Deception (Reckoning Book 3)

by Joy Blood

  "Makayla." She whispers loud enough for me to hear over the noise of the water.

  "Yes. Makayla." I turn her around and tilt her head back to rinse. "She was eleven when I met her. I was nineteen. Even then Avil had a sick obsession with her. So much as to make sure Rico and I never met her. She had been living there for over a year before I met her. I didn't think anything of it until I saw the way he looked at her." I turn her back around and start on the conditioner running my fingers through her short hair. "She was just a child but as the years went I started to see her too." I turn her and rinse her again then start on the body wash. "Maybe I'm sick too but what I felt for her was nothing like the obsession he had for her. One night I found him in her room and beat the fucking hell out of him. By then Makayla and I had been secretly seeing each other." I say.

  "Her diary was at the mansion. I read all about you. Well her." She says making me step back just a step. "She called you Vincent. Is that why..."

  "Yes," I say interrupting her. "I hated my name, still do, but she always insisted on calling me by my full name."

  "What happened to her? The writing stopped when you were about to leave." She tells me.

  "Let's get out of here. The water is starting to get cold." I tell her shutting the water off then stepping out to grab a towel for the both of us. I quickly wrap one around her then myself but we stay in the bathroom.

  "What happened Vin?" She looks at me with pleading eyes to finish the story.

  "I got her out. Rico helped us with passports and we got as far away as we possibly could. We got married and were on our Honeymoon. The day before we were going to leave Avil came. I underestimated the man and how fucking evil he was. He made her watch as he carved up my body with the knife he always carried. Had me strapped to a chair but she was just on the bed. I don't think he planned on killing her but she went at him. Fought him with the knife and he ended up stabbing her. I sat there yelling like some bitch. Couldn't fucking move from the fucking chair. Had to watch her bleed out on the floor as his anger took over and he repeatedly stabbed her. Then he turned to me pulled out a gun and fired." Her sharp intake of breath makes me look at her. She has tears streaming from her eyes and she is clutching the towel to her chest. "I should have fucking died right along with her that night. Fuck I wish I would have but for some god awful reason I lived."

  "I'm glad you did." She squeaks out and steps closer. "Thank you for telling me."

  "I couldn't let you stay there with him any longer. I don't care if you are..." She stops me by pressing her lips to mine and wrapping her arms around my neck kissing me hard.

  "I understand Vin." She whispers to me. I can feel her smile against me and I can't help it anymore. I was going to be good but I give up.

  Ripping the towels from both of us I pull her up my body and wrap her legs around my waist. With one smooth thrust, I'm inside her losing myself to this woman who has turned my world upside down.

  Seventeen

  After finally getting dressed we came down to join the party which had already started two hours ago. "Was wondering if you two were going to show." That familiar voice rushes over me and I turn to find Fuzz dressed in a fitted gray tee shirt with his cut in place over the top much like all the other men here.

  "You need to shave Tuck." I laugh going to hug him. Vin holds my hand the whole time not letting me get too close to the man. I'm surprised he even let me hug him at all. His chest rumbles with a laugh and I'm pulled back to Vin.

  "V," Fuzz says nodding his head at Vin.

  "Fuzz." Vin greets him back much in the same way then tugs my arm to get me walking again. I look back to Fuzz as we walk away and give him a small smile and wave before turning and walking with Vin.

  "Grumpy," I say playfully getting him to stop and look at me.

  "Grumpy? I let you give the fuck a hug, didn't I? I say that was being nice Ellie." He grumbles then starts to walk again going to the table where all the food is set up. We both grab a plate and load it full with all the fixings a burger could need and set out find a picnic table.

  The yard is large and there are people everywhere. The smell of the grill and freshly cut grass fills the air along with laughter. Adult and children. There are probably eight picnic tables and most of them are full but we find one with a couple empty seats.

  We sit down next to Rock and a petite dark haired woman. She is strikingly beautiful. Her high cheek bones and darker complected skin leads me to believe she is Native American. The bone choker across her neck makes her look like an Indian princess. "Ellie, this is rock's old lady Buggs," Vin tells me as we sit down. Buggs smiles at me and holds our her hand.

  "Hi. It's nice to meet you." She has such a sweet smile and I automatically know we will be great friends. I can tell she is holding in some excitement but I'm not sure why. "I was just telling Rock that it is so nice to have our family under one roof."

  "Don't start Buggs." Rock grumbles.

  "I have a sister now." She all but shouts.

  "Buggs." Rock groans again. "Leave the woman alone." He tells her getting a scowl in return.

  "You shut it, Rockey. We are. Just because you two boys can't seem to get along for longer than ten minutes doesn't mean us girls can't." She huffs and stands revealing her small pregnant belly. "Ellie, would you like to come with me? I'm going to go and chat up the girls. They don't seem to have sticks up their asses." I look over to Vin.

  "You don't need permission, Ellie. Go." He tells me. I get up taking my plate with me to follow her but he says something else. "Stay the fuck away from Fuzz." I roll my eyes at him and keep going. If I want to talk to Fuzz I fucking will.

  "Well isn't he bossy? That Fuzz is a bit of a cutie, though. I Had a thing for him back before me and Rock got together. He came to the club in Montana where I'm from for a patch-over party. I thought I was in love but a girl has to have certain rules and they can't be broken." Curious I ask her.

  "What rule is that?"

  "Never trust a man who can't grow a beard." She giggles as we make our way to our seats. This table has a few other girls who are introduced to me as Sadie and Sally, they are twins, Trina, Rhonda, and Braille. The twins seem the youngest and I soon find out they are Rhonda's daughters. She is the VP, Sager's mother too. Trina and Braille are both old ladies to a couple of the other club members who's names I didn't catch.

  We chat on for a while, well they do, I more less just listen answering the occasional question here and there. "I need to use the bathroom girls, I'll be right back," I tell them and smile getting out of my seat to walk to the trash can throwing away my now empty paper plate. I look around to see if I can find Vin but he is in what looks to be an intense debate with Rock. I take that as my moment to leave and go inside.

  I go up to my room to use the bathroom wishing I had a sweatshirt or a jacket. It's getting colder outside and all I have is a pair of jeans and a tank top. It fits better than the tiny tee shirt Jake found me and I got a bra. I suppose if I didn't Vin wouldn't have let me out of the room.

  Walking back downstairs I stop at what I think is the back door and look outside. The large fence continues around this side too but there isn't anyone out on this side except for one man who is standing at a gate. "Thinking of making a break for it?" Fuzz's voice startles me and I look at him.

  "Maybe," I admit.

  "V must have told you about the baby?" he asks and I feel that pang hit my heart again. I'm still mad Vin took me away from my baby but I do understand why now. Avil is unpredictable. Which is why I need to get out of here and back to William. My son.

  "Yes, he did. Tuck, I can't just stand around while he is there with them. Everyone in that house is fucking crazy."

  "What do you think he will do to you if you go back there? He might not keep you alive this time. Fuck Sugar he might just kill you where you stand." He tells me and takes my hand in his. "I ever tell you I have a kid?" he laughs at my shocked expression. "Yeah. Me with a kid right? Nobody except Gi
n knows about her."

  "You have a daughter?" I'm still shocked and to find he has a kid and being a girl is even more shocking.

  "Yeah. I was seventeen when I knocked up my girlfriend. So what does a broke ass teenager do when he has a kid in his future? I joined the army." He slimes. "Was great at first. Then I came home on leave to find she took off. No word and I couldn't look around for her because I needed to get back. I was fucking pissed." He steps away from me and looks out the door. "When I finally got back I found her and our then four-year-old daughter, Grace, I named her." He smiles. "Her mom was dead. Fucking bitch had been using for a while and I had no idea. Gone all the fucking time and didn't see shit happening."

  "Where was Grace?" I ask, hesitant to hear the answer.

  "She was with foster parents. You see since I wasn't home when she was born and her mother and I weren't really together she never put me on the birth certificate. She was an orphan. I check in on her now and then, send money to her college fund. She'll be hopefully using it soon. She turned eighteen last month. Smart kid too. Not a thing like her dad." He chuckles. "I know one day she is going to come looking for me and when that day comes I'll be there ready to get to know her." He sighs. "Now I ain't saying this is anywhere near what you are going through but, you need to wait for the right time Sugar." He says looking at me with pleading eyes.

  "What if this is the right time? He doesn't know I have my memory back. I never let on while I was there. I can tell him I escaped and came back to be with him. He is that obsessed with me I think it might work." I explain.

  "Vin will fucking lose his mind and you know it." He sighs looking back out the window. "Only one guard out there tonight. Prospect. Shy around the girls." He says then looks at me again. "Can't tell you what to do or not to do Sugar. But I will say that he has keys to the jeep right next to the gate there." He reaches for me and engulfs me in a hug. I feel his hand slip down and onto my ass. Right before I'm about to pull back and smack him I feel his hand slip something into my pocket. It's hard and feels like a phone. He pulls back and winks. Then takes me completely off guard and gives me a quick peck on the lips. He pulls back with a smirk on his lips. "Sorry couldn't help myself. You're still smoken hot."

  "Such a pig. Thank you, Tuck." I say as he turns to walk.

  "Still like hearing you use my name. I'll try and keep the man distracted but you better hurry. You have been gone for a while he is bound to come looken soon." He walks back the way to go outside to the party.

  Taking a deep breath I look out the window. I'm going to do this. I think to myself but immediately have second thoughts. Vin. It's going to make him loose his mind. I need to get to my son, though.

  I'm going.

  Pushing the door open the prospect doesn't look my way until I get almost a foot away from him. "Hi," I say in a chipper voice. "You out here all by yourself tonight?" I ask making sure to get in between him and the gate. He still says nothing just gapes at me then seems to snap out of it.

  "You're V's girl. You ain't supposed to be out here. You need to go back inside." He says stepping back. I guess I need to be more persuasive. I step closer to him and lift my shirt and bra to show the kid my boobs. That stuns him long enough for me to get close enough to kick him in the balls. Rude I know but desperate times. I right my shirt and start searching the groaning boy's pockets finding the keys like Tuck said I would.

  "Sorry kid," I say sympathetically and run to the jeep. I waste no time starting it and slamming it into gear. The kid is standing by the time I get going and looks like he is going to stand in between me and the gate. He must think better of it because he runs out of the way and to the door I came out of as I floor it. Slamming through the gate he was supposed to be guarding.

  I floor the jeep down the road. There are a few buildings on the sides of the road but they look empty. Some have for sale signs in the windows. The further and further down the road I get, the ache in my heart grows. I wonder if Vin knows I ran yet. I want to turn the jeep around but the thought of seeing my son again keeps my foot down on the gas.

  I get to the outskirts of the city and realize I really don't know where the hell I'm going then I remember Tuck slipping something into my pocket. I take it out and see it is a phone. I pull over to the side of the road and open it up finding right there the map app open. Directions. I press start and drive where the woman tells me to getting closer and closer to places that start to look familiar. I park the jeep about a mile from my destination and get out still holding the phone. I end my route and start walking while looking through the phone. This must be Fuzz's own personal phone. The naked woman on the home screen doesn't seem to be something a person would take the time to do on a burner phone. I look through the contacts and find the one I was hoping to see. V. I tap on his name to send a text when one comes through.

  Whatever you think you are going to do don't do it, Ellie. Please just come back here.

  I can't Vin. You know I need to do this. I'm sorry I hurt you this way. Don't come for me.

  I don't wait for him to reply. I take the phone and slam it onto the concrete making the glass shatter all over the ground. I wish I could have kept it with me but I know better. If I'm going to pull this off I need to look like I just escaped from the clutches of hell not going into them.

  Eighteen

  Vin

  I am going to beat her ass when I get her back. Right after I kill this motherfucker. My fist slams into Fuzz's midsection one more time. "You let her just walk out the fucking door," I shout. Rock pulled up the camera feed to see where she went and that is when we found her talking to Fuzz. Him fucking groping her and fucking kissing her. I slam my hand into his face when that image comes back to me. "Fucking prick." I hiss.

  "She has my phone." He croaks out. "Send her a text man. She will tell you herself. This was her idea I just didn't stop her. She was going to go with or without my help man." He is wheezing through the pain. "He is her fucking kid man. Don't tell me you wouldn't do the same fucking thing." He grunts. He might be right but I don't fucking care. I punch him one last time in the gut and go to send a text. When she answers back I throw my new phone at the fucking wall shattering another one.

  "Fuck V I just got that one for you." Rock grumbles picking it up off the floor. "Great this one is fucking broke to shit too. That's it I ain't getting you anything other than a fucking flip phone." He bitches more and walks out of the room. I'm about to take more of my anger out on Fuzz when Gin comes stomping through the door with Jake.

  "Don't you go beating my VP to a bloody pulp V. He might have fucked up but it ain't on you to delve out punishment." He tells me reaching his hand out to the prick helping him off the chair he was sitting in. "You two and that woman. I will never fucking understand it." He grumbles and walks out of the room with Fuzz.

  "What's the plan now Vin?" Jake is still there standing before me arms crossed waiting for an order. Alway the loyal soldier. When I woke up after Avil tried killing me I found myself in the company of him and Finn. Rico had hooked me up with a couple of ex-Marines. He knew I would need the help to find Avil and kill him. After he killed Makayla he went into hiding. Apparently, after he killed us, Makayla and I, he came back home and took more of his anger out my parents. The Dean got pissed and told him to leave until his shit was straight. So the prick went and took over another city. Didn't take him long either. All those fucking years searching for him and he was right there in Jake and Finn's hometown. Right along with the Riders. Small fucking world.

  "I'll keep in contact with Reek and wait for the best time." I tell him and slam the door on the way out. Fucken woman.

  Nineteen

  Walking up to the mansion seems eerie. It is completely dark outside now with only the outside lights up the drive to light my way. When I cross that thresh hold large overhead security lights turn on blinding me then shouting makes me stop dead in my tracks. "Hold up there girl." A man shouts out. "Put your hands in the air." He ins
tructs yelling from somewhere I can't see. I do as he says then hear footsteps running my way. A man dressed in black with heavy boots comes to my side and pats me down. Finding nothing he asks me who I am.

  "I'm Avil's wife," I tell him keeping up the lie of me being married to the man. "Ellie. Tell him Ellie is here. I got away from them." I say and he repeats the words I said holding his hand to his ear.

  "Alright, ma'am let's go to the house." He says and he lets me go so we can make the walk the rest of the way up the drive. When we get there I expect to see Avil instead it's Dean. I shutter.

  "Ah, so you have returned to us." He holds out his hand for me to take. Hesitantly I put mine in his and he yanks me closer. "You are either a very stupid woman or you really don't have your memory back." He says in my face making me flinch. His grip is getting tighter on my hand grinding my knuckles together and making me hiss in pain.

  "I'm where I'm supposed to be," I say through the pain. "Avil is my husband. Please, you are hurting me." I whimper trying to play up the hurt little bird card when all my instincts want to do is bust his face open with my free hand. "Please." I plead with him one more time.

  "You want me to take her in and question her boss?" I hear Rico's voice from behind us. Dean lets up on the grip he has on my hand but doesn't let go.

  "No. Just take her to her room for the night. We will see what my son wants to do with her in the morning when he gets back." Relief floods through me but it is short lived because when I turn to follow Rico inside Dean speaks up again. "Well maybe on second thought..." he starts but I don't get to respond because something hard hits me over the head and everything goes black.