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Page 41 of Defended by Bama (Royal Bastards MC: Mobile, Alabama #1)

Bama

Checking my phone, I was relieved I only had a few more minutes before it was time to line up at the daycare. It was only in the eighties today, and the humidity wasn’t bad. Still, hanging out in the truck all day, occasionally stretching my legs, wasn’t my idea of a good time.

The truck was too old to leave running all day, and I had to be on alert.

We stopped for breakfast and we both got coffee, even though Linny said no.

I needed the caffeine, and hopefully she’d forgive me for getting Sofie a small latte.

It was practically all cream and sugar with just a splash of coffee.

I got regular coffee, even though Sofie said it was too hot for hot coffee.

I never did like iced coffee, but her latte was iced, and she loved it.

Even with the extra caffeine, sitting in the warm truck all day had me trying to get drowsy. I only took my eyes off the school and parking lot to check the time all day.

Finally, when a few other cars started to pull up in front of the school, I started my truck, pulled out of the convenient store parking lot across the street, and got in line.

Only a couple of minutes passed, and the doors opened and all the kids that didn’t stay for after-school came pouring out with two teachers. The teachers halted them all, instructing them to line up and wait until they were called.

It was like herding cattle. The teachers really deserved more than what they were paid. Sofie was a good kid, but she was still a kid. I couldn’t imagine having to wrangle twenty or more at a time. Give me shifty deals in a back lot over that anyday.

I saw Sofie in line and smiled, but waited for the teacher to dismiss her. She ran to the truck, so I reached over and pushed the door open for her. “Hey, sweet girl, hop in.”

She tossed her bag into the floorboard and then reached for my hand. The truck was still a little tall for her. I stuck mine out and she took it, grabbing the seat with her other hand for leverage.

Her blonde hair was wild from the breeze that always kicked up in the parking lot. It was like a wind tunnel.

She got settled in her booster, buckled in, then said, “What a day,” with a big sigh.

“Oh yeah? Wanna tell me about it?” I asked as I put the truck in gear and pulled out slowly.

She waved me off. “It's over now. But some people have no manners.”

“Drama on the playground?”

“I wish. I was reading a book and put it down when we had recess, but when we came back, Justin took it and wouldn’t give it back. But he wasn’t even reading it. He probably can’t even read.” She crossed her arms.

“That’s not very nice, Sofie.” I was sure that’s what Linny would say. I wanted to ask for this punk's last name and go have a chat.

Once I got to the red light at the end of the street, my phone buzzed.

Ollie : girls leaving, following

Leaving ? Annoyed, I tried calling him, but it just rang until his voicemail came on. I waited a few beats, then tried again.

“Bama, the light,” Sofie said.

Looking up, the light was green, so I hit the gas, but tried his cell again. After the fourth try, I called Linny but no answer. Same for Glenda. By girls I could only assume he meant Linny and Glenda since they were like peas and carrots.

Losing patience, I called the VP, and he picked up after only two rings. “Rogers,” he answered.

“Hey, you seen Ollie?” I didn’t want to mention Linny with Sofie in the truck. The fact that he’d sent a text and wasn’t answering didn’t sit well, especially since Linny and Glenda weren’t either.

“Uh, hold on. Been in the office with Hammer for a while. Why?” A door opened and it sounded like he was walking down the hallway.

“He texted me about two minutes ago and now isn’t answering.”

“Hold up. Hey Breaker, where’s Ollie?”

I kept driving as I waited on the line, trying to listen to the conversation. We weren’t far from the clubhouse, but I couldn’t get there fast enough with Sofie in the truck.

It was too distorted to make out what he said, and a woman was talking as well, maybe Pinkie. Rogers told them thanks then came back to me. “Breaker wasn’t sure but Pinkie said she saw Ollie take off running about an hour ago. Let me give him a call and I’ll let you know what happens.”

“An hour? Is Glenda there?”

“Hey Pinkie, where’s Glenda?” he called out.

Pinkie said something, but I still couldn’t make it out. My jaw clenched as I stepped on the pedal a little more.

“Pinkie said her and Linny were working earlier but she hasn’t seen ‘em in a while.” The sound of another door opening was followed by sounds of birds chirping and open air. “Weird. Her car’s gone. Maybe they took a ride.”

“See if you can get him on the phone. I’ll be there in three minutes.”

“You got it. Everything okay?”

“No. But let me know if you get him. See you soon.”

I disconnected the call, then smiled over at Sofie. Her brows rose, but she didn’t say anything. She was so much like her mom sometimes.

After the longest three minutes of my life, I tore into the clubhouse parking lot, sending Sofie into a fit of giggles. “Silly!” she shouted once we came to a stop.

“You like that? Maybe we’ll go to the go-kart track soon? How’s that sound?”

Her eyes lit up as she unbuckled. “I gotta tell Mommy!”

“Not today, silly girl,” I said, trying to figure out what to tell her. Everything could be fine, but until I knew where they were, I had to play it off. “I think Mommy and Glenda went out, though. Auntie Allie is gonna play with you until we all get back.”

“Okay! I wonder if we can swim!” she shouted as she jumped down from the truck.

Following her inside, I headed to Allie’s room where she’d been sulking. After knocking gently, I finally said through the door, “Hey, Sofie’s here.”

The door opened, and Allie’s brown eyes were like slits as she scowled. “What?” she asked, before smiling down at Sofie. “Hey, sweetie. Why don’t you go inside and let me talk to Bama really quick?”

“Okay, Auntie Allie,” Sofie said as she skipped inside and Allie pulled the door closed.

“Where’s Linny? I’m not in the mood to do you any favors. But for her, maybe,” Allie said as she adjusted her messy bun.

“We don’t know. So, I need you to keep her entertained until I figure that out. I told her she went out with Glenda.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Where’s Glenda?”

“I just said I don’t fucking know! Now are you gonna play twenty questions, or are you gonna watch her so I can find them?”

Her brow furrowed. “Fine. But your attitude sucks.”

“So does yours.” I reached around her to open the door and said, “Hey sweetie, gotta run but I’ll be back in a bit. Be good for Allie, okay?”

“Okay, Bama. Promise!” she yelled with a big smile.

Closing the door back, I said, “She wants to swim, but she probably needs to eat. She’s always hungry after school.”

“Aye aye, captain,” Allie said as she gave a mock salute.

Stomping down the hall, I headed back to find Rogers. Before I made it to the main room, I found him in the hall.

“Hey,” he said as he took quick strides toward me. “No answer. But Breaker traced his cell to your house.”

“My house?”

“Yeah, and Breaker also said he didn’t text you a few minutes ago, it was over an hour ago, right around when he left.”

Pushing my fingers through my short hair, I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “My signal must have been bad. What about the cop? Any movement?”

Rogers shook his head. “Nope. Why? You think he got bold enough to go looking for her at your place?”

My heart raced as fast as my thoughts. “I don’t know. He was bold enough to follow my sister and come talk shit to me. He obviously was up to something to come all that way.” There was a gasp behind me, then someone tapped my shoulder, so I turned around and was met with a blow to my jaw.

It wasn’t a good connection because I caught the wrist before the follow-though. Looking down at my sister, I struggled to keep my cool.

“Fuck you Bama,” Allie said as the other hand flew to my face.

Catching that one, I held her wrists together in front of me and looked over her shoulder but didn’t see Sofie.

“She’s in my room. I knew you were up to something. That piece of shit followed me and you didn’t even tell me? What the fuck!” she shouted.

She was writhing and trying to break free when Hammer came flying out of the casino room. “What the fuck is this? Let her go,” he said, pulling her free from my grasp.

She shook him off. “Don’t fucking touch me. All of you are pricks. Where’s Linny? Where’s Glenda?”

Rogers grabbed her by the elbow and pushed her into the casino room, Hammer and I following as he gave me side-eye.

Once the door closed, I said, “Shut up, Allie. If Sofie snuck out of your room, she doesn’t need to hear this shit.”

“Well, fine,” she said in an even and low volume. “Quietly explain what the fuck is going on? Is that why you stole my Explorer? Because that cop followed me?”

“Yes. And we’re tracking him, but now Linny and Glenda can’t be reached, her car is gone, and Ollie won’t answer. I need you to calm the fuck down and keep an eye on Sofie. Everything is probably fine, so we don’t need to scare her.”

“What about me, Bama? You weren’t gonna tell me that cop followed me? That means he knows where I live,” she said, ticking off on her fingers, “he knows what I drive, and he probably knows I deal. You didn’t think I should know?”

“I told him no,” Hammer said. “This is club business, Allie, and you know–”

Allie slapped Hammer, but he didn’t stop her and didn’t flinch. “Fuck you and your club business. You all better fix this and fast,” she said, waving her finger around the three of us.

She barged out of the room, the door practically coming off the hinges at the force. Once it closed, Hammer shouted, “Show’s over!”

There were two bunnies and a few members watching from the bar, but the bunnies had pretended to be invisible the whole time, turning their backs and looking busy. The members looked on, trying to piece together what was happening.

Hammer patted his cheek. “Firey temper on that one. Now what the fuck is going on?”

I filled him in about Ollie’s text and the ladies being MIA.

“Christ. Take Rogers, Leigh,” said Hammer, his voice raised, “and these nosy fuckers over here.” He looked back at me. “Ride over to your place and check it out, report back ASAP.”

The guys at the bar got up and followed us outside. Leigh came from the kitchen area like he’d been back there eavesdropping the whole time.

“I’ll take my truck in case we need it,” I said.

Leigh said, “I’ll take mine, too. More space.” His truck was newer with a back seat and also had a covered bed.

We all assembled in the parking lot, with Rogers and the others mounting their Harleys.

Rogers said, “Eyes peeled, brothers. Let’s ride out.”

Leigh and I hopped into our trucks and we wasted no time starting the engines and peeling out of the parking lot. The clubhouse was on such a dead stretch of road that we gunned it toward my house, not worried about speeding.

The short drive felt like an eternity. The whole time I kept calling all three of them, hoping for an answer. When I was about to turn down my long driveway, I finally tossed the phone onto the seat and flew down the dirt road to my house.

Speeding in, my tires skidded over the dirt as I slammed on the brakes when I saw something–or rather someone–in the yard, along with Ollie’s bike on its side and Glenda’s car.

I barely put the truck in park before I flew out, rushing to the bloodied body. Before I made it, Leigh had passed me, falling to his knees and grabbing her petite frame. It was Glenda.

“Goddamn.” I still ran over as I pulled my gun out, looking down as her head flopped around and hair stuck to the dried blood on her face. I looked around then yelled, “Linny! Linny!”

Leigh pulled Glenda close, digging his face into her neck. He roared, then his head jerked back. “Holy shit. Glenda. Glenda, baby,” he said as he held her tight. Her body convulsed, shaking wildly.

My eyes roamed around, not seeing Linny and holding onto hope.

“Holy shit. Call the doc, get her over there now!” I yelled before I ran up the steps into the open door.

I stopped, seeing Ollie face down in a pool of blood.

Fuck . His pistol was still in his hand.

He’d been with us from the beginning. He was a good one.

But I had to hold it together because Glenda was on death’s doorstep outside and I didn’t see my woman anywhere. “Linny!” I yelled.

I ran to each room of the house, but no sign of my woman. Running to the kitchen, I stopped when I saw glass. Looking up, one of the windowpanes had been busted. Looking back, it would have been in line with where Ollie was standing before he fell.

“Linny!” I yelled as I went out the back door. Standing on the back deck, I saw tire marks and some branches on the trail.

Motherfuckers ambushed them. Hiding down the trail. “Linny!” I yelled again. She wasn’t here. Someone took her. But who, and where the fuck did they go?

Rogers met me on the deck. “I got one of them driving Leigh and Glenda to the clinic. I called it in and they’re expecting them. I called Hammer, too. Any idea who did this?”

“I have my suspicions, but how the fuck am I supposed to know for sure?” Rushing back through the house, I went back to Glenda’s car. Sure enough, both of their phones were in the drink holders, so we couldn’t trace that. “Fuck!”

“We need to get someone over here to clean this up and make a plan. Let’s get back to the clubhouse,” Rogers said, gripping my shoulder. “We don’t have anything to go by.”

Holstering my gun, I ran my hands through my hair. “Goddammit!” Ollie was dead, Glenda was close to it, and I didn’t know if Linny was alive at all, where she was, or who had her.

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