by Erin Osborne
“Can you take these drinks to the table in the back corner?” he asks; he’s flustered and busy as hell.
“Sure thing,” I answer him.
Taking the tray of drinks over to the table, I get groped and manhandled the entire walk over there. When I get to the table things go from bad to worse.
“Look at what we have here, boys,” one of the men says. “I want a lap dance. Now.”
The man is demanding as he slides his chair from the table and expectantly looks at his lap. I plaster a fake smile on my face as I set the tray of drinks down on the table.
“I’m sorry, I don’t offer lap dances to customers,” I tell him gently. “If you wait just a moment I can get one of the other girls for you.”
“I don’t fucking want them, I want you,” he demands, pulling me down into his lap.
“As I said, I’m sorry but I don’t do that here,” I tell him again.
I’m looking around for one of the guys to come help me. For some reason, I don’t see anyone to come help me. I can’t even catch Colt or Vanish’s eyes because they’re both busy as hell. Breaker is at the back of the stage and I know he won’t be able to help me. So, I frantically continue to look around as the man begins to grope and fondle me.
“Let me go,” I tell him, trying to get off his lap.
“Not until I get a lap dance,” he tells me.
“I can’t give you a lap dance if I’m on your lap this way,” I tell him, trying to think of any way to get off his lap and out of his grasp.
“You better not pull anything,” he tells me, letting me go from his hold.
Nodding my head, I slowly stand from his lap and make it look as if I’m going to give him what he wants. Instead, I turn and bolt from him. I don’t look back or bother to see if he’s chasing me; I just want to get to the dressing room. So, I don’t stop until I’m in it and the door is firmly closed behind me.
Sinking down on the couch, I take a few minutes and let a few tears slide from my eyes. I can’t help but be afraid to go back outside of this room. But I have one more dance tonight and I have to show my face on the floor again. I can’t afford this pity party so I walk back out to the floor and make my way to the bar.
“Vanish, what do you need me to do?” I ask him as he stops for a second.
“Can you take this garbage out of here for me? We keep trippin’ over it back here,” he asks.
“Absolutely,” I tell him.
Vanish hands the bags over to me and I walk toward the back entrance so I can toss them in the dumpster. I’ll wash my hands when I go back inside and hopefully my heart won’t be beating in my chest at the thought of having to go near that man again. I’ve never felt unsafe here until tonight and I know it’s not the club’s fault. They’re all busy and trying to relax for a little bit.
Walking to the dumpster, I don’t hear anything outside around me. The man usually manning the back door isn’t even out here. I’m not sure where he is since I usually don’t come out here while I’m at working. So, I make the short walk to the dumpster and open the lid before lifting the bags once again in my hand.
“Now you have nowhere to run,” I hear from behind me.
Looking over my shoulder, I see the man who wanted a lap dance. He’s followed me out here and I can see the look of pure evil shining from his eyes at me. I embarrassed him and now he’s going to get his revenge for it.
Frantically I look around to find a way to escape and there’s no place for me to go. Dropping the bags of garbage to the ground, I try to skirt around him and get to the door or into the alley so I can get to the front of the club. The man is faster than me though and nabs me around the waist.
“You’re not getting away now,” he tells me, licking my ear.
He smells of alcohol and body order as he begins to fondle me and pinch my breasts. Hard. I cry out as he finds my nipple and pulls it roughly between his fingers. This man is going to rape me if I don’t find a way to get away from him. So, I stomp down on his foot with my heel and then bring my opposite knee up to his groin. The man hits the ground and I try to run from him. Instead, he grabs my ankle and I feel it twist as I go down to the ground.
The man begins to pummel me with his fists and as soon as he can stand again, he begins to land kicks to my stomach and sides. I’m crying out in pain and trying to get away from him, but he’s not going to let me. Before I can manage to get away from him, he drops down and straddles my middle. All of his body weight is resting on my stomach and I know this is not going to end well for me.
Tears are falling from my eyes as I think about Karson and what’s going to happen to him now. I don’t see myself getting out of this situation alive. Or at the very least able to care for my brother. It’s been us against the world for so long and now he’s not going to have anyone there for him. Not like I’ve been there to have his back, protect him, and make sure I’m teaching him the best I can.
My thoughts shift to Bounce for a second as I see him with a rare smile on his handsome face. I don’t regret being with him either time, but I do regret not spending more time with him. Bounce is someone I want to get to know and I can’t explain why that is. It’s just something about the man as he stands his ground, defends those who can’t defend themselves, and ensures the women who work here are safe and protected.
Once he’s settled on me, the blows begin to rain down on my head. The fourth or fifth punch to my temple is what it takes to knock me out. I don’t feel the tears streaming down my cheeks or realize I was still trying to cry out to get someone to help me.
Waking up, I hear the beeping of machines and it feels as if I’ve been hit by a Mack truck. My entire body hurts from the waist up and my head is throbbing. I try to open my eyes and they won’t. I can barely even open my mouth when I try. Someone is in the room with me, but I don’t even know who it is. Or what happened to me. The last thing I remember is taking the garbage out to the dumpster for Vanish.
“Are you awake, Sydney?” Bounce asks me, his voice low and tired sounding.
I try to open my mouth to speak again and pain radiates up through my face.
“Don’t talk, baby. Your jaw is severely bruised and swollen. That’s why you can’t open your mouth very far. And your eyes are swollen shut. Do you remember anythin’ that happened to you?” he asks me.
I shake my head slowly and even that slight movement is pain inducing. Bounce squeezes my hand and I settle back against the pillows. There are so many questions floating through my mind and I want to know what happened to me. Still, as I try to figure out what happened, nothing comes to mind. The only thing I achieve is getting a worse headache.
Before Bounce can say another word, I hear someone else enter the room. I don’t bother to try to turn my head toward the person. Not only can I not see them, but it hurts my head to move the slightest bit.
“Miss Thompson, I’m happy to see you awake,” someone says. “I’m Doctor Greer, and I’ve been looking over you since you were brought in. I’m going to go over your list of injuries now. First, I’d like to let you know the baby managed to make it through the ordeal you went through.”
I hear a chair scrape back against the floor and Bounce pulls his hand from mine roughly. There’s stomping footsteps leaving the room and I know it’s Bounce leaving my side. Tears slip from my eyes as I realize my support system just left my side. The only concern I have now is Karson. He’s at Bounce’s house and someone will need to go pick him up. But I can’t talk so I can’t let anyone know I have to get my brother taken care of.
“I’m sorry. There’s a few other people in the waiting room and I’ll have one of them come in. First, let me go over your injuries. You’ve got a severely bruised jaw and your entire face is covered in bruises and swollen. That’s why you’re unable to open your eyes or talk. There’s significant bruising on your sides and back,” Doctor Greer tells me. “You have scrapes and cuts on your back and your one hand is bruised as well. We have your an
kle in a soft cast because it was sprained to the point of almost breaking as well.”
Holy shit! Someone definitely did a number on me. I wish I could remember it, but I can’t. The only thing I know is I’ve been attacked, but why?
“I’m going to leave now. I’ll send someone else in to be with you. You’re going to be here a few days at least so we can keep an eye on you and make sure there’s no lasting effects from the concussion. If you need anything, please press the button and a nurse will be right in.”
The room goes silent as the doctor leaves me alone. I’m not sure how much time passes before the door opens and I hear someone walking toward the bed. The chair is moved closer to the bed based on the sound of it grating against the floor.
“Sydney, I’m so glad you’re awake,” Tonya says. “We’re so worried about you. I saw Bounce take off and I’m not sure what’s going on, but we’ll get it all figured out. For now, Santana is at my house with Karson and that’s where they’re going to stay. Do you remember anything?”
Shaking my head slightly, Tonya picks up my hand and squeezes it in her warm one. She talks and talks about anything and everything she can think of as I lay here and listen to her voice. It lulls me to sleep and it’s just a matter of time before I’m passed out.
Chapter Eighteen
Sydney a.k.a Delight
IT’S BEEN THREE days since I’ve been in the hospital. I can barely see now as the swelling slowly goes down and my eyes begin to open slightly. I’m still in pain and I want to move, but every time I go to even sit up some in the bed my head spins and I get a headache. So, I’ve remained laying down and try to move as little as possible.
Today is the day I get out of the hospital though. Santana is picking me up and Tonya has arranged for me to get our things from Bounce’s house. He won’t be there and I’m going to be as quick as possible. I don’t want to linger in his house for any length of time.
The last three days have given me a chance to think about the baby. I don’t believe anyone else knows I’m pregnant right now since Bounce left and hasn’t been back here since the doctor dropped the bomb on me. Honestly, I had no clue I was pregnant. If I did, I would’ve taken a test and talked to Bounce in private about it.
There’s no way I’m going to not have this baby. I already love him or her and I’m not even sure how far along I am. When I’ve been alone, the doctor did tell me they’re going to do an ultrasound to see how far along I am and make sure everything is truly okay after the vicious beating.
For now, my goals are still the same. I’m going to have this baby and move the three of us out of the hellhole we live in currently. I can’t leave Brighton Hills any longer because I’ll never deny Bounce the chance to be in his child’s life if that’s what he chooses. I’m not going to force it on him either. Once I’m healed completely, I’ll look for a different job and find someone to watch the kids for me. I’ve got a lot to do, but I’ll get through this. I always do.
“Sydney, are you ready for the last round of testing before you leave?” Doctor Greer asks, coming in my room.
I was so lost in my own head; I didn’t even realize Tonya was no longer in here with me and the doctor is now standing at my bedside.
“Yeah,” I say weakly.
It still hurts so bad to talk or do much of anything, but I’ve been assured it will get better every day. So, I still don’t talk much and I listen to those who come to visit me. Blood and Tonya are the main two who come to see me. Heaven has been here and Santana has shown up a few times when someone is there with Karson. Honestly, I have no clue how I’m going to pay everyone back for helping take care of him while I’ve been in the hospital.
Doctor Greer shows the technician in and she gets the machine set up. I’ve been told I’m going to have an internal ultrasound done because they’re not sure how far along I am. I believe I’m about a month pregnant maybe just a little bit more. I’ll find out soon enough, I guess as I watch the technician set everything up and the doctor stands in the background to ensure no one comes back in my room right now.
It’s not long before I’m left with pictures of the baby in my stomach and the knowledge I’m almost five weeks pregnant. So much has happened in such a short amount of time and I can’t believe I’m really going to have a baby. Bounce’s baby.
Tears fill my eyes as I think about raising this baby alone. It’s not like I don’t think I can do it; I know I can because I’ve been doing it with Karson for over five years now. I’m upset because I never thought I’d have a child without a father. My goal was to be in a loving relationship before kids were even brought into the equation. I guess I’m not better than my mother after all.
“Honey, are you okay?” Tonya asks, coming back in my room.
Nodding my head slightly, I try to stop the tears because I don’t want to tell her why I’m upset. It’s not fair for her to think badly of the man who’s been in her life longer than I have. While I feel Tonya and I are friends, I won’t put her between the two of us. Bounce will either want to be a father or he won’t. Either way, I know we’ll never be anything more than two people who had sex two times and I got pregnant the very first time I had sex. All because a condom broke.
I don’t regret this baby and I’ll never make him or her feel unloved. Quite the opposite; I love him or her and this is probably going to be the only child I have. If Bounce does decide to be a part of their life, they’ll have more family in their life to love them than Karson has had. That’s part of the reason I’m upset. This child would be loved by so many people if given the chance and I don’t think that’s going to happen.
“Santana will be here soon to get you. The doctor let me know she’s filling out the paperwork now,” Tonya tells me. “Where will you go from here?”
“Santana’s,” I answer her. “At least for now. I may go back to my house once I’ve healed a little more. I’m sorry I can’t work right now.”
“You hush. You’ll be back when you’re cleared from the doctor and not a second sooner. You always have a home with us, honey,” she assures me, picking up my hand once again and holding it in her own.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Have the cops been back?” she asks.
I shake my head no in response. They came two days ago when I still couldn’t talk much. The only thing I could tell them is that I still don’t remember what happened to me. Doctor Greer has told me I may never remember what happened to me. Or, something random may trigger all my memories and they’ll come back.
“We’ve turned over all the surveillance tapes to them and it’s just a matter of them going over them. Specs is also going over them to see what happened,” she says.
I nod my head and Tonya helps me get changed into the clothes Santana sent over for me. It’s a pair of sweats and a large tee-shirt. I’m not sure where she got them from, but I’ll take it because I don’t want anything close against my skin right now. Especially my back that is still sore from the scrapes and cuts on it.
Soon after that, Santana shows up with Karson in tow. He’s holding her hand and I know he’s nervous to be around me right now. Karson’s never seen me looking like this before. Now, I can’t help but look like shit as I continue to heal. Tonya excuses herself and I’m thankful no one from the club is here. They don’t need to see where I’m going; it’s none of their business since I don’t belong to anyone in the club.
“I’m okay, buddy,” I say to him. “Come see me.”
Karson slowly walks over to the bed and holds his hand out to mine. I’m glad I don’t have the IV still in place because he wouldn’t come near me if I did. Yeah, he had one after his surgery, but that’s different than seeing someone else with one. Knowing he won’t come up on the bed with me, I hold his hand and wait for the doctor to come back in with my paperwork so I can finally break outta here.
“You ready to go home?” Doctor Greer asks, walking back in my room.
“Yeah,” I mumble.
The doctor goes over my discharge instructions with me and then he lets me go. A nurse wheels me down while Santana goes down to get the car and makes sure Karson is in his booster seat before I get down there.
As soon as I’m loaded in the car, Santana pulls away and looks at me.
“How are you really doing?” she asks.
“I’m tired, sore, and I want to know what happened to me,” I answer her. “Plus, I have some news that no one else but Bounce knows.”
“What’s going on?” Santana asks, never taking her eyes off the road.
Leaning over closer to her, I murmur in her ear. “I’m pregnant.”
“You’re what?” she shrieks.
“Can we please not right now?” I ask her. “We’ll talk about it, but I can’t right now. I need to just get our things from Bounce’s house and then go home.”
“You’re going home?” Santana questions.
“Yeah. I have nowhere else to go,” I say. “And no, I’m not staying with you. You’ve done more than enough, Santana. I’m not bringing this shit to your house.”
Santana knows better than to argue with me. though I can tell she’s pissed off about me not staying with her. Before she can say anything though, we pull up at Bounce’s house.
“I’ll be right out. We don’t all need to go inside,” I tell her.
Getting out of the car kills me. But I get out and make my way inside the house. There’s a note on the door and I pull it down before opening it up. Stepping inside, I can smell Bounce. His house smells like leather, oil, and the cologne he wears. A smell I’ll never get the chance to scent for a while. It’s not like I’ll be at Legacies and pretty soon I’ll have to stop dancing altogether because I’ll be showing.
Opening the note, I see Bounce’s strong handwriting.
Sydney,