“Baby girl, I had no choice. I am sorry.”
“I know.” I wail. “It’s my fault.”
“I hid you Mischief; I never made things clear to you. I am going to now; it’s time you saw the way I live because you are never going to understand until you do.”
“Caden no…” My mother cries.
“She is twenty one Mandy; she has to see it.”
“What for?” She cries again, gripping her apron.
Chief stands and walks over to her, and I watch as he grips her face in his hands. I can see the love there; it radiates off him. He leans in and brushes his lips over hers; her knees buckle, and she grips his shoulders. He strokes his lips so softly, so gently over hers that I am frozen on the spot watching the love pouring off him. He tangles his hands in her hair and whispers just loud enough that I can hear.
“I am giving her a choice; I never gave you a choice, I never showed you the life you were getting into. I am showing her; she needs to see it so she can make that choice.”
He lets her go and she stumbles backwards, gripping the table. Chief turns and reaches his hand out.
“I am taking you to the club, it’s about time you see how the men and I live.”
He grips my hand and goes to leave, but I turn and rush towards my mother. I grip her face and pull her towards me.
“You are my heart Momma; I might turn away from daddy, but I will never turn away from you. I love you.”
“I love you, my baby. I love you.”
I kiss her once more and pull away; I rush down the stairs after Chief. He is already on his bike. He tosses me a helmet, and I catch it, then I slip on behind him. I have never been to the club, and I don’t know if I want to, but I know it’s time I see these things. Time I see what Chief is truly like. I have only ever witnessed him at home; the men have always been placid there.
We pull up outside, and it’s a smoky hazed junk heap. Wooden and old, there are bits of timber peeling from the sides. Bikes line the outside and surrounding the whole thing is a massive barbed wire fence. I get off the bike and stare, shocked. Chief takes my hand and leads me inside. The first thing that I see is smoke and red lights; when it clears I get a good look at my surroundings.
“Chief, oh…Mischief…” Biker Bill, Chief’s second in charge says.
“It’s time Bill.”
“I don’t know about that…”
“It’s time.”
He leads me in further and I come into a clearing. It is filled with a bar, couches, pool tables and rude posters on every damned wall space in the place. That isn’t the shocking part however, what is shocking is the men and women mingling in ways that are just…wrong. I see one of the bikers leaning against the wall; a woman is kneeling between his legs, sucking him slowly while he tangles his hand through her hair.
Off to the side another man is sitting on a couch, two women are butt naked and dancing all over him. I gasp and look around some more. Drunken men, some covered in their own spew. Two are fighting over a game of pool, whacking each other with the cues. Women are strewn about everywhere; all of them are topless, and some are naked. One saunters up to Chief and runs her hands down his shirt.
“Chief, I haven’t sucked your cock in weeks…”
“Fuck off Sandra, this is my fucking daughter.”
She blushes and peers down at me. “Very sorry.”
I glare at Chief, and he stares at me with a ‘sorry’ look.
“Daddy, you cheated….didn’t you?”
He takes my arm and leads me down to a quiet part of the bar. He tells me to sit, and then joins me. The couch smells like cigarettes, sex and booze. Grosse.
“I am going to tell you things tonight Mischief because it’s time you knew. Travis had rights to this club; he could have been president if he wished, but he didn’t. He still has a certain involvement. He still follows the same rules. Travis didn’t join, so therefore he lives his own life, but the rules with you are the same as they are for all the men. Nobody touches my daughter, or they die. End of story.”
“I know that…”
“Travis is a good man and he isn’t tangled in this world, but he is in a world just as dark Mischief. All I ever wanted for you was a life without darkness.”
“You are wrong daddy.”
“Travis is a rockstar, they do drugs, fuck women and do all the things we do; just in a different location.”
“No, Travis isn’t like that.”
“Maybe not now but that is only because he has eyes for you. What if that fades in a few years and he decides it’s boring? I knew Travis before he got with you baby; he slept with women every weekend. He did drugs…he drank. You slowed him down, but you didn’t stop him, it will come back Mischief, and I don’t want you being in the firing line.”
“Daddy, don’t you believe in love? I told Travis once that I didn’t, but I was wrong. Love changes people, love makes us want to be different. I trust Travis, and I know he won’t hurt me.”
He strokes my cheek. “I know all about love Mischief, I also know how much it can hurt.”
“Momma loves you daddy, you were the one who let that go.”
“I know that.”
“Why?”
“You know why; I was tangled in this world, and she couldn’t take it. I couldn’t get out of it; I was trapped. It was better for her without me.”
“It could have worked daddy.”
He sighs. “Maybe, but it didn’t.”
“It might not for you but I won’t stop seeing Travis daddy, please don’t try and stop me.”
“I ain’t going to stop you, but I will tell you to think long and hard about it. I don’t want my daughter being hurt.”
“I’m a big girl.”
“No,” He says, pulling me into his arms. “You will never be anything but my baby.”
CHAPTER 13
Trav is released two days later and goes home when I am working. As soon as I am finished, I hurry over. When I get through his front door, I hear the music right away, and I follow it. Trav is on the balcony, strumming away at his guitar. He is shirtless, and the sun glistens against his skin. I walk over, just listening for a long moment. When he hears me move, he spins around.
“Hey rockstar.”
He smiles at me, but it’s weak. He looks lost. I get on my knees and crawl over to him, considering he is sitting on the ground. I take the guitar from his hands, and I carefully straddle him. I kiss his cheeks and his neck, then move up until I am kissing his lips. He runs his hand up and down my back, then pulls back and stares at me.
“Why do you keep coming back, when you know I am no good for you Mischief?”
“That is my choice, and I see it the other way around. I think my life changed the day you came into it; I don’t want to be without you Trav.”
“I don’t deserve you.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
I lean in and kiss him, hard and long. He responds with a groan, but winces when he moves his hands up to touch me. I lean back and slowly remove my shirt, knowing that is what he was going to do. He looks into my eyes, and I can see the pain in his. I stroke his cheek, then raise my chest so he can take my nipple into his mouth. I moan when he does, relishing in the feeling of his tongue tweaking my hardened tips.
“Trav, I am going to do this real slow.”
I lean back and stand, slowly removing my clothes; I don’t give a crap if anyone can see, this moment is ours. I reach down and undo his jeans, then slowly slide them down over his hips until he is sitting naked. He doesn’t take his eyes from me; he just stares and begins panting. There are so many unspoken emotions in his eyes, so many things he wants to say, wants to feel but he is stopping himself.
“Slowly baby.” He croaks.
“Slowly.”
I lower myself over him until my knees hit the ground. I place my hands on the wall behind him, careful not to touch his battered body. He is covered in bruises, stitches and whip lash
es. His eye is black; his lip is puffy, but I don’t care. Travis Phoenix is as beautiful to me as he always is. I reach into his pocket and pull out his wallet, taking out a condom. I slide it over his length slowly, then I lower myself inch by inch onto his cock and he hisses through his teeth.
“Does it hurt?”
“No, fuck, no.” He pants, gripping my legs.
I slide down further, and whimper when he is fully sheathed. He growls as I thrust my hips and begin sliding up and down, up and down. His breathing becomes laboured, and his moans are jagged. I slide slowly, not wanting to hurt him in any way, my orgasm is building higher and higher, sending electric bolts of pleasure through my body.
“God, Violet, you are so fucking beautiful. Can’t let you go, never let you go.” Travis grates out.
“Trav.” I cry, shuddering around him.
He grips my hips and pumps his upwards, growling in pain and pleasure as he does. His muscles flex, his eyes are clamped closed as he thrusts with desperation. He bellows my name loudly and I feel him pulsing into me, his ragged cries tugging at my heart strings. He sounds like a man in pain, a tortured soul. I crush his head against my chest, stroking his hair and whispering his name softly in his ear.
“Violet, my heart started beating again when you came into my world. I can’t think about anything but you; I wasn’t living before, I merely existed and now…you are the sunshine…the rain…the darkness…the light; you are my soul.”
I feel tears stream down my cheeks because I know that is Travis’s way of saying I love you. When we finally pull apart, I help him to his feet. I lead him inside and begin the daily cleaning of all his wounds. He winces in pain as I wipe them over and my heart breaks once more. Guilt courses through my body. It hurts. It all just hurts.
“Stay with me.” He whispers.
“Of course.”
I help Travis dress and we spend the evening making soft love, watching movies and eating pasta. It is at that exact moment I realize that I am bound to Travis Phoenix, nobody in my life will ever compare, and that scares the hell out of me. Chief’s words haunt me. “All I wanted for you was a life without darkness.”
~*~*~*~*
“Momma?” I yell, the house is bright, but I can’t see her anywhere.
I walk into the kitchen, she isn’t baking or singing like she usually is.
“Momma?”
No answer. I walk towards her room, and I hear a faint sound. I begin running. I burst through the door, and I scream. My mother is on the bed; she is naked and her body is beaten so badly I can hardly recognize her. I run to the bed, and call her name over and over again. She is alive; I know she is alive, and I have to get help. I pull out my phone, and I ring an ambulance.
“Momma, it’s going to be ok. I got you.” I whisper, stroking her mattered hair.
“Vi…” She croaks.
“Going to be ok Momma.”
I dial Chief’s number.
“Chief.”
“Daddy, help please. Help. I don’t know what to do.”
“Baby slow down, where are you?”
“Home…daddy someone has hurt her. Momma…oh god.”
“What? Violet what has happened?”
“Someone has beaten her daddy; she is in a bad way. I am taking her to the hospital now.”
“I will be there.”
I flip the phone closed and swipe my tears away before calling Travis. I can’t drive right now even if I wanted to.
“Phoenix records, Janice speaking?”
“Janice, I rang Travis’s office. Where is he?”
“I don’t know.” She snaps.
“Don’t fuck with me right now Janice, where is he? It’s an emergency.”
“I will put you through.” She sighs.
About five minutes later, the phone is picked up again.
“Travis Phoenix.”
“Trav, it’s me. I need your help.”
“Baby, what is happening?”
“My mother has been bashed, the ambulance is coming. I need you please.”
“Shit, I will be there in five.”
I hang up and drop beside my mother. I stroke her hair, talking to her and trying to keep her awake. I scan the damage, broken ribs; five at least. Broken arms and legs, bones protruding. Beaten face, possibly a broken jaw. She has been raped; I just know she has been raped. I feel sick. I swipe my tears again, desperately trying to keep myself from hyperventilating. Got to be strong, she needs me to be strong.
The ambulance officers arrive ten minutes later and are horrified with the scene they witness. After answering as many questions as I can, they tell me I have to wait for the police. Travis arrives ten minutes after they took my mother to the hospital to find me screaming on the ground. He runs in and pulls me into his arms, rocking me backwards and forwards. When I settle down enough, we wait for the police to arrive. When they do, I am given the third degree.
“You have no idea who did this?”
“No sir,” I whisper. “I came home and found her like this.”
“Has she been getting any suspicious phone calls, any threats?”
“Not that I know of.”
“If there is anything you remember, please call. You will need to make a statement.”
“Yes sir.”
When we arrive at the hospital, I run inside. I hurry down the bland corridors and skid to a halt at the reception desk.
“Amanda…she just got brought in?”
The nurse smiles. “She is in surgery.”
“What, why?” I cry.
“Mischief, baby…”
I turn and am crushed firmly against Chief’s chest, where I finally allow myself to crumble.
“S’all my fault daddy, all my fault.”
“No baby, no.”
“It is.”
“It’s mine. Not yours.”
“Should have run, should have let her run with me when she wanted to.”
“Come now.”
“Was it demon?”
He pulls me back and stares over at Travis who has just got in, he looks over at him and winces.
“Chief.” Travis says.
“Trav.”
“So was it daddy?”
“I think so.”
“She isn’t safe; she needs to get out of here.”
“So do you Violet.”
“Daddy no; I can’t leave. I have a court…”
Chief’s eyes flare. “A what?”
“Nothing.”
“What did you say Violet?”
“She has a court case Chief.”
“Travis!” I cry, glaring at him.
“For what?”
“Jeremy is back.”
I glare at Travis again. “Stop.”
“Jeremy, as in that little fuck who beat my baby?” Chief roars. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me.”
“It isn’t the time daddy.” I whisper.
“Why is he back?”
“He wants me put away.” I cry.
Chief pulls out his phone and begins dialling.
“Bill, we got a problem…”
He walks off, and I turn to give Trav a truly awful look.
“Why did you do that?”
“He had a right to know, he can help.”
“By killing him and getting me in more trouble!”
“No, by scaring the fuck out of him and making sure he never comes back.”
“I can’t deal with this right now.”
“You are staying with me until Chief gets Demon; you are staying.”
“Trav…”
“No arguments.”
“Best idea I heard all night.” Chief says coming back.
“I need air.”
I turn and walk outside, needing to get away. I sit out in the blackness a while until Trav comes out and sits beside me.
“She is out and awake, do you want to see her?”
I am up and gone before another word can be spoken. I run into her
room; Chief is by the bed. I see her and my lip quivers.
“Oh baby.” She says in a hoarse voice.
I run over and bury my face into her neck. “I’m so sorry Momma.”
“It’s not your fault honey.”
“I…it is. He wants me.”
“Not your fault.”
“I am so sorry.”
“I am sending you away Mandy,” Chief says. “To your Ma’s.”
“Ok.” She whispers, she doesn’t even argue.
He strokes her cheek. “I’m real sorry.”
“I only ask one thing of you Caden, don’t let anyone hurt my baby. I couldn’t bear it.”
“I swear it to you.”
CHAPTER 14
A week passes and my mother comes home from hospital; Chief sends her away immediately. She goes to my nan’s house but not without intense protest. She wants me to go; she doesn’t want to leave me. When I tell her about Jeremy it only gets worse. I know she needs to be away from all this; her mind is in a bad place and her body is even worse. She cares about me more than all that though, and I can’t go safely away with her.
She finally gives in when Chief tells her I am staying with Travis and the building will be fully secured. I will be dropped to and from work and have an escort at all times. I promise to call her twice a day, and when the case comes I promise to go with her until Demon is found. I don’t like that because it means months without Travis and I don’t know if I can deal with that right now. I hate that I have to be watched and guarded at all times. I hate this situation.
“There’s my gorgeous girl.”
I am in the tub at Trav’s house and he has just come in from working in his office. I grin and wiggle my toes at him.
“Hey handsome.”
“Handsome? You wound me.”
“I always wound you. Sorry, hey there hot stuff.”
He laughs and slides off his shirt. “Shift over.”
I do, and he slides in behind me, when his hard chest presses against my back; I sigh.
“Oh Trav, I have missed this.”
“Mmmmm; Reagan called before.”
“Oh?”
“She wanted to know where I lived so she could come and get on the ‘charge’ with you.”
Phoenix Rockstar (Book One in the Erotic Rockstar Series) Page 11