“Right now, I’m searchin’ the dark web for any more information on this bitch.She hangs out with a bad crowd.Pimps, a few lower-level mafia guys, and anyone who can get her what she needs.I’m also lookin’ into her previous roommate to find out what happened there.For now, I’m gonna get off the phone and I’ll let you know when I find more information.I’ll keep sendin’ it to Ice so he can show you,” Zeus says before hanging up the phone as we all look to Ice.
“How the fuck did the bitch get on the compound to begin with?”I ask Ice as he leans back in his chair.“Who the fuck is on the gate?”
“Nate’s on the gate.I already went out to talk to him,” Carver says as I turn my attention to him.“Said the bitch came up to the gate and called him over.When he asked if she was lost or needed help, she told him no.She was there for Wren.They were supposed to meet up so they could go out for lunch.Karmen told him Wren told her specifically to meet her here at the clubhouse.Nate didn’t realize she was lyin’ to him and let her inside.He knows he fucked-up and is waitin’ on your punishment.”
“What about the two guys who came in to take Wren?”Fury questions Carver.
“There’s actually three guys.One of them held Nate at gunpoint until they had Wren loaded up in a car.He still had the gun pointin’ at Nate until he was in the car and they were leavin’.Nate couldn’t have done anythin’ if he wanted to.Not with Wren’s safety and his own life on the line.We all would have stood down the same way Zach and him did,” Carver says as a few guys nod in response to his statement because he’s not wrong.We would have stood down until we found an opening before making a move with as little risk to others as possible.
“Fuck!Is this the first time this bitch has gotten in contact with Wren since the eviction?”I ask, remembering someone vaguely mentioning that before today.
“As far as we can tell, yeah.I believe Karmen has been lookin’ for Wren, but her leavin’ Briar Glen actually saved her in a way.Today it was just dumb luck that she happened to see Wren and the guys leavin’ the doctor’s office,” Ice answers as I lean forward and fold my arms before resting them on the table in front of me.
“Okay.I want guys out searchin’ around the clock for any sign of Wren or this Karmen bitch.Ice, I want you to make sure everyone has a recent picture of Karmen so they know who to look for.She’s to be brought in but not harmed.We’ll bring someone in for that shit.If anyone finds Wren, you’re to observe while callin’ one of us at the clubhouse.I want three guys here at all times waitin’ on phone calls.We’ll put a plan in place.No one is to barge in to save Wren.That places her at a higher risk and I refuse to let that happen.Tristan and Zach, you stay here with us.You’re too emotional right now to be on the road.Don’t make me lock you down,” I order before slamming the gavel on the table and calling church.
Everyone leaves the room while I remain in my seat.Fury, Tristan, Zach, and my brothers all remain in church as the room empties of everyone else.I don’t want to sit in the common room where the Rebels are.One of them will say or do somethin’ stupid and I’ll lose my shit.I’m barely hanging on to my sanity as it is.None of us speak as we wait for any news about Wren and where she is.I let images of her play on a loop in my mind as I relive the few moments I’ve been lucky enough to share with her.
When you come home, things will be different.You’re mine, Little Bird.It’s taken me losing you to realize I can’t live my life without you.I silently vow to the woman who has no clue how I truly feel about her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Wren
I’M FUCKING EXHAUSTED.My head is pounding and I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to remain awake.My morning sickness hasn’t been bad, but from the second I woke up, I’ve been nauseous.I’m thirsty and starving.My appetite has definitely picked up in the last week and I’m constantly hungry.Leah has made sure I have plenty of food and I get at least two meals during each shift I work.I’m trying to stay standing while looking around for anything besides this rusted pipe I can use for a weapon against Karmen and whoever else she has here with her.Based on the voices, I figure there’s five people here.I don’t recognize any of them with the exception of Karmen’s.She’s the only female I’ve heard as well.It doesn’t surprise me to know she’s alone with four men.I wouldn’t be shocked if she’s fucking them all in exchange for them helping her.Walking toward the stairs leading up to the main floor, I spot a large shard of glass laying on the floor.Grabbing it, I keep it in my hand as I move back in the room I woke up in.
I place the glass on the floor where I was sitting.It’s not the best solution, but all I can think of right now as I slowly make my way back over to the door I found earlier.There’s an old lock on the inside and I examine it to find this door takes one of those skeleton keys.I look around the floor and feel along the top of the door frame for any sign of the key.When my hand brushes up against something metal in the middle of the frame, I almost jump for joy, but I don’t think that would be a good idea.Instead, I wrap my fingers around the object and pull it down to find exactly what I’m looking for.I don’t make a move to unlock the door though.Making my way back in the room, I grab the glass and pipe before heading back to the door.With the key in hand, I unlock the door carefully because I don’t know if it will make any noise and I don’t want to alert anyone else to what I’m doing down here.
Karmen really isn’t very smart and neither are the men she’s working with.If they were truly thinking about the situation clearly, one of them would be guarding me since I’m in a room with a window and no door to prevent me from wandering around.Especially considering the fact that they didn’t tie my legs up.I can walk and only don’t have the use of my hands.At least that’s what Karmen believes.I really don’t know what she thinks is going to happen here, but if I can help it, I won’t be the victim of her schemes.To think that she’s sunk low enough to sell another person.I never believed she’d stoop that low, but I guess I was wrong.Karmen sells herself daily, though, so I really shouldn’t be surprised.
The lock doesn’t make a sound other than a small clink as the lock disengages.I pause and listen to see if anyone upstairs heard it because to me, it sounded loud as hell.Like it echoed off the walls of the basement to alert every one upstairs of my attempt at escaping this prison.I might be able to move around freely, but it’s still a prison of sorts.After a few minutes, I open the door and stop when it makes a loud creaking noise.Again, no one stops the conversation as I try to figure out if they’re discovering my secret.When no one comes downstairs to stop me, I open the door far enough for me to slide out without hurting my stomach.The second I’m outside, I lean against the wall of the building and gather myself.My breathing is ragged and I feel like I can’t suck in a full breath.At the same time, my heart is pounding hard in my chest.My hands are sweating and there’s a nervous shakiness to my entire body.Especially my legs.
It feels as if an eternity passes before I feel strong enough to move away from the building and start making my way toward the forest.I’m about halfway there when I hear shouting coming from the building behind me.Karmen’s loud shrieks sound loud enough to make me believe she’s outside with me as I look over my shoulder to find the space between me and The Hide Out empty.I start moving faster than before since they’ve discovered my disappearance.My goal is to get in the forest so I can hide behind a tree or something until they stop looking for me.Then, I can move away from the bar and find my way back to the compound for my car.I want to get home as soon as possible and forget this day ever happened.
My thoughts turn to Leah as I continue moving forward.I wonder if she got away from the place and managed to find someone to help her.If she can’t send help back for me, that’s okay.Leah needs to get checked out at the hospital so I know she’s safe and they didn’t hurt her more than what I could see.
“There she is!”I hear shouted behind me as I look again and find two men and Karmen outside the bar and already heading in my direction.