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Orion’s lips go firm and tense. I’m about to ask what gives when Guard stands up and says, “Look, let’s get this shit out, so we can set up some safety measures.” Guard turns to me and continues, “Orion has been digging around and came up with some information about Maddie’s abduction.” He looks at Orion nods to imply he should take over the discussion.
“His name is Jefferson Hendley. He is 32 years old. After he abducted Maddie he was sentenced to a psychiatric facility. Two and a half months ago, he was released into the custody of his parents, who live a two-and-a-half-hour drive from her apartment. As part of his recovery and release, he must attend weekly counselling sessions with a psychiatrist. He has made it to every one so far.” He pauses, then starts again with, “Here’s the fucked-up shit that happened before he took Maddie. A year prior, he started writing her letters. No one took much notice because the band getting fan mail all the time. The content seemed harmless enough, typical shit. He loves her, wants her, dreams about how good they are together. He got no response, so the notes started turning aggressive. He got crude; calling her a slut and a tease. Says she throws herself at the men in the audience. Then he starts sounding cracked and goes on about how she needs to be disciplined and how he’s going to make sure that once they were together, she would never stray.” Orion takes a breath. “That last bit is a direct quote from the last letter he sent her.”
“What the fuck!” I can’t control my anger. I’m gripping the end of the table with white knuckles. I have to let go of the anger before I lose my shit. I slam my fist into the table, knocking everything clear onto the floor with a horrible crash. I move to get up and Guard says, “Hey, sit down. You need to hear it all. I hate to feed you this shit, but you need to know it, so we can be prepared.”
“What else?” I look at Orion. He blows out a long breath.
“That night he went to the concert. He had been to so many of them that the security men knew him. He never let on that he had any anger issues and showed no outward signs of aggressiveness; so, when they were giving out back stage passes, they let him have one.” He paused for a minute and looked at Guard; he nodded for Orion to keep going. “This is where it gets really whacked. You need to keep your shit together.” He looked down at the table and went on. “Maddie was with the rest of the band. They were drinking and having a good time. Maddie was still young, so her brother made sure to keep an eye on her. They found out later that someone drugged his drink. He crashed on the sofa and when he came to, he saw the rest of the group passed out and Maddie was missing.”
“Jesus!” I yell out and draw a hand down across my face and across to the back of my neck. “And?” I push Orion for more.
“When the police were called, they found signs of a struggle and small amounts of blood. The security team saw Maddie leave with Jeff and saw that she was acting weird but were busy controlling the crowds.” Orion started walking around the table. “This is where everything gets fuzzy. He had her for twenty-four hours. Never asked for ransom. They traced him with the information security gave. When they found them, Maddie had a cut on her face and bruises on her arms and legs. Her clothes were torn, and she was huddled in a corner of the room she was being held. He held her at knife point and threatened to kill her if they tried to take her from him. The police report states they were able to disarm him when he became distracted by Maddie sobbing and started trying to console her. When he went to pull her close the officer saw an opportunity and took that second to pounce and take him down.”
I look around the table at my brothers. I knew this tell-all isn’t over yet. “Go on, I know there’s something you aren’t telling me.” The silence is killing me. “Do I have to beat it out of you?” I stand and walk to Orion, look him right in the eye. “Let me have it. I need to know,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Maddie has said little to nothing about the whole incident. She was admitted to hospital but wouldn’t let the doctors or nurses touch her. Her brother was the only one she let hold her or even come near her. They finally had to sedate her to treat her for her injuries. She had a black eye, 2 cracked ribs, cuts and bruises and a sprained ankle. They wanted to test for rape but needed her permission. She refused. She got so upset when they tried to approach her that she ripped her IV out of her arm and tried to run.” Orion stops, places his hand on my shoulder and glares into my eyes, his expression pained. “There’s nothing on the record, but chances are, she may have been raped.”
I moved for the door when Guard pulls me back. “Hold up brother. I need you to calm the fuck down before you let your woman see you like this.”
I shake him off. Demon stands and bars the entrance. I turn to face my Pride family.
“Take a deep breath, man,” Risk says. “We are here to do whatever you need but whatever we do, we do it right. So be cool and let’s hear it all.”
“Hear it all?” I repeat. “You tell me there’s more? What the fuck more can there be? My woman is at home, without me. She has been through hell and hasn’t said a fucking word to anyone. That shit is going to eat at her gut until there’s a gaping wound so raw that it eats her alive.” At this point I am fucking screaming at the top of my lungs in the face of my most trusted friends.
Risk pulls me down into a chair next to him. “This is the last bit, and after this, we can decide on a course of action.”
I place my head in my hands, “Fuck, okay, say it,” I growl.
“Jeff has been spotted in and around Maddie’s old apartment by some shopkeepers,” Risk says. “I know because I spoke with them. We need to be careful about how to we move on this. We don’t want Maddie hearing and freaking out even more. So far, this guy hasn’t done anything the police can arrest him on. A restraining order only works if he is caught and is only a deterrent at this point.”
Guard stands tall. “Maddie is one of us. She is your old lady and our family now. We protect our family.”
I look at my family, one at a time. I see the determination on their faces. I see loyalty.
“I need to get home to Maddie. I don’t want to be away from her, especially now,” I grind out.
“Listen, War, I think we are jumping the gun. We haven’t got proof he is sniffing around for her yet. We need to be diligent and smart.” Risk is always so rational and systematic, even though he’s risked his own life repeatedly to protect his buddies. His sniper training from back when he was enlisted has left him so precise and clear in thought, making him methodical and relentless. He is dangerous as fuck and I, for one, am glad he's on our side.
“Here’s the plan, men,” Guard pipes up. “Risk, you’re in charge of setting up proper security at War’s place. Orion keep digging. I want to know where this guy lives and where he is right now! Demon you work a schedule where Maddie always has a man on her and I do mean always. When War is working the club, someone is assigned to Maddie. And seeing that the women have now formed bonds, we need to make sure that Ava and Vi are covered too.”
Orion responds first. “Deep breath, man. We aren’t going to let that little pissant get away with shit.”
Risk moves closer to me and by his twisted lips and far-away look, I can tell his mind is whirling into motion.
“Say it!” I demand.
“Hear me out: We should tell Vi and Ava about the basics of what we are looking out for.” We all start to shake our heads to say no way and he holds his hands out to stop us. “If they are aware that there’s maybe a threat, they can be smart about where they go together and make it easier to keep them all safe.”
“Not yet,” Guard announces. “Let’s give this a few weeks to see where we’re at before we decide.”
I walk out letting my brothers know by the chin lifts and handshakes that they are appreciated. I’m on my way back to my girl. I am so wretched with anger, if I had that fucker in my grasp, he wouldn’t be alive long. I have never backed down from a fight. I have stood behind my brothers, I have led them as well. When we’ve been threatened, I have made those who threaten us pay. I have been pissed before, but nothing like I feel right now. I could rip Jeff’s heart from his chest and feel no remorse.
I feel anguished over the thought of my Maddie terrified for a full twenty-four hours, being held and abused. I knew she was shaken by what happened, but until today, I had no idea the extent of the damage she endured at the hands of that freak.
* * *
As I ride my chopper home, I’m able to calm down somewhat. The last thing I want is to give her an inkling that anything is off.
