I tuck the picture safely back into the box and put the box back into the dresser. I gather Daisy some clothes and leave my room. I lock the door behind me and head into the studio room. The shower is still on so I clean up the mess John made. I don’t want Daisy to see this mess and trigger something. I strip the sheets off the bed and put them in the washer. I grab a new set from the closet and put them on. I clean up the blood off the wall from when I broke John’s nose.
When I’m finally finished and everything is back in place, I hear the bathroom door open. Daisy is standing there with a towel wrapped around her body and one wrapped around her hair.
“I didn’t see the clothes?” She questions. Her voice is small and timid.
“The door was locked and I didn’t want to scare you,” I answer. I point to the pile of clothes on my director’s chair next to the door. “They’re right there. I hope they fit.”
“Thank you. I’m sure they’ll be better than what I had.” Daisy picks up the clothes and heads back into the bathroom. She stops before closing the door. “Thank you for helping me, Monica. I hope I don’t bring any trouble to you. These men are dangerous.” Tears form in her eyes.
“That’s what we’re going to figure out. My brother will be here in a few minutes and he will want to talk to you.”
“OK. I don’t know how much help I’ll be but I can try.” Daisy closes the door behind her.
A loud bang on the front door startles me. I hurry into the foyer, peek through the peephole and see Capone, Bear, Tiny, and Red waiting on the other side. I unlock the door and allow them inside.
“What’s going on?” Capone asks. “I got a call from Blayze telling me about weasel dick fucking some chick.”
I roll my eyes with his remark. “Well, he gave you the watered-down version.” I gesture to the open living room. I sit in the leather chair. Capone sits on the couch and the rest of the brothers stand around us. “Her name is Daisy and I think she’s been kidnapped.”
“How’d you come up with that?” Capone asks, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Her dirty clothes, the bruising on her wrists and the way she jumps at everything. She said that some man named Drew left her here and told John he was sampling the goods. He told her that this was an interview. If she fits, then he’d be back to get her.”
“And if she didn’t?”
“I don’t know. What the hell is John doing with my studio?” I stand up and pace back and forth across the floor. “Is he using it for his own sick pleasures or is there something more?” I throw my hands up in the air in frustration.
“Where is John?” Capone’s jaw is ticking. He hates it when a woman is hurt. That’s his kryptonite.
“I kicked his ass and he ran out of here like a little bitch,” I smirk. “After I broke his nose.”
“Bear, look into where John went and what he’s up to.” Capone orders.
“On it, Prez.” Bear pulls out his phone and steps out into the hallway.
“Where is the girl now?” Capone asks me.
“She’s in the studio bedroom.” Capone stands up and heads toward the room. Tiny and Red start to follow him, but they’ll scare the fuck out of her. “You two need to stay here. She’s already scared and if you go in there, she’s going to freak out.”
“Stay here and see if you can find a connection to this Drew and John. Then when Blayze comes out of his meeting with F.O.C.U.S., fill him in on what you find.” Capone orders.
“You got it, Prez.” Red answers.
“My laptop is in the kitchen if you need it guys. Thank you for your help.” I offer.
“Anything for Blayze’s Bug.” Tiny answers with a laugh. He knows that shit bugs the piss out of me. But I guess I’ll have to start getting used to it now. I no longer have just an association by blood, but now I’m an unofficial Ol’ Lady.
“Smart ass. You’re lucky I love you like a brother or I’d kick your ass too.” Tiny chuckles. The deep timbre of his laugh makes me smile. Kicking his ass would be like kicking a horse. The man is huge. His arms are bigger than my thighs and he stands well over six foot five. He got his road name Tiny because he’s always bringing in tiny stray animals and caring for them.
“Monica? Are we doing this?” Capone snaps.
I roll my eyes and lead him into the bedroom. He’s a pissy ass today. Daisy is sitting on the edge of the bed. She looks up when we enter, her hazel eyes are brimmed with tears. I hurry over to her and put my arm around her shoulders. She silently cries into my chest and I soothe her the best I can. Capone crosses the room and takes a seat in my director’s chair.
“Daisy, this is Capone, my brother and the President of Royal Bastards MC. He’s going to help us in figuring out what’s going on.” My voice is soft and gentle.
Daisy raises her head and looks at Capone. Her breath catches in her throat and her body trembles with fear. “No. This can’t be happening.” She’s on the verge of a breakdown.
“What’s wrong?” I’m trying my best to keep her with me, but she’s spiraling.
“No. No. No. You’re with Royal Bastards? Oh, man. They’re really going to kill me.” She shakes her head back and forth. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
“Yes, we are. But I won’t let anyone kill you. You’re safe with us.” Capone’s voice is gentle even though I can see the tick in his jaw.
“You don’t understand. The last girl that was involved with the Royal Bastards disappeared and I never saw her again.” Daisy sobs. “She was my best friend in there. We had each other’s backs, but she just vanished.”
Capone and I stare at each other. My eyes are wide and my jaw drops. There has only been one girl who’s disappeared from the RBMC and never seen again.
Danyella.
Chapter 6
Blayze
I’m out of my meeting with F.O.C.U.S. from the Royal Bastards New York City Chapter. That man is intense. Every time he leaves, I feel like I need a long nap to recharge. He left with the rest of his brothers, heading back to their Chapter. I’m walking toward the studio bedroom, searching for Monica when I hear a pissed off grumble behind me. Turning around, I spot Tiny sitting in the leather chair with Monica’s laptop resting on his big knees. He’s rubbing his stubbled jaw with one hand and his eyebrows are furrowed with concentration. Red is standing behind him with the same expression.
“Tiny, Red? What’s up?” I ask, halting my steps toward the studio bedroom. I turn and head back to where they’re at.
Tiny looks up from the laptop. His normal California tanned face is pale but his brown eyes are screaming violence. “Prez has us looking into the connection to John and the fucker named Drew. Bear is searching John’s most recent whereabouts after he left here.”
“What’d you find?”
“Prez told me about your hunch and it was right. I found video surveillance of Drew dropping that little girl off with John. The same fucker that’s a part of Bloody Scorpions, our biggest rival. They’re asshole deep into human trafficking and VP, you’re not going to like what I’ve found. There’s a list of girls on the black market for sale.” Tiny continues before I lose my shit and force it out of him. “I created an account to enter their auction.” He turns the laptop toward me and my breath catches in my throat. There are over thirty girls ranging from the age of thirteen to twenty on the screen.