As I step into my perfectly drawn bath water and sink down into it, I hear his voice followed with words that make the hair on the back of my neck stand out, “Enjoy it while you can, my little Savage.”
Quickly looking over my shoulder I catch just enough of a glimpse to notice Asher standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest as his body leans against the frame of the door. Bracing myself to sit back up and face him completely, I lose sight of him and all I see is his back as he walks away from me; his presence fades into the darkness of our bedroom.
“What the hell does that mean?” I holler out over my shoulder and wait for a reply, but never receive one. Fuck. The silence is surely deafening and now there is no way I will be able to let my body fully relax; not with him roaming about the house possibly setting up God only knows what for my punishment. I feel a shiver shoot straight down my spine causing me to shudder at the thought. Well, he told me to enjoy it, so, I’ll just sit my ass in here until the water turns cool. Then, I’ll slowly drain it and keep refilling it. Yup, that’s exactly what I’ll do. Maybe he’ll relax some on the bed waiting for me and eventually fall asleep? One can only hope, even though I know it’s a stretch, but it won’t stop me from trying. I mean, it is late as fuck already and today’s been a physically exhausting one for us both.
I take my time, exfoliating, shaving, and conditioning my hair… twice, and eventually run out of things to do in order to extend my time. I’ve already refilled this tub three times. There seems to now be a shortage of warm water. Sighing, I pull the drain and watch as the water swirls while the tub empties. My body begins to shiver as the cool air hits my damp skin. My hair is soaked and sticking to my back, knowing if I don’t get up and blow dry it, in the morning it will be sticking up on all ends. I’ll look like Medusa and have to rewash it in order to tame it. Peeking around the corner of the bathroom I look into our room but all I can see are the outlines of furniture in the pitch-black darkness. I can’t tell where Pyro is and that is a little frightening. That man has never been this quiet since I’ve known him. Maybe he has fallen asleep. I can feel the tug of a slight smirk grow on my face as I feel I’ve successfully bought myself at least a few more hours.
Once I’ve thrown my T-shirt on, lotioned my body, brushed my teeth, and blow dried my hair, I tip-toe my way toward our bed. Unsure if he’s on the other side of our California king-sized bed, I draw the covers back gently as I slide into the comfort of my sheets encompassing our bed.
“Thought you could prolong your punishment and properly answering for your crimes against myself and the club, did ya?” The mild-mannered tone he speaks with accelerates the beats of my heart as I sit straight up in our bed.
I’m not sure there’s a damn thing I can say or do at this point to convince him to at least wait until morning, but it won’t stop me from trying. “Asher, baby, listen please. I know you’re more than displeased with me and my actions tonight.” His sharp intake of breath stops me from speaking out any further in my defense.
He snaps back at me, “Actions? I believe the correct terminology would be antics, little warrior.”
Inwardly a part of me gloats at his praise of ‘little warrior’, but that is short-lived when he switches the light on and I see all the tools and items neatly displayed on his side of the bed, it appears he will be punishing me with these items. “Oh, you cannot be fucking serious!” I screech out, “not all of this? And tonight, of all nights? I thought you loved me no matter what, Asher?” I plead, attempting to play on any remaining sympathies he might have left for me. I’ve played this role before, it’s never worked on him in the past, but a girl can only hope that he’s feeling a bit compassionate this time.
“Nothing you can say nor do will get you out of this, Shara. You’ve drawn the proverbial line in the sand, and I’m brushing it away. I’m calling your bluff, here. You did this, you made the choice you did, you knew there’d be consequences once you made that final decision. Surely you didn’t think this little secret of yours would stay that way?” He draws his hand upward, cupping his chin as a curious look lines his face. “Please enlighten me on how you planned on explaining any bruises you came home with? I’ll wait as this ought to be good.” He leans the weight of his body against the wall and crosses his feet at the ankles while wearing a smug look.
Well, fuck. I’m so used to having this part of my life as an outlet and never having to answer to anyone for it that I suppose I didn’t think that part all the way through. He has me cornered with his question and he knows it. Oh, how I’d love to smack that smug look right off his face. “Babe,” again, I attempt to stroke the softer side of his personality, but he only raises a single brow sternly at my bid, “you have to understand that this is a large part of my past. I’m so extremely used to doing this and not having to worry about answering to anyone for it. Plus, with tonight's match, I made a quick twenty-thousand tonight. And you know what I was planning on doing with this money as a surprise for you? I was gonna buy those custom saddlebags and seat you’ve been itching for.”
He bursts out in a maniacal laugh at my proclamation. “Try as you might, my little savage, there’s not a thing you can say to get yourself out of this one. You’re just throwing shit around now, hoping something sticks. Guess what? I’ve got toilet paper and air freshener, baby. It ain’t gonna work on me.”
Crossing my arms over my breasts, I begin to feel defeated. I’m mentally and physically spent. Then, it dawns on me, I’ve got a wild card I’ve yet to play. Squaring my shoulders off, I let my body language be an addition to the bomb I’m about to drop in his proverbial lap. “Oh, really? So, what do you have to say for yourself about excluding me from your little escapade at the warehouse tonight, huh?” His eyes grow wide and I feel possible victory begin to swim through my veins. So, I keep pushing while I have him where I might stand a chance at winning this whole thing. “That’s right, Mr. Secret Keeper. Or, would you rather be called Mr. Lies to his old lady?” He begins to close the space between us as he slowly walks toward me. I can feel myself inching my body backward until my back kisses the headboard, but still I continue, “I heard Rogue calling you out on that in his office tonight. How long were you planning on lying to me, Asher? Yeah, this shit goes both ways you know?” These words are flying from my lips, I feel at the speed of light hoping I can plead a good enough case before he’s right up on me. “I mean why the fuck would you even do that to me?”
As he reaches around me without saying another word, he grabs my wrist and pulls it up and over my shoulder. My eyes widen when I see a leather, buckled wrist strap. He uses one hand to place it in the cuff, while his other hand secures me to the binding. I begin to struggle, using my other hand in an effort to scratch, maim, or possibly stop him from continuing with tying me down, making me immobile to protect myself if he goes too far. “I highly advise you to stop your struggling, Shara. You’re only making it worse for yourself. These cuffs have the ability to bite into your skin if you continue thrashing around as you are, my love,” he softly, but stoically states. His ‘advice’ does nothing but further instigate the rage I feel burning me from the inside out.
“Oh, you motherfucker,” I spit out at him.
He chuckles in a tone that would scare demons straight back to hell and quite frankly scares the fuck out of me. “Oh, no, not a motherfucker yet. You can call me that after you’ve birthed our first spawn, though.”
“Oh, hell no! At this rate the only thing I ever plan on birthing is my revenge for tonight’s charade! How dare you tie me up against my will. I don’t normally mind a little foreplay in the bedroom, but this is going too far. Untie me at once, Pyro,” I spit out his road name. My anger is palpable, and I’m in no way in control of my tongue. No one has ever infuriated me more than he is in this instance. I do not appreciate being rendered helpless, unable to protect myself. My movements become more radical as he uses his brute strength to tie my other wrist down.
“I won�
�t do anything to you that you haven’t earned for yourself. Don’t worry, little warrior, you won’t wear any physical scars from our little endeavor. But, I can assure you of this, you’ll never make the mistakes again that you did tonight.” His words send chills racing up and down my spine. He’s never gone this far before, whereas normally I’d entrust him to take care of me afterward; now, I’m not so sure that the trust I’ve given him willingly in the past wasn’t in vain. Sheer and utter panic sets in and my fight or flight instincts kick into overdrive; causing my thrashing around to worsen as I begin to scream as loud as my lungs will allow. All of this is soon accompanied by uncontrollable tears and even I am confused as to why I am having a reaction of this magnitude. Normally, I’d trust Pyro with my life as I know he’d never take it. “Shara, woah, woah, you need to calm down,” he issues, but his words are only background noise at this point as I continue my struggle. The leather begins to dig into my flesh and as I’m unsure at this point whether or not they’ve drawn blood, I know I’m beginning to hyperventilate. That’s the last thing I remember before a haze and dark cloud take over me being the last thing I recall.
8
Pyro
My mind sputters as I try to think what I may have said to initiate this sort of reaction from her. We usually feed from each other’s darker sides; she’s never reacted in this manner before. I’ve never tied her up, but I’ve immobilized her with the weight of my body. I thought we’d established enough trust in one another for me to be able to allow my dark desire to play out with her punishment. She usually craves the darker spectrum of our activities. I’ve always kept a tighter leash on myself when I let this side of myself come out to play. She’s never had an adverse reaction to the demon inside. She covets him, draws him out of me, begs him to break free and come out to play with her own inner demon. “Shara, baby, beautiful, open your eyes for me,” I all but beg her body to react to my voice. Now, I might think that this, too, was a part of her little game, but if it was, she’s one hell of an actress. Plus, I know the real signs of trauma, and this was assuredly a real occurrence. She slightly stirs, her eyelids flutter as she’s lost in some hell inside of herself. Worry encompasses me and I consider calling in Stitches to come take a look at her. Reaching up, I undo her bindings, hoping it’ll entice her to open her eyes, and she does just that.
She jumps up as if she’s been given a shot of adrenaline and her eyes are wide, displaying genuine fear. Her skin is pale and as I reach out to her, she pulls away from me, eyeing me as if I am some stranger. Completely baffled at what’s happening, and feeling nothing I am doing will help her, I text Stitches with a 911 at my house. She’s shivering from head to toe as her only comfort seems to be coming from herself as she wraps her arms around herself and rocks back and forth. No matter what tone I use or how much I try to slowly incorporate myself back into comforting her, it only pushes her further somewhere into her mind. I can tell, because the only thing her eyes are showcasing is vacancy. She’s physically present, but not mentally.
Shara
I’m stuck in a memory, one long forgotten. I remember it clearly now, the murder of my parents; and the destruction of my life. I’m living it in real time as these memories seep into my mind.
“No! Don’t touch my daughter!” my mother screams as I’m bound and securely placed into a closet. One with slats in the doors so that I can still see everything happening in the living room with Momma and Daddy.
“You’ve betrayed the club, Rebecca. You must pay for your sins against us,” the mean man who is in charge says to my momma.
“It’s me you want, leave my family alone. I’m the sole reason she left the Death Destructorz in the first place,” my daddy issues. “Be a man and face me like one, women are always safe!” The hiss that leaves Daddy’s voice is venomous and scares me. He’s never spoken like this before.
“Oh, Kajo, don’t you worry, you will bleed for stealing the club’s princess. You knew better than to infiltrate our club, stealing one of ours.” That man scares me, I want him to go away and leave us alone. “Not only did you impregnate her with Steel Empire scum, but you ruined her for future children to members of our club. She was promised to another before you swooped in and took what wasn’t yours to take.” My body shivers as the man continues speaking.
“Leave my family be,” Momma demands. It’s the voice she uses on me when I’m in trouble. I close my eyes and pray that my uncles show up and make these bad people leave.
“It’s a little too late for that, Rebecca,” the man sneers at Momma. “Did you really think your man could hide you from us forever? You had to know this day was coming. Retribution is owed to us, and we’re here to collect. It’s a blood oath, one we are fully prepared to make your family bleed for.”
“My father would never allow this to happen!” Momma screams out in protest.
“He was outvoted, Rebecca. He has no choice but to stand by the club’s ruling in the matter. Club first,” he says leaning over my momma as she tries to scoot further away from him. They’ve got guns drawn and pointed at both of my parents. My mom and dad are outnumbered and fear wracks my body.
“Please, don’t,” I cry out from the closet as tears flow down my cheeks.
“Go shut that brat up. Gag her,'' one of the scary men tells another. As he approaches I begin to squirm and wiggle through the ties that have me bound.
“No!” I scream out through my tears and quaking voice. My feeble attempts to free myself or escape are a failure and the man successfully stuffs a sock into my mouth, hindering any further words from me.
My daddy tries to stop them as he stands, yelling, “Don’t you dare touch her again!” Something as loud as a firework and just as blinding can be heard causing a ringing in my ears as I temporarily am blinded.
Behind the loud boom and ringing in my ears, I can hear my momma scream and cry out, “No! God, no!”
My entire body trembles in fear as I don’t know what’s happening. Slowly my vision begins to come back but is blurred. I watch as she scoots across the floor, making her way to my father who isn’t moving. It is then that I notice the enormous amount of blood beginning to pool around his still body as my mom grabs him, begging and pleading for him to come back.
“He’s gone, Rebecca. Don’t you see the massive hole in his head?” One of the monstrous men tells her before letting out a chuckle as he looks at the others.
Slowly her head turns up and into their direction. “You tell my father he will pay for this one way or another! You all will!” she screams to the men through her tears and sniffles before she tries to stand up and lunge at one of the men.
Again, I am overwhelmed with the same sound and blinding flash before everything around me grows silent.
Pyro
Stitches makes his way into our bedroom where Shara is currently rocking herself back and forth. “What the fuck, man?” he asks me, as he tries to get closer to her. She scrambles backwards in the bed, flattening herself further into the headboard while still whimpering. This shit is a living nightmare to watch, complete torture. I can’t even begin to imagine what it is for her. The thought makes my whole body shudder; that’s something considering the things I’ve witnessed and taken part in over the years.
“Trigger. It’s the only solution I can come up with.” His eyes scan the room and land on the cuffs hanging from the frame of the bed. “It’s not what you’re thinking,” I defend myself. Not that I give the first flying fuck what he thinks when it comes to mine and Shara’s sex life; but I don’t want her judged by any of my brothers. For any fucking thing. Which is why Rogue and I keep our extra-curricular activities closely guarded.
“We need to get her calmed down before she possibly hurts herself,” he informs me as he walks over to his bag that he sat down in the doorway and pulls out a syringe and liquid vial.
“What the fuck’s that?” I don’t want him shoving junk into my woman’s veins without knowing what he’s giving her fi
rst.
“It’s Lorazepam, a mild sedation medication that I can give her in a shot. It’ll calm her and also put her into a deep sleep. Whatever triggered her, has caused her to have an anxiety attack. You’ll have to hold her down so I can administer this without hurting her in the process.”
I feel my eyes widen at his words and find myself with more inquiries about his solution. “Stitches, won’t that make it worse? Her being held down I mean.”
“It’ll only be for a few minutes at most, Pyro. It’s better this than what can happen if she stays lost in her mind,” he assures me. He knows that I trust him, but any of us would have these same questions where our women are concerned.
“Fine,” I begrudgingly agree. Walking up to her as if she’s a wounded animal, I hold my hands in front of me in a non-aggressive manner, letting her know I mean her no harm. I talk encouragingly and lovingly to her. Speaking words from my heart, she glances over at me, but it’s a blank stare… as if she’s seeing right through me.
“Don’t let them hurt me,” she cries out.
Motherfucker. Her words rip through me, shredding the remaining parts of humanity I feel I may have left in me. Whoever is fucking responsible for her going through this will pay with their life. “I won’t, baby. No one will ever get the opportunity to hurt my little savage as long as I’m around,” I swear this to not only her; but myself as well. Her father has a lot to answer for. I have questions that only he can fill me in on. As soon as she’s resting comfortably, that’s a phone call I plan on making.
Pyro's Final Flame : Twisted Iron MC Page 7