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CHAPTER TWELVE

Declan

It’s nearly nine in the morning when my phone rings. Caleb glances my way from his chair on the porch. We’ve been out here shooting the shit while Liz loads Carter up with a hearty breakfast before we take him out to start on the farm chores. The kid was happier than shit when I told him we were coming over here today. He’s been worried about his mama.

She hasn’t called, only sent a few texts every day telling him she loves him and to be good while she’s away. It hasn’t slipped past me she’s only texting him and not me. Which tells me she’s avoiding telling me what kind of shit she’s in.

My phone rings again. The screen lighting up with an unknown caller.

“Hello.”

“Who the hell do you have fucking around in my system, Shamus?” Kayce’s gruff, very pissed off voice asks.

Too bad he can’t see the smirk on my face. It would piss him off even more, but I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time for that later.

“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” I lie. Caleb gets up from his seat and heads into the house. I hear him asking Liz if she needs any help cleaning up.

“Don’t give me that shit, O’Malley. My screen went black and then a message that read ‘call Shamus motherfucker’ and this number bounced around my screen for ten fucking minutes before it went back to my regular screen. Tate has been going fucking nuts trying to track the bastard and pay him back.”

I laugh. “What is it with tech nerds and needing to one up each other?”

Kayce laughs, his previous anger slipping away. “I don’t know, man. But if you went through all that trouble to get my attention, you must need something. So, what is it?”

I don’t hesitate. “Violet Dupree. What do you know about her and her kid?”

“Name doesn’t sound familiar.”

“Cut the shit, Kayce. She had your card on her dresser, and she left her kid at school with me as his sole guardian. Start talking.”

“Fuck.” Kayce sighs. “What do you know about Violet Dupree? Let’s start there.”

“Very little since every time my guy goes digging, someone cuts off his search, replacing anything we find with an old video game screen, and deleting anything we find.”

“I can’t help you with that.” Kayce says. “Sounds like someone doesn’t want you digging around this woman’s information.”

“Someone?” I question. “Well, someone better change their fucking mind fast.”

“Who is she to you, anyway? How do you know her?” He’s asking me the questions, but something in his tone tells me he already knows, and not just because I have the kid.

“She’s mine.”

“Yours?” Kayce asks hesitantly.

“Yes, fucking mine.” No point in beating around the bush. “I know she’s gotten herself into trouble, but she hasn’t told me what exactly. The kid is tight-lipped, afraid he’ll upset his mama if he tells her secrets. I put my guy on it, and everything we’ve found amounts to jack shit. And then I found your card at her place. A place I know you don’t visit, in a town you don’t work in. So, I’ll ask again. What do you know about my woman, and where the fuck do I find her?”

“You know I can’t tell you about my clients, O’Malley. We work to get them out of their situation and give them new lives for a reason,” Kayce says. “If I tell you anything, I break Violet’s trust and my word.”

“You don’t have to tell me her story. But you can tell me where she is.”

“I’m sorry, man, but I can’t do that,” he says.

I didn’t want to do this, but he’s left me no choice. “I saved your life. You fucking owe me. All I want is a location. Everything else I’ll find out for myself,” I demand. “I’m not going to hurt her, Kayce. I want to help her. She and Carter mean something to me. But I can’t give them the life they deserve if I can’t fucking find her.”

“You swore after your ex-wife did you dirty, you would never settle down again. You getting soft in your old age? What’s changed?”

“I’ve changed,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t know how to tell you what happened or even when it happened, but Violet calls to something deep inside and her kid is pretty fucking awesome. They’re both mine.”

“Does she know this?” Kayce chuckles. “That you’re insane and have claimed her like a fucking caveman?”

“She knows. But she’s too scared to admit it. I think whatever shit she’s in has her pushing me away, in case she needs to pick up and leave. She doesn’t want any attachments. Carter told me a little about wanting to protect his mama and made some references to bad men, but neither one has ever clarified what that was about, but given the fact she took off without warning and left her son behind … she’s running from something, and I want to know what?”

“I can’t tell you where she is,” Kayce states firmly. “Listen. I’m in Oakridge for a few days. Why don’t we drink a few beers and catch up over old times? I’m staying at a cabin up near the lake. Come up in, say, an hour? Leave the kid at the farm. I’ll see you shortly.” The line goes dead. My phone vibrates with a text message and an address. A second text follows immediately after.

Unknown: Bring clothes for a few days. She’ll want something clean to wear.

Fuck me.

Sticking my phone in my pocket, I head into the house. Carter is in the kitchen helping Liz with the dishes and Caleb is drinking another cup of coffee at the table. I take a seat next to him.

“You think Carter could sleep over here for a few days?” I ask.

Caleb studies my face. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Something just came up. Business I need to handle and I can’t take the kid with me. He’s got school and I’m sure Liz wouldn’t mind an extra set of hands for a few days.” I tilt my chin toward Carter and Liz giggling together, tossing water at one another in the kitchen.

Caleb chuckles. “No, she wouldn’t. She’s happier than a pig in shit having someone to take care of. Keeps her mind off other people. It also means she won’t spend as much time down in the basement since she won’t want to leave Carter unsupervised. Especially around the clubhouse.”

I laugh at that. “She wouldn’t trust the brothers not to teach him some of their bad habits.”

“Bullshit,” Caleb says. “She won’t want him around the whores.”

“He’s only ten.” I scrunch my face in disgust. “They wouldn’t dare mess with him. He’s too young.”

“They might not mess with him, but they wouldn’t cover up if he happened to see them naked, either. That would send my wife over the edge, and I don’t think Carter needs to see me feeding a club whore to the pigs just yet, do you?”

“Point made.”

“How long you think you’ll be gone?” he asks.

“Not sure.” I shrug. “I’m meeting an old friend. He’s got some intel for me.”

“Hmm.” Caleb grunts. “Take your truck. Let Pres know where you’re headed. And if you find your ass in any trouble, you fucking call. You hear?”

“I’ll be fine.” I smile. “It’s not my ass you need to be worried about.”

Caleb’s brows shoot straight up, and he laughs heartily. “Oh shit. Well, tell your woman not to worry. Carter’s in good hands.”

I glare at Caleb. “How did you …”

His hand goes up to stop me. “It’s written all over your face, son. You’ve got it bad and the only reason I can think of that you would leave her son for after she entrusted him specifically to you is because she’s in trouble and you’re headed out to get her.” His smile fades. “But if you find this to be too much to handle on your own, you have the entire club behind you.”

“Thanks.” I clap his shoulder and push away from the table. “Carter. Come here, kid.”

Carter sets the dish he was drying down and walks over to where we are. I put my hand on his shoulder and give him a squeeze.

“I have some business to take care of out of town for a couple of days. Do you think you’ll be okay staying here with Liz and Caleb while I’m away?”

His shoulders slump and his eyes flash with fear.

“I-is everything okay? Is it Mama?” he asks, his voice low.

“No buddy, it’s just work shit, but I’ll be back soon. Your mama might make it home before I do. But in the meantime, you can hang out here and let Liz spoil you stupid.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him and his smile grows.

“Yeah. Okay. I’ll be fine.” Carter steps back, turning toward the sink. He looks over his shoulder and says, “You promise to come get me when you get back?”

I feel like an asshole for leaving him behind after his mama just did the same thing, but I need to get to Violet and find out what the hell is going on and why she ran. But I can’t tell him any of that. He’s just a kid. He shouldn’t be worrying about adult shit.

“You have my word,” I tell him, and I mean it. “I’ll be back for you. Maybe when I get back, I’ll take you and your mama out for dinner and a movie. What do you say?”

“I get to pick the movie.” It’s more of a statement than a question.

“Deal.” I smile. As I make my way to the door, I turn back and call out, “Hey, Carter.”

When he turns his attention back to me, I tell him, “No bro code shit while you’re with Liz and Caleb. You got me?”

Carter smiles widely and nods. “Yeah, I know. Hawk already warned me Miss Liz is a snitch.”

Liz’s jaw drops. “That little shit!” Liz shouts, and both Caleb and I laugh.

I waste no time getting to my house and packing an overnight bag. I grab a few extra t-shirts, boxers, and an extra pair of sweats. I don’t know what I’m walking in to, but I don’t have time to get to Violet’s place and grab her shit. I need to get on the road. GPS shows the address Kayce sent is about thirty minutes from my place. If I get on the road now and haul ass, I’ll still get there on time.

I take my duffle bag and grab my spare gun from the nightstand and an extra clip. Once I’ve got all my shit, I head out to the truck and get on the road.

I follow the GPS up a long, winding dirt road through the trees. Wherever this house is, it’s well off the main road, tucked back into the woods. Along the road, I pass an old deer blind and a small wooden shack that looks like it could be an outhouse.

Where the fuck am I?

About ten more minutes along the same dirt road and an old log cabin comes into view. There are no other vehicles. The only sign anyone is here is the fact Kayce is sitting on the front step with a beer in his hand, watching as I pull into the drive.

I park my truck near the far corner of the porch, get out, and stroll over to where Kayce is now standing with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face.

“You’re late, Shamus,” he calls out.

“I wasn’t sure what I was driving up to. Slowed down in case there was anyone along the path,” I answer.

Kayce laughs. “You think I have a sniper team in the trees waiting for your sorry ass?”

I shrug. “Never know.” My tone is serious. Kayce reads my expression and nods.

“I don’t work for them anymore and I sure as shit wouldn’t kill the man who saved my life. My guys aren’t here. I had Tate drop me off, then disappear into town. He doesn’t need to be here for this meeting, and we have another client we need to see this evening. He’ll be back to get me before then,” Kayce explains. When I reach the porch, he steps down and we give each other a hug. “It’s good to see you, man.”

“I wish I could say the same.”

“Asshole.” Kayce pulls out of our embrace, laughing. “Come on. Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you what you want to know.” He glances down at his watch. “We have about two hours before our guests arrive.”

“Guests?” I ask. “I thought you said no one else needs to be here for this conversation.”

“No. I said Tate didn’t need to be here.” He smirks. “Let’s grab a beer. You’re going to need it.”