Scandalous Heroes Box Set (132 page)

“Damn, I hate when people try and get all up in my business like that,” Donald said with feeling.

“We have to track her down and get Adam. As much as he loves working with his hands, he is miserable if he has to do it for hours every day. He’s just a kid,” Belinda said, laying her head on Blaine’s shoulder while placing her hand on top of Donald’s to keep him in place.

“We’ll find him. Now that we have more to go on, we’ll get him,” Donald said, rubbing her thigh.

“But…” Wide-eyed, she sat up as the tail end of Trinity’s conversation reverberated through her. She met Donald’s startled gaze. “She’s moving.”

Donald pulled out his cell and placed a call. “Veronique, we found something. I need an address to go with this tag please.” He paused. “Yes, hurry.”

“We stay in the area until we find this ranch and go get our boy,” Blaine said, his voice hard. “She’s not taking him anywhere.”

Hearing the conviction in his voice soothed her. Beneath the table she held both of their hands in hers and prayed he was right. Their food had just been delivered when Donald received the name and address from Veronique. But there was more.

“Dammit,” Donald said as he disconnected.

“What? The car is registered out of state?” Belinda asked, wondering what caused his outburst.

“No, it’s in this county, hopefully the GPS will pick it up.” He looked over her head at his twin and then returned his gaze to hers. “My dad and Uncle Nate arrived this morning after we left. He tried to talk to Abe while he was at Red’s. But Abe got up and left. Mom and dad got into it again and mom had Red drive her to your house so she could stay with Abe until we got back.”

At the mention of their father she stopped eating and looked at him. “I do not want to meet or talk to him. If that is a problem, let me know now and I will find a ride back home.”

“You don’t have to meet anyone you don’t want to. Neither of us has talked to him since we discovered what he did. Mom left him and the other kids barely speak to him. He did this to himself. You don’t owe him or anyone else anything,” Blaine said, stroking her hand.

Appetite gone, she pushed the greasy fries around her plate as she pushed thoughts of the elder O’Connor from her mind. His whole family was angry with him, which had to suck. But it was his own fault.

“You ready?” Donald asked. She looked down and they had both finished their meals while she had half a sandwich and a plate full of fries left. Placing her fork on the table, she nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

After typing in the address, they did a u-turn and drove in the direction they had just come from. When they turned down the dusty road leading to a loosely chained gate, she realized the anonymous tip hadn’t been that far off. This place matched the description of the house they’d originally gone to and they were only a few miles apart. Blaine got out and removed the chain so Donald could drive through. The large two-storied house was a good distance from the gate, possibly to discourage running away.

When she slid out from the backseat, the front door opened. A tall Latino-looking male stepped out on the porch wearing a welcoming smile and wiping his hands on a dishcloth.

She didn’t return his smile.

“Hola and welcome, how are you today?” he asked, ushering them onto the porch.

“Hello, I’m Blaine O’Connor, and this is Belinda, and my brother Donald. I’m here for my son, Adam. If you’d kindly bring him out here, we’ll be on our way.”

Their host’s smile slipped when Blaine asked for Adam. “Adam? Adam O’Connor?”

“No, Adam Moore. I believe Trinity brought him in,” Blaine said with authority.

“Trinity? You know Trinity?” The smile grew bigger as if her name was a passcode or something.

“Right now, I’d like my son. Adam.” Blaine crossed his arms and stared at the man.

“Today is just my second day working here. I don’t know if there is an Adam at this ranch, he may be at the other one. We have so many youth who come to us for help, we expanded the good work.”

Blaine nodded. “May I ask what your name is?”

Their host’s smile dipped. “Yes, I am Louis Gonzalez.”

“Are you the manager here?”

“No, no, I am the new assistant.” He shook his head a few times. “Miss Trinity manages both ranches. She heads the ministry that owns the ranches.”

“What do the young people do here?” Blaine asked.

“We teach them to farm,” he said proudly, his accent pronounced.

Belinda waited for him to say more. He didn’t.

“Farm? Is that it?” Blaine asked.

“Well, there is some auto mechanics at the other ranch, but mostly farming. Then they have chores around the house and Bible study.” The way he talked, Belinda knew Trinity hadn’t given up her evangelistic zeal.

“Bible study?” Blaine asked.

“Ms. Trinity teaches them, I am not involved in that. I am preparing dinner, would you care to come in? I'll check to see if there is an Adam on the list of names.” Louis stepped back so they could enter.

Tasty aromas of meat and vegetables filled the air. Surprised at the clean, spacious house, Belinda walked through the lower rooms, checking the bathroom, kitchen, and recreation room. It wasn’t a bad looking place.

“There are five bedrooms and three baths upstairs. There are two with no more than three to a room. One of the bedrooms is for me. I live on the premises as well. Right now there are nine teens living here, they are in the fields. I need to check on dinner, please sit, sit.”

Belinda took a seat near a window so she could look out, while the twins sat closer to Louis. Oblivious to the background chatter, she searched the horizon for Adam, hoping against the odds that he would be one of the youths returning shortly to eat. After what could have been ten or twenty minutes, she saw movement out the window and straightened in her seat.

“They’re coming,” she said, straining to see if Adam was in the group. As they came closer, she counted nine heads. Disappointment swirled inside her the closer the group got and she realized her son was not amongst the teens. “We need the address of the other ranch.”

“We have it,” Blaine said from behind her.

She nodded. It hurt to breathe. The teens chatted in a low voice as they entered the house. Louis stopped them and made the introductions. Surprised by his openness, Belinda pasted on a smile and greeted the teenagers.

“Nice to meet you.” She glanced at Louis, who was talking quietly to a young girl. “I’m looking for my son Adam. He’s stands a little over six feet, with hair kind of like that.” She pointed toward Blaine’s head. We thought he came here.” She pulled out the picture she had and showed it to them.

“No, I haven’t seen him,” one skinny boy said with a face full of acne. The others nodded and glanced in Louis’ direction.

“Go ahead and wash up for dinner. It’s about done guys.”

They all watched the teens tramp upstairs in a trail of chatter. As much as Belinda hated to admit it, this place seemed on the up and up. The kids appeared to be okay. Louis seemed open, but then again it was just his second day on the job.

“Thanks man, we appreciate your help and if my son comes through here, give me a call.” Blaine handed Louis a card.

“Will do, and I’ll be praying for him as well.” Louis nodded at her and shook the twins' hands. After taking another quick look around, Belinda left the house and headed for the car with the twins behind her. No one spoke.

Blaine turned and veered toward the side of the building. Belinda and Donnie followed. When they reached him, they stared at the rows of earth and growing crops in the fields. “They really are farming,” Donnie murmured.

“Yeah, looks like it,” Blaine said.

Belinda moved closer to the rail fence and placed her foot on the lower rail. “I can see Adam doing this.”

“Really?” Blaine asked, sounding skeptical.

“Yeah, throw in the religion.” She nodded imagining her son in the fields, placing seeds in the ground, watering them, and then harvesting crops. “He would go for it.”

“So why didn’t he tell you?” Donnie asked.

“Because I wouldn’t go for it. He has to finish school and then he can make these kinds of choices, but not yet. He’s too young.” She pushed off the rail and headed for the car. One of the kids she had seen earlier was heading back into the house. Thinking he had been looking for them she started to call out to him when the roar of an engine followed by a plume of dust came toward them.

As she moved closer to their car, Donnie and Blaine flanked her. The light blue van stopped right behind their car. Belinda suspected it was Trinity but was unable to make out the driver from where she stood. After a few minutes, the van door opened and Trinity stepped out.

Not the Trinity Belinda remembered from Florida. That Trinity wore long, baggy dresses that hid her curvy figure. That Trinity never pressed her hair, preferring to be natural as the Lord had created her. That Trinity’s face was bare of any enhancements. The Trinity who strutted towards them wore a sophisticated, body-hugging gray pantsuit, heels, with hair long and straight with bangs. Tasteful jewelry accented her outfit. But the real kicker was the level of confidence this Trinity wore. It oozed off her as she came to a stop in front of them.

“Belinda, how are you? It’s been a while, what are you doing here?” Trinity’s practiced smile fell short of the welcome mark, making Belinda feel nothing other than annoyance.

“Where’s Adam?”

Trinity’s perfectly arched brow rose. “Adam? Your Adam? You lost Adam?”

Belinda sensed Blaine’s movement and spoke. “No. Answer my question. Where is Adam? I know you’ve been talking to him, confusing him, and telling him he had choices. He’s underage, Trinity, and this parent will sue your sanctified ass for messing with my family. Get your own kids and leave mine the hell alone. Now, where is my son?”

Trinity’s eyes flicked toward the house and then back at Belinda. For a moment no one spoke. Water filled Belinda's eyes as her anger increased. This woman had been a thorn in her side for years, but up until now, the only person Trinity targeted had been Belinda. Perhaps Trinity assumed Belinda’s lack of response meant weakness or an inability to fight back. The reality was much simpler. Trinity did not matter enough to bother with. Belinda’s plate was full of daily challenges without adding Trinity. But the woman had gone too far this time when she messed with Adam.

“I don’t know why you’re accusing me of turning Adam against you. I wouldn’t do that. We were best friends once, though we’ve had our problems that’s for sure. I know how much your sons mean to you. Believe me, I do.” She shook her head. “This is a legal business, we help troubled youth. These young people are free to leave at any time. No hostages here.”

“Where is he?” Belinda yelled, moving forward.

Trinity’s nostrils narrowed. She took off her sunglasses and pointed at Belinda. “I don’t know and wouldn’t tell you if I did. Now get the hell off my property before I call the police.”

“Call them. I want them to search this place for my son. Call them Trinity. Get on your damn phone and call the police. Let’s see what they turn up.” Belinda stepped up into Trinity’s face. “All I want is my son. You can continue this set up or whatever you’re doing. Not my business.” Belinda shook her head. “But if I discover you had anything to do with Adam leaving home or that you talked to him even once, I promise you this.” She pointed her finger. “You will have a taste of hell on earth before you go to glory.”

Glaring, Trinity stepped back. “You are headed to hell, Belinda Moore. People have wasted prayers on you for years. If your son has left you, I wish him Godspeed. There was always a call on Adam’s life, I hope he finds what he needs to fulfill the plan of God for him. He certainly won’t find it living with you,” she spat as she walked around them and headed into the house.

“I really want to kick her ass right now. Just on general principle and the way she talked like she didn’t know what was going on…” she said, looking over her shoulder as she was gently lead to the car.

“You could tell she was lying, couldn’t you?” she asked Donnie, who held the door open for her.

“Yeah, she is. But we wanna reach the other ranch before it gets too late, plus it’s supposed to rain later tonight,” Blaine said.

She looked back at the house and whispered to Donnie. “Mess up her tires so she can’t leave. We need to buy some time.”

His brow rose before a small grin curved his lips. “Yes, Ma’am.” He closed her door, turned and walked around the van to get to the back seat. When he closed his door he said one word. “Done!”

She exhaled and looked at the house again.

Chapter 17

Belinda sat hunched in the front seat, looking out the window at the dismal landscape. All her thoughts centered around grabbing her son from Trinity’s claws. “Bitch,” she muttered as they passed another landmark.

“What’s this?” Donnie asked from the back seat while holding up an envelope so she could see. “Yours?”

“No. It wasn’t there before?” She twisted in the seat and took the envelope from between his fingers.

“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. I didn’t see it and I’ve been riding in the back the whole time. Open it. Maybe someone’s trying to help,” Donnie said from behind her.

“Stop,” she yelled as she recognized Adam’s wide script. “This is from Adam. Turn around,” she said as she scanned the short note. Tears filled her eyes as she rocked from one side to the other as Blaine executed a turn in the middle of the road and took off in the direction they had come.

Donnie’s phone beeped and he snorted. “She’s not going anywhere.”

Belinda exhaled and centered her thoughts so she could read Adam’s note aloud. “Why do you say that?”

“O’Connor clan’s pulling into the compound right now. Veronique gave them the address and they decided to check it out themselves.”

She stiffened. “Your dad too?”

“Probably.”

She looked out the window again with mixed emotions. Happy that her son was okay and that she’d be with him soon. Anger at meeting the man who'd robbed her of years with the men she loved. She froze.