Chapter Seventeen

Valor

THE LAST TWO weeks have been crazy as fuck. My days are spent at the clubhouse watching over the girls and Court as they work on their school stuff. While they're doing that, I do my own work and set up appointments with new clients and check in with existing ones to ensure their systems are running properly and they don't have any concerns going on. Vault and Slim are making sure every guy who's not working at one of the businesses or helping Fox and Buzz with the computer shit are out searching for any sign of Conrad or his father. Every day they check in with me and I know they're wishing they actually had something to tell me instead of the guys coming back in the clubhouse with no new information. Even Buzz, Fox, and Kingston haven't found anything new on the assholes. They've hit a roadblock and there's been safety measures put in place on their computers to ensure we're locked out. It's just a matter of time before they figure out a way around it all though. Especially Fox because he is that fucking good.

Savannah has been acting weird. I know she's got a gut feeling that whatever move is gonna be made against her will be happening any day now. She tells me every single day that it only gets worse than the day before. There's no way I can take that feeling from her because we can't find him. It would be different if we could just simply hand over the information that's been gathered about them along with a location, but that's not the reality of our situation. We have to take our time and gather as much shit as we can to make sure these stupid fucks stay behind bars for as long as possible. I mean, we'll have plans in place for sure to deal with them. But I want them to know they aren't untouchable and money won't buy their freedom at the end of the day.

Other than her gut feeling, I have no clue what could be going on with my wife. She gets up every single day and makes her way to the clubhouse and locks herself away in the office. I rarely see her without the girls or someone else with us lately and we spend no time together unless we're both in bed. Savannah's also been asleep before I even make my way to bed. With everything going on, I'm working later in the day and having to spend more time at the clubhouse for church and checking in with the guys about what's gone on that day. I'll let my wife have that play for now. It's not gonna last much longer though. She needs to talk about what's going on with her and I can't make that happen if we're not alone at any point during the day.

Court rarely leaves my side these days too. When I'm at the clubhouse with the girls, he's right there with us. If I go talk to my brother, he's there in the office in case I need him to hold me back. When we go home at the end of the day, Court goes with us. Honestly, it's nice spending so much time with him and I know it's because he's keeping an eye on my girls so I'm not the only one with them in case something horrible happens. Vault and Slim also have guys stationed on top of the clubhouse at all hours of the day and when we're home they've got guys surrounding our house. Court is the only one who actually comes inside with us. I don't want a ton of people in and out of my home and making the girls become even more scared than they have been up to this point. We're trying so hard to keep all information going to them in limited amounts.

Today, I actually have to leave the compound and head out on a job. No one else can fit this client in for a new install and he's adamant his system gets installed immediately. It doesn't hurt that the fucker is willing to pay above our going rate for the system and installation to get us there even faster. I couldn't turn away the money since he's buying our best system and everyone else that typically helps me is booked solid. So, I'm leaving my girls and heading out to do this job as quickly as possible so I can get back to the compound.

Walking to Savannah's office, I open her door and see her lost in putting the numbers into the computer. She doesn't hear me enter her room as I softly close the door behind me. I'm not quiet as I head straight for her and put my hand on her shoulder.

"Ah!" she screams so loud my ears are now ringing as she whips her computer chair around so she's facing me and almost knocks my ass to the ground. "Zach! What the hell are you doing sneaking up on me?"

"I didn't sneak up on you, Love. I wasn't bein' quiet on my way over to ya. You just got so lost in your work that you didn't hear me. I hate that you get lost in your work the way you do right now. You're safe at the clubhouse, but you should still pay attention to your surroudin' area while you're in here," I tell her, worry filling me because I know it takes a second for someone to turn their back and Conrad can get to my girls.

"I'm sorry, Zach. I can't help it when I'm working like this sometimes. I'll do better. Are you heading out to work now?" she asks me, a small smile on her face as she looks up at me from her chair.

"Yeah. Court's with the girls and Killer is sittin' with them. Vault is in the common room too. I'll be back as soon as I can, but it's a full installation. I might actually ask Fox if him and Kingston can go help me so we can get the fuck back here quicker. Don't have a good feelin' today," I tell her, grabbing her hand and lifting her so she's standing as I wrap my arms around her body and hold her close to me.

Savannah presses her hands on either side of my face and pulls my head down to hers. She presses her lips against mine and I don't hesitate to deepen the kiss. It feels like it's been forever since I touched my wife and I'm starving for any touch from her. Kissing her is one of my favorite things to do and right now is reminding me why. My wife has the best lips and she never holds back when it comes to me. I get every single part of Savannah that she has to give and I give her the same in return. Before I'm ready, my wife pulls her mouth from mine and I press my forehead to hers. For a minute we simply breathe one another in and don't open our eyes to stay locked in this moment.

"I gotta go, Love. I'll be back soon. I want to spend time with you tonight. Just you and me. It doesn't matter if we're at the house in our bedroom or whatever. I need to have some time with you," I tell her, not giving a fuck that I'm begging for her time because we haven't had a chance to be alone.

"Okay. I love you, Zach. Today, tomorrow, and forever," she says, leaning her head against my chest and wrapping her arms around me.

"I love you, Savannah. Today, tomorrow, and forever," I return, my voice filled with all the love I have deep inside of me for her and only her. "I'll have Court order somethin' for dinner tonight so you don't have to cook or stay here if you don't want to. Just tell him what you want when you're ready for him to order it."

"Okay. I'll see you later."

With one more chaste kiss, I walk away from my wife and head for Fox and Kingston in Buzz' office. After telling them what I want, they both agree to come help me so we can get the fuck back here. Fox and Kingston can both set up their programs to run while they're gone and do the work so they're not wasting time. Kingston also wants to help me set up a security system so he knows what he'll be doing once he moves here and I agree that it's a good idea.

This new client is a piece of fucking shit and I hope he doesn't contact me for any reason moving forward. After agreeing to pay more for the instant installation, he now wants a discount on the system and installation fees. The stupid fuck got pissed when I refused because I already sent him a contract with the amounts listed and he signed it and sent it back to me. Pulling it out of his folder, I showed him the contract and signature which is the only reason he backed off and walked away from us. Fox stood there shaking his head in response while Kingston was ready to beat the dumbass without a second thought. I just want to get the job done and head home so I can be with my girls.

As we're installing the new system, I'm working over by the fucker's office. He's currently on a phone call and I can hear him yelling at whoever is on the other end of the call. I smile thinking I'm not the only one he's a fucking twatwaffle to before I realize the topic of his conversation and move even closer to the door so I can be sure of what I'm hearing.

"Listen here, you stupid fuck, you promised me that girl and I paid top dollar for her. She's right here in the same fuckin' town as me and you can't get her to make the delivery? I've been waiting for fucking weeks for this girl and if you don't fucking deliver her to me soon, I'll pick her up myself. I know where the fucking school is and I'll go there if I have to," the dead man walking says as my hands clench into fists at my side and I have to literally force myself from going into the room with him.

Looking behind me, I motion for Fox to join me at the door. He doesn't hesitate as he makes his way over and stands on the opposite side of the door frame from me. Fox raises an eyebrow in question until the asshole starts speaking once more.

"I don't give a fuck what the holdup is. You've supposedly sold this girl to multiple men over the years and the deal has never once gone through. I'm not a bitch like they are and you will deliver her to me. I'm giving you until the end of the day today before I find you and fucking gut you like the bitch you are," he demands, his voice hard and cold as I look at Fox and know he's talking about one of my girls.

I listen as he slams his phone onto something in his office and starts pacing while muttering to himself. Fox looks at me and I nod my head. We count down from three and rush into his office causing him to stop pacing so fast he almost falls backward onto his ass.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing in here? I didn't give you access to my office," he splutters as Fox steps in front of me so I don't just knock this fucker out.

"I'm sorry, sir. We couldn't help but overhear you on the phone just now. It seems like you're havin' a hard time gettin' a delivery for merchandise you've already paid for," Fox says, his voice almost warm and calming as he doesn't take his eyes off the fucker in front of us.

"Just a deal I made with someone I thought was trustworthy only to find out he's a big pile of shit. Nothing for you to concern yourself with," he says, trying to sound as if it's no big deal when we both heard him enough to know it is a very big deal.

"You know, we're somewhat of retrieval specialists and can lend you a hand if you really want your package delivered. All we need is a little information and we'll make sure it's here within a few hours," Fox tries again to determine if he's talking about one of my girls or someone else.

We both watch him as he considers the offer for a minute. Suddenly, he steps up to his desk and hands Fox a folder. I look over his shoulder as Fox opens it up to reveal a picture of Miracle inside. It's a recent picture and one that's close-up. Rage fucking fills me and Fox doesn't hold me back this time. I get to the fucker in seconds and land a solid punch to his jaw, dropping him to the floor immediately.

"What the fuck is your problem? That's the merchandise I bought and you said you'd pick it up for me," he questions proving he's a stupid fuck as I bend down and pick him up by his throat.

"That's my fuckin' daughter, you sick fuck!" I growl in his face as I watch him lose all color and turn pale in a split second. "You bought my fuckin' daughter and think I'm gonna fuckin' deliver her to you with a ribbon tied around her? I'm gonna fuckin' kill you, motherfucker!"

"Valor, not yet. You'll get your chance to kill him. For now, I think we need to get him back to the compound so we can get information from him. It could be the missin' pieces we need to fuckin' end this shit once and for all. Plus, I think this fucker should spend some time in prison to see what it feels like when he's someone's bitch," Fox says, pulling me back before I can land another hit anywhere on him.

"I guess you're right. Keep him the fuck away from me, Fox. If I get too close, I'm not gonna fuckin' hold back. I will gut him where he stands and not give a fuck about doin' it. That's my fuckin' daughter in that folder," I growl, my entire body shaking with the rage rushing through my veins.

"I'll keep him away from you. Go out with Kingston and tell him to stop the installation. This stupid fuck isn't gonna need a security system so we can come back and finish it at another time for whoever ends up with this house. It's nice of this pervert to ensure the next owners will have a state of the art system if you ask me," Fox says, making the asshole groan as I drop him to the floor at Fox' feet so he can deal with him.

Leaving the room, I find Kingston in the front hall by the door. I let him know that we're done for the day and to pack everything up. Pulling out my phone, I call my brother and fill him in on what just happened. He tells me he'll be here in ten minutes with a van so we can get this asshole in a cell where he belongs. Vault is fucking pissed and I know he's not gonna send anyone in his place for this pick-up. My brother will be driving the van and make sure this guy gets back in one piece. I can't say he won't be beaten and bloody by the time he's unloaded and put in a cell, but he'll get there alive. If Court were the one picking him up, I couldn't say the same thing. Court would make this scumbag pay and not hesitate because it's my girl that he's trying to get his hands on.