by Katie Ball
Climbing to my feet, I took off. Racing around the side of the house. I saw my two options. Run for the clubhouse or sprint towards the other houses. If I went for the clubhouse, he would catch me faster.
The other houses were my best option.
I knew Cole wasn’t home. Gunner wasn’t either. The final house was Winnie’s. I saw a light on there. Trigger would probably still be there too.
They would help me. Running in their direction. I didn’t want to get them involved but I knew they could help. I just needed to reach them.
“Hazel!” Roaring into the night. I could hear him behind me, chasing me down. I just kept running. Not even risking a glance behind me. My legs were pumping so hard, I was out of breath. Struggling to find the strength to keep moving.
I could feel him breathing down my neck. I didn’t stand a chance. I wasn’t close enough to Winnie’s yet.
Fuck.
“Come back here.” Tears streaming down my cheeks now. I couldn’t outrun him. I was screwed. I had to get someone’s attention.
“Help!” Screaming until my throat was sore. Praying that someone heard my cries for help.
Suddenly I was tackled to the floor, colliding with the ground. The air was knocked out of my lungs. He grabbed my shoulder and turned me over. Keeping me pinned down in the dirt. Kicking out as best I could. Nothing worked. He snarled in my face. Hand wrapped around my throat, squeezing it until I was gasping for air.
“You stupid little bitch. Fucking ungrateful slut.” Clawing at his arm, nothing would make him budge though. Applying more pressure around my throat. Crushing my windpipe slowly, cutting off my air supply. My lungs were screaming out in desperation.
Shit.
Digging my nails into his face now. Trying to do some damage. Wanting to inflict some pain but failing.
“You don’t get to run from me. Not anymore.” Was he fed up with fighting me? Maybe he had grown bored of hunting me? Maybe he just wanted me dead now?
Maybe this was the end.
Suddenly these almighty bangs exploded nearby. It felt like they shook the earth. Was that fireworks? A bomb? Maybe thunder? It was so loud; it was ringing in my eardrums.
“Those are warning shots motherfucker. Now get the fuck off her!” Winnie?
“We are not done.” Cursing as he took off running. I didn’t even care. I was dragging air into my deprived lungs. Clutching at my neck, willing fresh oxygen into my body.
“Hazel!” I heard the voice calling to me. Looking that way, I found Winnie sprinting toward me. She had a damn shotgun in her hands. That’s what those loud bangs were. If she had been closer, she would have done some serious damage.
Kneeling beside me, she tugged me into her arms as the tears continued to fall. Sobbing with relief.
“It’s ok. I’ve got you.” I clung onto her. If it wasn’t for her, that would have been it. “Was that him?” I just nodded. Unable to form words right now.
“What the fuck is going on?” Trigger appeared. He was a mess, beaten black and blue. “Hazel?” Stopping next to Winnie, briefly looking down at me, gun in hand as he scanned the area for a threat.
“That bastard was here. He went into the woods.” Trigger nodded, looking off in that direction.
“Get her inside.” Racing towards the forest, ready to find my stepfather. Would he find him? If he did, would he kill him? Put that gun to use that he carried in his hand? I hope so, I wanted this to end. I couldn’t keep living like this.
“Come on sweetheart.” Winnie helped me to my feet, keeping an arm around me as she guided me inside. She had a good grip on that shotgun, more than ready to use it.
Hurrying inside, Winnie slammed the door shut behind her. Ushering me over to the couch.
“You sit there.” Wrapping a blanket around my shoulders. My hands clasped together in my lap. Shaking uncontrollably, tears streaming down my face. He had been here. He had me. Pinned me to the floor as he tried to strangle the life out of me. He had been right there.
“Here you go.” Winnie handed me a glass of something, I didn’t know what it was and to be honest, I didn’t care. Taking it off of her with shaky hands.
“What is it?” Coming to sit down beside me.
“Whiskey, it’ll help with the shock.” Taking a sip, it burned my throat, but it wasn’t awful.
“Where’s Talon? Was he with you?” Shaking my head as I stared down at the glass in my hand.
“He went to the clubhouse, Cole needed him.” She cursed realising I had been on my own when Nathan decided to make an appearance.
“Shit, I need to call him. Let him know what happened.” I just wanted him here with me. I needed him. Winnie took a good look at me; I felt her eyes running over me. She put her arms around me then, letting me know I wasn’t alone.
“Your safe now Hazel. I’m not going to let that motherfucker hurt you.” More tears fell from my eyes I couldn’t stop. The dam had been broken and all the pain, all the suffering, it came bursting out of me. I couldn’t hold back the agony anymore.
“It’s ok sweetheart. Let it out, Let it all out. I got you.” She gently stroked my back like I was a small child. I guess, in a way I was. All this pain that was rising to the surface, it was the pain of a little girl. One who just wished someone would save her. It was the suffering of a young child who wished her mother would just love her. A child who longed for a loving home. A child who wished to know something...anything but pain.
I heard footsteps outside, fast approaching now. I tensed as fear roared through me.
Was it him? Had he come back to finish what he started? Oh god, please no.
The door swung open. Trigger stumbled inside, out of breath as he leaned against the door frame.
“You find him?” Winnie asked.
“No, he had a good head start on me.” He was still out there. What if he came back? I knew he would. He had something to prove. I was his and he wouldn’t stop until he had me again.
“You need to go get Talon, his at the clubhouse. Tell him what’s happened.” Running his fingers through his loose hair. Taking some deep breathes.
“You going to be ok here?” Not wanting to leave either of us in case he returned. Winnie just waved him off, not even worried if he made another visit.
“If that fucker shows his face again, I’ll shoot him point blank right between his eyes.” He smiled softly at her.
“That’s my girl.” Giving him a look that promised they would pick this up later.
“Go get Talon, she needs him.” Not wasting another second, he sprinted out the door. Going to get my King for me.
Winnie was right, I needed him. Needed to feel his arms wrap around me and hold me so tight. Letting me know that it was all going to be ok. That I was safe.
I just needed him.
Talon
“I just can’t believe the bastard. Fucking our mum all this time and didn’t say a word.” Cole was fucking wasted. I was waiting for him to pass out. When he got like this, there was nothing stopping him. He was pure chaos. A loose cannon. He let his anger get the best of him. He was rash and hot tempered. He was forever getting into fights when he was younger but so did I. We were both as bad as each other, we had our father to blame for that.
“I mean…she’s our damn mother.” I took a sip of my beer as I watched him drink his water which he had been necking for the last hour. He thought he was drinking straight vodka, fucking idiot.
“That she is.” Cole put his head in his hands. He looked a fucking mess, and I don’t think he gave a shit right now.
“Why didn’t he tell us?” I don’t maybe. Maybe they knew how we would react. They were probably trying to avoid all this. I couldn’t get Hazel’s words out of my head.
That he makes my mum happy.
I couldn’t be mad about that. Trigger wasn’t a bad guy; he was one of the good ones. Was it such a bad thing if he was with our mum? No. But he should have told us when it first started.
“Maybe he didn’t because he was trying to avoid the beating you two gave him.” Gunner reappeared then, a bottle of vodka in his hand. I didn’t even need to question what was in that bottle, I knew none of these fuckers would dare give Cole anymore alcohol. Not in his current state. It might also have something to do with the look on my face. Furious didn’t even begin to cover what I was feeling right now. I was barely holding back my own rage.
I shouldn’t be here; I should be back at the house with Hazel. God, to think how I left her. She had looked so beautiful. Spread out on our bed. Her legs over my shoulders as I drove myself so deep inside of her. She felt fucking incredible. That wet greedy pussy of hers drove me crazy. Those soft moans as I made come all over my cock. I was sporting a hard-on just thinking about her. I could still smell her on me. It made me fucking furious. I shouldn’t be here dealing with Cole.
Desperate to go back to her. Crawl back into bed, have her beneath me. Eager to part her thighs, wake her up with my tongue in her sweet pussy. Then take her with my cock. I wanted to fuck her until the sun rose high in the sky. I wanted to be tangled up in bed with her all day long. If I had my way, I’d never let her leave.
“He’s our fucking brother. He should have told us.” Leaning back in the booth, resting my arm along the back. Taking some deep breathes in the hope it would calm me down.
Cole was right though. Trigger should have told us. Yet, he didn’t.
“His not so bad Cole.” Gunner must be feeling brave.
Movement out the corner of my eye caught my attention.
Shit, Trixie. She was the last person Cole needed to see. I wanted to keep him out of trouble.
Trixie was one of his favourite club girls. A redhead who loved sucking his cock, she was a winner in his eyes.
She came stumbling over in her heels that was obviously too high for her, wearing next to nothing which was pretty normal for club girls. Showing as much skin as possible. A little pink leather skirt with a matching bra.
She made a beeline for Cole.
“Hey sexy, you look like you need some loving Cole.” Twirling her hair around her finger, fluttering her eyelashes at him, hoping to entice him.
“Maybe I do.” I couldn’t help but notice that my brother didn’t seem the least bit interested in her. Strange. Was it because he was that drunk? Or something else?
“Want me to make you feel better?” Eager to be fucked by a King.
“You need to sleep it off brother.” Not wanting him to do something he would regret in the morning. He wasn’t in a fit state to deal with Trixie.
“I can make sure he gets to bed safe and sound Talon.” Oh, I’m sure she would. I didn’t want to give her the opportunity to take advantage of him.
“I don’t want you.” He mumbled as he necked the rest of his ‘vodka’.
“Erm…” Shocked by his sudden uninterest. “Well, I can be whoever you need me to be Cole.”
This wasn’t like my brother at all. What the hell was going on with him? This wasn’t the alcohol. If he didn’t want Trixie, then who did he want. Who was on my brothers mind?
“No, you’re not her. I just want her.” Trixie stormed off in disappointment. Leaving us wondering who the hell this mysterious woman was that my brother wanted. He hadn’t said anything to me. Glancing at Gunner, he was just as clueless.
“You need some company tonight Talon.” Of course, Diamond would try her luck. Never taking the fucking hint. I slept with her once, ever since she felt she had some claim on me.
Moving closer to me, she put her arms around my neck, trying to pull me in for a kiss. That was not happening.
Removing her pawing hands from me.
“Not interested Diamond.” Pouting at me, pushing her tits out. Wearing a tiny red bikini top that just about covered her nipples. Even dressed as she was, she did fuck all for me. Not now that I had Hazel. She was the most stunning woman I had ever met. A natural beauty who radiated sunlight. She had no idea just how enchanting she was. I was completely captivated by her.
“Oh, come on. You look like you could do with some fun. I know just how to ride that huge dick of yours.” Clenching my jaw. Nostrils flaring. Pissed off that she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“Fuck off Diamond. I’m with Hazel now.” She just scoffed at me like I told her a joke or something.
“Oh what? That timid little thing. I bet she doesn’t even know what she’s doing. I doubt she even knows how to please you.” She had no idea what she was talking about. Hazel was…exquisite. The way she loved me was heavenly. I felt like I was in paradise when I was deep inside of her.
“Don’t ever let me hear you talking about my Queen like that again or you’ll be out of this clubhouse before you can even blink and never be welcomed back. Now fuck off.” Her jaw went slack, shocked that I wasn’t letting her shit slide anymore. Not when it came to Hazel.
She schooled her face then, showing only her anger. I could tell she was debating whether to say something but thought better of it. Spinning away from me, stomping away to go bother someone else. It was about time she learnt her fucking place. Somewhere along the way, she started to believe she runs this place. Just because I fucked her once, she thinks she’s queen bee. Time for a reality check, she was a just the same as every club girl.
“About time someone told her.” Gunner raised his beer to me.
Checking my phone, no more texts. I fought the urge to message Hazel. I had told her to get some more sleep. Guessing the silence meant she had fallen asleep once more. She needed her sleep; I needed her well rested. Especially when I planned to fuck her senseless when I made it home to her.
“Right Cole, you need to go and lay down, sleep this shit off and I need to get back to Hazel.” Huffing at me as he clutched his glass to his chest. Staring off into the distance.
“I wish I were good enough for her. Why can’t I be better for her. Why does she want him and not me?” My brother had it bad.
“Who?” Curious who had managed to bewitch him like this. I had never seen my brother like this before.
“You wouldn’t understand. She’s too good for me…shouldn’t weigh her down with my shit.”
“Cole, who the fuck are you talking about?” Staring at me like I had gained another head or something.
“Fuck me…can you guys feel that?” He was wasted.
“Feel what?” Gunner questioned. Enjoying this, no doubt he would use this at a later date.
“The room…its shaking…no, spinning.” Rolling my eyes at my idiot younger brother.
“Right come on, time for bed.” Letting him lean on me for support, Gunner got the other side since Cole was no help. Dragging his feet as we started to move away from the table. He was going to feel like shit in the morning, but he deserved it. He would have no sympathy from me, not with this self-inflicted bullshit.
“You two aren’t coming back to bed with me motherfuckers.” Gunner just scoffed at Cole.
“You wish you cheeky bastard.” Before we made it any further, the door to the clubhouse flew open. I don’t know how it was still on its hinges. We all tensed up expecting the enemy, ready to fight them if need be.
There was no enemy though. It was only Trigger, rushing into the clubhouse like he was being chased by the hounds of hell.
Shit, just as Cole was calming down, this fucker had to turn up. I was never going to make it back to Hazel at this rate.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Cole shouted, more than ready for another fight. Though he didn’t stand a chance of winning in his current state, he couldn’t even stand up on his own, let alone throw a punch.
“Trigger you should probably leave.” Gunner was hoping to avoid another fight, we all were. More than ready to head home to our own beds.
“Talon.” He mumbled as he gasped for air. Had he run here or something? Tensing up as my stomach twisted up in knots. Something was wrong, I could feel it. See it in his fucking eyes.
“You want to f
ucking go brother, let’s go.” Cole made a beeline for him. Stumbling towards him, Gunner kept a hold on him, stopping him from doing anything crazy. Hog appeared, helped Gunner kept my little brother under control. Tank and Mac stood in between them, blocking Cole’s path.
“Talon, you got-” Cole kicked out, knocking over the table next to him.
“You fucking lying piece of shit.” Moving past my brother, standing in Trigger’s space now. His eyes locked with mine as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
“What is it?” Gulping down some air as he caught his breathe. He looked like shit; we had really done a number on him. That’s when I noticed the gun he was clutching in his hand. Why the fuck did he have his gun in hand? At the ready, what the fuck has happened?
“It’s Hazel.” My blood ran cold. Heart freezing up at the mention of her name. Hazel…Hazel…what the fuck was wrong with Hazel? She had been fine when I left her. She was tucked up in bed fast asleep. Wasn’t she?
“What about Hazel?” The entire clubhouse changed then. The air sharpened. You could hear a pin drop in here. The atmosphere was lethal now. All my club brothers listening, wanting more information. Needing to know what the hell was going on.
“She’s at your mum’s. Her stepfather, the bastard…he broke into your place. Somehow, she made it outside and got our attention. Your mum scared him off with her shotgun. He went into the woods. I followed him but he disappeared.” Cole was right, the room was spinning. I felt sick at the thought of him being anywhere near her again. That motherfucker. He had been in our home. Got close to her…too fucking close.
Oh god, Hazel.
I didn’t care about anything else. Didn’t even think, I couldn’t. My body sprinted out of there, moving out of pure instinct. Needing to get to her. Hold her in my arms. See her with my own eyes and know she was ok.
Racing from the clubhouse, I headed for her.
What was I thinking? I had left her alone. Giving that sick fuck the perfect opportunity to get to her. He had been watching. Knew she was here with me. He had been watching the entire time. Waiting for the perfect moment to get her alone.