Chapter Twenty-Six

Savannah

COURT MADE SURE to tell Zach and me that they captured Conrad, his father, and a third person in the same house I was being held in. While we were still at the hospital, the guys who captured them brought them here to the clubhouse and Zach will go down to get even more information from the three men before they get turned over to the authorities. We've talked about the possibility of me testifying against Conrad and his father. No, it's not something I want to do. I'm scared to death to even see him in a courtroom where I know he won't be able to get close to me. However, if it means protecting my sisters and every other potential victim out there, I will testify against the man who has made my life a living hell for so long. The longer these assholes remain in prison, the safer the world will be. Yes, I know it doesn't mean someone else won't step up and take over right where they left off. They won't be coming for my sisters and me though.

Conrad is literally a few floors down from where our room is, locked in a cell. All three men are in separate cells and there are members down there with them so they can't escape and continue their path of hell and destruction. I know Stryker, Court, Playboy, and Red are all down in the basement. The guys continue switching out after a few hours so everyone can rest and get some sleep after constantly being on the move for the last few days. There's always at least four men down in the basement. No one is taking any chances with these fuckers and I'm grateful for that. It doesn't make it any easier to think of Conrad being so close to me and the girls I've promised to protect. Maybe if I were to go down and tell him what a vile piece of shit I think he is, I'd be able to let it go and move forward. It's something to think about.

I've been thinking about things and I want to do something with the club's help to search for traffickers and put a stop to them the best we can. If I can step up and save one person from suffering the same fate Conrad wants for my sisters and me, I'll do whatever I can because it's the right thing to do. I have no clue how I'll make that happen, but I plan on talking to the guys as soon as things calm down and I can think this through better. Zach already kind of knows where my mind is and wants to know more when I'm ready to talk about it. I'm sure the guys will want to help me, but it's a matter of putting things in place to ensure we do this in a safe way that doesn't bring attention to the club and make us targets with the babies that will be joining our family.

We've been back at the clubhouse for just over an hour and I'm trying to sleep, but my mind is racing with so many thoughts. First, I've got thoughts of Annabell, Vault, and Cyrus on my mind. He's so damn adorable and I know they're going to make such wonderful parents. Vault didn't let his son or wife out of his sight the entire time we were in with them. It's not like Annabell was really getting out of the hospital bed and moving around, but he kept one eye on her and the other on Cyrus. My friend was exhausted but she looked so happy as she watched us hold her son while her husband hovered over us. No one will be able to take the smiles on their faces off for any reason. If I ever wanted to know what instant love looked like, all I have to do is spend a few minutes with the new family of three and I'll be able to witness it firsthand.

I've also been thinking about my sisters. We have to tell them about the babies and see how they feel about the situation. Zach and I don't want to blindside them with this news or make them feel as if we don't care about their thoughts and feelings. I know the girls will be able to keep our secret and not say anything until we're ready for the club to know. Yes, they know I'm pregnant. Zach told them when I had been taken so if anyone found me, they would know to get me to the hospital right away no matter what condition I was in so the baby could be checked. Plus, he wanted everyone to make sure they were careful with me so nothing happened even though he just found out about the baby. Zach and I will be talking to the girls once they wake up in the morning before we go down for breakfast. We'll both feel better the sooner they know and can start to process their feelings.

When my mind isn't on the girls or my in-laws, I've been thinking about the house and what we should do. Zach is leaving it up to me and the girls to decide what we do. Personally, I don't think I can live in the house he had made for me. He took everything I've ever said I wanted in a house of my own and made it my reality. Now, instead of being a home and our sanctuary, the house is filled with nightmares that I won't ever forget. I just don't know that I can live with the daily reminder about what happened and how Conrad was in our space to take me from my family. If the girls feel the same as me, we won't force them to live there. Zach has assured me we can stay in the clubhouse and move the girls to the room directly next to us so we all have our own space. Then, he'll talk to the construction crew about building us another house on the compound, but in a different location so we have no reminders about Conrad and what happened. I love this man because he's willing to do whatever is necessary to protect us from everything. Even our mental wellbeing.

"Love, you should be sleepin'. You still need to get your rest," Zach says, pulling me out of my thoughts as he wraps his arms a little tighter around my body and moves so we're pressed together from top of our bodies to the bottom.

"I'm trying. I can't stop thinking about everything though. And knowing Conrad and his father are so close isn't helping me either," I tell him honestly, as I rest my head on his chest and listen to the sound of his heart beating so strong and steady under me. "Zach, I want to go down and see him. To tell him what a piece of shit he is. I think this is something I need to do because when I testify against him, I won't be able to tell him what I truly think or feel. Can you take me down there to see him?"

Zach doesn't say anything for the longest time. I'm prepared for him to tell me that I won't be going down in the basement to see Conrad. I don't want to upset him because I do love him, but this might be something I need to do for closure. After everything Conrad has done, I deserve to see him and make sure he knows he's not going to win. Every single man and woman in this clubhouse will do whatever it takes to make sure his father, him, and everyone else involved spend the rest of their lives in prison for the crimes they've committed.

"Okay, Love. I'll take you down there while the girls are sleepin'. Then, we're gonna come back up here and I need you to get some rest. If not, I'm gonna have to take you back to the hospital and that's not somethin' either of us want. Dr. Copeland was very serious when he said rest and sleep were gonna be your best friend until you're fully healed," he finally says, his voice barely above a whisper as I slowly sit up and watch him get out of bed so he can dress.

Once Zach is dressed, he helps me put one of his tee-shirts on before sliding a pair of leggings up my legs. My feet are bandaged and I've got a pair of his socks on to make sure they're protected from anything getting in the open wounds. Zach and I aren't taking any chances that I get an infection because we didn't take precautions. I don't bother brushing my hair or anything else. Seeing Conrad doesn't deserve getting ready for the day. I don't give a fuck what he thinks of me or how he sees the woman I am. Zach doesn't give a fuck what I look like as he lifts me in his arms and presses a kiss against my forehead, letting his lips linger for a minute before we leave the room.

Zach carries me down to the common room where we find Slim and Shy sitting at a table with cups of coffee in front of them. Both of them look at us before Slim nods his head without a single word needing to be said. He gets out of his chair, kisses his wife, and follows us down to the basement. No one says a word as they watch Zach carry me to the door of the cell Conrad's being held in. Taking a deep breath when we get there, I look in the small room and find Conrad chained to a chair. He already looks like hell and I know the guys beat the fuck out of him. Every man down here remains where they are, but keeps a portion of their attention on me and what's about to happen.

"Conrad, I'd say it's good to see you, but we both know that would be a lie," I state, my voice strong and steady as Zach holds me in his arms. It's enough to get Conrad's attention as he looks at me through swollen eyes with a sneer on his face. "Man, you really look like shit. I'm glad the guys worked you over. I mean, you deserve to rot in hell, but for now this will do. I told you my family wouldn't let you go for taking me and you didn't want to believe it. Now, you know that you've fucked up and are being held in a cell because you're nothing more than a selfish monster who doesn't want to actually work to make money. I know this is shit you were taught by your father, but it doesn't mean you had to follow in his footsteps. You had the power to change your future and chose to go along with kidnapping others for money."

"You know nothing about me," Conrad says, blood pooling in the corner of his mouth as he glares at me the best he can with swollen eyes.

"I know more than you could ever dream of, Conrad. See, you're a weak, pathetic excuse of a person. I'm not even going to call you a man because you aren't one. No man would kidnap, torture, and sell other people for their own gain. You're a bitch who is selfish, narcissistic, and vile. You wouldn't know the meaning of hard work if it bit you in the ass. And you aren't strong enough to break anyone. Your big goal was to break me into nothing more than a shell. When you were done with me, you were simply going to get rid of me by selling me to the highest bidder. I'm not easily broken and I didn't need my husband or the members of my family to be better than you, Conrad.

"I escaped the house you took me to all on my own. You were stupid as fuck by not securing me to the bed or checking the room you put me in. That's what your ego got you because I didn't need my husband or anyone else. All I needed was a few minutes on my own to get away from your dumbass. When you came in the room and were talking on the phone, I was awake. You're so pathetic you can't even tell when your victim is making a fool out of you. Now, I'm going to sit back and watch as you go through the trial and spend the rest of your miserable, vile life in prison. You'll become someone's bitch and I know for a fact that you won't survive prison. Someone will gut you where you stand because you're a monster. This is one of the last times you'll see me, Conrad. So, take a good fuckin' luck at the woman who got the best of you. I hope your father knows what a fucking pussy you are. Not that he's any better. Conrad, you lost. I will be living my best life with the man I love and my children while you rot and realize how truly pathetic you are," I state, Zach's arms tightening around me as much as he can without hurting me as my body trembles in fear and keeping myself so strong when I just want to break down and cry. "I'm ready to go now, Valor."

I don't want the stupid fucks in the basement to know my husband's real name. None of them are worthy enough to get that kind of information. Each man down here with us, places a hand on my shoulder in pride and comfort as I pass them by until we get to Killer who stops us.

"So fuckin' proud of you, Savannah. You're stronger than you know and right now proved that. It's been a pleasure watchin' you grow, learn, and find yourself over the years. I will make sure these fuckers pay for what they tried to do to you," Killer says, his voice low so no one else overhears him as he steps back and lets us walk past him.

"Thank you, Killer," I say as Zach carries me by and up the stairs.

I was able to get some sleep after seeing Conrad. It wasn't everything I wanted to tell him, but I got my point across. Conrad didn't win—I won because I escaped him and he's going to prison while I'll be free to live my life and love my family. Zach held me the entire time and told me how proud of me he was the second we got back in our room and locked the door behind us. The girls were still sleeping peacefully on the pull out couch, leaving us the bed because they didn't want me to sleep there with my injuries.

Waking up, I stretch my body out and moan as my muscles pull tight and loosen again. I'm in pain, but nothing like I was yesterday. My ribs are the worst part and it kills me to stretch, but I have to do it. So, I make sure to do it safely so I don't injure my ribs more than they already are. It's hard as hell, but the pain reminds me I'm still here and got away from Conrad. He won't be the winner in any scenario here and it makes me proud to know that I got the best of him all on my own.

"You're awake," Ava says, sitting up in bed with Chloe and Miracle following her lead. "How are you feeling, Vanna?"

"I'm okay. Sore, but it's manageable. Did you guys sleep okay last night?" I return, my voice barely above a whisper so I don't wake Zach up.

"Yeah. I'm so glad you're back, Vanna," Miracle answers, tears filling her eyes as she looks over at me. "We were so scared when we were told you'd been taken from the house and no one knew where you were."

"I know, honey. But, I'm here and no one will take me again. The guys got the assholes they were after and they'll be handed over to the authorities so they can serve their time in prison where they belong. We don't have to worry any longer about them," I assure my sisters as they smile with that piece of information.

"Good," Chloe states as Zach moves next to me and presses a kiss to my shoulder through his shirt.

"Love, we should talk to them now. I think they should know before we go downstairs for breakfast," he says, his voice filled with sleep as I look at him to find a smile on his face and creases from his pillow on his face.

"What's going on?" Ava asks, settling against the back of the couch the best she can without tipping the mattress up.

"Well, just before I was taken, I found something out. It was confirmed when I was in the hospital. Girls, I'm pregnant. Zach and I are going to have twins. This doesn't mean we're going to push you to the back burner or love you any less than what we already do," I tell the girls as wide smiles light up their faces and they all talk over one another for a few minutes.

"We love you and you are our daughters. These babies will only strengthen our family and show the world that families come in all shapes and sizes. Girls, you will be the best big sisters to the twins and I have no doubt about that," Zach says, sitting up and pulling me carefully into his arms as we all remain in our beds.

"We know that," Chloe says, her voice filled with excitement. "You're the only parents we've ever known and you have so much love to give. I'm happy that we're gonna have new brothers or sisters. Are the babies okay? Nothing happened to them when that man took you, Vanna?"

"The babies are okay. I'm gonna call in a little bit to make an appointment with the doctor, but they did an ultrasound in the hospital to take pictures and check on them. I'm two months pregnant right now. In about three months, we'll be able to tell what we're having. For now, the five of us are the only ones who know we're having twins and we want to keep it that way. Aunt Annabell just having their baby boy needs to be our focus. They're gonna need help when they leave the hospital. Plus, I think today will be the last day that you three are homeschooled. If you're ready to go back to school, I don't see any reason to keep you here at the clubhouse any longer," I inform them as they all sit up straighter and look at Zach and me.

"Yes!" Ava cheers loudly while pumping her fist in the air. "Can we go see our cousin today?"

"Yeah. After breakfast you can get your schoolwork done and then we'll head to the hospital. I think the baby has some testin' or somethin' to go through today. We'll give them time to get through that before we head up to see them. Court is here and I know he'll be waitin' for you to get downstairs. Why don't you three take turns showerin' in here and I'll take Savannah down to start breakfast for us?" Zach asks them as Ava jumps out of bed and grabs something to wear for the day before closing the bathroom door behind her and starting the shower.

We all laugh at her excitement because my girl is usually the last one out of bed and wants to put up a fight to remain asleep as long as possible. Even on days when she knows she has an early practice to get to, Ava will stay in bed until the last possible second. Miracle is our early riser and I know she's been up for longer than her sisters but remained in bed so she didn't wake anyone up. Chloe is either easy to wake up or a monster. There's no in between with her.

With our plans for the day in place, Zach gets out of bed and throws a tee-shirt on with his pajama pants before lifting me from the bed and carrying me out of the bedroom leaving our girls behind to get ready. He carries me down to the common room and places me in the wheelchair because he knows I'm not going to allow him to carry me all over the place. Zach pushes me into the kitchen where we find Shy and the rest of the ol' ladies already preparing breakfast. They greet us and bring Zach over his cup of coffee while setting a glass of orange juice in front of me. I greedily drink it down as Gwen brings me over a plate piled high with eggs, toast, sausage, and hash browns. Today is going to be a good one because I know the guys will do what they have to with Conrad before sending him off where he belongs. We're gonna see the baby again, and my girls are going to be able to start living their lives once more. I don't want anything more than what today is going to bring us.