Chapter Twenty

Neve

The mud caked to my skin is now dry, pulling it tight. As I climb from the car and stare up at the clubhouse, Ryder wraps his kutte around me. I glance at Griff as he leads Malia and Adelina into the club. "You're safe now," says Ryder, kissing her on the head.

"What will happen to the other two?" I ask.

He shrugs, "The chief wasn't happy about us bringing them back here, they're here illegally," he says. "But I hope we can swing a deal to help them." He places a hand at the small of my back and we go inside. "Go and shower, I'll make you a hot drink."

I get to the top of the stairs, loving the feel of carpet under my toes. I glance at the room where Harlee had slept and gently push the door. Surprised when I see Sassy curled up asleep on the bed, with Alfie. Tears fill my eyes and I feel Ryder rush up behind me, like he's suddenly remembered his ex was here.

"Siren, it isn't what it looks like," he mutters.

"It's fine," I whisper, swiping at my tears. "I just needed to smell her pillow," I add, almost laughing at how ridiculous that sounds out loud. "but it's fine." I rush to his bedroom.

I stand before the mirror and take in my swollen face, my black eyes and the bruises littering my skin. Then I lift the dress and stare in horror at the sight of more bruising and my sunken ribs.

Ryder stops in the doorway, his eyes staring wide as he take sin the scene. "Fuck."

I rush to try and cover up feeling ashamed and embarrassed but he moves quickly, taking my hands. "Don't," he growls, "You're beautiful. You'll always be beautiful to me no matter what, so please don't hide form me."

"I'm a mess," I sob. "And why the fuck is Sassy in Harlee's bed?"

"I don't know," he sighs.

"Did she jump in your bed too?" I snap, all my pain and danger surfacing.

"No Neve don't be ridiculous," he says with a sigh.

"Why is she here then?" I scream. "Why are they in my daughter's bed?" I begin to sob harder and he reaches for me, with sympathy on his face.

"Please baby, don't do this. You're tired. You need rest. I'll explain everything and answer all your questions tomorrow. Go and wash so we can sleep."

"How can I sleep, without Harlee? It's impossible. What if Mary took her far away? I don't know when she took her, they could have left the country. I haven't seen her for days."

"I don't know, Neve. I don't know where she is or what she's playing at taking someone else's daughter or even being a part of Finn's fucked up world. But without rest you'll be no good to Harlee when she comes home." He leads me to his bathroom and turns on the shower. "I'm going to make you that drink."

Ryder

I head back to where Sassy is sleeping and shake her awake. She smiles sleepily. "Hey."

"What the fuck are you doing here, Sarah?" I hiss.

She sits up, looking confused. "I told you I'd put Alfie to bed, I wasn't going to wake him."

"You put him in Harlee's bed," I snap.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought your son would be priority over your girlfriends kid," she snaps.

"I want you gone first thing. Harlee is missing and Neve came in here to see you in her daughters' bed. I'll be in touch about Alfie and if you start fucking me about with contact then I'll take you to court. He's my kid and I deserve the chance to get to know him away from you." I storm out and head down to the kitchen.

When I return to the bedroom with a mug of hot chocolate, I find Neve laying on the bed in one of my shirts. I smile, committing the image to memory. I've missed her so much.

"Were you hurt bad?" she asks sleepily. "I was worried you were dead."

"I was in hospital for a few days. Bleed on the brain apparently."

"When you didn't come for me, I assumed the worst."

I slide into bed behind her, not bothering to remove my damp clothes from the rain. I pull her to be, resting her head on my chest. "Siren, we've been trying to find you. Griff's spent hours making calls and plans to get you back to us. It was like you'd vanished. I couldn't think straight without you and so Griff really took the lead." I can't help feeling guilty for that.

"I knew you'd find me eventually," she whispers. "He took me to a big house. It was just out of London, I think. He had guards with guns and dogs patrolling. He wasn't like the Finn I knew."

I'm relieved she's talking about it. I haven't wanted to probe too much but I'm also desperate to know everything. "Did he lock you away?"

"Not at first. I think he was convincing us both we could work and showing off his house was part of that. But then I stole his mobile and he caught me. After that, he kept me locked in the cellar." She begins to cry again, "I didn't see Harlee after that."

"I was dead set on ending him tonight, Siren. I want the fucker dead. But Griff made me see sense. If he's dead, he can't tell us where Harlee is and she's my priority now. I have men out looking for them right now. I swear I won't give up."

"You can't go down for murder, Ryder. I need you here." She closes her eyes and I hold her until she's drifted off to sleep.

Neve

"Neve, wake up." I open my eyes to find Ryder shaking me gently. "Griff's tracked Mary."

I don't ask any questions, I shoot up out of bed and begin to pull on my clothes. Ryder rounds my side of the bed and takes my upper arms, halting me, "I think you should stay here, Siren," he says gently. "If Harlee isn't with her, it's another setback. And if she does have her, well that could end badly for Mary."

"If she is with her, she'll want me, Ryder. I can handle whatever comes. But I'm coming with you." He's crazy if he thinks I'm waiting here for news, even if Harlee isn't with her, she'll know where she is and I can appeal to her better nature, I'm sure of it.

It takes us an hour to get to the derelict looking house. There's not a soul around. No passing cars, no neighbours, not even a dog walker.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Ryder asks Griff.

Griff nods, looking down at his iPad. "Her mobile was used at six this morning. It pinged up at this address."

"Let's go take a look then," I say, eagerly.

We get out of the car and cross the road. Ryder pushes on the small mental gate and it creaks as the rusty hinges rub together. Before we've even gone down the path, the front door swings open. Ryder pulls a gun from the back of his jeans, taking me by surprise. He drags me behind him as Mary steps from the property with her head down. She's rummaging through her bag paying no attention. "You need to stop there," growls Ryder and she looks up in surprise. Her wide eyes take in the scene before her and a whimper leaves her throat. "Oh Jesus," she whispers, dropping her bag and raising her hands. The contents spill across the floor and I can't help but scan them for any signs she's holding my little girl. A toy or a snack. Anything to give me hope.

"Where's Harlee?" I demand, pushing around Ryder so she can see me.

"Neve," she gasps.

"I want my little girl, Mary," I say, my tone desperate. "Where is she?" She doesn't answer quick enough and I begin to shout Harlee's name frantically.

Mary waves her hands, "Stop yelling," she hisses, "She's napping. She's absolutely fine, Neve."

My heart slams wildly in my chest and I run forward, ignoring Ryder who tries to grab hold of me. I shove Mary out of the way and run through the house, checking room to room until I finally spot my little girl curled up on the couch, fast asleep and unaware of the chaos spiralling around her.

I drop to my knees and run my hand over her hair, moving my nose into the crook of her warm neck and inhaling deeply. "Baby girl," I whisper. "I love you so much."

"Mummy?" She twists to face me and a sob escapes me as I pull back and smile down at her.

"Hey, Popple. How yah doing?"

"mummy, you're here," Harlee cries, wrapping her arms around my neck and clinging to me.

"I missed you so damn much," I whisper, holding her close.

"Is daddy gone?" she asks and I detect the worry in her voice.

"Daddy is gone forever, Popple. He will never come near us again."

Ryder

I step into the room to see my two favourite girls wrapped around each other. It warms my cold heart. "How are my ladies?" I ask and they pull apart slightly.

Harlee screams in delight, jumping from the couch and running to me. It almost brings a tear to my eye as I sweep her into my arms and her little arms cling to me. Neve saunters over and I open my arm, tucking her into my side and kissing her on the head. "Finn lied to Mary," I whisper. "Told her you had," I glance at Harlee who is still snuggled against me before whispering to Neve, "Dead."

"I just can't help wonder if she saw an opportunity," she mutters. "Finn made it sound like she was looking for a replacement for her own child."

"She seems genuinely pleased you're okay," I tell her.

"Mary promised to look after me until you could find us again," says Harlee, running her fingers into Neve's hair.

Neve nods, kissing Harlee on the cheek. "I need to go and speak to her for myself."

I give a nod and follow her outside. Mary is sitting on a bench in the front garden. "We need to talk," Neve says, coldly.

"I promised I'd look after her for you, Neve. I would never have hurt her."

I pass Harlee to Griff and she squeals excitedly as he whisks her away. Neve takes a seat beside Mary.

"What happened?" I demand.

"Finn started acting weird. Some deals went bad, the Italians pulled out leaving him stuck with two containers of guns and drugs that he couldn't shift. The Chief of Police was on his back about license agreements in two of his clubs. I think he felt like everything was going bad. He was acting erratic. I was worried for Harlee and so I just took her. Finn was talking like you were dead and the thought of Harlee knowing that, killed me, so I ran with her. I don't think Finn even noticed we were gone but I kept us moving just to be sure."

"What was your plan?" snaps Neve. "Keep Harlee forever?"

"No, of course not. I have been checking the news every day, waiting for news that you'd been found or that Finn was dead. I would never have stopped looking for you."

Neve scoffs. "You sat back while he did what he did. You're as much a part of it as he was."

"What was I supposed to do? Nobody that works for Finn walks away alive. If you leave, he finds you and kills you. If you stay, you're a part of it all. He'll come for me, eventually, my days are numbered."

"He's locked up," says Neve.

"He has friends in high places," says Mary. "He'll have time to think over everyone he thinks wronged him. I'll never be safe again."

Neve glances at me before saying, "Then come with us."

"Neve," I hiss.

"She can't stay here and wait for Finn to come after her. She doesn't deserve that. She kept Harlee safe. I owe her."

"You don't owe me anything, Neve," says Mary, patting her leg. "I'm so happy you're both safe now. Go and live your life now and take care of that little angel."

"You're coming with us!" says Neve, firmly. "I can't live my life knowing you're living in fear of him, just like I have for all these years."

"Neve," I mutter, shaking my head. "You don't even know this woman. She's spent years working for Finn."

Griff is heading back up the path. "I couldn't help but overhear," he says, looking annoyed. "And the pres is right, Neve."

"You said you needed help around the club," snaps Neve. "You haven't had a home cooked meal in forever. Mary can take care of the men."

"No," I snap. "Absolutely not."

"He's right," says Mary, gently. "I'll be fine, Neve. Honest."

"Mary, you're coming to live with us at the club," says Neve, standing. I glance at Griff who shrugs helplessly.

"Mary are you coming too?" cries Harlee excitedly.

"Fuck sake," I mutter, rubbing at my forehead in annoyance. I point at Mary, "I'm running checks. Anything comes up that I don't like and the deal is off."

Mary smiles. "Of course."