by Kristy Marie
Micah looks at Kelly with a determined look on her face. “I do know who that is, and I will blow him away if I have to. Y’all stay here.” She then marches out of her room like she’s off to save the world. Kelly and I run to the door and open it. We don’t leave the room, but we watch as Micah points the pistol at the door with one hand and slowly unlocks it with the other. I’ve never seen someone switch so fast.
“Whoa whoa whoa,” says Fred, as he looks down the barrel of Micah’s forty-five. I watch as she holds it straight at him without a single shake. It’s astounding. She was just scared to death. Like me.
“Get off my porch, Fred,” she says with a fire I’ve never heard before. One that I’m sure I don’t possess.
“I don’t want to hurt you, sweetheart.” There’s a slight chuckle in Fred’s voice. I don’t think he realizes that she will pull that trigger.
“Get off my porch, Fred,” she repeats.
“I just came to get what’s mine,” he tells her, and I know he’s talking about me.
“Nothing here is yours, Fred. Not even Levi. Your best bet is to leave before you do so in a body bag.”
I see Kelly break out into a big grin, and I follow suit. Micah is a little spit fire. After watching her practically fall apart in my arms, she’s like a bear protecting her cubs, now.
“I can take that gun away from you little girl,” Fred sneers.
Micah doesn’t move. “You can try, but I’m sure I’d shoot you first. See, your son taught me how to shoot Fred, and I’m pretty sure it was your face that he envisioned for the target.”
Fred doesn’t get to say anything before sirens are heard all around us. Kelly and I run towards Micah. We stand behind her and watch as police circle around behind Fred and hold their guns on him. He slowly turns around with his hands in the air.
After they get him on the ground and handcuffed, we all let out a long breath. I didn’t even realize I was holding mine.
Kelly puts her hand over the top of the gun and lowers it along with Micah’s hand. Micah slowly lets the gun go and Kelly takes it from her. I move towards Micah and slowly pull her into my arms. She doesn’t put up a fight and melts into me. She may be weak right now, but I saw every second of her being strong. It’s something I’ll never forget.
We are all three sitting on the couch, talking to an officer sitting on the coffee table in front of us, when the boys come storming into the house.
Micah and Kelly jump up as fast as lightening and run to Zant and Chance before tackling them in a hug. I watch as Levi slowly walks inside but stops before crossing the room. I can tell that he wants to come to me, but the fact that he doesn’t know me is holding him back. Relief is on his face. Probably for his sisters. I had no notions that he would come and kiss me or anything. No. I never thought that. I inwardly roll my eyes at my runaway ludicrous thoughts.
He walks towards me without ever taking his eyes off me, though and butterflies sore in my belly. Once he gets to me, he stops and puts his hands in his pockets.
“Are you ok?” he whispers.
“Yes,” I whisper back.
Before I take another breath, he pulls his hands out of his pockets and yanks me to him.
I’m not complaining.
Chapter 24
Levi
“Fred knows where my family is,” I tell Rick, in a panicked voice.
“Where are they?”
“In Conerly.” I look at Zant and Chance. They are just as panicked as I am. It’s written all over their faces.
“Let’s go then.” Rick is getting up from the stool and telling the officers he’s going to go with us to Conerly, and for them to put an APB out on Russell and Wilson. He further tells them to bring them in and hold them until he gets back.
I tell Ron and Dale to go home, and I will call them as soon as I know something. Both of them look like they are dead on their feet. Other than racing, we don’t deal with craziness. Since Fred hasn’t been in my life, all of our lives have been quiet for years. They aren’t used to this.
I make my way to the Demon, and before I jump in, Rick comes up and eyes her. “You mind if I ride with you?” I smirk. He could drive his own vehicle. He just knows that I will leave him in the dust.
“Sure. Hop in and buckle up.” I won’t be getting a ticket tonight.
About a half hour into the drive, I get a text from Kelly.
Kelly: Someone is pounding on the door.
Me: Don’t let them in.
Kelly: We aren’t. I’ve got the kids in the closet.
Me: Stay away from the door. It’s Fred. This was all him.
I hand my phone to Zant, so he can text her back, and I punch it. I’m about to see what this Demon is made of.
I hear Rick behind me. “Oh God.”
“Hold on detective and make sure your seatbelt is on. That was Chance’s wife. Fred is at the door.”
“Shit,” Rick says, then I hear him on the phone.
Thoughts of Fred go through my mind. I’m going to kill him if I get my hands on him. How the heck did he get mixed up in sex trafficking? Never mind. I don’t really want to know the answer to that. He’s a sick human being. I don’t need to know everything that he has been doing. I know enough of what he’s done.
Rick gets off the phone and proceeds to tell us some horrific news.
“It seems that Fred has been feeding Russell’s business from Conerly and surrounding towns. He takes them and then brings them to Martinsville. In our county, we have a group home for girls and boys that have been rescued. It’s horrible in there. Some girls end up offing themselves because they feel if they come out, they will just be taken again. It a couple cases, that has been the truth. They didn’t survive the kidnapping the second time. The handlers just killed them. I’ve also had a kid be taken home, and since her parents are the ones that sold her -that we didn’t know was the case- they killed her in her sleep after being rescued. The majority of those taken aren’t rescued. They are pimped out and the buyers move them across the country. Girls… and boys alike, are taken, sold, raped, tortured, and victimized by monsters every day. I try to stop it. I do.”
I can tell he needed to get a lot of that off his chest. I can’t imagine having his job and seeing what he has seen. I think about those kids and those women that are still missing. What is happening to them? Are guys like Fred torturing women like Kathleen and taking what he wants? Kids. Are they being beat like I was just for being alive?
My anger starts to take over and the darkness hovers until Zant says Kathleen’s name. I whip my head towards him. “What? What about Kathleen?”
“Nothing man. I just said her name.” Zant has a knowing look on his face. Then it morphs into a smirk. “She’s going to save you from the dark, man. I’m telling you.” I go back to driving as fast as I can and paying attention to the road. I need to get to them.
I’m driving so fast, I’ve almost shaved off half my time. This early in the morning, there isn’t any traffic. For the most part, the highway has been all mine.
“Oh shit,” Zant suddenly says.
“What?” He’s looking at my cell and an uneasy feeling rushes through me.
“Micah has the forty-five, and she’s aiming it at Fred.”
“WHAT?!!” Chance and I shout at the same time.
“Just drive. She knows what she’s doing. Micah is fierce, y’all know this. After what Roy did to her. She will take Fred out if she has to.”
“Who’s Roy?” Rick asks. I almost forgot he was in the car.
Zant nor I want to recap that story, so Chance fills him in.
I look at Zant and he’s clenching his jaw. I know he’s thinking about what happen to Micah and what his father put her through. They haven’t told me where Roy is, but I would bet anything on him being dead. It’s a feeling I have. Zant wouldn’t have disappeared if he was still out there. I know him. But I’m never going to ask. That’s him and her.
We pull up to Micah and Zan
t’s house, where about ten police cars are parked out front with red and blue lights going. We all jump out of the Demon and run to the front of the house. Laying on the ground at the bottom of the steps, with his arms behind him in handcuffs, is my sorry-excuse-for-a-human-being father.
I kneel down near him and smirk. “Good to see you’re where you belong.”
“Don’t test me boy,” he seethes.
I chuckle. He can’t intimidate me anymore. It’s been a long time since he could. He just hasn’t crossed me since. Which is a good thing. I’d most likely kill him.
“Look at this little wimp we created, Mary. He can’t even keep his hands up to defend himself.” Fred, keeps lightly slapping my face, with both hands, on each side. There isn’t a point to keeping my hands up, he just hits me harder when I do that. if I don’t defend myself, he goes easier on me. How fucked up is that?
“He’s such a tiny little shit,” Mary says.
Yea, you evil bitch, I’m tiny. You two monsters won’t feed me. I keep myself from rolling my eyes. Fred keeps hitting me and laughing like a maniac. It’s beyond annoying. You would think I would be used to this shit. I’m not. I never will be. I can’t believe I was dealt these two assholes as parents.
I got caught going outside, thinking they were both asleep, I was going to slip by them to go ride. Their drug buddies left a little bit before. I always know to wait a little bit to give them time to pass out. This time was different. They must have passed on using this go around. I don’t know why, and I really don’t care. I just wish I had been quicker.
I grunt when he slaps my right cheek a little harder than he had been.
“What boy? That hurt?”
I don’t say anything.
“How bout this one?” He slaps my left check hard enough to make my head turn. I see Mary, my horrible mother, standing there, smiling like something is funny. I hate her. She’s supposed to be loving and caring. She isn’t. She never has been. She’s let the vilest things happen to me by the hands of their drug buddies. I don’t expect anything out of Fred. He’s just an asshole. Her, thought, I never would have thought a mother could be like her.
I know several mothers. They are nowhere close to being like Mary.
I turn my head back to look at Fred again. His black eyes are laughing at me.
“That didn’t hurt you boy?” he says. He’s not really asking a question. He’s doesn’t expect me to speak. “I bet this one will hurt.” I try to prepare myself. He’s tired of playing around now. Nothing prepares me for his fist, connecting to my temple and darkness surrounding me. I’m out before I even hit the floor.
“Yea yea,” I say and stand up.
“She still isn’t safe,” he yells once we’ve walked up the steps. I turn back around.
“Let them come, Fred. I’ll do to them what should, and probably will, be done to you. Keep it up. You will be the one regretting it.”
I don’t wait for him to speak again. I turn around, pass Rick, and step inside with my brothers. The girls jump up, spin around, and come running to their guys.
I stand there and watch her. Uncertainty crosses her face. She wants to fidget and look away, but she can’t. I have her pinned with my stare. I know my walls are high and I’m hiding from her, but that will change soon. I know it will. Her eyes are reaching out to me, grabbing me by the throat, and refusing to let go. She’s pulling me in, and I can’t fight it. I don’t want to.
This girl, that had the quiet life… The one that has never been able to get out from under her dad… She’s about to be mine. And there is nothing she can do about it.
I walk towards her and put my hands in my pockets to keep from touching her.
“Are you ok?” I know she has to be freaked out. A lot has happened over the weekend that is far from her normal. She’s been sheltered for the most part and I can’t fault Danny for that. She’s precious and should be saved from evil. I like having that job.
“Yes,” she whispers. I can’t help it anymore. I pull her into my arms before she can even blink. Now she’s right where she belongs.
I know this is soon, but there is something about her. I want her.
Isle of Man TT
Levi
I’m here.
Finally.
I stand on the edge of the cliff and watch the sun set on the Isle of Man. It’s an unbelievable feeling. All the years I trained for this. All the races I’ve been through to prove to people that I could be here. All the hours, all the blood, sweat, and tears… yes, there have been tears. It has been worth it.
It’s surreal, standing here. I watch the waves come up and lap against the rocks below. It’s calming. Really unbelievable.
We flew in from Dublin earlier and just been exploring everything around us. It’s a magnificent place.
“What you doing out here all alone?” Kathleen asks, as she wraps her arms around me from behind.
I didn’t hold back from her. I let her get in behind the walls pretty quickly.
After they carted Fred off to jail and Rick got word that Wilson and Russell were in custody, I didn’t waste any more time. I told Micah I liked this girl, and I was going for it. She was so excited, I thought she was going to tackle me. Kelly was pretty much the same way.
It’s only been two weeks, but we’ve been through a lot and we’ve bonded. I like having her around. She keeps me in the light. She makes me want to fight to stay in the light at all cost. She also knows a lot about racing.
I can’t imagine her being out there alone again. And she was alone. Charise is a friend of hers, but they have two different lives and rarely see each other. That’s not the type of best friend she needs.
We’ve talked about her going to law school, and it’s something that is going to happen. I want her happy. Becoming a lawyer that fights against trafficking is what she wants now, and I’m going to make sure it happens for her.
Now that her father is fully aware of everything that went on, he’s on board too. He realized that even though he tried to shelter her, evil was still able to get to her. She wasn’t safe. No amount of sheltering keeps anyone ‘safe’. If anything, it hurts sometimes. I don’t want to shelter Kathleen, but I am determined to keep her safe.
“Just thinking,” I say, as I turn in her arms and put my hands on her hips. She cocks her head to the side and gives me a little smile. I think I may be falling in love with that little smile.
“Wanna know a secret?”
“What you keeping from me, pretty girl?”
“I knew about this race that Friday.”
I think back to that race. Kathleen and I have talked about that race, among many other things over the last two weeks. We have come to the realization that if I hadn’t taken that race, things may not have turned out like they did. Maybe they would have, though. Who knows? We like to think that everything is connected for a reason.
She saves me, and she doesn’t even realize it. I know that I was meant to save her.
“I’m not surprised.” She gives me a mock pouty look. She wanted me to act outraged. I have let myself go a little with her. I show her all my sides. She already knows about the darkest one, so why not show her the rest.
“You don’t play fair sometimes.” She playfully slaps me on the chest.
“I know where I will play fairly with you at.” I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder before she can protest.
“Levi James, put me down,” she yells, beating me with her little fist on my back. When that doesn’t slow me down, she starts popping my butt.
“Keep hitting me on the butt, that’s just going to get you more of what you like.” She starts laughing and her butt slaps grow weaker. I walk fast until we get to our room. Tossing her on the bed, I watch as her beautiful black hair fans out around her. She’s giggling, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sweeter sound.
“We’ve got forty-five minutes before Ron comes looking for me. Let’s make it count.” I slowly climb onto t
he bed on top of her and gently place my lips to hers. She isn’t giggling anymore.
I was right before; these pouty lips are sweet and heavenly.
~
“Day one of training, man. We are here! You ready for this?” Ron is pumped. He couldn’t be happier to be here. I think he may be more excited that I am.
No.
He’s not.
He’s just excited.
“I’m ready, man. This is what we’ve been working for.” I straddle my beloved bike. Dale is a genius. There were a few minor things that were wrong with the bike, and in no time, he had it fixed and ready to go.
I look down and see the Clover Racing logo in front of me and smile.
We’ve made it. I didn’t get here alone. I have had help from the beginning. My journey started out as an escape from evil, but with the parents I chose, with the friends that have had my back as much as I’ve had theirs, and with team mates that love this as much as I do – it has brought me here and it has been worthwhile.
Fred started beating me at an early age. My escape at first was running. When he and Mary would start arguing, I knew I was going to get caught in the cross fire at some point. I would tear out the front door and run to someone else’s house.
Soon, I got a bicycle for free. Some kid a few blocks over got a new one, and without hesitation, I told him I would take his old one. He gladly handed it over. I hid it in the bushes for weeks. If Fred or Mary knew I had it, they would have taken it away and then beat me for having it in the first place.
When I met Ron, he immediately knew something was up with me and it was deep. Not a lot of people knew what was going on at the James’ house. Micah’s parents and Chance’s parents pretty much helped me keep things quiet, so I wouldn’t get taken away by the state. I wouldn’t have survived that. I know I wouldn’t have.
Ron saw me riding my bike, a new bike at this point. He asked me if I had ever ridden one with a motor. I had no idea what he was talking about.
He then introduced me to the dirt bike. After that, I was hooked.
And now, we are here.