“Sounds good to me.” I rub my face, wanting to get my memory to work and remember what the hell happened tonight.
“Here you go.” She hands me a pair of sweat pants and a shirt. “The bathroom is right behind you. I’ll wait for you here.” She points to a door on the wall adjacent to the bed before falling onto the bed with her eyes glued to her phone.
“Thank you.”
“No, need for that. This is almost an everyday occurrence here.” She assures at me and starts typing on her phone.
I disappear in the bathroom, making sure I lock the door behind me and give myself a minute before moving. Viv seems friendly but she’s still a stranger, a stranger who’s married to a biker that I’m still not one hundred percent sure I can trust. I set the clothes she handed me on the counter by the sink and turn towards the mirror. I look at the reflection and see someone I don’t recognize. My make-up is all over the place and I have bruises on my neck, my arms, my legs. As I take in the state of myself I break down. Why would people pay to do this to someone? Why me? What did I ever do that would warrant this?
I pull off the piece of fabric that covers my body and turn on the shower. I wait for it to warm up before stepping in. I sigh with relief as I let the warm water wash my tears and any physical trace of what happened tonight. If only I could remember what happened, a part of me wants to but the other one doesn’t. For the sake of my sanity though, I really wish I could remember.
I don’t think I’m ready to remember just yet. Instead of letting my mind go there, I start to think about Bennett and why he was so angry that he left instead of coming here with me. He looked like he wanted me on the back of his bike again, but then he just left. Maybe the shock had left him and he realized what I had become and was disgusted by it all. Seeing him again has made me feel happy for the first time in five years. I never thought I’d see him again and there I was, running down Bourbon Street trying to escape hell and I literally run into him. What were the odds? Should I take it as a sign that we have a second chance or is fate playing a dirty trick on us?
I slide down the wall and wince when my ass touches the floor of the tub. I hug my knees to my chest, letting the water wash the blood away. I rest my head on my knees, closing my eyes to the sight of my blood mixing with the water.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting there try to Jedi the memories back to mind when I suddenly I hear someone pounding on the door.
“Are you okay in there?” Viv’s worried voice calls through the door.
“Yeah, sorry I think I fell asleep.” I rub my eyes and reach up to the shower turn off.
“No worries, I was just making sure you didn’t slip and fall.” She shouts through the door
“I’m alright,” I say without much conviction. I step out of the shower and dry my body. Without any trace of makeup, blood or dirt, the bruises are even more apparent. I quickly pull on the clothes Viv gave me to hide them from my sight. I wrap my long hair in a towel and walk out of the bathroom to see four women sitting on the bed, thing I was not expecting.
“Hullo, I’m Ayden, this is Line and that’s Nicole.” A gorgeous red head informs me as she points at the two other women in turn.
“Hi.” I look between them all, confused by their sudden appearance in the room.
“All our partners are a part of the MC and we’ve all been through some shit so I figured you could use some friendly women who know what you’re going through. Even if you don’t feel like talking, it’s always good to have a female presence around when you’re not at your best.” Viv tries to reassure me.
“I appreciate it, thank you.” I tell them, giving them each an anxious smile.
“Don’t be nervous, we only bite our husbands,” Line, I think, says.
“Good to know.” I laugh softly.
“Come, sit,” Ayden instructs whilst holding her hand out to me. I take it and sit on the bed next to her, wincing as my sore ass hits to mattress.
“What happened to you?” She looks at me with concern etched on her face.
“I wish I remembered.” I sigh.
“Oh, that’s why you looked confused earlier. You don’t remember what happened?” Viv asks.
“I can only vaguely recall a couple of things but not much.” I frown.
“What can you remember?” Nicole asks me.
“Not much. I remember being dropped off at a client’s house. Getting a drink and then I think I blacked out until I was hit with a spiked paddle. I fought with the client and escaped. Somehow I managed to run into Bennett on Bourbon Street.”
“Do you remember the address you were dropped off at?” Ayden asks.
“No.” I sigh looking down only looking up when I hear the sound of bottles being opened.
“We could all use one. We’re all staying with you tonight. If you want us to fuck off just say.” Ayden smiles.
“I’m alright so far.” I smile and take a long pull of my beer.
“How you know Bennett is what I really wanna know!” Line says excitedly.
“It’s a long story.”
“Everything is a long story, you gotta give us something. Bennett seems like the happy pick me up talk you need.” Viv smirks as she lies back on the bed. We all take a drink of our beer or water for Viv and I start telling them about how I met Bennett and everything that happened after.
By the time we are done talking about Bennett and my life after I was taken, we’re all half asleep and the sun is rising.
I don’t know what the future holds for me, but if my life has to end today, at least my last moments will have been with good company and talking about the only person I’ve ever loved.
It doesn’t take me long for sleep to take me and I fall asleep happier than I have in a long time.
CHAPTER 9
Bennett
I’m sitting on the deck watching the sunrise thinking about the first time I met Nancy and how it changed my life. From the time I was eight or nine, I can’t really remember, my parents moved us from pillar to post every couple of months. I don’t think we spent more than a year in the same place. We always stayed within Texas or Louisiana but moving around so much meant transferring to different schools all the time. I didn’t really mind, but making friends was difficult for me and by the third move, I gave up trying to make any. If any kids came to me then I’d happily be their friend but I wasn’t seeking friendship anymore, it only made it harder when we had to leave.
To this day, I still don’t know why we moved so much. I remember at one point my parents were really sad and weren’t taking an active part in the club lifestyle but I never knew why. What happened to cause them such grief? What made them move so much? Were they after someone or was someone after them?
I missed my friends from the Last Hangman and the kids from my original school. I could have kept in touch but back then we were too young to understand what moving away really meant and it’s not like we had all the means to do so like kids today do.
Our last move that brought us to Penhurst, Texas and I started to notice a difference in my parents. They were happier, friendlier and more loving. They bought a really luxurious house in a really fancy neighborhood which was not like us at all. We were used to the MC lifestyle but my parents wanted to take a step back and try to live a normal life. I don’t know what made them choose this neighborhood but I’ll be forever grateful that they did. If they had chosen anywhere else, even the next town over, then I would have never met Nancy. The person who changed my life the moment I saw her, whether that was for the better or not, I’m not too sure anymore.
The first time I met her was the day we moved into the house next door and I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was a warm sunny afternoon towards the end of the summer. We were just two kids back then; she was seventeen and I was eighteen. I was still living with my parents out of convenience and comfort; I didn’t see the point in having my own place. I was used to living in a large community staying with them
made sense to me, even if a lot of kids back then found it lame. My parents might have left the MC lifestyle not long after our move, but I didn’t. I was just starting to embrace it in one of the chapters. I loved the big family and living life on the edge. I was a bit of a rebel so the MC helped fuel my desire to cause mayhem whenever the opportunity presented itself.
I was moving boxes from the moving truck into the house when I saw her. I could feel a pair of eyes on me and I looked up to see her watching me from her bedroom window. My first thought was that I hoped it was her bedroom because I had picked the room directly across from it. No more than three feet must be separating the two houses. If it was hers then it would be a great way to get to know each other and it didn’t take us long to start talking over the short distance between our windows. It might sound a bit old school but it was the only way we could communicate to begin with. Her parents were keeping tabs on her accounts and phone. They disapproved of my parents’ lifestyle and made it clear that we had no place in ‘their’ neighborhood. They were the most arrogant, up tight people I have ever met. I’m surprised Nancy didn’t turn out the same way and that she took a liking to me because usually the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Instead, she was the complete opposite, she was the sweet, kind, innocent girl and I was the bad boy any seventeen year old girl would want.
We had our first chat after I had just finished moving boxes into my new room. I didn’t bother unpacking them, I had more important things to do. I wanted to meet my new neighbor, the special girl who seemed to have stolen my heart with just one glance. I made my way through the boxes to the window and opened it with a smile on my face because she was still standing there, watching my every move like she was in a trance. There was an awkward silence at first where we just stared at each other. She was breathtaking with the perfect amount of innocent and mischief in her eyes, soft pouty lips and long brown hair. I could feel myself falling for this girl and we hadn’t even spoken to each other. I felt that my first words to her should have been more than just a simple greeting but I got tongue tied and the only thing that came out was a lame ‘Hey’.
“Hey back.” She smiles and God her smile is dazzling. “You don’t look like you and your family belong here,” she tells me, sounding sad.
“I know. I have no idea why they wanted to move here to be honest.” I shrug and lean against the window frame with my eyes fixed solely on her.
“Well you won’t hear anything from me but I can’t say the same for my parents or the neighbors. They are all quite judgmental.” She frowns which makes her cute little nose scrunch up.
“I’m sure we’ll survive. We don’t take shit from anyone and people should know better than to mess with us.” I smirk playfully.
“Oh really? Are you that dangerous?” She taunts and mimics my smirk.
“Who knows, I could be a criminal.” I whisper loudly.
“Considering my parents have already warned me not to go anywhere near you, it wouldn’t surprise me, unless they’re just being their overprotective and judgmental selves.” She giggles and it’s music to my ears.
“I think they’re wrong for judging us without knowing us. On the other hand, they could be right and you should stay away from us.” I grin evilly but it soon breaks into a full on smile when she bursts out laughing.
“You might have the tattoos, the biker cuts and the bad boy attitude, but there’s something about you that tells me that deep down, you’re a total sweetheart and wear your heart on your sleeve…” she tells me and leaves the end of her sentence hanging for me to say my name.
“Bennett. You know, you might be onto something…”
“Nancy. I’m always right and I’m a good judge of character. I know you’re a good guy, Bennett.” She winks at me, not impressed by my attitude or demeanor, I like that. A lot.
“Aren’t you a smart little cookie?” I chuckle.
“Oh, I know I am.” She grins but it falters as soon as she hears someone scream her name. “I have to go, my mother is calling me. If you want to talk some more join me in the gazebo in the park at midnight. I’ll be waiting for you. Don’t disappoint me, Bennett.” She winks at me and rushes away from the window and out of her room.
I’ve just met this girl, but I know that she’s just stolen my heart and I don’t think I’ll ever get it back. In those few minutes, she changed my life, giving me the need for something more than the club life has and I know for sure that I’m going to meet her tonight.
To this day, I still don’t know what happened to her after that night she was taken from me. I hope it’s just a matter of hours or days before I know. A part of me wants to know, but the other part just wants to bury all those bad memories and act as if nothing happened and pick up where we left off.
I know Gabe will manage to get her to tell him what happened. I wish I could be there to support her and give her the comfort she needs but I’m not sure me being there would be best. Not so much for her, but for me. It’s very selfish but I would have gone mental if I had stayed with her. Not because I can’t handle the truth, but because I’m sure no one would let me talk to her or listen to her. I’d be seeing people walking in and out of the Chapel without knowing what was going on and I couldn’t cope with that. I feel helpless and useless being so far from her but I didn’t have the choice. There’s nothing I can do right now that would help and it’s killing me.
I love her; she’s my gorgeous girl. She has always been and always will be, even if she doesn’t want me. I’ll always be there for her, no matter what happens over the next few days. She will always be safe. I’ll make sure of that. I couldn’t do it the first time but I will this time. I won’t fail her again.
CHAPTER 10
Nancy
I wake up suddenly and find myself in the middle of a large bed. I look around, trying to figure out where I am and what happened last night but my memories of the last night are still a blur. What the hell happened?
Bennett!
I gasp as I remember running into him in the middle of Bourbon Street and then having a long talk with four women, but the rest is still fuzzy. I remember being calm, but right now, I’m shitting myself. I have no idea where I am or whose bed I’m in. Come one brain, help me out here!
I sit up and rub my eyes in the hope that the action will force my memory to the front of my brain but nothing happens. I wince as I shift towards the side of the bed, causing my apparently sore ass to painfully rub against the sheets. It feels like there’s a thousand tiny needles digging into my skin. I manage to get up without any more pain and look at myself in a full-length mirror that’s opposite the bed. I’m wearing clothes that aren’t mine and I look like I’m going to collapse any second now. I turn towards the door to make my escape from wherever I am, but I see a note pinned to a board on the back of the door.
Hey Nancy,
Viv here, I’m the one who brought you up last night. I’m not sure if you remember since your memory was fuzzy last night. I hope you feel better. I’m working at the bar that’s next door to the compound if you need me. Do NOT drink the coffee in the kitchen, it’s disgusting. Come over for a good cup of coffee and some breakfast. There are shoes and clean clothes in the wardrobe. Help yourself to anything. Gabe (the guy who brought you here last night) will be with me if you want to have a chat with him.
Hope you feel better.
Viv
Xoxo
I smile and sigh in relief as I read the note and a wave of recognition hits me after seeing Viv’s name. She seems like a genuinely nice person, she doesn’t know me from Adam but here she is, wanting to help a stranger. I didn’t have that many friends growing up and I didn’t really bond with anyone back there. It’s a nice but odd feeling to have friendly people around wanting to help you, I’m used to being told to fuck off if I asked for anything.
I slip into the bathroom that I remember using last night and take a quick shower. I see that Viv has left towels and shower essential
s on the bathroom counter for me, which weren’t there last night. I take my time using everything that she had left out for me, wanting to feel human again. I wash and condition my hair, shave in all the right places more out of habit than anything else and rinse before stepping out. I pat myself dry and wrap my hair up in a different towel. I dare to look at my ass in the mirror and I’m horrified when I see rows of red dots marking my skin. I can’t remember why they are there and by the looks of my ass, I’m not sure I want to.
I sigh to myself, trying not to dwell on it and apply some body lotion. I walk back into the bedroom and look through the wardrobe. I feel like I’m invading someone’s personal space even though Viv’s given me her approval.
After a few minutes, I settle on a pair of jeans, a tank top and a pair of grey Vans. I hate going commando but there is no way I’m going to borrow someone else’s underwear. That’d just be wrong on so many levels.
As I get dressed numerous questions run through my mind: why are they being so nice to me? Do they expect anything in return? Do they want to hurt or use me for MC business? Should I make a run for it? They are people Bennett knows so they can’t be too bad.
I take a final glance at my reflection in the mirror and see that I look a bit more like myself, but my eyes are dead in comparison to how they used to look when I was a teenager. I walk out of the room and look around, trying to remember how I got here last night. There are quite a few rooms lining the corridor and I have no idea which way to go. I walk to my left and look through a few of the open doors, but most of them are spare rooms or more bedrooms. I retrace my steps and walk back past the room I slept in and finally find the staircase.
This place looks more like a big house instead of a compound. I understand now why Gabe made that comment about the women making it their own. It does look like women decorated this place; there are flowers and pictures hanging on all the walls. It smells fresh and is very neat, not at all what I’d expect from a bunch of bikers. As I walk down the stairs at the end of the hall I feel a few pairs of eyes on me. A few guys from last night and a few I’ve never met. They aren’t judging or looking at me as if I’m a piece of meat, there’s compassion in their eyes, it’s almost unsettling but also reassuring at the same time. I’m not used to men looking at me without expecting me to drop to my knees and suck them off.
Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC Series Book 5) Page 7