Page 12 of Next Level (Royal Bastards MC: Oakland Chapter #1)

POLICE STATION

W hen Cherry and I enter the police station, there are people everywhere. An officer behind the desk asks how they can help us. I let them know I’m Samantha Amato’s father, and Cherry announces she’s Garrett’s adopted sister.

They instruct us to sit down and an officer will be with us shortly.

I get to hold my baby girl soon. My mind is racing with so many questions. When the door to the left buzzes and an officer leans out, I jump up.

“Marco Amato?” he announces.

I rush over, extending a hand. “That’s me, but I go by Ray.”

The officer extends his hand, shakes mine, and introduces himself.

“Hi, Ray. I’m Officer Wilkerson. I’ll take you to Samantha. Come this way.”

When he motions for me to follow him, he asks, “Is Mrs. Amato with you?”

I turn, forgetting Cherry was there, only thinking of seeing my baby girl.

She smiles and says, “No, go. I’ll wait to see if I can speak with Garrett.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay. I’ll be here.”

I follow the officer to the back, and when he opens a door, my Sammie girl comes into view.

Sam jumps up. “Dad!” she exclaims. She calls me Dad only when she’s scared or mad at me.

Hearing her call me that makes my insides burn.

Welcoming the tackle, I embrace her in a tight bear hug and lift her tiny body off the ground.

I whisper into her ear, “I gotchu, Punkin. I gotchu, Baby Girl.”

She’s crying in my arms as I hold her. Looking over her shoulder, I see that everyone’s left the room, giving us a few moments alone.

“Dad, I’m so sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” Sam cries into my chest.

I shush her, telling her it’s okay, that everything will be okay.

When she finally settles down, I move us to the chairs to sit. I pull her knees in between my legs so we’re looking straight at each other.

I take a deep breath and remind myself to stay in control.

I start my questions calmly, asking, “Sam, did either of them touch you?”

She shakes her head. “No.”

“Did you tell them anything yet?”

“No.”

“Okay, before I get them to come in here, do you want to tell me anything?”

Sam looks scared.

“Punkin, you can tell me anything. I won’t be upset, but I need to know everything. What you tell them is one thing, but you never lie or hide anything from me, okay?”

Her lower lip starts to tremble.

I lean in, hugging her again. “It’s going to be okay, Baby Girl. Just tell me.”

When I pull back, she has tears in her eyes.

“Am I going to get in trouble since I got in the car?” she asks, scared.

“You’re not in trouble with the police or me. Yes, I’m upset you got in the car, but we can talk about that later. Right now, we have to deal with the police and get you out of here.”

Just then, the door buzzes, and Officer Wilkerson and the female officer who was sitting with Sam when I arrived walk back in.

“Ray, this is my partner, Officer Franklin.”

I say hello as they sit across the table from us.

Opening the file, Officer Wilkerson begins to talk. “Samantha, now that your father is here, do you want to give us a statement of what occurred while being held by Mr. Jones and Mr. Thompson?”

Samantha straightens her shoulders and turns to face the officers. Pride washes over me as I watch her being so strong and brave.

I follow suit, turning my chair to face the officers.

“What do you need to know?” Sam asks, resting her arms on the table and clasping her fingers together.

“Tell me everything that transpired?

“I’d been chatting with Jared online for a few months while we gamed.

He kept wanting to meet in person. When he said he was going to be at the car show in Oakland, I said I would be there too with my dad.

We met that day, but not for long. His friend had to leave, so he said he’d be in touch and we’d hang out.

“I didn’t think anything of it, but he kept asking to see me. The day I was taken, I was at Amanda’s house. We were all gaming and having a good time.”

My blood boiled, wanting to drill her with questions, but I decided to wait until we weren’t sitting with the police.

Obviously thinking the same thing, Officer Wilkerson asks, “How did he know where you lived or where you were? How did he get you into the car?”

She looks at me and then looks back at the officers. “I told him where I lived and that I was at Amanda’s, and she lived a few blocks away.”

The room goes silent. I’m holding back my anger because I don’t want to upset Sam or stop her from talking. We need to get this over with, and I can have my own discussion with her on our long drive home.

When no one says anything, Sam continues, “He told me he was in the area and wanted to see me. That he would give me a ride home from Amanda’s. I didn’t think it would be bad. It wasn’t far, so I said yes.”

She pauses, fidgeting with her fingernails.

“When he picked me up, I noticed someone in the back seat. He said it was his brother, Garrett, and to jump in. So I didn’t think anything of it.

He hugged me and introduced me to him. When we took off driving, he said he wanted to take me to get some food.

I didn’t have to be home for a couple more hours, so I said yes. I didn’t feel threatened in any way.”

I stay silent, knowing there’s a but in there. I know it’s going to turn bad soon, and I try to keep my expressions calm. I need to be strong for my girl.

Officer Franklin speaks up for the first time. “When did you feel threatened?”

Tears begin to swell in Sam’s eyes as she remembers, “We were next to my mom’s house when Garrett said fuck this.

When I turned to see what he meant, thinking he didn’t want me to go and to just drop me off, he grabbed me and placed a cloth over my mouth and nose.

I tried to fight, but Jared held my arms. Pleading with me to stay calm, that he wouldn’t let anything happen to me.

The next thing I knew, I was in a hotel room tied up. ”

“Did you know where you were?” Officer Wilkerson asked.

“No, each time they moved me, I was blindfolded or Garrett gave me something to knock me out. Jared was sweet, though, and kept me safe from Garrett messing with me. Each time I woke up, he’d release me so I could eat and use the bathroom.”

Officer Franklin asks, “Do you know why they took you?”

“I think.” She pauses, looking at me and then back at the officers. “I think it had to do with their biological parents. They kept talking about an eye for an eye. Jared just kept telling me to behave and that he’d protect me. That everything was going to be okay once they found their dad.”

That has me sitting up. “Who’s their dad?” I said harder than I wanted to, but I’m enraged.

She shrugged. “Garrett kept calling someone, saying they had me.”

Officer Franklin jumps in, asking, “Do you think it had to do with your father’s motorcycle club?”

I look at the officers and then back at my daughter.

Was this because of me? My mind starts spinning. Both boys were adopted.

Sam continues, “I don’t know. I felt like Jared really did like me, and he didn’t want anything to happen to me, but he wouldn’t go against his brother.

They would fight over me. I know that. Garrett wanted to keep me tied up, but Jared didn’t.

I promised I wouldn’t run or cause problems.” She paused again.

When our eyes locked, I could see the relief etched on her face. “I knew my dad would find me.”

“Do you know where you were headed?” I ask.

“I just know we went to three places. One of them was Garrett’s adoptive parents’ cabin.

We stayed there the longest, but when he saw Dad’s post and the news, he freaked.

That’s why we left. I think he was waiting for someone to meet up with us, but I’m not positive.

They really wouldn’t speak about it in front of me. ”

Itching to get out of the police station, I ask, “What happens now? When can I take her home to her mom?”

Officer Wilkerson continues to take notes while Officer Franklin addresses me.

“Well, we’re going to charge both of them with child abduction and trafficking.

Since they’re both over eighteen, they’ll be charged as adults.

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

An FBI field agent is expected to arrive sometime today or tomorrow.

Depending on what they decide, we should know whether they’ll be extradited back to Oakland.

Usually, if they didn’t commit a crime where they’re apprehended, they’re returned to where the crime was committed.

” She pauses. “As for Samantha, she can be released to you today, and by tomorrow, after the FBI gets all the statements, you should be able to take her home. After that, if the FBI or Oakland PD have any other questions, they’ll contact you. ”

“Thank you. We have a long drive home.”

Both officers nod, and Officer Franklin asks, “Is there anything else you want to add? I know you said they didn’t touch you sexually, but is there anything else you want to add to the statement?”

Samantha shakes her head. “No. I just want to go home, take a shower, and sleep.”

The officer offers me a quick grin.

An hour later, Samantha and I walk into the lobby where Cherry’s still sitting, waiting. With one arm around my girl, I reach for Cherry, indicating we’re leaving. Cherry, without a word, jumps up and grabs my hand, and we all exit without a second glance.

Once we’re in the truck, safe and sound, far from all the police, I take a deep breath and close my eyes.

Silence.

Another deep breath.

Sam’s soft voice says, “Hi, I’m Sam.”

Cherry’s cheerful voice replies, “Hi, Sam. I’m Cherry.” She pauses for a second. “Are you okay?”

Opening my eyes, I see that they are both looking at me.

My heart eases when I see them together.

“Yeah, let’s get the fuck out of here. We’ll hit a hotel so you can shower, get some food, and relax before doing anything else,” I announce to the girls.

Cherry clears her throat. “Can we hit a hotel near an airport? I’m gonna catch a flight back to San Francisco so you two can have some time alone on the way back.”

My head snaps to the back seat, but I don’t say anything because I don’t know how to feel about it. It’s sweet of her to offer that, and I do want to be alone with my daughter, but I don’t want her to leave me either.

Christ. I’m becoming a pussy-whipped bitch.

Without any hesitation, she says, “It’s okay, Ray. You need to spend time alone with Samantha.”

Sam looks between the two of us. “Pops, I’m exhausted. Once we get to the hotel, I’m going to shower, eat, and then crash. I don’t feel like talking, and we have two days of driving ahead of us so take tonight to relax and hang out with Cherry.”

Pops. She called me ‘Pops.’ My Punkin is back.

I face the front of the truck, turning the ignition over. “Okay, Punkin. Let’s get you some food. Cherry, figure out where you want to fly out of. It’s all going to be okay.”

Backing out of the parking spot, I give Sam a look. “Call your mom.”

Sam’s face goes from happy to worried again.

I grab her hand. “It’s going to be okay. I promise. Just call her.”