Chas's Fervor: Insurgents Motorcycle Club (Insurgents MC Romance Book 3) (14 page)

Eyes big, his head jerked toward the open office door as he scoped out the area. Leaning close to Ms. O’Leary, he whispered, “I dunno. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. It’s top secret. Stuff the motorcycle club does.”

Smiling, Addie said, “Well, I wouldn’t want you to reveal any secrets. Who brought you?”

“My mom, and boy, was she pissed.” Placing his hand over his mouth, he mumbled, “Oh, sorry.”

“Because she had to bring you?”

“Yeah. She didn’t want to take me, but my pop warned her he’d be super pissed if she didn’t.” A red streak painted his cheeks. “Sorry, again. I don’t mean to say ‘pissed,’ but I can’t help saying ‘pissed.’ Oops, there I go again.”

Feigning disapproval, Addie shook her head. “The better word is ‘mad’ or ‘angry.’ It’s good your dad is supporting your reading sessions.”

“Yeah. My mom is pis—I mean, mad because she thinks I’m stupid ’cause I can’t read so good.”

“Please, don’t believe that, Jack. You’re not stupid at all. You’re a very bright young boy, and you are progressing so well. Sometimes, adults say things to children to hurt them because they are mad at something else. It isn’t right, but we’re all guilty of that from time to time. Maybe your mother has a lot of stress. I’m sure she doesn’t
really
mean it.”

“I dunno… she sure says it a lot.” Jack looked down at the desk.

Addie came over to him and put her arm around his small shoulder, squeezing it. “Don’t you believe it for a second. You’re a sweet, smart boy. I love working with you. And speaking of that, we better get to work. Would you like some juice and graham crackers?”

Bobbing his head up and down, he said, “I sure would, thanks.”

Addie laughed, brought over the snack, sat down, and opened the book. “Will your dad be picking you up?”

“No, he’s not even here. He had to do some club stuff somewhere else.”

“He’s out of town?”

Jack nodded as he washed down his graham crackers with grape juice. “He said he’d try and bring me something from where he is. I’m not sure where, though. It’s club stuff.” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

Handing Jack a Kleenex, Addie asked, “How long will he be gone?”

“I dunno. Dad never knows. Anyways, club business stays with the club. That’s what Dad always says. We shouldn’t be talking about this, Ms. O’Leary.”

Placing her hand over her mouth, her green eyes sparkled. “Mum’s the word. Now, read me the first page of the book.”

As Jack stumbled over the words, Addie wondered where Chas was, and if he were in any danger. Memories of Ian disappearing unexpectedly for days at a time with nothing more than encrypted excuses stabbed her mind. She had no clue what Chas was up to, the same as with Ian.
No, this is different. Ian made me believe he was the CEO of a gold company, but Chas doesn’t hide that he’s an Insurgent. I have to stop comparing them.
Her past couldn’t leave her alone; it kept trying to consume her. Yet, on their date, Chas never once mentioned that he had to leave for a while.

“How do you say this word, Ms. O’Leary?”

Craning her neck to see the word Jack’s finger was on, Addie chided herself for not paying attention. “ ‘Rummaged.’ Sound it out like we went over yesterday.”

Their hour lesson was over in a flash.

“Are you enjoying the book?” Addie asked Jack, as he stuffed his copy of
The Knight and the Dragon
into his bag.

“Yeah. I like the castle and the way the dragon is nice.”

Addie smiled at the sparks which crackled in Jack’s eyes. It was an adrenaline boost to see a child excited by a book. “While you wait for your mom to pick you up, do you want to help clear the tables? You can push the cart until it gets too heavy.”

“Nothing’s too heavy for me.” Jack puffed out his chest, rolled up his sleeves, and showed her his “muscles.” Laughing, Addie saw glimmers of Chas in the boy.

Jack pushed the cart around the small library, collecting books from tables and chairs.

As late afternoon turned into evening, the autumn twilight brought mulberry-purple skies with wisps of magenta streaks illuminating the pine and elm trees in a warm glow. Gnarled oak tree branches silhouetted against the darkening sky as the yellow harvest moon began its ascent. Street lights blinked on, casting long shadows on the pavement around the building. Library patrons, books in hand, hurried to check out their finds as the hour neared closing.

Glancing at the wall clock, Addie noticed it was six o’clock. Jack’s lesson had been over for more than an hour.

“Was your mother supposed to pick you up?” she asked as she locked the front doors.

“Yeah. She said she’d see me later,” he replied.

“Why don’t you try calling her? She’s not used to picking you up on Thursdays.”

“Okay, but I told her twice ’bout the time.” Jack dialed the number. “I had fun helping you. Maybe I’ll work in a library when I get old.”

“You did a great job. Thank you. You made my job easier.” Addie smiled.

“My mom’s not answering. I’ll call my dad. Maybe one of the Insurgents can pick me up.” Jack twisted his mouth. “My dad isn’t picking up, either. He may not be able to.”

“Try your mother again,” she coaxed.

Jack called his mom four times with the same result. No answer. Biting his lip, he wrinkled his brow, his brown eyes fixed on the front doors.

“Can you call your grandparents?”

Shaking his head, he said, “No, they’re gone. They’re at my great-uncle’s farm, and it’s real far from here. I don’t know his number. I don’t even remember my gramma’s phone number.” With his lips trembling, Jack walked up to the front doors and leaned his forehead against them. “What happens if my mom doesn’t come? I don’t got anywhere to go. Do I have to stay here all alone?”

With a lurching heart, Addie came behind Jack and placed her hands on his small shoulders. “Of course not. We’ll figure something out.”

Jack clutched his stomach.

“Are you hungry?” Addie asked.

He shook his head, his eyes glued to the street.

“I’m going to try your mother. If she still doesn’t answer, why don’t we go out for pizza? After we’re done eating, if I can’t get ahold of your mom, you can stay at my apartment. It’ll be fun.”

A wave of relief washed over Jack’s taut face. Brown eyes glistening, he turned around and threw his small arms around Addie’s waist. “Thanks, that would be great. Can I have whatever I want on my pizza?”

Chuckling, Addie nodded. “Get your things. Let’s eat. I’m starving.”

“Me, too.”

After numerous attempts throughout the evening to reach Brianna, Addie brought Jack—fed and happy—to her apartment. During dinner, he prattled on about his friends, the Insurgents, and motorcycles. Addie laughed with him on the outside, but inside she was seething. It was inexcusable that Brianna forgot to pick up her son.
How could she leave him stranded without any concern for his safety and well-being? I can’t stand her!

For the most part, Addie was pretty easy-going, but if someone pushed her past a certain point, it was like a light switch turning off, never to be turned on again. Jack’s mom crossed the line. She was a self-absorbed, cruel bitch who didn’t deserve Jack. Addie would love to deck her flat on her skinny, skank ass.

Bringing over a warm bowl of popcorn, Addie turned on a movie for them to watch. As the movie waned down, Jack—snuggled under a blanket against the couch’s arm rest—had fallen asleep. Addie grabbed a pillow and gently placed it under Jack as he stretched out on the couch. She looked down on him as he licked his lips in his sleep. Jack seemed comfortable in his makeshift bed.

After washing out the popcorn bowl and switching off the lamp, Addie headed to her bedroom when the tune “Born to be Wild” boomed in the darkness. Addie ran over to the end table and picked up Jack’s phone. The screen blinked
Mom
, and Addie’s pulse elevated while her nostrils flared. She took a deep breath and answered the call.

“Hello? Mrs. Vickers?”

“Jack? Who the fuck is this?”

“This is Ms. O’Leary.”

“Why the hell are you answering my son’s phone? Where is he? What did you do to him?”

Bristling, Addie said, “I
fed
him, watched a movie with him, and put him to sleep. Where were you?”

A string of obscenities assaulted Addie’s ears. Interrupting Brianna’s one-woman show, she told her, “When you don’t pick your child up, you give up your right to tell me off. Are you planning to pick him up?”

Addie’s loud voice woke Jack up, and as he rubbed his eyes, he mumbled, “Is that my mom?”

Nodding, Addie handed him the phone.

“Hi, Mom. Why didn’t you pick me up?”

As Jack spoke briefly to his mom, Addie paced the room to cool the burning fury which overtook her.

“Ms. O’Leary? What’s your address? My mom’s coming to pick me up.”

Addie gave her address then sat down, her hands clenched in fists.

“My mom was wondering where I was,” Jack said as he put his shoes on.

I bet she was. She waited until nearly ten o’clock to call him and see where he was? What a bitch.
“I’m glad your mom called you.”

Twenty minutes later, thunderous pounding on her apartment door unnerved Addie, since she lived in a secured building and no one had buzzed her intercom.

“Who’s there?” Jack asked, his eyes mirroring the fright in hers.

“I don’t know. Stay on the couch.”

Peering out the peephole on her door, she spied two men in police uniforms standing in front of her door. One of them had his hand raised as if to pound on the door again. Fear seized her.
Maybe something had happened to Jack’s mother, or worse, to Chas.

Addie swung the door open. Searching their faces, she asked, “May I help you?”

The two officers pushed forward, forcing her back until they were inside her apartment.

“Are you Addie O’Leary?” the younger cop questioned.

“Yes, I am. What’s wrong?”

The older cop came next to her and said, “You are under arrest for kidnapping a child.”

“W
hat?”
Addie’s eyes
bulged, her hand flying to her chest while a sudden coldness spread through her.

The older cop explained, “We received a call stating you took this young fellow here,” he pointed at Jack, who sat on the couch bleary-eyed, “without his mama’s permission.”

“That is ludicrous! I brought him home with me because his
mama
never came to pick him up after his tutoring lesson. Jack and I tried calling her numerous times. I can show you on my phone.”

She turned to retrieve her purse when the younger cop blocked her. “I wouldn’t do that, miss. Stay where you are and keep your hands where we can see them.”

“Did you have Mrs. Vickers’ permission to bring her son to your home?” the older deputy asked.

“I already told you. I waited for—”

“Yes or no.” The officer stared at her as the color drained from her face.

“No.” Her shoulders slumped.

Before the deputy asked her any more questions, Brianna rushed in, and pointed her finger in Addie’s face. “That’s the bitch who stole my kid.”

Gasping, Addie covered her mouth, her head shaking in disbelief. “I didn’t steal Jack. This is a huge misunderstanding.”

“Mom!” Jack cried out.

Brianna rushed over to him and scooped him in her arms, sprinkling kisses all over his face. “Oh, baby, I was so scared. Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”

Addie stared at Brianna.
What’s she doing? This can’t be happening.

“Okay, young lady, let’s go.” The older deputy nodded to his partner.

“Ask Jack what happened. He’ll tell you he tried many times to get ahold of his mom. What was I supposed to do? Leave an eight-year-old child alone on the steps of the library, hoping his mother would show up?”

With a stern look, the elder deputy handcuffed Addie. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one…”

Addie tuned him out, her brain buzzing a million miles a minute.
Are they really arresting me? Fuck! I’m going to be fingerprinted, and then the truth of who I am will come out. All this because I was nice to Jack and his mom is a psycho bitch!

Through the deputy’s recitation of her Miranda rights, Addie overheard Jack ask his mom, “Where is Ms. O’Leary going? Can I give her a hug?”

Pressing Jack close to her, Brianna said, “Be a good boy and stay quiet. The cops are doing their job.” She turned and locked eyes with Addie, smirking.

The two officers led Addie out of her apartment. A tall man with messy hair, scraggly beard, and tattoos covering both arms stood leaning against the wall, his hands in his jeans’ pockets. When the doorway was clear, he crooked his head and said, “You coming, babe?”

“Yeah, we’re coming, sweetie,” Brianna answered.

She and Jack walked out of the apartment. After pushing in the lock, the young officer shut the door. He held Addie’s arm and marched her down the stairs. She prayed none of the residents would see her shame.

Settled in the back of the police car, the flashing red and blue lights casting eerie shadows on the street, Addie leaned her hot forehead against the cool window and cried softly. She spotted Jack off to the side and he craned his neck around, waving to Addie. “Bye, Ms. O’Leary. See you next week.” Addie knew he was oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

The patrol car pulled away from the curb as a few curious onlookers peeked through their windows and stood on their front porches. Addie slid down, not wanting anyone to recognize her.

On the way to the station, from the way the older cop spoke, Addie could tell he had the hots for Brianna. All he talked about was how pretty she was, and how she didn’t let herself go after she had the kid like a lot of women do. Listening to him talk made Addie nauseous.

At the police station, she was booked on one count of kidnapping and one count of child endangerment.

When she heard the charge, she scoffed. “What endangerment? If anyone should be arrested, it should be Jack’s mother for being a negligent parent.”