Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Titan

HEADING INTO REAPER'S office, we find him already on the phone. I can tell whoever's he talking to is agitated and upset about something. Reaper lifts his eyes when he sees us all enter and his eyes land on me and don't move again. Dread fills my gut and I know he's talking to the mayor about something. Whatever is going on isn't good and will only make this situation even worse than it already is. It would be different if we knew more details than we do, but since that's not the case, we're flying blind here. Everything we do is nothing more than a guess and we have to be extremely careful with Dallas and letting her leave the compound.

"Get here as fast as you can. We'll go over everythin' together and figure this shit out. I'll have Officer Hilton get here too. This shit needs all of us on it. Dallas will sit in on the meetin' with us today because I want her to have as much information as possible and know what the fuck is goin' on. It's her life on the line and we can't protect her by keepin' her in the dark. Usually that's exactly what I'd do, but not now with the new information," Reaper says, pausing to listen to the mayor before hanging up the phone.

"What the fuck is goin' on?" I growl, needing to know what just happened.

"We'll discuss it when Hilton and the mayor get here," Reaper answers, placing a call to our friend on the force as we all remain in his office.

I don't listen to his conversation with Hilton because I can't hear anything. Tripp steps up next to me and places his hand on my shoulder. He knows I'm seconds away from losing my shit. This is the hardest situation I've ever found myself in because something else has happened more than what we know already and Reaper isn't sharing. I don't give a fuck if he wants to wait for the other two men to show up, I need to know what's going on with my girl now. It's the only way I'll have a chance in hell of protecting her and making sure no one can get close to Dallas. This fucker has already been too close by being near the clinic while we were all there.

Reaper hangs up from his call and tosses his phone on the desk in front of him. He leans back in his seat and rubs his hands down his face. That's the only sign he's showing of his frustration and anger at the newest development.

"I assume you all have somethin' to add to this shit. I'm gonna ask that you wait to say anythin' so we can all hear it at the same time. Titan, you will remain with Dallas at your side for the time bein'," Reaper says and I perk up.

"She won't be leavin' my fuckin' side for any reason," I growl out, my voice loud and filled with anger. "She's my woman and I will be claimin' her the very second she's ready to take that step. Anyone fucks with her, they'll have to go through me."

"And me. I'm requestin' to be with them at all times now too," Tripp speaks up, his voice sounding from directly beside me.

"I have a feelin' Jay will be sayin' the same thing after a conversation I had with him just a little while ago," I inform Reaper as we continue to wait for everyone else to show up. "He took the initiative and I think we need to talk about patchin' him in as a full member. Jay has done everythin' to prove his loyalty to the club and each man here. He's done things for the club that none of us have asked him to do. Today when Dallas needed him the most, he was there for her and made sure everyone else was alerted to her need."

"Okay. I think we might have to talk about movin' the two of you here to the clubhouse where we can protect you better than the house. After what happened with Kelsey, I don't want to risk that shit happenin' again. We weren't prepared for the shit with Kelsey and her ex. Honestly, we should've had the two of you in the clubhouse from the very beginnin'. I don't want her to be uncomfortable here, but it's the best solution for her right now. Titan, do you think she'll go for it?" Reaper questions me, leaning forward and steepling his fingers together before leaning his chin on them.

"As long as her animals can come with her, she'll do whatever is necessary to keep her safe and not let anyone get close to her," I tell him, knowing I'll do whatever it takes to get her here in the clubhouse if that's what I feel is the best solution for now.

"I don't think anyone will have a problem with that," Reaper says as a knock sounds on his door.

Tripp opens it to show the mayor and Hilton standing there together with Jay.

"Jay, grab Dallas and meet us in church. I want you in on this meetin' with us today," Reaper says, shocking all of us because we don't ever let Prospects or women in our meetings.

I mean, a woman has been in there to talk to us, but not for an entire meeting. There's no way in fuck I'm gonna let Dallas leave my side while we're in the rest of the meeting discussing her future and what plans need to be put in place moving forward. This is her life, and her safety on the line. She deserves to have some say over what happens to her and I'm gonna make sure it happens. Unless we're gonna patch a Prospect into the club, they don't make an appearance in the room. For anything we have to discuss with them, it happens here in Reaper's office. Today, we're gonna go against all the rules. Especially considering we're having the mayor and a cop in there with us. Hilton won't disclose anything about what's said in that room, but it's still not how we normally do things.

Exiting Reaper's office, I see Dallas following Jay down the hall. She's nervous and scared. Dallas is holding her body rigid as her eyes dart around the hall. I can see her entire body trembling as she gets closer to me. The second she's almost to me, I pull her into my arms and hold her close. Dallas is shaking so hard her teeth are chattering together and her heart is racing against me. She's barely taking in a full breath and my heart is breaking for her.

"I've got you, Sweet Girl. I have no clue what's goin' on, but we'll get it all figured out. Just listen to what's said and we'll find out what has your dad so upset right now. We need to make a few changes, but only if you're comfortable with it," I whisper to her as Jay waits for us just outside of church.

I motion for him to hand his phone over to the new Prospect guarding the door. He does without hesitation and then pulls out a knife and gun to hand over as well. I'm shocked to see him carrying weapons, but glad he is considering things could've gone very differently had we all not been at the clinic with them today. With Dallas still in my arms, I move to the Prospect and hand over my phone and gun before leading her into the room. I don't stop moving until we're at my seat by Reaper. Taking a seat, I pull Dallas down in my lap and wait for this to get started. Reaper slams the gavel on the table in front of him, making Dallas jump in my arms.

"Meetin' in session. Mayor Parker, I'm gonna ask you to wait just a minute before you tell me again what you did on the phone. Titan, what the fuck happened while you were all out earlier today?" he asks, his voice softer than normal as he keeps his eyes on Dallas with her face buried in my neck.

"Dallas was paintin' one of the exam rooms with Jay helpin' her paint the trim at the ceilin'. She got dizzy and almost fell off the ladder yesterday so we didn't want her up on one again today. When she was over by the window in the room, she noticed a man standing in the forest between two large trees. She called Jay over and he saw the man as well. After making it look like he was finished workin' in the room, he made his way out to let us all know what was goin' on. I rushed in with Dallas and Emmie in that exam room. We had the door shut and I got Dallas away from the window quickly.

"The rest of the men went out to find him. Half of them continued on when it was clear he had disappeared. Hawk got on the computer there and searched the footage from the cameras he just installed around the property. He could see the guy, but there wasn't an inch of his body that was exposed to give us any clue who the fuck it was. Said he was wearin' all black with a mask over his face and face paint coverin' his eyes and shit. Again, nothin' was found to determine who the fuck this asshole is. Also barely left any tracks to determine how he's gettin' through the forest to look over the clinic," I answer him honestly even though Hawk should probably be talking about that shit instead of me. "The girls decided they didn't want to work any longer after Tripp suggested we should head out instead of stayin' there. We immediately left and surrounded Emmie's car the entire way here so no one could get close to them. That's when we came into your office and found you on the phone with the mayor."

"Mayor Parker, I need you to repeat everythin' you said when we were on the phone earlier," Reaper demands, his voice getting just a little harder at the new information I just gave him.

"Of course," he answers, not taking his eyes off of his daughter as she remains in my arms and not looking at anyone around the table. "I was brought a letter today. It didn't come with the rest of the mail to the mayor's house. Inside the envelope were more pictures of Dallas. I'm not going into detail about them but will hand them over at a later point in time. I only touched the very corner of everything in the envelope and used a letter opener for the outside so I didn't have to touch it as much. Anyway, there was cash in the envelope and then I got to the letter at the bottom of everything.

"Whoever the fuck this is has now demanded that I release the inmate from prison and not to delay in making my decision. He stated that he's already sold Dallas and will get his hands on her as soon as he possibly can. The asshole knows she's being followed and watched very closely. Also knows that she's staying here with the club. He's been to the clinic several times from what the letter said as well. I don't know who she's been sold to or anything, but this needs to end. If I have to release this inmate, then that's what I'm gonna do. My daughter's life is worth everything to me and I will not continue to put her in jeopardy."

"You're not gonna release anyone," Reaper states, his voice firm as he gets out of his chair and makes his way over to Hilton and the mayor where they stand at the opposite end of the table.

My attention is fully on Dallas as she starts shaking even harder in my lap as I wrap my arms tighter around her body. Her heart is racing even more than when she first walked up to me in the hall and her breathing is coming out in sharp pants now. Everyone around the table is looking at her while I feel Jay's eyes on her from behind me. He's not getting too far from my girl and I don't mind his protective instincts when it comes to her. If it were any other man not in this club, I'd be gutting him. Jay is simply standing close in case Dallas needs him and I need to protect her by putting my focus on something else. Dallas is in the middle of a fucking panic attack. Lifting her head from my neck, I look deep into her unfocused eyes.

"Need you to focus on me, Sweet Girl," I tell her, keeping my voice soft yet hard so she follows my directions. "Take a deep breath in like I am. Good girl. Release it slowly."

My Sweet Girl doesn't take her eyes from mine as she slowly breathes the way I am. It takes several long minutes, but she finally calms down enough that her heart rate slows and she can suck in a full breath. Her body is still shaking, but I don't think I'll be able to get her to stop doing that until everything is said and we know what the next step is moving forward. She's gonna need Emmie, the ol' ladies, and me at her side with her animals mixed in. That's the only way she'll truly be calm enough to get some sleep or at least rest a little bit.

"Dallas, I know you're an independent woman. You wouldn't have caught Titan's eye if you weren't. However, we need to seriously change some things regardin' your situation right now. I don't feel you'll be safe enough at Titan's house despite the men guardin' it day and night. I would like you to move into the clubhouse with Titan. Your animals are more than welcome here and it will mean you're even more protected than you currently are. I'd also like you to spend less time at the clinic until you're open and have to be there with clients to help them with their animals. We have the updated security system there and will make sure men are there at all times. Again, I'd only like you to be there when you absolutely need to be there," Reaper starts, as Dallas listens carefully to every word he says.

"I can do that. We don't really have a lot of work right now anyway. Um, will Emmie and Charlotte be able to work in the clinic? Or do you not feel it's safe for them either?" she asks, her voice wavering with the fear filling her. "I won't go against anything you all think I need to do so I'm safe and no one takes me from here. I don't want to be sold off to anyone else. I also don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. What about when the babies are here? If something were to happen to them, I'd never forgive myself."

"We'll make sure no one gets close to the babies. The ol' ladies don't want you to feel as if they don't want you around because that's not true. They've been dyin' for you to come spend time with them. I know they've been goin' up to the house to spend time with you. Now, you'll always spend time here. For the time bein' we're not on lockdown, but anyone who doesn't have an ol' lady I'd like to move into the clubhouse. The more guys we have here, the better it will be for Dallas' safety. Jay, I hear there's also somethin' you'd like to discuss with all of us?"

"Yes, sir. I talked to Titan after seein' the man at the clinic. I would like permission to work for Dallas there instead of anywhere else. I'll do anythin' she needs me to do and help out with the animals in her care. She's stated that she'd like me to walk the dogs and watch over them when they're out in the fenced in areas to play and exercise. It would be better for me to go outside than one of the girls there. I want to protect her at all times and make sure she's okay. No one deserves to feel as if they can't be safe in their own business or home. Dallas is a great woman and it would be an honor to work at her side and protect her to the best of my ability. I'd give my life in a second for hers," Jay says, looking around the table at my side as I keep an eye on him. It's pretty much everything he told me when we talked at the clinic a little while ago.

"I actually think that's a great idea. I'm sure she can give you work even after this situation has been dealt with and is no longer an issue. You'd be helpin' her out as much as she's helpin' us out because you'd have steady employment. Anyone have any arguments about Jay workin' for Dallas at the clinic?" Reaper asks the table and no one speaks up to dispute it. "Dallas, it looks like you have a new employee. Jay, you remain at her side as much as you can. If she's in an exam room, I want you outside the door. If you can make it work, don't take the dogs out for a walk or their play until it's slow and you can keep an eye on Dallas as she remains in the clinic. It might limit what you're able to do for now, but that's the only way you'll be able to protect her."

"Thank you, everyone," Jay says, nodding his head at the table before stepping back out of the way so we can continue.

"Hilton, have you been able to find anythin' on your end of things?" Reaper asks our friendly cop.

"No. This fucker is a damn ghost. No prints are ever on anythin' he leaves behind or sends to Mayor Parker. I've been sent information from Hawk and there's nothin' there either. The fucker is good. That's about the only thing I can say about him. I've also been lookin' into the records from the prison and the inmate in question hasn't had any visitors. If they're workin' together, there's absolutely no record of it. The only way that happens is if there's truly no connection there and someone is workin' alone. Or he's managed to get his hands on a burner phone from one of the other inmates or a guard," Officer Hilton states, frustration lacing his voice as he looks around the table. "Miss Parker, I'm sorry I don't have better news for you."

"I'm sure you're doing all you can, Officer. Thank you for the work you're putting in to help us with this situation," Dallas says, her voice soft and sweet despite her still not being back to normal.

"Okay. We'll all remain in contact with one another. Dallas, I'd like you to remain here while Titan and the others go to the house to grab your animals, clothes, and whatever else you need from the house. Mayor, you're welcome to stay and visit with your daughter if you have nothin' else to do. Meetin' adjourned," Reaper says, hitting the table with his hand this time so it's not quite as loud and scaring Dallas.

Everyone leaves our meeting room and I'm among the last ones out. I don't let Dallas out of my arms as I stand from my chair and carry her into the common room. Tripp and Jay remain close to us as I take her to the couches and set her down between Alex and Emmie. With one look both women know to keep a close eye on her.

"Sweet Girl, I'll be back as soon as I can. I'll get everythin' for the animals to bring here with us. Do you need anythin' else that I might not grab?" I ask her, our faces close as I lean down over her.

"No. Adam, I'm just ready to go to bed. I'm so exhausted," she says, her voice wavering once again.

"Okay, Sweet Girl. I'll get back as quick as I can so we can go to bed. Alex, do you think you can get her somethin' to eat and drink while I'm gone?" I ask the queen of our club.

"Of course I can. I'll get her taken care of. You do what you gotta do. Emmie and the girls will help me take care of her while you're gone," Alex informs me, her voice warm and filled with concern as she moves closer to Dallas.

"Dallas, your dad is still here. I'm sure he'd love to spend time with you before he heads out."

"Okay. I'll go talk to him. I'm sorry about all this," she says.

I don't even bother responding to her as I lean down further and press my lips against hers. For the first time I don't deepen the kiss because we're in a room full of people including her dad. The last thing she needs is for me to start something that she's not ready for tonight. Tonight, Dallas needs to rest and get some sleep. Turning away from her is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life as I leave the clubhouse with a group of men following me. Tripp lets me know he'll get the animals since he's been the main one around them while I gather everything else. Jay tells me he'll get the snacks he's noticed my girl eating on a daily basis. The three of us will go in the house while the rest remain outside. Jay grabs an SUV to load the animals up in and get them down here to Dallas. He definitely needs to get patched in immediately.