Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

SEER

" D o you think this is what it looked like for Katrina?" Mayhem says as we watch the scenery around us change.

The house Kai and I bought is a few feet from the riverbed of the Mississippi. It's high up on a hill and has a gorgeous view, but flooding is a constant worry. So the further away we go from the clubhouse, the higher the water is.

"Not thirty years ago, I'm sure it was worse." The thought makes me frown.

I tried to call Kai to warn him we were coming, but his phone must have died. So, after smiling at the photo of them in bed, she sent, I texted Phoebe. I told them to pack their bags and be ready to go. As we got closer to the house, I saw Phoebe sitting on the window sill of Kai's bedroom.

"OUR HERO!" She calls out, waving.

I threw her a rope that she caught and handed it to Kai over her shoulder.

"Did you buy that ladder I told you about?" I call up to her.

"It's in my room downstairs." I roll my eyes.

"I know, a lot of good it's doing there. But to be fair. It's for fires, not water." Mayhem laughs at her.

"Don't encourage her sassiness." He presses his lips together.

"Alright, lower the bags first, then I will get you down." Phoebe tosses the bags and then jumps into the water.

"WHAT THE FUCK!" I yell, rocking the boat to make sure she was okay.

"She fucking jumped, didn't she?" Kai growls out the window.

"Phoebe swims to the side of the boat, and I grab her, wanting to shake the ever-loving shit out of her.

"That was reckless!" I scream before hugging her.

"Please, I've cliffed-dived a thousand times. Come on, chicken, shit! JUMP!" She calls up to Kai.

"I'm going to beat your ass for this." He groans but does what she says and leaps into the water.

He climbs into the boat and tugs on the rope.

"I tied it to the lock to help close it." The window comes about halfway down before the rope unravels and falls the rest of the way.

"Better than nothing, I guess. Are you two alright?" I kiss Kai, not letting go of Phoebe.

"Our first floor is fucked." Phoebe says with a sob.

"Material things we can replace, Baby. I'm just happy to see you both safe." Mayhem turns the boat, and we start heading back to the clubhouse.

We're about halfway when the rain starts again.

"Speed up," I growl, but the boat slows.

"What the fuck?" The engine stops altogether, making Mayhem curse even more.

"We can't be out of gas. I filled it yesterday just in case." He pulls the engine up, and that's when we see the gas line has been cut.

"That's too clean to have been an accident, Prez." Mayhem jumps out of the boat, and being one of the tallest men I know at six-five, the water is at chest level on him.

"I can't help it." I look around and figure we're about twenty blocks away from the clubhouse.

Kai splashes into the water, which splashes over his shoulders as he helps Mayhem push.

"Phoebe, is your phone still working?" She shakes her head.

"It's dead," she sighs into my chest.

We've got no way to call for help or tell the club what's happened.

"Fuck!"

Charlotte

I shiver from being wet for so long. I creep low and hold on to the brick of the building so I can sneak a peek inside the bar. They all look dry and warm rather than my soaking chilly state.

I hate them all.

Laughing and joking as the rest of the world around them crumbles. It isn't fair that I'm out here when this should all belong to me. How was I wrong for warning that bitch that spreading her legs for the boss wasn't the way to the top?

Kai had no right to fire me!

I am family. I have more rights to all this than he will ever have. I deserve the right to call these people family, not him! Especially not that skank, Leah.

I watch one of the prospects come out and toss a bag of trash into the dumpster near where I'm hiding. A truck driving past causes a slew of water that drenches his legs. He curses and leaves the doorway open. I seize my chance.

As fast as I can, I spill inside and rush for the stairwell. I know it leads to the private rooms of the club members. I've never been up here, but since everyone is downstairs partying, it shouldn't be hard to find Seer's room.

It'll take them a few more hours to return without a boat engine, and I plan to have Leah out of the way by then.

The storm will do all the work for me.

An girl went missing amongst the rising waters searching for her loved ones. It'll be tragic and the top newsline of the week. Meanwhile, the miracle of me being found being assumed dead will bury Leah's story quicker than any cemetery can her body.

She will be no one while I take her place where I rightfully belong: here with my family.

I smile as I start opening doors.

I find the biggest room, which smells like Seer, and sneak inside. I close myself in the closet to wait for my prey. It won't be long now.

I'll make them love me.