why they’re suddenly so concerned, but I’ll be damned if they’ll get their hands on her or my daughter. I don’t fucking trust them.”
“I’ll call my guys off, but, Kraken, you need to handle this shit. Those people aren’t going to back down. If we won’t do the job, they’ll hire someone else. I can put the word out their money isn’t good, but you know some stupid fuck somewhere will take the job just the same.”
Yeah, I knew it. Didn’t like it one damn bit either. “Thanks, Forge. Next time, instead of lurking around our fucking town, come knock on the damn door. You’ll be lucky if Titan doesn’t bust some heads.”
“Shit,” he muttered. “On it. I’ll call your Pres and my guys. We’ll sort it all out.”
I shook my head and hung up the phone. At least I knew they wouldn’t be taking Phoebe, but he made a good point. Her parents wanted her back for some reason, and I doubted they’d stop just because the Reckless Kings decided to back out. No, they’d find someone else. Someone as unscrupulous as the Sadistic Saints had been, and there’d be no reasoning with them. My woman and kid were in danger every second those sorry sons-of-bitches were breathing. Preacher, my ass. The man was no better than… Damn.
I pulled up Wizard’s name on my phone and shot off a message. Find me proof the parents sold her to the Sadistic Saints.
They’d either see reason, so they didn’t see the inside of a prison for trafficking their own underage kid, or I’d fucking kill them. As much as I didn’t want Phoebe to know I’d gotten her parents’ blood on my hands, I’d do whatever was necessary to keep her safe. I had to wonder just how rotten the preacher was if he could sell his own kid. What would stop him from doing the same to some other girl, or Phoebe’s sister?
My phone rang again and I saw the Pres’s name light up the screen. “Did the Reckless Kings call you?” I asked.
“Yeah. Spoke with Wizard too. He can’t find any sort of communication between the parents and the Sadistic Saints, and the money deposited was cash. He’s going to keep digging, but there’s a chance they were smart enough not to leave a trail.”
“I can’t let this lie, Titan. She’s not safe.”
“I know,” he said. “Spend some time with your family, Kraken, but later tonight I want you to ride out. Go visit her family. They have another daughter. Younger than Phoebe.”
Right. So if money got tight, they’d find a way to earn some easy cash again. I didn’t know what the hell to do with Phoebe’s sister. I really didn’t want her in my house underfoot, but I wouldn’t abandon her either. If they had other family, it would make sense to send the girl to live with them. Unless the others were as bad as the preacher.
“I’ll have Grizzly meet you there,” Titan said.
“The Pres for the Devil’s Fury? Why the hell would he do that?”
“Because he takes in strays. Has a thing for giving teen girls a second chance. He’ll raise her right, and he’ll make sure Phoebe can see her whenever she wants.”
“All right. I’ll head out once my girls are in bed.”
I disconnected the call and picked up Ember, carrying her into the kitchen. Phoebe already had our plates on the table and was in the process of getting drinks from the fridge. She froze mid-reach and stared at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You have that look.”
“Need to make a run later tonight. I’ll be gone until sometime tomorrow. Possibly longer. But I’m not going anywhere until bedtime. I’m going to spend as much time with my girls tonight as I can.”
Phoebe gave me a tight smile, but I knew she wouldn’t ask questions. She was the perfect old lady. I put Ember in her high chair, then claimed a seat next to her. When Phoebe sat down, I noticed her hand trembled. It was her number one tell when something made her anxious. I reached out and placed my hand on top of hers, giving it a slight squeeze.
“It’s going to be fine, baby girl. I’ll come home to you. It’s not something that will detain me for long, but I need to make sure you’re safe, and your sister too.”
Her gaze held mine. “My sister?”
I nodded. “I don’t want to risk your family doing the same thing to her. Do you?”
“Of course not.”
“I’m