Page 11 of Next Level (Royal Bastards MC: Oakland Chapter #1)

FOUND SAMMIE

M y phone dings with a message, stirring me awake, my body sated from having sex throughout the night.

I woke up earlier to Cherry sucking me off before straddling me to ride her way to another orgasm. I was worried about taking her bareback, but she told me she was protected. I haven’t barebacked anyone since Brooke.

I don’t trust many women, but again, I couldn’t say no to her. I let her ride me, and in return, made her orgasm a few more times.

At one point, I woke up and slipped inside her from behind, pushing her into the bed and rocking in and out teasingly. After fucking her at an achingly slow pace, we passed out again.

My phone dings again before it starts to ring. I shoot up, throwing Cherry off me accidentally. I was sleeping so deeply that it took me a minute to remember where I was and what I was doing there.

“Hello?” I shout into the phone.

“Mr. Amato?” a male voice says.

“Yes, who’s this?”

“This is the Port Angeles police.”

Jumping out of bed, my heart races. “Yes.”

“We’ve seen your videos, posts, and flyers.

The FBI also sent over information regarding the case.

This morning, we noticed the car in question and believe your daughter may be here.

We’ve set up a perimeter but wanted to let you know as well.

We’ve also been in contact with the FBI and Oakland PD. ”

“I’m on my way. Do you have eyes on her?”

“We don’t have her yet, but we’re at the Port Angeles hotel. We’ve sent an undercover officer in to gather intelligence. We don’t want to spook the suspect if he does have her here.”

“Thank you. I’m on my way. Please keep me posted,” I plead.

“You’re welcome. You’ll be the first to know what we find,” the officer says.

Hanging up the phone, I turn and find Cherry already dressed. She’s pulling her hair back and gathering all our stuff.

“They found his car.” I grab my jeans.

“Let’s go,” Cherry says, handing me a shirt.

I grab her, give her a quick kiss, and say, “Thank you.”

She beams. “Let’s go get your girl.”

Christ. She is perfect.

The two-hour drive is mainly spent in silence.

My mind is all over the place. An hour into the drive, the police called telling me they had my girl.

Both Garrett and Jared were arrested and in custody.

We’re headed to the police station, where they have Samantha. They told me she was unharmed and safe.

Unharmed, we’ll see, and until she is in my arms, she’s not safe. They say she doesn’t want to talk until I’m there. She’s upset and wants her dad. Since she’s a minor, they can’t really officially question her without me or her mom anyway.

I think I broke all the traffic speed limits getting here, but we’re finally in Port Angeles.

Cherry has been positive the whole way. She called her parents and let them know what was going on.

They are in Arizona at their other house.

They’ve been in contact with Cherry since the beginning.

When they realized what was going on, they immediately reached out to the Arizona police, trying to get ahead of the situation so they wouldn’t come knocking on their door looking for him.

They were going to wait to hear from Cherry before making a decision.

I called Brooke and Dawg as soon as I got off the phone with the officer, letting them know they’d found her and I’d reach out as soon as I had her.

My phone rings, and Tink’s name flashes on my cellphone. I press the answer button without thinking, and her voice booms through the truck’s speaker. “RayRay, is she okay? You got her yet?”

Not thinking about anything but my girl, I answer, “Not yet, but we just pulled into Port Angeles. I’ll call Dawg once I get her.”

“Okay. How are you? I’m worried about you.” Her voice is laced with concern.

By the look on Cherry’s face, I can tell she’s questioning this woman’s intent.

I smile at Cherry and answer, “I’m good. Once I get Sam in my arms, I’ll be better. But I gotta go.”

“Okay, just wanted to check in with you. Your ma and your bitch are here too.”

Fuck. Dawg must have called everyone with the news. Tamara and Tink are waiting at the same place, which is not good.

I shrug it off and answer, “Well, behave. No fighting in the club. I gotta go.”

Before hanging up, Tink says, “Sure thing, Ray. But I won’t make any promises.”

When the phone hangs up, the truck becomes quiet.

I want to explain who Tink and Tamara are, but I don’t know how. Does she care?

While I have all these things flying around my head, trying to figure out how to begin, Cherry decides to start the conversation.

“So, you do have someone back home.” Cherry’s voice is etched with mixed emotions.

I glance over at her and then back on the road. “Tink is a girl I grew up with and just recently hooked up with. Tamara is a girl I see occasionally. Neither of them is my girlfriend. I don’t have one person.”

“Should I be worried we’ve been bareback?” Apprehension is evident in her voice.

I snap my head, looking her in the eyes. “Fuck no. I haven’t been bareback since my baby mama. That’s the truth.”

Cherry’s eyes look relieved.

Silence.

Fuck my heart starts racing.

“Look—”

Cherry cuts me off. “Level, it’s okay. We fucked. I understand you have a life to return to and women who are waiting for you. It’s fine. You don’t owe me anything.”

I snap my mouth shut.

Is she giving me a way out? No strings. No throwing a fit, making me choose. Just…it’s cool.

Irritation or maybe anger surfaces. I clench the steering wheel.

“What, no more Ray? It’s Level now. You good?

Don’t want me anymore?” My voice is filled with hurt and anger, letting her know I’m upset.

I kind of sound like a little bitch, to be honest, but I don’t care.

I’m upset she’d just be cool with not being together again.

I thought these last few days were something different.

She chuckles, hiding her insecurities. “You don’t even know me—”

I cut her off, pissed. “Cherry, I’ve spent more time getting to know you these past few days than I have any other girl.

Tamara and Tink are girls I just have fun with, and they both know it.

I don’t take them out, and I don’t spend time with them.

I fuck them when I feel like it. AND neither of them have I ever taken bareback. ”

Cherry just stares at me before a whispered, “Okay” falls from her lips.

“Okay. Now let me go get my girl and sort this shit out,” I say as the police station comes into sight, and I pull into the parking lot.

I put the car in park and turn off the truck while Cherry stares out the front window.

She takes a deep breath before responding, “ Yes, let’s go get this sorted out.

I’ll deal with my brother while you deal with your daughter.

” I’m waiting for her to say more, but she doesn’t.

She just continues to look out the window with no emotion on her face.

With that, she gets out of the truck and shuts the door behind her.

I’m so irritated, frustrated, and worried that I just scared her away or pissed her off.

But the biggest thing I feel right now is that I’m confused about how this woman got her claws in me so fast. I should be worried about my daughter, but instead, I’m concerned about Cherry.

I take the keys out of the ignition and exit the truck, moving quickly around to the back, grabbing Cherry’s hand and pulling her to me. When she looks up in surprise, I say, “You mean something to me. Let’s sort out this shit, and then we’ll sort out us. Yeah?”

She gives me her emerald eyes, and the ache in my heart eases up.

I lean down and kiss her.