Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

Titan

INSTEAD OF LEAVING the courthouse and heading back to the clubhouse like I was supposed to, Tripp and I stayed behind the courthouse and watched what was going on. From my vantage point, I watch as my wife walks down Main Street and looks in one shop window after another. I wasn't quite sure how she was going to pull this off, but Dallas did everything perfectly. Instead of going in the shop and disappearing from view, she stayed outside where Renegade and his men could keep their eyes on her at all times. I'm pretty sure they've got a few guys in some of the stores Dallas said were her favorites, but it seems they aren't necessary. I know this is making Dallas extremely nervous and she's not necessarily ready to go through with it. However, she's going to make sure she follows through to end this once and for all. Knowing myself the way I do, there was no way in hell I was going to head back to the clubhouse and sit on my ass while waiting for someone else to tell me how my wife is.

As Tripp and I sit in the shadows and watch, I spot Cammie walking down the street. She's trying to appear nonchalant, but instead she looks crazy as fuck with her wide eyes searching all over the place. Her hand is stuffed in her purse and I know this isn't going to end well. Cammie's up to something and I know this shit is all part of whatever is going on with Norbert. Somehow he got to her and has enlisted her help in his plans for my wife. It's the perfect opportunity for the skank to get what she wants. My wife has been on this slut's hit list from the second Dallas walked into the clubhouse. I have no clue what to do about her but she's gonna meet her fucking maker sooner rather than later. Rage fills me with every single second Cammie stalks toward Dallas. Tripp's hand is on my shoulder as he keeps me locked in place instead of moving toward where Dallas is as Cammie gets up to her.

Cammie says something and I know it's not good based on Dallas' face. She's looking as if she's ready to fucking gut Cammie and leave her there on the middle of Main Street. However, she's not going to do anything that potentially hurts an innocent person around her. Today, the sidewalks are full of people walking from one store to the next. Dallas won't ever put someone in harm's way just because she wants to get herself out of a horrible situation. She'll let something happen to her to protect them at all costs. I can't exactly blame her because I'd do the same shit and have many fucking times in the past. We will always do whatever is necessary to protect those we love and anyone who is innocent. Especially the people of Clinton City.

After a few minutes of them talking, I watch on as Cammie and Dallas leave the storefront they were just in front of. Dallas sees Psycho as he makes a move toward them. I'm still in a good position and watch as my wife lets him know Cammie has a gun and it's pointed toward her. It's in the way she moves her hand and fingers. I have no clue what the fuck to do now because my wife is being taken from me and there's nothing we can do to stop it from happening.

"Stay the fuck here, Titan. If you know what the fuck is good for you, you'll stay right the fuck here. Bear and some of the other guys are already in SUVs so they can follow Cammie the second she takes off with Dallas. We'll follow behind them at a slower pace. Titan, you have to hold your shit in or you won't be able to help get your wife back. I'll lock your ass in one of the SUVs and ensure that you can't escape. Do you want to be the one who saves your wife or will you not be able to hold yourself in check?" Tripp states, his hand tightening on my shoulder to the point I feel a bite of pain.

As we watch Cammie shove Dallas into the backseat of her car, a car pulls up to us and the back window rolls down. Looking over for a quick second, I see Mayor Parker sitting there with a grim expression on his face.

"Get in the car. You can't ride your bikes following her through town. Cammie knows you all from her time at the clubhouse and there's no point in trying to stay far enough behind everyone so she doesn't see you. She'll hear the bikes even without seeing them. My car is quiet and no one will expect me to be following the other bikers as they remain as close to my daughter as they possibly can," Mayor Parker tells us as Tripp and I get off our bikes and quickly get in Dallas' dad's car.

As soon as Cammie's car pulls from the curb, I watch an SUV pull out from one of the stores and follow behind the car. Not close enough that Cammie will notice she's being followed but still to the point where they can follow her without losing her in the mild amount of traffic flowing through the city. We make our way a few cars behind the SUV and follow behind them as more trucks pull up behind us. Looking out the back window, I see Renegade, Psycho, and Grave in the truck directly behind us. I can't figure out the best way to get to Dallas before anyone else can. I'm not sure what Norbert will do to her if he gets her out of the car and into whatever location she's being taken to right now.

My leg bounces as I turn back around to watch Cammie's car as she weaves in and out of traffic. She's driving so recklessly and I can't see Dallas anywhere in the backseat of the car. I'm hoping she's laying against the seat and protecting herself the best she can. Thoughts of our baby fill my mind and I know my wife will do everything in her power to ensure our baby and her come out of this in one piece. As I try to breathe, I find it hard as fuck to get in the smallest breath of air. I'm covered in a layer of sweat, making my shirt stick to me and my body feel as if it's burning up from the inside out.

"Titan, are you okay?" Tripp asks me as my vision starts to fade at the edges and fear consumes me to the point I can hardly open my mouth to respond.

"I just need to know she's okay," I murmur, my voice wavering as I try to focus on Cammie's car as we enter the poor section of the city.

"He's having a panic attack," Mayor Parker states, his voice gentle as he looks at me with sympathy filling his eyes.

"She's turning into the trailer park. Just a few more minutes, Titan, and you'll have Dallas back in your arms. You need to breathe. Slow and deep, Titan. Come on. You need to be strong and steady for Dallas when you get her back in your arms. Don't let her see you like this when you have no clue where the fuck her head is right now. When you've assessed her and realize that she's okay, then you can break. Let her comfort you and give you the strength you need as you both move past this," Tripp tells me, getting in my face and making me focus on him and only him.

Listening to the words of my best friend, I take several slow, deep breaths in and out. Everything starts to come back into focus and I know that Tripp is right and I need to be there for Dallas until I know the baby and her are okay. Then, I can let myself breakdown in the safety of Dallas' arms and let her be the strength I need as I'll always be the strength my wife needs no matter how I feel and what's going on in our lives or world. When we're in the safety of our home, or room at the clubhouse, I will allow myself to break apart and know that this shit had to happen so that we can finally break through the chains holding us back and move forward completely without anything holding us back or restricting my wife from living her life the way she truly wants to.

We park at the end of the trailer park in town and Tripp waits for everyone else to park so we can walk up to the trailer together and surround the place that's falling down to the ground. Turning to the mayor as I get out of his car, he holds his hands in the air as if he already knows that he won't get out of the car and will remain behind while we take care of business. The less he knows about how we handle things, the better it will be for everyone involved.

As I hear a scream erupt from Dallas, I turn around so fast I almost fall on my face. It's only because of Tripp and Renegade that I don't faceplant on the broken sidewalk. Dallas is fighting against Cammie as she tries to drag her into the trailer. I can already hear a man yelling from inside about the commotion being caused by the women. Finally, Dallas slumps over and lets Cammie drag her inside. Panic flares to life and I can't imagine why she'd stop fighting and let herself be taken into the asshole that's been stalking her. It doesn't take long for me to realize what made my wife change her attitude so suddenly. Behind the women is a young mother pushing a stroller with an infant inside. The baby is crying from the yelling and screaming as the young girl rushes to soothe her baby. Dallas will not risk this innocent baby and girl getting hurt because she's choosing to fight and save her own life and the life of our baby.

"Hold back, Titan," Renegade says as we watch Cammie drag Dallas up the rickety stairs to the porch that I'm not sure will hold their weight. "Let her get inside and then we'll surround the place. We don't want the fucker to escape before we can get our hands on him."

I know Renegade's words make sense and it's what we need to do. However, everything deep in my soul is telling me to go to my wife and get her out of this situation. Tripp's hand on my shoulder and Psycho standing in front of me are the only reasons I'm not fucking flying to the trailer and getting Dallas out of there. I can't see what's going on with her and now her fate is in the hands of Cammie and Norbert until we can surround the trailer. Even from here I listen as there's the sounds of crashing, a struggle, and screams. A man is yelling and shouting so loud I don't know how everyone in the place can't hear him and put a stop to whatever the fuck is going on.

"I need to fuckin' get in there!" I shout, my voice echoing off the trailers closest to us as I begin to fight against Tripp and Psycho. "Let. Me. Fuckin'. Go!"

"No, Titan. You need to go with us so we can get Norbert so this shit finally fuckin' ends," Renegade states as his men surround him.

"You're wastin' fuckin' time. You know my wife is pregnant and you stand here doin' nothin' to get to her. Do you not hear what the fuck is goin' on? They could be killin' her and it doesn't fuckin' matter to you because your woman is safe at home while mine is the one sufferin'," I shout, enough rage coursing through my body to finally push Tripp and Psycho off of me.

"We're goin' to the trailer now," Renegade says as the unmistakable sound of a gun being fired fills the trailer park.

Without hesitation, I push past everyone standing before me and rush to the trailer. I don't give a fuck about Cammie or Norbert. All I care about is my wife and making sure she's okay. If I lose my Sweet Girl, no one will be able to stop me from burning the world down in my attempt to take out those who have ever done her wrong in her life. Not just Cammie and Norbert who are hurting her right now, but every single fucking person who has ever made my wife cry, hurt, and feel one ounce of anger and sorrow. I'll gut everyone who has ever made her doubt herself and shredded her confidence until it was nothing.

Rushing up the steps of the porch I skip most of them and barely touch the porch as I make my way to the door. It's barely hanging on by the hinges. Screaming out, I rip it from the hinges and toss it behind me, barely missing Tripp and Grave as they stand behind me. Bursting into the trailer, I find Cammie laying on her back, staring up at the ceiling with unseeing eyes, her blood draining and pooling around her. A man holds Dallas by her hair as she drops the gun from her hand. There's a red handprint on her cheek and I know he's hit her. A red haze fills my vision and there's no way in hell I will ever forgive this man or go easy on the fucker for touching my wife. My pregnant wife.

"You're never gonna get your hands on me," Norbert says, a sinister smile on his face. "In fact, I'm going to walk out of here with Dallas so I can hand her over to the man who already bought her. I will get my payday one way or another. Dallas is the key for that. By handing her over to her buyer, her father will have no choice but to meet my demands and release the prisoner I'm demanding he releases."

"That's not gonna fuckin' happen," I roar, making Dallas flinch as she gets her second look of me in my true Enforcer mode for the Fallen Brethren MC.

"Yeah it is. You have no choice in the matter, Titan. Do you believe that I will let her live just so you can capture me and do what you will until you finally end my life? I've been evading capture for many years and gone up against greater foes than you. None of my enemies have ever managed to get close to me and I have no problem taking you all out in order to get what I want," Norbert states things I already know are facts about himself. However, he's never gone up against a man in love as his wife is held against her will.

My eyes go to Dallas and I take in her hair that's not ruined from our wedding not that long ago. Her eyes are red and swollen from crying as tears still fall down her face and drop to the floor of the trailer to disappear into the disgusting carpet we stand on. Dallas' dress is torn and her leg has a long cut down it. Blood trails down her skin, brushing against the fabric of her dress making the red haze filling my vision even more pronounced as rage courses through me. Dallas nods her head slightly and I wonder what the fuck is going on. However, it's not enough to get me to take my eyes off of her. Suddenly there's the loud echo of gun fire and I can't hear anything as I watch Norbert drop to the ground, screaming in agony as Dallas falls to the ground after flinging herself to the side just before the gun went off over my shoulder.

Without hesitation, I run to Dallas' side and pull her into my arms. She's crying hysterically, hiccups mixing in with the tears and sobs. Dallas, my Sweet Girl, throws herself into my arms and wraps her body around mine as I hold her tight against me, pressing my face into her neck, the scent of cherries filling me and filling me with a sense of peace and an overwhelming calmness that I haven't felt in such a long time. Not since all of this shit started with Norbert and everything else. The sense of peace and calm started when I first messaged her all those months ago and she doesn't have to do anything in order for me to feel that way either.

"Adam," she cries, pulling me in impossibly closer to her body and digging her nails into my skin.

"I've got you, Sweet Girl. I'm never lettin' you go again," I promise her as the men move around us to take care of the situation we're currently in. "Let's get out of here. I want to get you in with the doctor to make sure everythin' is okay with our little one and you. The cut on your leg looks as if it needs stitches, Sweet Girl."

"Don't leave me, Adam. Please don't leave me alone," she begs me, her voice breaking and shattering my heart all over again.

"I won't leave you, Sweet Girl. If there's one promise I keep to you for the rest of our lives, it's that I will never leave your side. Every second you need me, I will be there for you. You and our baby come before everythin' else in my life. Everythin' I used to think was so important and filled with what I wanted. You have ripped all that shit apart and made me realize that I'm nothin' if you're not at my side and in my arms," I tell her, pulling her up against my body and holding her closer than before.

Standing from the disgusting floor with Dallas in my arms, I don't let her look at what the men are doing with Norbert or in the direction of Cammie's lifeless body.

"I killed her, Adam. I used the gun you got me and killed her when she was going to attack me. I couldn't let her hit me in the stomach and hurt our baby," she whispers, her voice wavering as she closes her eyes and presses her face against my neck, taking a deep breath of me.

"I know you did, Sweet Girl. I'm so fuckin' proud of you. You protected yourself and our baby in whatever means you needed to. I'm gonna be there to help get you through any nightmares, memories, and anythin' else that plagues you from this," I tell her as I carry her from the house and straight to her dad's waiting car.

Mayor Parker opens the door of the car and moves away so I can help get Dallas inside. I don't release her from my arms as the mayor climbs in and sits next to us. He doesn't say a word as his driver pulls away and rushes from the trailer park and through town. I can hear bikes following us and I know Renegade and his men have already secured Norbert and they're going to follow us back to the clubhouse so they can get him locked up in the cells in the basement until I'm ready to deal with him. Right now, the most important thing is taking care of Dallas and making sure she's got the best care she can possibly have. Including getting Doc and Dr. Morris in to see her immediately.