear hug.

“Please find her,” he says sadly before walking back into the school looking defeated.

“Let’s ride,” I say as I straddle my bike. Dixon does the same. We ride until the Texas border and pull over, storing our cuts in our side trunks. People will think we’re weekend riders and not looking for a person. I should call one of the prospects to bring the truck and trailer, just in case we find her. Every day that goes by I’m starting to lose hope.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Plum

I’ve been left down here for days, might not be days, but it feels like it. I haven’t been given food. I guess the plus side is that no one else has been down here to beat me or use me.

I feel like I want to die. I hope I do, then they can just go on with their lives. I’d be at peace.

I hear the door open and my mother steps in.

“Are you ready to play nice?”

Play nice? I don’t even know why I’m here or what she wants. I played nice. She was the one that sic’ed her dogs on me.

“What do you want?”

“Your money. You don’t deserve it. Lyra and I need it,” she sneers.

“You want my money? You mean my inheritance? If I give it to you, will you let me go?” I rasp, it’s hard to talk.

“Sure, right into the arms of a man who will find you a new home,” she cackles. She’s going to sell me to someone? What the hell? My mother is truly evil.