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CHAPTER TWENTY

ANNA

I sat in the ballroom by the window with Carina beside me and Gigi between us, cuddled in, asleep.

Giselle was distraught. She kept crying that she should’ve taken better care of Addison and not let her wander off. The poor girl was traumatized, although it wasn’t her fault Addie was missing.

It was mine.

The ache ripping through my body grasped so tightly it felt like my insides were imploding. I could hardly breathe. My mind kept conjuring images of Addie crying and calling for Fender and her brothers.

Addie was so tiny. How would she survive if she’d been hurt? How would her little body ever heal if someone had done something awful to her? How would she ever get over it? I didn’t know who Ace was, and nobody seemed to be able to give me any answers. The only brothers left in the clubhouse who knew him were Hendrix’s dad, Will, and Iceman, and they were holed up with Blade down the basement, operating something called Hawk. I didn’t want to disturb them or take them away from what they were doing when they were trying to help Hendrix and Addie.

The thought of Hendrix risking himself because of something I’d done made my heart feel like it had been sliced in two, and my skin felt almost too tight for my body, like everything inside was bursting and about to explode.

I jumped slightly as a hand gripped mine.

“She’ll be okay, Anna,” Carina assured me in her soft voice. “They’ll bring her back.”

My eyes drifted over the late afternoon sky. “It’s all my fault,” I said flatly. “If anything’s happened to Addison, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Kids are resilient,” she argued gently. “Addie’s already faced adversity and survived. She’ll do it again.”

My mouth twisted. “She’s just a baby. She shouldn’t have to survive adversity. She should be carefree and happy. The only thing Addie should be worrying about is what toy to play with or what dress to wear.”

“Life isn’t like that,” Carina protested. “Bad stuff happens all the time, and sometimes to kids. All we can do is be there for her when Hendrix brings her home because, believe me, Anna, he will. I’ve been around these men for years, and I’ve seen them in action. They’re resourceful, smart, and so efficient that sometimes it scares me. If anything ever happened to Gigi, there’s nobody else I’d want in my corner. They’ll bring her home.”

Tears sprang to my eyes. “I’m sorry I let them go outside unsupervised.”

“Anna, I trust you with Gigi, and I guarantee Fender will still trust you with Addie. The fact you’re so cut up about it just shows how much you care.” She smiled kindly. “Why don’t you go for a soak in the bathtub or try to get a nap? There’s nothing you can do here, and you’re only upsetting yourself.”

“Thanks, Carrie, but there’s no way I could sleep,” I told her. “I’d go out for a walk, but we’re on lockdown.”

“As long as you stay on the property, you’ll be okay,” she reminded me. “Take a brother with you.”

“I’ll go,” Tweety offered from the bar where he was stocking the fridge. “Prez would kill me if I let you go out alone.”

“Are you sure you’re not too busy?” I asked the prospect.

He walked out from behind the bar, wiping his hands with a cloth. “I’m done here. You’re good.”

A walk and some fresh air would help me clear the cobwebs. Carina had work to do, especially since the men would need to be fed and watered while they searched for Addie. I was just a hindrance, and all sitting here did was allow the dark thoughts in.

Picking up my cell from the table, I placed it inside my purse and gently shifted so as not to wake Gigi as I slowly got to my feet. My back was aching from a lack of movement. Getting out for twenty minutes would definitely do me good.

“I’ve got my phone,” I told her.

“I’ll call you as soon as I hear something,” she promised, gently shaking Gigi awake. “Don’t go far. Addie will want to see you when the boys bring her home to us.” She gave my arm a squeeze, helped a sleepy Gigi from the chair, and guided her into the kitchen.

“Come on, we’ll go get an SUV,” Tweety suggested.

“What for?” I asked. “We can walk. I did it before with no problems.”

“There’s a real nice spot about a mile away,” he stated. “Don’t want you walkin’ that far. You’re seven months pregnant.”

“It sounds great,” I said with a grateful smile. “But I don’t want to go that far. I’d like to be close to Hendrix when he gets back. How about we walk down to the hotel’s boat mooring? It’s peaceful there and we can get back in minutes if Carina calls, and I don’t want to be out long anyway.” I rested my hand on my stomach. “This one tires me out quickly these days.”

Something flashed across his face, but it was gone before I could recognize it. “Right, well, I need to go to the SUV and grab my shades. Left ‘em in there earlier when I went out for supplies.”

A feeling of uneasiness stabbed at me.

Something wasn’t right.

“You know,” I murmured. “I think I will go for a nap after all. Everything’s hitting me, plus my head’s starting to hurt, so the thought of sitting out in the sun doesn’t appeal.”

Tweety’s eyes turned to slits, and he snarled, “Get your ass outside and get in the fucking SUV.” He grabbed my elbow and began to pull me toward the door.

My blood ran cold. “What are you doing?” I cried out, trying to tug my arm out of his grip, but Tweety just held on firmer.

“Shut your fuckin’ mouth, or you’ll never see the kid again,” he bit out. “I swear to God, if you make a noise or draw attention to us, she’s dead. Now, plaster a smile across that pretty mouth and come quietly. Thread your hand through my arm like I’m helping you. We’re on camera, so look as if you’re enjoying yourself, and if you make a wrong move, you’ll make it worse for the kid.”

Saliva filled my mouth, and I threaded tremoring fingers through his arm like he’d told me.

“Good,” he muttered. “If we see anyone, you smile and nod and leave the talkin’ to me. Got it?”

I inclined my head sharply, my eyes sliding toward the door.

If I went with him, I knew everything would turn to shit, but how could I not? Addie needed me. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” I demanded as he walked me to the door. “It’s not as if you’re proving yourself exactly trustworthy.”

“The gun in my pocket, pointed to your stomach, says you’ll do as you’re goddamned told,” he spat. “Get your fat ass in the car and come quietly, and I’ll let the girl go.”

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I lowered my gaze to see his hand in his pocket angled toward me.

He pulled it out slightly to show me a glimpse of metal and ordered, “Move.”

My eyes lifted to his and I saw defiance there and a tiny flicker of panic. “You haven’t got Addie at all, have you?” I demanded accusingly.

“Stop fucking talking,” he grated out, and muttered to himself, “Gotta lotta mouth for someone with a gun pointed at her fuckin’ baby.”

“You won’t kill me,” I challenged, my voice full of bravado.

He barked a short laugh. “Doll. If I go down, don’t think for one second you won’t go down with me. Got nothin’ to lose at this point, I’ve played my hand.”

A sick feeling slammed through me.

He meant it. Tweety would take me out, and if I died, my baby would, too.

I allowed him to guide me into reception and outside to the deserted parking lot, and I sent up a prayer that somebody would stop us.

Usually, the place was filled with bikes, the odd truck, and brothers shooting the shit. Except today, everybody was either out roaming the streets looking for Addie or down in the basement with Blade, Colt, and their crew, carrying out their recon.

I prayed one of them would see us on camera and notice something was amiss. I hoped with every atom in me that someone would get a gut feeling that the scene didn’t add up. Holding my breath, I waited for somebody to run after us and shout for Tweety to halt, but all I heard was the sound of birdsong and running water from the river in the distance.

With every step, my heart sank a little further until, finally, we entered the garage.

This was it; I had to make a choice. Either I fought back, or I went quietly into what would no doubt be my death.

Tweety’s hand came out from his pocket, empty of his gun, and I knew it was now or never.

I stepped back, twisting toward the double doors to the vast garage, intending to dart between the cars to get the opportunity to run.

Pain radiated from the back of my skull, and I cried out in distress as I felt myself being dragged backward by my hair.

A sharp ache clenched through my belly, and bile rose in my throat as an arm encircled my neck, holding me firm. Something covered my face, and my eyes rounded as I realized it was a cloth, right before something sweet filled my mouth and nostrils.

I opened my mouth to scream, struggling to get free, but my limbs felt like I was underwater. More of the sweet scent filled my nose, and I felt my eyes droop. Unable to hold myself upright anymore, my body went slack, and I slumped downward, feeling myself being caught and lifted before I hit the ground.

Then, I heard myself moan as everything went black.