Page 29 of Sam
It doesn’t take long for the kitchen to empty, leaving me alone with Carly, Brice, and Ben, Booker having gone to bed long ago.
Helping them clean up before I grab my cut and jacket and put them on. “You going to the O’Sheas?” Ben wants to know.
“Yeah,” I reply. “Ally will be worried.”
“I’ll wait up,” Ben tells me. “Text when you get to the first gate.”
“Will do, brother,” I nod and leave out the back door, knowing that Ben will do exactly that. He’ll wait for me to let him know I’m safe. It’s who he is.
I don’t make him wait. The sun is rising as I pull up to the first gate. Quickly, I send a message to Ben. When I get a thumbs-up back, only then do I put the code in that Ally gave me a few weeks ago and slowly ride down the road towards the O’Shea compound. Parking, I get off my bike, strip off my helmet, leaving it on the seat knowing that it will be safe. I walk towards Adam and Tilly’s house, surprised to find Adam waiting for me. He doesn’t say anything, just studies me. Whatever he sees must put his mind at ease because he nods, widening the door and motions me with his head, still not saying anything. I follow him down the passage until he points to a door that’s ajar.
“Thanks, Adam,” I whisper. Nudging the door open, I slip into the room and look right into a pair of worried blue eyes. Ally sits up and holds her arms out. Wasting no time, I push my boots off, followed by my jeans, and strip off my shirt. Kneeling on the bed, I let Ally enfold me with her arms. Following her back onto the bed, I close my eyes, resting my head on her shoulder as exhaustion takes me. Neither of us has said a word. There’s no need. We relax into sleep as soon as we’re in each other’s arms.
CHAPTER 17
REAPER
I’m waiting for the brothers to arrive; this will be a brothers-only meeting. I’d insisted that my dad and his crew attend this one, too.
I’d fallen apart last night with both my girls being taken and hadn’t been the Pres that I should have been. Logically, I knew why it had happened. It didn’t make me feel any better about the situation. Sam had taken over without hesitation and had done my job for me when I couldn’t. Maybe it’s time to step down and resign from my position. That’s what I want to discuss today.
The door opens and Draco appears, followed by Onyx. I know it won’t be long before the rest appear.
“Pres,” they greet, taking a seat. Tilting my chin at their greeting, we sit in silence, but I know my brothers, and there’s a reason these two came in before the others.
“Sam did well last night,” Draco starts, turning to look at me.
“He did,” I agree. “I’m proud of him.”
“You should be,” Onyx agrees. “He was a good lad that’s turned into a good man. He’ll be a good Pres when you’re ready to step down.”
“It’s why we’re here today,” I admit.
They’d known that I could see it in their eyes. I also knew that neither would try to dissuade me. They both knew once I made a decision, I wouldn’t change it easily.
“My sister is a fucking idiot,” Draco growls out in frustration. “She let a good man go for fuck knows what reason and has literally fallen off the face of the earth.”
This is news to me. I mean, I’m not thrilled with her either, but I didn’t know about her not being in touch with her family. Frowning, I turn to look at him. “I thought your parents said she was travelling?”
It’s Onyx who speaks up, and I’m not liking what I’m hearing. “That’s because she told them that. But I’m not so sure that’s what she’s doing, and Beau is tight-lipped about the whole thing. Something else is going on. I’m not sure what, though. She’s still working, that much I know because my investments are regularly updated. Mum and Dad are getting worried. Bella is still in contact with them weekly, and I think that’s the only reason they haven’t brought it up.”
“What about her tracker?” I want to know.
Draco scrapes his fingers through his hair, and he and Onyx share a look, “It’s been disabled.”
I sit up straight. “What the fuck?! Since when?”
“Since she blew everything up. And her and Sam went up in flames,” Onyx admits. I want to rant at both of them for keeping shit like that from me, but I can see they’re both struggling with the fact that their baby sister is out there somewhere with no protection, doing God knows what.
Clamping down on my worry, I temper my voice when I say, “Brothers, that’s been over a year; in fact, we’re going on fornearly two years now. Are you telling me that a Crow sister has been out there unprotected for close on two years now?”
“That’s exactly what we’re saying, Pres,” Onyx responds with a nod.
“Fuck,” I swipe my hand over my face. “Get Beau and Dog in here. Tell the other brothers Church will be late. Let’s find out what they know, and if we need to, we’ll bring the others in.”
Onyx gets up and walks out, coming back a few minutes later with Dog and Beau. Onyx shuts the door behind them. Waiting until they’re seated before I demand, “What the fuck is going on with Bella, and why the fuck is this the first time hearing that she may not be travelling? And her fucking tracker’s disabled,” for this last bit I glare at Beau, who calmly looks back at me like his Pres isn’t fucking angry with him. “Does Sam need to be in here for this conversation?” I want to know.
Beau shakes his head, “No, it’s best if he’s not. He’s happy and has moved on. Let sleeping dogs lie.”
