Chapter Eighteen

Savannah

WORKING AT THE clubhouse is something I've come to love. It breaks up being at the house and I can get lost in the work and not worry about everything in the world around me. I need to forget what's going on for a while during the day because when I'm not working, my mind is on a continuous loop about Conrad and everything that's going on. Zach has been telling me everything they find out because he wants me to know exactly where the club stands on the situation and what they're doing to find him and make sure he doesn't get the girls or me. I appreciate knowing what's going on, but it makes me go crazy because there's nothing I can do to help. There's also no new information I can give the guys because Conrad hasn't contacted me. Other than sending my mother here to get the girls and me. I'd never know he was in Pine View if he didn't play that card. Part of me can't believe that he actually followed me here, but the other part knows he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants—me.

Every single night I have nightmares of Conrad getting his hands on the girls and me. Of him taking us away from the club and the guys not being able to find us. When he takes us to the warehouse he's holding us in, we're separated and all I can hear are tortured screams of the rest of his victims. Conrad taunts me every second he can with what he's going to do to me until the buyer comes to pick me up. The nightmare is the same every single night and Zach is always there to hold me close and break me out of the images haunting me and making my life a living hell. I've got dark circles under my eyes and my skin is pale from the lack of sleep and pure exhaustion filling me. Most nights I can't get back to sleep even though I pretend so Zach will get some rest. There's no point in both of us being exhausted and not sleeping. I'm used to it from the years I lived with the woman who gave birth to me.

Zach has been doing his best to exhaust my body every night. While I love his methods and he's learned every inch of my body, it doesn't work. It's enough for me to go to sleep as soon as I close my eyes, but then the nightmares take over and he can't take those away. I've thought about talking to someone and working through everything with Conrad, but until he's been detained and dealt with, I really don't see the point. I can't go into details about the situation because it could hurt any kind of plan the guys have in place for him. If a therapist I talk to goes to the police, they could pick him up and not have all the information necessary to keep him in prison where he belongs. That's the last thing any of us want. Plus, we have to make sure his father is also caught and serves time to stop the trafficking ring from continuing.

Since Zach had to go to work today, Court and Killer are with the girls as they complete their school work in the common room. The ol' ladies are all here and Annabell is sitting on the couches closest to them. She's so uncomfortable today and miserable. Vault wants to help her, but she's just biting his head off and blaming him for her current predicament. I mean, he's half responsible for the pregnancy. I'm staying far away from that mess though. I don't want to piss my friend off and have her direct her wrath toward me. The kids are the only ones Annabell's not yelling at. Maybe she needs a nap because she told me this morning she didn't sleep very good last night. Shy is going out to get her one of those pregnancy pillows so she can sleep better. Or at least attempt to sleep better at night and when she naps. I hope it helps her.

Right now, I've got my music louder than normal as I try to get lost in the work like I normally do. It's not working, but I'm trying. The numbers are all mixing together and it's taking me twice as long to get anything done. Shaking my head to clear it from the thoughts of Conrad, I focus on the work in front of me and try to make the numbers make sense. Right now, I feel as if I've bitten off more than I can chew and that Zach should keep working on the books for the club because I clearly can't concentrate on my job.

Getting out of my chair, I stop the music on my phone and head for the door. Leaving my office, I make my way to the common room and find Court reading a paper that one of the girls has written. I watch for a minute as he explains something to Ava in a way she understands. The paper must be hers as she takes it back and starts making changes in pen so she can rewrite it on the computer to turn in when it's ready. Killer is actually helping Miracle as she works on something and I take a look at where Carson is working with Chloe. It's the first time one of the kids have helped my sisters and I smile as I watch Carson show my sister how to complete a math problem. The only reason I know that's what he's doing is because he's holding up a paper with the problem on it so Annabell and Slim can make sure he's doing it the correct way. Playboy joins me at the entrance of the common room and watches the group with me.

"Carson is really good at math. He always has been. If anyone can help Chloe with that, it's him," Playboy says as I look at him over my shoulder to find him watching one of his sons. "Dylan is better with English and history, but Carson is my math genius. I swear he doesn't even have to get taught the new lesson and understands what he needs to do."

"I wish I were like that. I wasn't really all that good when I was in school. Math was always my worst subject when I was in school. It was nothing more than a jumbled mess and no matter how much extra help I got, I couldn't ever make the numbers and formulas make sense," I tell Playboy while laughing at the absolute mess I used to make of my math homework and notes.

"I'm in the same boat. Sam had to help Dylan and Caleb with their math homework. If she couldn't figure somethin' out, Carson could. It was just a matter of catchin' him at home and not out doin' whatever in order to help his brothers out," Playboy says and I know what he means as we watch Hope enter the common room and stare at Carson where he's helping Chloe.

I can't read the look in her eyes as she hangs her head and lets her long hair cover her face before rushing from the room and back outside. Carson looks up when he hears the door open and a frown covers his face as he watches her disappear. I can't help but shake my head because those two are already half in love and don't want the other one to know how they feel. They're in denial and I can't wait to see them figure their shit out.

"My son is so fuckin' oblivious and doesn't have the first clue that Hope likes him," Playboy says and I smile up at him.

"I remember a few of you guys being in the same boat. Fighting your feelings for the woman you love and pushing her away," I state, remembering when Playboy did everything in his power to push Sam away from him when he was in jail for saving her.

"Yeah, we've all been the biggest dumbasses when it comes to the women we love and want in our lives. I'm as guilty as everyone else in that regard," he tells me as his wife walks in the common room and looks at her son before turning her attention to us at the opposite end of the room.

I love Sam. She's so strong and has been through so much shit. Playboy and her are an amazing couple and I want to have the kind of relationship they have. She doesn't take his shit and calls him out for all the bullshit when he's being stupid as hell. Not many people get to witness that because she never does it in public. Everything happens behind closed doors or when there's hardly anyone else around. The way it should be when a couple is going through something in a clubhouse full of vindictive club girls, gossiping men, and children who don't need to know what's going on. Now, the ol' ladies gossip and we help one another through shit, but we don't put a couple's business out there for the world to hear about.

Sam makes her way over to us and wraps her arms around Playboy's waist as she looks up at him. The love between the two of them is plain to see and it's a way I hope Zach looks at me.

"Hope isn't happy and I don't know what to do," Sam says, her voice hurting for the young girl who likes her son.

"Nothin', baby. You let them work their shit out on their own. One day Carson is gonna see what Hope means to him and not let his fear rule his decisions. Until that day, we have to leave them alone. Especially with Killer in the room. It's a good thing he just didn't witness his baby girl leavin' upset because he'd be on Carson before any of us could blink," Playboy tells her, a smirk on his face because his son is being stupid.

"I don't wanna see her hurt because he's a stupid idiot like someone else I know," she says, still looking up at her husband with memories filling her eyes.

"When the time comes, I'll talk to him and let him know what's up. Until then, we need to leave them alone," Playboy says, trying to find middle ground to keep his wife happy while staying out of his son's romantic situation as long as he can.

"How are you doing, Savannah?" Sam asks me, turning in Playboy's arms and giving me her attention.

"I'm okay. Tired of the bullshit I've brought to the club, but one day it will be over," I tell her honestly as I try to stifle a yawn.

"You're not sleeping," she states as she looks at me on a deeper level to take in exactly how exhausted I truly am.

"No. I have nightmares every night. Zach does what he can to help me, but this won't end until I know Conrad and his father are behind bars where they belong. I just want it all to end," I say, leaning against the wall behind me as I look around the common room again.

"Why don't you go try to take a nap. We're all here with the girls and you need the rest," she says, with Playboy nodding his agreement behind her.

"No. I still have a ton of work to do. Just needed a few minutes to myself away from the books," I say, looking at my friend and seeing the sympathy filling her eyes.

"If you need us, we're all here, Savannah. Don't try to get through this shit on your own. It's been a long time since you've had to fight alone and I don't want to see you go back to that mentality," Playboy tells me, his voice softer than normal as he remembers when I first came to the club with my sisters when they rescued us from that trailer. "And don't forget you didn't bring shit to the club. This is on Conrad and his father, not you and the girls. The only other one who can be blamed for what's goin' on now is your mother."

"I know. It just feels as if I had left the club a long time ago, none of you would be dealing with this shit now," I tell him, blinking my eyes rapidly in an attempt to keep them open and not fall asleep where I'm standing.

"We'd still be dealin' with it because we always knew we'd go after the assholes at the top of this traffickin' ring, Savannah. It was just a matter of time before we went after them because the kidnappin' rate is goin' back up and we know it's because of them," he informs me of a new piece of information that Zach hasn't given me at this point.

Nodding my head, I tell them both that I'll see them later and head for the kitchen. I can't have coffee to stay awake, but I am hungry. Heading for the refrigerator, I see the three Phantom girls in the kitchen, putting lunch together for everyone.

"Did you want a sandwich?" one of them asks me, her voice not as nasally and grating as I first thought.

"No, thank you," I tell her with a smile on my face. "I want to have some more of the roast we had for dinner last night if there's any left."

"I think there's a decent amount left. Potatoes, rolls, and the green bean casserole too," one of the other girls informs me as I open the refrigerator and search for the food I want.

I find everything I'm looking for after thanking the girls and pull it out to sit on the counter so I can make myself a plate. Putting it in the microwave to heat up, I put the food back and wait while watching them make lunch. The girls work well together and have a line going to prepare a variety of sandwiches for everyone. They know everyone likes something different and will give them options instead of just having the same kind for everyone. I've seen some club girls over the years who don't give a fuck and just throw something together and it doesn't matter if everyone gets what they prefer or like. Those girls don't last long in the club because they're only out for themselves and no one else.

At the same time, I know these girls tried to give Annabell a hard time when she first got here. It's expected at this point, but Annabell is my friend and I want to hate them for their disrespect. They're making it really hard to do that though. What I've seen over the last few weeks since I've been here is that they're helpful, don't go after the men who are taken, and have been spending time with the kids so the men and women can do what they need to do. They kind of remind me of Summer from the Wild Kings when she was a club girl for that club. She's no longer a club girl and is an ol' lady of Dozer. Plus, she helps a lot of clubs out with the team she put together of women who don't mind getting their hands dirty and take care of women the club can't touch.

Grabbing my plate when the microwave finishes, I head for the common room so I can sit down and eat before going back in to attempt to work. Choosing a table no one else is sitting at, I watch as Vault rushes from his office and straight for the front door of the clubhouse. Playboy, Killer, Slim, and a few other guys race after him without him saying a word to anyone. I have no clue what the hell is going on now, but fear fills me and dread coils in my gut. The feeling that this has to do with Conrad fills me and I know I have to remain in my seat where I am because I can't get in the way of what the guys are doing no matter how desperate I am to learn whatever has happened today.

Taking the first bite of my lunch, I turn as the clubhouse door opens again. Zach is standing just inside the door as everyone turns to stare at him. He rushes from the door straight to Miracle and pulls her from her chair into his arms. Tears fill my eyes because this is the only confirmation I need to know Conrad has done something and it doesn't involve me. This is about my baby sister and something he's done to her. Standing from my seat, I move so fast the chair slams to the floor beneath me and Zach looks over with Miracle still in his arms.

I watch as he whispers something to her before letting her get back to work as he makes his way over to me. Zach grabs my hand and laces our fingers together before leading me from the room. He takes me to my office and closes the door behind us before making sure it's locked. I don't take my eyes off of my husband as he starts to pace the small room I've been given to use.

"Zach, you're really scaring me. What happened?" I finally ask him when I can find my voice again.

"Love, it's not good. Fox, Kingston, and I were workin' on settin' up the alarm system for that new client I told you about. Well, I learned why he wanted the absolute best system we had when I overheard him on the phone with someone," Zach starts, his voice hard and cold as I take in his body that's shaking so hard from the rage filling him. "He fuckin' bought Miracle, Savannah. Conrad sold her again to this stupid fuck. I listened as he told Conrad he'd pick her up himself since they're in the same town and he knows where the school is. He doesn't know we've taken them out of school at this point. No one does and that works in our favor.

"Fox pretended we'd help him pick whoever he bought up because we were retrieval specialists. That's how we got his folder on the person he bought. I was so consumed with rage and I wanted to gut him right there. Instead, we called Vault and told him we were bringin' him in. We'll question him to get all the information he has on the fucker we're after and then Fox, Kingston, and Buzz can hopefully do somethin' to locate Conrad and we'll get the fuck rid of him once and for all," he informs me, his voice the hardest I've ever heard it before and I'm ready to go down and gut this fucker right along with him.

"Zach, we can't let them get their hands on my girls. I will do whatever it takes to protect them. Even if it means giving myself up so Conrad and his father don't come after them. I know they'd have a good life with you and you'd keep them safe. You'd have everyone in the club to help you raise them," I state, tears filling my eyes at the thought of leaving everyone I love behind because of a desperate man who's so fucking vile I wish someone would take him out permanently.

"You're not goin' anywhere, Love. The girls and I need you here with us. I'm gonna go down right now and find out everythin' I can from the fucker and then we'll make plans. I think Fox or Kingston got his phone so we'll have that and can see what they can find from that. Savannah, I'm fuckin' serious, don't do anythin' you'll regret. The girls won't understand that you're doin' somethin' to protect them. They'll see it as you givin' up on them and nothin' more than that," Zach says, pulling me into his arms and holding me tight as I let his words sink in.

Rationally, I know he's right. It doesn't mean I have to like what he's saying. The girls wouldn't understand that I'd sacrifice myself to protect them. If anything, they'd see me going with Conrad as running from them and it would be a betrayal I wouldn't be able to come back from in their eyes. Especially Ava who knows more about what's going on than the other two. What I need to do is let the guys handle this situation the best way they see fit and do everything I can to stay with my sisters and husband. Especially with the news I still have yet to share with Zach. There just hasn't been a good time to tell him. Not with everything we've had going on and with the lack of sleep I've been getting.

"Okay, Zach. I won't do anything stupid. You go take care of things and find out what you can from this asshole. Hurt him for me, baby. I want him to fucking bleed for thinking he can buy my sister. I don't even care if it were one of the girls. He's a sick fuck for thinking he could buy another person and strip them of their humanity for his own gain and pleasure," I tell him, clutching his shirt in my fists and holding him tight.

Zach pulls back just enough to lean down and kiss me before leading me back to the common room so I can finish my lunch and then wait for the guys to take care of the man I have no doubt is already in the basement. I might not know much about club business, but I do know the guys won't hesitate to step up and deal with any threat against the club, their family, or anyone with ties to the club. The basement has been designed specifically for that purpose. I only know that because I saw the plans Vault had drawn up for the clubhouse before it got built.

With one last kiss, Zach leaves me in the common room. Annabell, Shy, and Gwen join me at my table and don't say a word as I push my food around the plate more than I eat it. I've lost my appetite even though I know I have to eat for the baby. Right now, I couldn't stomach a bite of food knowing the man who bought one of my sisters is so close. Court, Killer, and Boy Scout remain up here with us and surround my sisters as the rest of the kids eat their lunch and talk amongst themselves. I want to cry, but I won't let myself break right now. My sisters don't deserve to see that when they're already so nervous and scared about what's going on. They might not show it to everyone, but I know them better than anyone but Zach and can see what they try to hide from everyone else.