by Erin Osborne
I know once we leave this hospital in a few days, our life is about the change for the better. I’m going to do everything in my power to be home more so I can help Riley out. With two kids under two I know she’s going to be overwhelmed. And I know that I’m going to want to spend every possible second with my family. I’ll figure out a routine that works for everyone. Even if it means my family spends more time at the clubhouse with me. My life is finally complete and I have a new sense of freedom and light shining every day. I couldn’t be happier than I am right now.
Epilogue
Harley
GROWING UP I NEVER IMAGINED MY LIFE turning out the way it is now. I’m not like most people in the neighborhood I was raised in. I had a loving mother and father with an older brother, Alan, that did what he could to protect me. my parents worked hard to provide us what we needed and a few of the things we wanted. Alan was my best friend, until the day he wasn’t.
I’m not sure what happened, but I know one day I woke up with my family the same way it always was. The next day, Alan started to change and it wasn’t in a good way. He started skipping school, hanging out with different people, and having violent outbursts. Eventually it got to the point that my parents couldn’t deal with him and kicked Alan out. I didn’t hear from him for months. Not until I got the heartbreaking news that my parents had been killed by a drunk driver. The police wouldn’t give me any details because I was a minor, but they had a strange look in their eyes whenever Alan was around. Maybe if I was older, I would have seen the signs and realized what was going on. Now, it’s too late and I don’t know how to get out of the situation I find myself in.
“Harley, get your fucking ass out here!” Alan shouts from the living room. He has to shout because once again he’s having a party and the music is blaring.
I should be able to ignore him, but I know he’s been partying and if I don’t see what he wants, I’m going to pay for it. When I have to pay for things, I end up not being able to work for a few days at least. Addison and Steel are starting to wonder what’s going on with me. Steel will be able to get the details out of me first. He has a personality that won’t let him leave this alone.
Walking out to Alan, I see a girl riding him while he grabs the tray with coke on it. This definitely isn’t how I want to be spending my night. Maybe I’ll go to the Kitty Kat and see if they need some help. That’s if Alan doesn’t need me to go on some run for him and his friends or something like that. At least I get out of the house if that’s what he wants.
“What do you want?” I ask, not bothering to hide the contempt in my voice tonight.
“Need you to go for a run. You gotta pay and it’s going to be a big bill. We’re talking almost a grand,” he informs me like it’s no big deal while continuing to get off and high.
“Are you kidding me? I can’t afford that, Alan!” I tell him, knowing that I’m going to get some sort of backlash.
“Better figure it out, bitch! I want you back here in twenty minutes,” he says, dismissing me while other things are passed around the room to him and his fuck buddy of the night.
This has got to end. I’m done being his little bitch and funding his habit. Steel will help me if I let him in. I’ve been trying to avoid it, but I know I have no choice. Alan spent the last of my money last night and I don’t have any left to pay for tonight’s party. So, I head back in to my room and pack as much as I can in a second bag. Yeah, I’ve had a go bag packed for a while now. The abuse is getting worse and worse and I know it’s only a matter of time before my brother kills me.
Steel
I’m sitting at the clubhouse, thinking of the one person that seems to be on my mind constantly these days. Harley is a dancer at the Kitty Kat and I’ve noticed a change in her that leads me to believe that she’s in trouble. Over the last few months I’ve tried to talk to her and get her to open up to me, but she won’t give in. Hell, I’ve even tried to fuck it out of her, but she always leaves as soon as we’re done. I can’t even get her to stay the night with me. I’m usually the one that kicks the bitch I fuck out, but not Harley.
I’m getting ready to go see if she’s stopped by the club, even though I know tonight is her night off when my phone rings. Looking at the screen, I see that Harley is calling me. A rare smile breaks out on my face until I hear her voice.
“Steel, where are you? I need help,” she says, panic and fear coming through the phone.
“I’m at the clubhouse. I have an apartment, meet me there. I’ll message you the address,” I tell her, hanging up and sending the message as I make my way out to my bike.
It usually takes me twenty minutes to get to my place, but tonight I make it there in ten. I’m flying through the vacant streets to make it to my apartment around the same time as Harley. I don’t know what kind of situation she’s in or if anyone is following her so I want to be there as close to the time as she is. My mind is racing a million miles a second about what the hell is happening.
As soon as I skid to a stop in my parking lot, I see her step out of her car while looking around to make sure no one followed her. I run to her and practically drag her into my place so she’ll calm down a little bit. Tonight, she stops hiding. I will get to the bottom of whatever is going on with her and we’ll figure out how to handle it. If I have to take a motherfucker out for hurting her, I will with no questions asked.
Once I have her settled on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with a shot of whiskey, I sit down next to her and wrap my arm around her shoulders. I give her a few minutes to stop shivering and get under control before I start to grill her. “You need to tell me what’s goin’ on babe. I can’t help if I don’t know what I’m up against.”
“I-I-I c-can’t,” she stammers, leaning into my side to absorb my warmth and strength.
“You have to. Harley, I want to help you more than you know, but I need to know the details of what I’m workin’ against,” I tell her, for the first time in my life, I’m pleading with someone to let me in. Before it was a matter of getting what I want and moving on, not with Harley though. Never with her.
Finally, Harley begins to tell me a story of how she’s been living the past few years. The more she tells me, the more rage filled I become. I can’t believe the things that she’s been made to do and why she got the job at the strip club. Her brother is a dead motherfucker, and it will be by my hands that he dies.
“I’ve got you babe. You’re goin’ to stay here and I’m goin’ to make sure you’re safe and protected,” I tell her. “We’ll figure out the details as they go. Your brother will never put another hand on you or take another dime from you.”
“You can’t promise that, Steel. I just need a place to hide for a few days until he calms down again,” she tells me like we’re talking about someone that’s sick instead of the shitstorm she’s been dealing with.
“I can promise you that. Now, we’re gonna go get some sleep and talk more about this in the mornin’. No one will get you here,” I tell her, standing up and leading her to my room. I’ve got her in my apartment and there’s no way that we’re not sleeping in my bed. I don’t want anything other than to comfort her though. At least tonight and until we get this situation under control.
Harley climbs in my bed and I get in behind her. Wrapping my arms around her, I wait for her breaths to even out before I let sleep claim me. I’ve never felt as peaceful as I do right now.
The End
Riley’s Rescue Playlist
Eyes On You – Chase Rice
Meant To Be – Bebe Rexa feat. Florida Georgia Line
You Could Be That Girl – Brantley Gilbert
Outlaw In Me – Brantley Gilbert
Can’t Shake You – Gloriana
Fire Away – Chris Stapleton
Unbreakable – Jamie Scott
Reply – Staind
Right Here – Staind
Believe – Staind
Epiphany – Staind
Party In Hell – A
aron Lewis
What If I Was Nothing – All That Remains
Sober – Staind
You Are The Reason – Calum Scott
Tried To Tell Ya – Brantley Gilbert
The Truth – Staind
Acknowledgments
First, I need to thank my amazing children and man. You all understand and give me time to do what I love doing. I get nothing but support and encouragement from all of you and without that, I wouldn’t have had the courage to actually hit publish on Skylar’s Saviors. I love you to the moon and back kids and mom!!
Kayce, without your support, I don’t know that I’d still be writing. No matter what has happened between us, we’re back, and you have talked me off the ledge more than once. We have written a series together and I can’t wait to see where that takes us!! Thank you for everything that you have done to help me on this amazing journey.
Jenni, you have become one of my biggest supporters and editor. We talk, and you help me both in professional and personal matters. You’re not only a friend, you’re a member of my family. Thank you for everything, including talking through story lines with me when I get stuck. Or helping me remember things from past books that I may need to mention in future books.
Kim, you are such an amazing friend. You have gone above and beyond what you have to do when it comes to the help you have given me. There are so many things that you have done that I needed to do and hadn’t gotten to just because you wanted to help me out. Including being an amazing beta reader!! Thank you for everything and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us from here.
Michelle, my PA. You keep me on track and help me out when I have no clue what I’m doing. There have been a few times that you have talked me off the ledge when I’ve been too overwhelmed and wanted to give up on putting these characters and stories out there. You have been there since the very beginning and I’m glad to call you a friend as well as my PA. Thank you for everything!!
My beta readers. Thank you for taking a chance and reading the stories that I put out. I appreciate all of the feedback you give me and let me know when things don’t make sense or add up. Let’s see where this second series takes us!!
There are several other people that I have to thank for being a part of this story. Graphics by Shelly for designing me another amazing cover. Your work is amazing, and I can’t wait to see what other covers you come up with. Reggie, you are such an amazing photographer and it is truly and honor to work with you. I can’t wait to see what other pictures we can find to grace the covers of the rest of this series!! Holly, thank you so much for being on the cover of Riley’s Rescue. The picture I chose for this story captures the growth that the character goes through and I hope you enjoy it!!
I always feel like I’m forgetting someone when I write this part of the book. However, I have a small group of people that are friends and without your continued support none of this would be happening. Honestly, I can’t thank everyone of you enough for all the help that you have given to me. Most of you from the very beginning of this journey. I love you all!!
About the Author
I am the oldest of two children who were raised in Upstate New York. My mom taught us that hard work and determination is what’s needed to accomplish what you want to in life. She’s a strong woman that tried to teach us all she could while supporting us in our decisions.
Now, I’m a mom to three amazing children with two sons and a daughter of my own. We still live in Upstate New York, though I’d rather live somewhere warm in the winter. I am trying to follow in the steps of my mom and grandma in teaching my kids respect, working hard for what you want, and in my love of reading. That I get from my grandma. She was always reading something and started my interest at a young age.
Currently, I’m a stay at home mom who loves to write and put my stories out there. Some of what you read in my books are real life situations I have found myself in, while others have happened to people I’m close to. Especially Reagan’s condition that I live with every day with my oldest son. He continues to amaze me, and you can follow his journey as Reagan grows and learns to overcome things she can’t do. If I have one person relate to some part of my story, then I feel like I’m doing my job.
If I’m not reading, writing, or spending time with my family, you can find me watching NASCAR or hanging out with friends. I’m the shyest person on the face of the Earth, but I love to hear from readers and meet new people. I love listening to someone’s story and seeing what makes them who they are.
Here are some links to follow me:
Other Books
Wild Kings MC
Skylar’s Saviors
Bailey’s Saving Grace
Tank’s Salvation
Melody’s Temptation
Blade’s Awakening
Irish’s Destiny
Rage’s Redemption
Wild Kings MC: Dander Falls
Darcy’s Downfall
Riley’s Rescue
Alpha Demons MC
Tempted By Demons’
Old Ladies Club
Old Ladies Club Book 1: Wild Kings MC
Old Ladies Club Book 2: Soul Shifterz MC
Old Ladies Club Book 3: Rebel Guardians MC