Savage Crown II

31. Thirty-One

Natalia

"Mama! Wake up!" Zoey laughed as she jumped into my lap. " Zoey baby what are you doing up?" I tiredly asked as I opened my eyes slowly opened and realized the sun was shining through the windows into the living room. My heart immediately jumped as I became more awake,  I scrambled the couch for my phone with my free hand and saw it was already 8:30 AM.  Callum had to be back home. "Where's daddy?" Zoey asked looking around. Maybe he was too tired and went straight to bed I thought to myself. "Hmm let's go see if he's in bed still" I smiled down at Zoey taking her into my arms. My heart was beating fast as we arrived at the master bedroom's door. My blood pressure went through the roof as I opened the door and saw that the bed was empty.

Breathe Natalia Breathe  I said to myself mentally. I couldn't be worrying like this in front of Zoey. "Mama daddy's not here" Zoey frowned. "Ah silly mommy, I forgot Daddy is with uncle Gio and Leo" I smiled. "They'll be back later on today okay?" I smiled. "In the mean time, how about we get you dressed up for a day with grandma Bianca since you're feeling better?" I smiled at her in my arms. Her blue eyes lit up as she clapped her hands together with excitement, "yay! We're going to see the ponies"

"Ponies?" I asked. "Yeah daddy promised to take me to see grandma Bianca's ponies if I took my medicine " she smiled.

I quickly took Zoey to her room and got her dressed along with packing a back pack full of clothes for her. Then I went to change into something more suitable to fight or run in. Or both I thought to myself. Something was terribly wrong, Callum hadn't come home last night and not even a call or text from him or my brothers.  While Zoey waited for me to finish changing I went back into the closet from the adjacent bathroom door and pulled out my phone again. I took a deep breath and dialed Callum's number only for it to go straight to voicemail and got the same results when I tried Gio, Leo, and Ian's lines. My heart sank and my stomach in knots. A sense of fear was settling in and that's when I went straight for the safe and input our anniversary date 1031 into silver keypad. The giant black safe beeped as it unlocked revealing stacks of cash, and two automatic rifles, a sniper, and a shotgun with two hand guns and wrapped in a white cloth was my blade. The same one I had stabbed into his back the night of the charity event. A huge regret I made that night in putting it in his back and he knew how much I loved those knives that he still kept it even after that.

I quickly took the hand guns and  placed them in  my purse. I slid my knife into my pocket and rushed back out to the bedroom where Zoey was. "Come on baby, lets go to your grandparents." I said happily trying my best not to give off panic. We reached the fleet of cars parked in the driveway and got into the Range Rover that was easiest to access. I strapped Zoey into her seat and ran to the drivers side quickly getting in and drove off towards Ronan and Bianca's house. Their house sat on a vast property complete with a man made pond that was used to host Callum and I's engagement party years ago. It was a beautiful property that ended up getting shot up by Bratva that same night after they crashed our party. I hadn't had that opportunity to come back here since. With a whole lot of speeding we reached the property in less than 25 minutes.

As I reached the big gates, I rolled my window down for the guard, "Name Ma'm"

"Natalia Clarke" I quickly responded.  The guard quickly recognized the name and signaled for the gate to open. As we pulled into the driveway Bianca was already waiting for us there. She walked over to the car and helped with the back packs. "I'm so happy you brought her to visit" Bianca said excitedly. "I was actually hoping you could take care of her while I talk to Ronan. Something urgent has come up" I urgently looked at her hoping she'd get the situation.

Bianca's  brows drew together as she got worried, "he's inside come on girls, lets go inside " she said as she looked around the property and led us towards the house.  Ronan sat in his living room reading his newspaper when we walked in. "Grandpa!" Zoey yelled as she was placed back down on the floor and ran to him. He quickly rose from his seat and carried her in his arms. "What a lovely surprise, my grandbaby is here for a visit" he smiled from ear to ear. "Ronan, Natalia wants to speak to you in private" Bianca said looking over at me then at him in an urgent tone. Ronan handed Zoey over to her grandmother and stared at me with a heavy sigh, "lets go talk in my office." He said ushering me towards his office.

As soon as the moss green door closed behind us I couldn't hold it in anymore, "Callum and my brothers are in danger. He never came back home and my brothers and him aren't answering their phones." Ronan went to take a seat behind his desk taking in the news in as he crossed both hands in front of his face and put them to his temple. "I know that Callum was going to move in on Declan with three men and your three older brothers" he said with a hardened face, "if my son didn't come back home how do I know it wasn't because your brothers hurt him like they tried to when you first got here?"

"My brothers know the truth now too, they wouldn't dare do that now." I said sternly. "Will you help me get more information on where they can be and try and get in contact with the men Callum was with?"

He quickly lifted his phone up and dialed a number. His brows scrunched tight as he ended the call and dialed another number and judging by his face there was no answer, "Elijah and Owen were the ones with him. Both of them aren't answering. " I rose from my seat as fear began to course through my body "gather your men, I'm leaving in 10"

"You're leading the Irish?" He asked dumbfounded, "Yes I am, As of this moment I will lead them and my family's soldiers and I won't  rest until I get some answers."

"Absolutely not Natalia." He rose from his desk, "if something happened to you my son would go mad. He wouldn't want you to be in the line of fire. He'd want you to stay home with your daughter. Zoey needs her mother. Stay here and let me handle this mess."

"NO! " I raised my voice. "If my husband  were hete he'd know I wouldn't just stand by and do nothing. Neither would my brothers. I won't rest until then." I said, " now prepare the men." I ordered knowing I was pushing a line with Ronan in giving orders but I didn't care I had to try something. That's how desperate I was.

I exited his study and stood at the hallway calling papa. He picked up on the first ring, "We're on a flight back home, Natalia. Your brothers phone signals gave out but they sent a distress signal shortly before that from Adrián's." He paused trying to pick what he was going to say next, " It'd be a waste for me to tell you to stay put mi hija. I know you want answers so I'll save you some time...Gio's Escalade pinned to a safe point last night. I'll send you the last location now. Dominik, Tymon, and Nora are on their way to meet you there with our men and the Polish. Be careful mi niña. You better come back safely for Zoeys sake." He said worriedly.

"Thanks Papa, I'm headed there now with the Irish." I wiped away a tear. That would be the only tear I'd shed today. I told myself. Callum is alright and so are my brothers.

Ronan walked up behind me and cleared his throat. "Are you ready Natalia?" He asked cautiously. "I assume your father is on his way back to Chicago.""yes he is, I'll be leading  the Leon men as well. My cousins are now on their way with their people to their last location." I replied.

"Then I'm coming with you too. Not because I don't trust you but as a stance that the Clarke's are still stable. ", he paused and sighed, "also because Declan is my son and the who's behind all this madness."

"I'm ready" I said, "I'll just go say my goodbyes to Zoey"

As I headed out to the living room Zoey was dressed ready to ride horses, "mama come with me and grandma to ride the horsies" she smiled. It made my heart shred to a million pieces, as I got down to her level, "Mamá  has to go take of something baby. Have fun with your grandma okay?"

"Okay" she smiled. "Mommy loves you soooo much" I pulled her into my arms, "be a good baby and listen to grandma okay?"

"Okay mama" Zoey smiled as she pulled away from my arms. My heart and mind were already working on separating each other. I had to go into this with a clear mind and not let emotions get in the way of my judgement and actions more than it already was.