Chapter Twenty-Three

Valor

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS HAVE passed since Savannah was taken from the compound and no one can get a location on her. Her rings are burning a hole in my pocket as I pace the common room waiting for any new piece of information. Fox, Kingston, and Buzz have been looking through everything they can think of to find out where the piece of shit has my wife. Fox is also looking into Buzz without Buzz' knowledge. So far, he hasn't found anything to suggest he's being deceptive about helping Conrad or anyone else and going against the club. I really hope that's true and I will apologize to Buzz if it is. At this point, nothing would honestly surprise me though. Anyway, I haven't slept, eaten, or done anything that involves more than pacing or sitting in the common room.

Shy and Annabell have been staying with my daughters so I can focus on getting Savannah back. She's the heart and soul of our family and we need to get her back. I've checked on them a few times since they all found out about their sister. I'm not going to abandon them despite the pain and rage filling me. They need me just as much as my wife needs me. Ava did come down and sit with me for a while. We didn't talk as I held her while she cried. My girl is so fucking strong, but this is killing all of us. Savannah is always there for us and we can't do anything to bring her home. Chloe and Miracle have remained in the bedroom and won't let anyone but Shy and Annabell in with them. Killer, Playboy, Slim, Chrome, and Dime have been standing outside of their room making sure no one gets close. The kids have made sure they get food, drinks, and snacks delivered to the room so they're not hungry or going without anything. They've even taken up a few games for the girls to play so they can get their minds off of Savannah not being here with us. That almost got a smile out of me.

Martin, Red, Kim, and Gwen went up to the house and got everything cleaned up. I didn't want anyone in there to see the mess that was made, but they assured me they would get it all cleaned up before Savannah was brought home. That if the girls needed something, they wouldn't be ambushed by walking into a house that was trashed when Savannah was taken from us. I couldn't argue with that logic and made sure the alarm system was off so they could get in there. It took them hours to go through everything. Most of it had to be thrown away because there was no fixing it. The guys did all the heavy lifting while Kim and Gwen did the cleaning. They also packed bags for the girls so they'd have more clothes and things to do here at the clubhouse. I can't thank them enough for doing it because the thought never crossed my mind to get more stuff from the house for my daughters.

"Valor, you need to stop the pacin'," Court says to me as he rubs a hand down his face and leans back in his chair with a frown on his face as his eyes widen so he doesn't fall asleep.

"I can't, Court. My wife is out there somewhere and no one knows where the fuck she is. We still can't be a hundred percent sure Conrad is the one who took her. I can't believe someone was able to bypass my fuckin' security system and no one can find out anything about the person who was able to get on the compound and away again with Savannah.

Fox has been pulling up every single camera footage he can find and been combing through it for hours now. So far, nothing has shown a car coming or going from the compound. He told me the last time I checked in with him that he was working his way from the edge of town back in for some reason. I'm not sure what sense that makes when we have no clue what fucking car this asshole is driving. Fox is good at what he does so I'm sure he has a reason for it and it's nothing I'm going to question because I know enough to set up security systems but not much more than that.

"I know she is, Valor. We're gonna get her back. Fox and Kingston will fuckin' find somethin' and make sure we know what's goin' on. Fox told us he'd send Kingston out the second they found a trace of the car and show us the footage. I'm not sure what Buzz is lookin' into, but he won't pull anythin' if he's guilty with Kingston sittin' right next to him. He gave Buzz some kind of excuse about why Kingston needed to share a desk with him. Kingston can catch shit faster than Fox these days and can catch a keystroke even if he looks like he's watchin' somethin' else," Court reminds me, his voice barely breaking through the fog as thoughts of what's being done to my wife right now fills my mind and rage consumes me even more than before because I can't help her.

"I know all that shit, Court. It doesn't change the fact that someone has Savannah. They're probably hurtin' her and gettin' her ready to send to some other fuck who bought her thinkin' I'd let it go. I won't ever stop searchin' for my wife and I will make sure everyone who has had a hand in her bein' taken burns along with everyone they love or care about. I'm not one for takin' out women or kids, but these fuckers don't play the same way. One way or another, without hurtin' someone else innocent, I will make everyone pay," I promise my best friend as he stands from the chair he's been sitting in for hours now.

Court hasn't left my side since we got out of church the second time. Since no one could find her in the hour my brother gave us to find any information, we couldn't put a plan in place. The one thing he did say is that I'm not to be out searching for my wife even with Court and others at my side. My head wouldn't be in the ride and he refuses to have me end up in the hospital because I'm lost in thought or going off the rails with the slightest hint of finding Savannah. So, I'm grounded for now as everyone else is out searching. Including Vault. He promised me before leaving the clubhouse that he will do everything to bring his sister-in-law home where she belongs and that we'll all be there for her when she gets back.

"Valor, I need to tell you something," Shy says, walking up to me as I continue pacing in the common room.

I stop and look at her as she twists her hands together and looks at the floor between us. The need to know what information she has is strong, but I refrain from yelling at her to talk. Shy needs to figure this shit out and speak in her own time as my heart starts beating wildly in my chest and Court comes to stand at my side.

"What's goin' on Shy?" Court asks after a few minutes pass and she finally looks up at me.

"Savannah found out that she's pregnant. She was waiting for the right time to tell you, but couldn't find one with everything going on. I'm the only one who knows and I've been debating telling you because I didn't want to betray her trust. So many people have betrayed her throughout her life and I didn't want to be another name added to the list," Shy finally says, dropping a bomb on me as I stand completely still and look down at her.

"You're sure she's pregnant? She took a test or went to the doctor to make sure?" I ask her, barely able to find my voice as the risk to my wife and unborn baby just went up even higher.

"She took five tests. They're still in the garbage in your bathroom and one is hidden in the bathroom somewhere. She didn't tell me where it was and I didn't ask. I think she wanted to plan something cute to tell you, but this situation with Conrad was really messing with her head as you know. I'm sorry I didn't come forward sooner, Valor," Shy says, tears filling her eyes as I pull her into my arms and hug her.

"You did what you thought was best, Shy. I can't be mad about that. I know Savannah and the girls have been betrayed repeatedly and I appreciate you holdin' her secret until now. I'll make sure she doesn't get upset with you. It's important that we know this information for when we find her," I assure Shy as she continues to cry and Slim makes his way over to us and takes her from my arms.

"What's goin' on over here?" he asks, looking between Shy and me with concern filling his face as he finally rests his eyes on me.

"Savannah's pregnant. Shy didn't want to betray her trust after everythin' my wife has been through over the years. I'm not mad she waited this long to tell me. I want Savannah to continue trustin' Shy and the ol' ladies. We need to make sure everyone knows she's pregnant in case they find her before I can get to her side. I don't want somethin' to happen to her or the baby if we can prevent it by takin' extra precaution," I answer him as shock fills his face followed quickly by rage with the thought of Savannah being pregnant and in someone else's hands.

"Okay. I'll let everyone know," Slim states, pulling his phone from his pocket. "Valor, I think you need to be the one to tell Vault. He shouldn't hear it from anyone else but you. Why don't you make that call now and then I'll start makin' mine."

With a nod of my head, I pull out my phone and instantly check for any messages or missed calls since I've been lost in my head so much. Nothing fills my screen. After unlocking the screen, I pull up my brother's number and press send.

"What's goin' on?" Vault asks me, answering on the first ring as hope fills his voice. I wish I had a location or something to tell him, but I don't yet.

"Shy just told me somethin' and you need to know. Everyone needs to know in case one of you find her. Alex, Savannah's pregnant. She hasn't had a chance to tell me yet with everythin' goin' on. Shy didn't want to betray her trust, but we need to know about the baby," I tell him, my voice breaking as the thought that the love of my life and I created a new life and she's been taken from me fills my mind.

"Fuck!" my brother yells, his voice so loud it hurts my ear and I have to pull the phone away from my head. "Okay, Zach. If we find her, we'll make sure we take care of her and the baby. I'm so fuckin' happy for you, brother. We will bring your wife and unborn baby home to you."

"Slim is gonna let everyone else know what's goin' on now. He wanted me to be the one to call and tell you what's goin' on. I wouldn't want you to hear it from anyone else, Alex," I inform him before we get off the phone and I go back to pacing the common room of the clubhouse.

I watch as Slim makes one call after another and Shy goes back up to be with the girls in the bedroom. I've only checked on them a few times since they learned about Savannah. I should probably go back up there and spend some time with them since no one seems to be finding out any information on Savannah or where she is. Court doesn't leave my side as the Phantom girls bring in lunch. This is the first time Court puts his foot down and forces me to sit in the chair next to him.

"Valor, you're not gonna be good for Savannah if you're weak and can't stand on your own two feet," Court states as he stands in my path so I can't continue pacing the floor of the common room. "They're bringin' out food for everyone and you're gonna eat. I don't give a fuck if it's just a few bites, but you need to get some kind of food in your body."

Slim places his hand on my shoulder while looking at his phone and walks with me over to the table closest to us. Court sits with me as Slim leaves and heads down toward the office where Buzz, Kingston, and Fox are working. I'm guessing one of them has messaged him about something they've found. They'll want to run it by him before coming to the rest of us. Since my brother is out searching for Savannah, Slim has stepped up and taken over the role of the acting President here in the clubhouse. I'm glad he did because Chrome is also out searching and I'm in no shape to be in any kind of leadership role right now.

One of the girls places a plate full of food down in front of me. I've got a large cheeseburger with homemade fries and steamed asparagus filling my plate. Picking up my burger, I take a large bite and savor the taste as the juices fill my mouth. I inhale all the food in front of me before sitting back in the chair and trying to keep my eyes open. Now that I've filled my stomach, my body is ready to shut down and go to sleep. Standing from my chair, I don't start pacing again but I don't let myself relax either. My entire body is coiled tight with tension and the rage coursing through my veins continues as Court continues eating his meal while watching me.

Before I can start pacing or anything else, Slim, Fox, and Kingston rush into the common room. They don't stop until they're standing in front of me and Fox is placing his laptop down on the table where Court is still eating.

"What's goin' on?" I ask, looking between the three men trying to figure out what the hell is making them rush out to me like they did.

"I finally caught the fucker on a camera. I'm still not sure who the fuck bypassed your security system, but I managed to get into the camera feeds from around town. One of the angles showed a car leavin' the compound. A blacked out sedan with tinted windows. It's a newer model and the windshield wasn't tinted so I could capture the driver," Fox informs me, his voice almost filled with excitement as he presses a few keys and the footage he's talking about pulls up and plays.

I watch as Conrad leaves the compound and heads in the direction to leave the city. Fox pauses the footage after rewinding it and zooms in to show Conrad with a large smile on his face as if he's won. He fucking hasn't won a damn thing.

"I managed to find all the offshore accounts and everythin' else we've been searchin' for. The only thing I can't find are any properties in any of their names. I've found a few that are obviously under corporations that don't exist and I'm thinkin' those belong to the stupid fuckers. We just can't prove anythin' at this point. I will keep diggin'. Dad and Buzz believe we have more than enough evidence to put them all away for a very long time," Kingston says, trying not to let how proud he is of himself shine through knowing I'm not in a good headspace.

"I'm so proud of you, Kingston. You've truly stepped up and helped us more than you should have," I tell him, knowing he needs to hear this right now. Kingston has put off hanging out with the other kids in order to help us deal with this Conrad situation and now helping to find my wife.

"Thank you, Valor. That means a lot," Kingston says as Fox rests his hand on his son's back with a large smile on his face.

Before anyone else can say anything, Fox' phone rings and he pulls it out. Answering the call, I listen the best I can to see if it's news on my wife. Fox' eyes immediately find mine and he stares at me while taking the call.

"Are you sure?" he asks whoever he's on the phone with.

I try to hear the person on the other end of the phone, but it's impossible. Court stands right next to me, so close our shoulders are touching as Slim comes up to my other side and Kingston remains next to his dad.

"We'll be right there. I'm warnin' you now that her husband will want to be there with her. You're gonna let him back as soon as he enters the hospital. Don't try to prevent him from gettin' to her. We'll keep their daughters with us until they can go back, but Valor will be in that hospital room with Savannah," Fox states as my heart starts racing and hope fills me and I move closer to Fox as he hangs up the call and shoves his phone back in his pocket. "She's in the hospital in Cedar Bay. Someone found her naked and alone walkin' down the road. He almost hit her because she stepped into the middle and tried flaggin' him down. We won't know more until we get there."

Without a word to anyone, I race from the common room and head straight for my bike. Court is right next to me as I straddle my machine and start the engine before strapping my helmet on. Court and I take off immediately and race toward Cedar Bay. It's really not a long ride to get there, but it's still longer than I'd like. I don't slow down, look back, or anything else as I focus on the road in front of me and the need to get to the hospital. My wife is there and the sooner I see her, the quicker I'll be able to see for myself what kind of damage has been done to her. Conrad will pay for every scrape, cut, and bruise on my wife's body one way or another. That's a promise I make to myself as we continue riding to the hospital and a million thoughts flood my mind.