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She clasps her hand with mine and presses a kiss over my knuckles. “Did you get my message?”
I nod. “I did. Been tryin’ to call you every day since you left.”
“Yeah, Emiliano broke the burner phone, and I’m not sure what happened to my other phone.” She shakes her head and stops a few feet from the clubhouse, taking both of my hands in hers and pressing them to her chest. “He drugged me, Dix. My own brother. And when I woke up, I was locked in a room in Colombia.”
My eyes widen in shock. “What the fuck? Did he hurt you?"
Valentina’s face falls. “No. Emiliano took me as leverage against you and my father.”
My jaw clenches. “That motherfucker. I knew it was him. I swear to god, I'll kill him.”
Valentina places a hand on my chest. “Dix, please. I just want to forget about it and move on.”
I take a deep breath and steel myself. “I’m sorry, honey. I just can't stand the thought of anyone hurting you.”
Valentina smiles softly. “I know, Dix. But I’m here now. Let’s forget everything else.”
I pull her into a tight embrace. “I’m so glad you're safe, Valentina. I missed you so damn much.”
Valentina buries her face in my chest. “I missed you too, Dix. So much.”
We stand for a moment, holding each other close, until I finally exhale, taking Valentina’s hand in mine. “Come on. Let’s get you settled,” I tell her and tuck her under my arm before I lead her into the clubhouse.
“Dix,” she freezes and her grip on my waist tightens. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Those big green eyes dart around warily, and my heart clenches at what she must be feeling. First kidnapped by her brother and now brought into a place where everyone views her as the enemy.
“I’m right here with you, babe. I’m at your side. Always. Trust me?”
She flashes the most beautiful smile ever and gives an almost imperceptible nod. “I trust you, Dix. Completely. It’s the others I don’t trust.”
“Okay.” I press another kiss to her mouth and pull back, standing proud and daring anyone to say shit about having her here with me. “My brothers need to hear the details, and I don’t want you to have to tell the story more than once. Yeah?”
“Okay, yes.”
I don’t let go of her hand as I find Ace in the fancy-ass computer room with Wild Man and Gia. “We need to hear Valentina out,” I say unceremoniously.
Ace looks up and, though he’s not happy, a look of relief crosses his face as he settles his gaze on her. “Glad you made it back safe and sound.”
“Me too,” she answers with a shaky breath.
Ace nods and follows us back into the clubhouse. “We need ten minutes in here, patched brothers only.” He stares around the room until all the women and Bitches clear out, the prospects right behind them until it’s just me, my brothers and my woman.
I whisper in her ear, “Take a seat.” But Val shakes her head.
“I can’t. I’ve been sitting for hours,” she answers, her hands fidgeting and her gaze unable to focus on one thing for too long. “I’m going to stand.”
I nod and take a step back. This is her story to tell. “You got this, babe.”
Ace strolls across the clubhouse until he’s a few feet in front of Valentina, sizing her up until he’s satisfied this isn’t a trick. “Are you all right? If you need medical attention, we have a doctor.”
“I wasn’t abused or beaten, just locked up away from the world on the outskirts of Bogota.” She looks around the room at the skeptical and wary gazes my brothers aim right at her and composes herself. She’s so goddamn strong. It’s admirable.
“I’m just, I don’t know, shaken up and angry.”
Ace nods. “Can you tell us what happened?”
Valentina nods and gives me a shy look over her shoulders before standing a little taller and facing the brothers head-on.
“I was trying to call Dix about what I’d overheard my brother plotting against Papa’s wishes. My back was to the door when the phone was ripped from my hands and one of his men grabbed me. We argued and then we fought before he injected me with something that knocked me out. I woke up in Columbia at a house I’d never been to before, and that’s where I was until yesterday. Then I came here.”
“And they just let you go?” Shades, of course, is as skeptical as ever.
“No. I ran away.”
“Does your father know you’re here?” Coop is less confrontational, but his guard is up.
“No. I haven’t talked to him. He knew where I was, and he did nothing to stop it.” She recounts her run across the villa and finding a cab to take her to the airport.
