He gave her the injection and began his exam, looking to her before removing any clothing. She felt more secure because he’d done so and knew he must have guessed that it had been men who had done this to Tami. Each time she’d nodded, he’d proceed on, compassionately covering up one area before he moved on to the next. When it came time for him to check her female area, he stopped and put a hand on Heaven’s arm. She looked down at his hand as the tears streaked down her cheeks. The thin skin on his hands creased in wrinkles and showed years of hard work and abuse. He hadn’t lived an easy life either and that seemed to need no translation. Heaven put her hand over his and looked up in to his eyes, seeing the same tears that she shed rounding the corners of his. He understood. Somewhere in his life, he’d felt the agony she felt for someone he cared about. Just having that connection gave her the strength to push on. She nodded, squeezing his hand gently before letting go.
The elderly doctor placed a sheet over Tami’s lower half to give her some grasp of modesty as he did the exam. He kept his face expressionless and his movements professional, taking care to treat and sew each injury with care. Over an hour later he finished and lowered the sheet.
He looked to her, his face drawn and somber. “Sin ninos,” he said, shaking his head. The pain that she saw in his eyes said it all. Tami could never have babies. She let out a wail. “No,” she cried.
“Lo siento,” he said quietly, shaking his head. He gathered up his things and left, leaving her huddled in the chair beside the bed. The truth of it all seemed to be closing in on her and making it hard to breathe. Tami. Why hadn’t they taken her instead? Tami was a good student who would have gone off to a good college and gotten away from their life the right way, without running. She wouldn’t have joined a biker gang, or spent her weekends drinking her past away like Heaven did. Like all of the things in their life, it wasn’t fair. She sat that way until her brain had shut off on self-preservation and she fell into a deep sleep.
*****
Sadie jolted up in the middle of a nightmare. She sat up and looked around, relieved to see Sahara lying next to her.
“What’s wrong?” Sahara asked, her eyes flying open.
“Just a nightmare, go back to sleep,” she said, praying she could do the same. But unlike in that horrid cage where sleep was their only retrieve, she wanted to stay awake. Because here, she was safe. She had no doubt that even if her captors wanted to find her and take her back, she would ever end up there again. The two men posted in their room looked big and bad enough to take all the guards on. She’d learned, after an extensive amount of questioning, that their names were Shark and Colt. Funny names if you asked her, but given their appearance and the bad motherfucker vibe they put out, she’d never say to their face. Sahara seemed to trust them with her life, and that was enough validation for Sadie. Although, if she didn’t know better, she’d have been willing to put money on the fact that at least Colt had a thing for her sister and possibly Shark too. It was hard to tell with what she’d learned about bikers though. They were usually after sex, and dirty sex at that—only. As the night had turned to early morning, she’d changed her opinion. Both had treated her like a little sister, and showed concern and caring for Sahara. She had a lot to learn about bikers.
Her sister may not know it yet, but they’d promised her a chance to get to know their world as much as she liked while she lived at the clubhouse. Sadie didn’t know how her big sis would react to that, but after this, there was no way in hell she wanted to be left without the biker muscle to protect her. Not for a long time anyway.
In her dreams, she was back in that hellhole, having her body abused and beaten. The image of them violating her brought stomach bile up in her throat. Sahara had known about the beating she’d received just before she’d been saved, but only the doctor knew about the sexual assault, and she planned to keep it that way. There was no point in anyone else knowing, and a secret only God, her, and the doctor she’d never see again would keep.
Sahara pulled her close and wrapped her arm around her. “You’re safe now, Sadie. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.” And Sadie knew she meant it. If only she could find a way to get the memories out of her mind so they’d quit hurting her over and over like a knife raking over a freshly stitched wound. “It’s okay, angel. I’m right here,” she cooed, rubbing up and down Sadie’s arm. Sahara always knew how to calm her and make everything go away. Her thoughts went to Tami and what the poor girl had been through. Sadie just hoped she’d been some help to Tami, if even just to give that little bit of comforting Sahara gave to her now. She was younger than Sadie, and had somehow survived, barely, worse than she’d been through. It was selfish to feel sorry for herself when she’d seen what they’d done to her. No. Tomorrow, she’d insist on moving to Tami’s room. She had to be strong for her.
Sadie laid awake for a long time, forcing her brain to think of anything else but what had happened. She made a mental list of things she wanted to do and places she wanted to see. Then she started a list of foods she wanted the second she got home and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep somewhere between pizza and banana split.
*****
Sometime around seven in the morning, Raven snuck into Heaven’s room, careful not to wake her or Tami. He’d greeted iron packing Harley and Fish, who subsequently, had sent the Feds on to find the location where the auction would take place. Everyone but a handful had jumped back in the battle, leaving him one left behind to protect Sahara, Sadie, Heaven, and Tami. Not that he was complaining. This was exactly where he wanted to be. For the first time in his life, he preferred staying behind and not being out in the fight. He quietly slipped off his boots, and it hit him. Everything he’d been fighting for all along was right here, curled up like a cat in a chair. She could have gone to the other bed and slept, but instead she sat guard, not leaving her sister’s side. Damn if this little woman didn’t just change his perspective on life completely. He admired her soft features as she slept, and instead of feeling lust, he felt something deeper. Something more. He scooted his arms under her and hoisted her against his chest, stilling until she nestled her head under his chin. Raven carried her tiny frame to the bed and tucked her in, going back to check on Tami before he stretched out beside Heaven. He didn’t want to wake her, but knew this was where he had to be. She moved around until her body molded against his side and her head rested on his shoulder with one arm tossed over his torso comfortably like they’d slept a lifetime this way.
He lay there for a long time, trying his damnedest to ignore how good she felt in his arms. It’d been a lifetime ago the last time he’d allowed himself to get close to a woman, and he’d sworn he never would again. He’d been barely seventeen and a year before the Ops had taken him in off the streets. She was the girl next door, him the bad boy with a motorcycle her parents loved to hate. His ol’ man had raised him nearly his entire life after his mother had left right after he was born. His dad had done his best, he had no doubt, but his best was pretty low on the average spectrum of normal. When he wasn’t working, he was drinking, or back in the only bedroom of their little camp trailer fucking the ‘mommy of the week’. The whole damn place would shake, and during the young years, he’d ignore it and let it rock him to sleep. As he got older, the moans and rocking boat action had him flying out the door on to his bike to race away from it all. It wasn’t entirely bad, like some of them had it. He wasn’t abusive, and there was always money for food. But his ol’ man was never around. They didn’t talk, or do things together. He was just ‘there’.
Donna had been his saving grace. She’d taught him how to love, and in the end, how to hate. Like most girls, the bad boy grew old and she’d traded him for the football jock at the end of their senior year. She’d said, “I’ve gotta start thinking about my future. Tommy has a scholarship and is headed off to med school in the spring. It was fun while we were children, but now it’s time to grow up.” Grow up. Those words had haunted him for years. How
the hell had she assumed that going off to be in some frat house and chug beer meant grown up, while he’d been working two jobs since he’d turned thirteen to put himself through college? Yeah, he hadn’t told her about his plans, because she never seemed interested. That should have been clue number one that things weren’t as great as he’d thought. Then again, finding her with her skirt hiked up over her head in the back seat of Tommy’s convertible didn’t really call for clues or explanations.
He’d sworn that day there was no woman in the world worth feeling that kind of hurt over again. His mother hadn’t wanted him. Donna hadn’t. He wasn’t one who needed a third to make him realize he was meant to be alone. But since he’d met Heaven…everything he knew changed. He still feared the outcome, but seeing her spirit, her bravery, all of it made him realize she was worth the risk. Now he just had to figure out how to pursue her for more than just sex. He’d never learned how to date when he was young, so how the fuck was he gonna figure it out now? Just before he dozed off, he turned to his side and wrapped his arm around her tiny body, tucking his hand under her back. Whatever he had to do, he knew he could never let her go.
*****
Heaven woke sometime late day, snuggled in a blanket of warmth and security. Everything bad that had happened in her life up to that point hadn’t yet shook her brain was awake, she laid while a peaceful silence edged her conscious. The rhythmic rise and fall of the body pressed against her back lulled her to remain in this half-awake, half asleep stage until she heard a soft voice.
“Sissy,” it said. “Sissy,” again. Then all at once, it hit her. Her eyes flew open to see Tami sitting up in bed with the television remote and sacks of food beside her. She was sipping a root beer with a small smile. Heaven’s eyes went wide and she jerked to sit up but Tami stopped her. “Shhh! Stay still. He needs some sleep,” she said.
“What?”
“He was up off and on all morning with me while you slept. Oh, and went to get me food and a root beer,” she grinned, taking another chug. Heaven looked at her confused, still trying to work the pieces to make sense.
“Who? Are you okay?”
“I’m sore, but feeling a lot better. Raven’s been giving me my medicine. He said I didn’t have to take the morphine if I didn’t want to, but he made me take the other stuff.” Heaven’s body went rigid. He’d taken care of her while she slept? Why?
“Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“Because. You needed to sleep. He said you haven’t slept worth a shit lately.”
“Watch your mouth,” Heaven scolded, although it was half-hearted. She was just happy she’d been given the chance to tell her sister to watch her mouth. Instead of trying to over evaluate what it all meant, she wanted to hold her sister and see for herself that she was indeed alive and going to make it. Her hand tossed back the covers and she glanced down, happy to see her clothes were still on. So why was he here then? The bastard was damn lucky he hadn’t come for a piece of ass after everything that had gone down and her sister right beside them. As quickly as she’d thought it, she’d mentally slapped herself. Of course he wouldn’t have. Every time she grasped at something to explain why the hell he was snuggled up behind her it ended up being over ridiculous. She shook her head and tried to pull away. The arm around her middle tightened, hauling her even closer to him.
“Humph,” he grumbled. Tami glanced from the television and smiled.
“Told you he’s tired.”
“Yeah, but I need to get up.” She tugged again, and just as before, he held her in place.
“Sleep,” he mumbled. His grumpy bear sleepy tone made Tami giggle.
“Why do you need up? Just relax, sis, I have food and TV. I’m getting ready to take a nap in a little bit I think. Those meds make me groggy.” She yawned, as if to convince Heaven more.
“I want to make sure you’re okay. Tami…” her voice cut out and she didn’t exactly know what to say.
“Sis, I’m okay.” Her voice was soft, and despite everything she’d just been through, she was trying to make Heaven feel better. Damn she was a good kid, and well beyond her fifteen years. Their sorry ass mother was to thank for that.
“I’m so sorry… this is all my fault.“ It was a statement. A cold hard fact that she’d never let go of.
“No. It’s not, Heaven. If anyone’s, it’s moms. Just like it was with dad. You tried.”
“And I failed,” Heaven’s voice whimpered, her tears mounting like fingers around her throat, choking.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again,” Heaven said on a cry hiccup.
“Good.”
“If I’d of come for you sooner—”
“No, sis. Mom is to blame for this if anyone, not you. She kicked me out. Told me I was old enough to get the fuck out of her house one night in a drunken rage because I took her bottle away. I was walking to find you,” she said.
“Fucking cunt!” Heaven bit out. “How the fuck could she after her fucking daughter had been kidnapped? Is she insane!”
“Yes cunt. Now sleep.” Raven’s arm held firm even when Heaven tried to bolt out of bed in anger. She turned toward him for the first time and looked down. His face was soft, showing a tenderness and almost boyish good looks she’d never noticed behind the wall of badass. Her head turned back to Tami, and they started giggling. Even with his eyes still closed, a small smile played at the corners of his mouth. Heaven couldn’t help but bend down and drop a kiss on his cheek. That, it turned out, made him open an eye to look at her. He blinked and closed it again, but she felt his other arm slide under her body and tug her into a hug.
The rest of the afternoon, the girls spent watching the only English television station that picked up. So after two back-to-back episodes of Jerry Springer, they’d both taken a little nap and woke to Maury, who, of course, was revealing paternity tests to slut bag mothers looking for a baby daddy. It was almost too much to watch the stupidity as one woman found it insulting and shocking that guy number thirteen wasn’t the father. They’d whispered and giggled until Raven finally woke up for good.
“Mmm. You two giggle a lot.” That, of course, made them giggle more. “I’m glad to see you smiling, pip squeak. How’s your root beer supply doing?”
“I could use another round,” she grinned.
“‘Kay. What about you? What’s your poison?” He turned to Heaven, still keeping his arm on top of her as he lifted up on his side.
“I can go get it. I guess from what Tami tells me, you were up playing nurse all night. Thank you, Raven,” she said, her voice going soft. He kissed the top of her nose.
“Don’t mention it. We’ve gotta get her patched up so I can teach her how to drive a bike. She’s gonna need wheels here pretty soon.” Tami’s face lit up.
“Wait a minute…oh no. The only wheels she’s getting is going to be the biggest, toughest SUV I can find her. She needs armor around her, not pavement.”
“Naw. There’s nothing safer than being one with the road. You’ll see.” Heaven’s head snapped around so fast she almost broke her neck.
“What?”
“I’ll show you. Once we get back and get you two moved in, I’ll have time after work to take her out each afternoon.” Heaven’s mind drifted back to the ride back to the motel. She’d thought Gage was about to say something similar that would lead her to believe there was something in store for them in the future, but he’d choked and dismissed it. Raven hadn’t even faltered. The sincerity in his eyes melted her heart. She knew what he wanted without him coming out and saying it in front of Tami, and it took hold of her. She leaned in and kissed him, ignoring the whistles that came from the now-loopy-on-pain-meds Tami. Both of them pulled back giggling.
“What? You didn’t think I was after road rash and that’s it, right?” Tami didn’t quite get what he meant by that remark, but she got more than she probably should have. To save face, she excused herself to the bathroom after denying help from Heaven’s numerous att
empts of insisting. There were things she needed to do for her own pride, and this was one of them no matter how much pain she was in. “I’ll be back. I don’t want you going anywhere without someone with you. Any snacks?”
“Chocolate!” Tami answered immediately and it was Raven who chuckled this time.
*****
The mob of bikers followed Fish to the old abandoned warehouse that had seen better days, well, never from the looks of it through the heavily crowded parking lot. The Feds were running surveillance, which was ironic given their normal persistency to be large and in charge. They just realized that working with the Mexican government on this wasn’t an option if they wanted things done how they wanted it done, so they’d reluctantly turned it over to the Savages and Ops with the promise to shut off all video and audio when the time came. There were some things they didn’t need, nor want, to know.
“Remember the plan. Cover all exits, secure the girls, and no survivors,” Sandman told the group before they all split to enter from every angle. Abi rounded the corner to the back entrance with Yo Neg and Tank close by her side. She nodded to them, quietly wrenching open the door for the rest of the group to enter before the three of them followed. Three men stayed toward the back to block the door while the rest fanned out to cover the large area of the warehouse. It didn’t take long to figure out where the auctions were being held. There was a temporary wall built inside the warehouse that led to two rooms inside. The other teams came in, all seeing the building within a building and grinning. The dumb bastards were making this easier than they’d expected. Abi was first to enter the door after one of the guys reached around her and cut the lock. She wanted to be the first to get a few good death blows in before the guys had their fun. “What the fuck?” an American said just moments before she knocked him out. Instead of letting this son-of-a-bitch go to the guys, she decided she wanted to beat him to death just out of principal. They were standing in a holding area where over two hundred girls were gagged and bound. One glance told her all she needed to know.
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