“Get the fuck away from me, Troy.” I try to pull away. But all of a sudden a spasm of light from the cheesy light display finds us. I’m assuming they are trying to be cool, yet all it’s doing is making me blink. Honestly, I wish a magical genie would come out and rescue me from this disaster. But that can’t happen. There’s only one person who saves me… and he’s gone.
Troy is bowing like an ass. He grabs my arm again, propelling me up the stairs to the stage.
“I swear to God, let go,” I hiss.
“Shh.”
I do a double take. It has to be alcohol. He did not just shush me. Before I can say anything again, out comes Mr. Holbert our History teacher with a couple of freshmen trailing behind him holding our crowns. I have to blink so as not to roll my eyes.
The cheap decorations make this so much worse. Or, actually, maybe they make it better.
This is my life: nothing but fake, tacky people with fake, stupid decorations. There isn’t even a theme. Unless hanging tissue paper in a variety of colors as a sad excuse for “flowers” counts.
“I know it looks like shit, but what do you expect? This school is trash.” Troy laughs at my fascination with the gym’s décor and does some weird dance step. He must think it’s cool—he did the same one at last night’s game.
I ignore him as they walk over and put the crown on me and then Troy who acts like he’s shocked. Like a jerk, he does Macaulay Culkin’s famous two hands on the cheeks look from Home Alone. Someone releases hundreds of balloons on us. Waving my hand, I try to push them out of the way, but honestly, I’m trying to get his smell out of my nostrils.
“I need to go to the restroom.” I prepare to leave, but again, he’s got a tight grip on my arm.
“Troy.” I use my bitch voice because this whole charade is stupid.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for your Homecoming king and queen to have their dance. Please, clear the floor,” Mr. Holbert shouts into the microphone.
“God, Dolly I’m trying to help you not trip.” He smiles and lifts his hand to wave at everyone and for a split second, I almost tell him he’s not actually a king.
Troy puts his hand on my lower back as he guides me to the dance floor. “What is your problem? You look like you ate shit instead of being crowned the most popular girl in school.”
And for the first time all night, I stop and acknowledge that he’s right. I have wanted this moment for as long as I can remember. Shit, I dreamed about this as a kid. I used to sit in the park’s outdoor gym and daydream about getting the crown, and here I am. My head swims but it’s not his fault—I’ve been drinking since early afternoon. And it’s not his fault Morgan is a bitch. The one thing that is his fault is that he wears too much cologne and has ridiculous white teeth. So what if he acts like a douchebag? That’s not any reason to take my five-inch heel and stab him with it. He’s a guy who was raised with money and thinks he’s better than us. Edge is right; he’s a dick.
As he swings me into his stiff arms, I sigh. “Sorry, I’m having personal problems.”
He has no rhythm at all. And it’s not like we’re doing a waltz. All we have to do is sway, but he’s simply not good.
“Please, for me, try to have fun. We only live once and you look like an angel tonight.” He smiles and again, I cringe. All I want is Edge. Edge with his cinnamon and smoke smell, tall and lean body, and beautiful turquoise eyes.
I hardly notice what song is playing or the smell of the gym as I lose myself in the idea that everything I thought I wanted might not be true… if it means losing Edge.
“God,” I whisper. This has to be the schnapps talking. But all I can think about is Edge—how he should have been the one to take me tonight. He should be the one I laugh with, drink with. I need to get to my phone and call him. I need to tell him I overreacted. Maybe he truly was not in his right mind.
The dance ends and Troy dips me like a true gentleman. I don’t even wait for him and beeline it straight out the gym doors, ignoring all the well-wishers and ass-kissers. I need to get my clutch, which has my makeup and phone.
“You okay?” Troy says. “You look like you need air or something.”
I almost scream because what the hell? “I’m fine. I need my purse and the restroom.”
“Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Snorting, I frown. “You didn’t.”
“Really?” He swings me around and my crown starts to slip.
“I’m warning you, Troy. Back off.” His eyes change, and for a moment, a slither of dread, or maybe it’s paranoia, sends a small tremor through me. His eyes change as he smiles; he felt my shiver.
I reach for my clutch and look at my friends who are laughing and doing what looks like cocaine. It could be Jason and Doc’s drug for all I know.
“Whatever, Doll.” He sits down next to Morgan and his hand goes straight up her dress as she squeals and snorts some more cocaine.
“My turn.” He leans over and that’s when I turn to leave and walk right out. The dark hallway is almost peaceful. The farther away I get from the loud music and them, the better it gets. All I hear is the sound of my heels clacking on the floor. I dig into my purse and my heart skips or flutters because there are two missed calls from Edge.
I slam open the door leading to the parking lot and sit on the step. My head is spinning and I wish I hadn’t drunk as much as I did because I don’t want to call him like this…
I go to push on his name when I hear the steel door bang open and out walk Troy, Morgan, and Devin.
“There’s our queen.” Troy lowers his bulky body next to mine. Morgan and Devin are giggling as they try to lean against the railing but start to fall off.
“Hey, go take that shit somewhere else. I want to talk to my Doll,” Troy yells at both of them as Morgan tries to stop Devin from pinning her against the wall.
“Morgan?” I try to stand, but Troy’s hand snakes around my wrist and jerks me down. My ass hits the cold, hard cement and I’m done.
“Listen, Troy,” I start, “if you ever lay a hand on me again—” But I don’t get to say any more as he pushes me back and his rancid tongue enters my mouth. My eyes sting at my back being rubbed raw, but mostly, I’m pissed. The nerve of this guy! His hands travel under my dress, and I push at his chest.
“No.” It’s all I get out and vaguely I think I hear Morgan saying the same thing. But I’m not sure since Devin seems to be dragging her farther away.
“You little tease. You think you’re so much better than me, what with your homo boyfriend. I’ll show you.”
“Troy, stop,” I pant. My mind spins and I’m filled with panic as his hand grips my throat, holding me prisoner. My back has to be bleeding at this point, and still, he uses his other hand to rip at my spaghetti straps. My nipples feel the cool night air as he grunts his approval. Pure terror takes over. This can’t be happening; I’m Dolly, the daughter of Shark, VP to one of the deadliest motorcycle clubs.
I twist my mouth away as he starts to put pressure on my neck. Oh my God… is he trying to kill me as well as rape me?
“He’ll kill you,” I choke out. I’m starting to see black dots as he grunts and unbuckles his pants. My body barely moves as he rips off my panties. All of a sudden, I’m blinking away my terror as blackness appears, and I see him, hear him, and everything is going to be okay.
EDGE
Seventeen years old
“Just wait here.” I slam the door shut before David even has a chance to say anything or stop the Tahoe.
My eyes take in all the fucking idiots laughing and dressed up in ugly clothes. It’s straight out of a bad eighties movie. Music spills out as I scan the crowd for her.
Great, I see one of her cunt friends smoking with a couple of other girls I think I saw with Dolly before.
“Where is she?” I don’t even say her name as I tower over them, and for the first time in my life, I see myself through their eyes. If I wasn’t in such a hurry to get to her, I w
ould like this feeling of power. Because I smell fear and I love it.
“Where?” I snarl. All three stare until one points to the back. “I saw her go out the back way,” she rasps. Turning, I walk in that direction.
“Troy is with her,” the dumb bitch calls after me and I freeze for a second. I don’t even feel rage. It’s almost indescribable… like cold liquid has been injected into me.
“Stop it, Troy!” Those three words have my feet moving and my fists clenching until they’re almost numb.
I see him on top of her.
I see him touching her.
My head is buzzing, like bees have swarmed inside and taken over. I’m going to kill him.
She’s pinned and it looks like—No!
“No, no, no!” I grab the sick fucking rapist.
Kill.
My hands are not even feeling the flesh as I reach for his face, jerk him up, and start to beat him.
I beat him like my dad used to beat me, but this time, I know he will die; whereas, with me, I always lived. My beautiful Dolly lies still and I feel a strange wetness on my cheeks as I talk to her. My fists and hands are hurting as I keep hitting, pounding. The bees are loud, but I can still hear bones break and people scream. Someone dares to touch me and I growl until they seem to be gone.
I don’t look at him. All I can see is her beautiful body, so small.
“No,” I roar, lifting my heavy biker boot, and with a strength I’m proud of, I connect with his head. His neck snaps and he lies there looking deformed.
“Fucking piece of shit rapist.” The bloody mess that was his face is still.
“Jesus Christ.” I hear David from above as he picks up Dolly and she starts to cry.
“Edge?”
“I’ll kill you.” My boot hits his ribs and blood comes out of his mouth. Someone screams that he’s dead…
“Edge, we need to go.” Why the fuck is David holding me back?
“Police.” Bright light flashes in my face as I struggle to get to the rapist.
“Hands in the air.”
“Edge, stop. Think of Dolly.” David’s voice, which was so far away, comes blaring back into my head like someone has removed headphones.
“Dolly,” I holler.
“Edge.” Her small body is in my arms.
“Hands in the air. Let go of the girl.” It’s then that the blood starts pumping again and I blink. The cops have their guns drawn. I kiss Dolly’s head, but I can’t risk her getting hurt as I raise my hands. The sounds of ambulances, police, screams all mix together. I don’t even look at the rapist. I only hope he’s dead. It’ll save me a bullet later.
“Hands back,” the cop states almost in a bored voice. He cuffs me and I face a pale Dolly. She holds her dress up over her breasts as the paramedics look at her back. A woman tries to talk to her, but our eyes are locked.
“Are you…?” I can’t voice it.
“He didn’t. You saved me.” She nods. Her porcelain neck looks bright red where he was strangling her.
“Why are you arresting Edge?” she asks a cop who is talking to other students and what looks like a teacher.
“Dolly?” My voice is strong as she turns to me. “He didn’t, did he?”
“No.”
“She needs to go to the hospital for DNA. Obviously, he was going to,” the woman paramedic interrupts.
I nod as they take her away and move to go with her. “You’re going to jail. I hope you have a lawyer because…” The sound of the ambulance drowns out whatever he’s saying. As the vehicle pulls away, I assume the rapist is inside it.
“Is he dead?” I ask the officer leading me away.
“Not yet.”
I don’t say anything and glance over at Dolly who’s being draped in a blanket. David stands next to her talking to a cop. He looks over at me and holds up his finger to the cop. “I’m going with Dolly to the hospital. She needs to be checked out and cared for.” His silver eyes look serious for a moment.
“Good, you take care of her. Make sure she’s okay.” I open and close my bleeding knuckles. A paramedic comes over as I stand at the police car and does his best to get my hand wrapped up.
“Let’s go. He can be treated at the station.”
“Thanks,” I tell the paramedic who looks surprised and nods as he backs away.
The cop opens the door and starts his speech. “You have the right…” It’s all gibberish, nothing but a foreign language to me. I duck and sit in the back, my heart pounding so loud it’s all I can hear.
“Can I have some water?” I’m being held in a small white room with uncomfortable chairs and no windows.
“Your lawyer is on his way.” The policeman sits and works on some files as if I’m not even worthy enough for him to get up and give me some water.
The high has worn off and now I’m tired and sore. My mouth feels like someone threw sand in it. I clear my voice and spread my long legs out causing the policeman to arch an eyebrow at me and shake his head.
There’s a knock at the door and the cop opens it. I guess I should have asked his name, but I don’t give a fuck. All I care about is getting out and to my girl. She needs me.
In walks Shark, Prez, and a man in a black suit with a suitcase.
“Hello Edge.” The middle-aged man nods at me and turns to the policeman. “What are the charges? Troy Matthews was clearly trying to rape and kill Dolores Dunghart. My client was doing nothing but a citizen’s arrest. He’s a hero and has no priors—”
“Just stop. Matthews is in intensive care. Your client broke his neck and collapsed his lung. He’ll probably have to have an artificial one put in. He’s in surgery as we speak for internal bleeding.” He tosses a file at him. The lawyer, or I guess, my lawyer doesn’t even look at it. He turns to Prez and they talk in hushed tones.
“Just so you know…” The policeman rests his ass on the table and crosses his arms. “I got my own daughter. Shit like this Matthews kid terrifies me every day she walks out the door.” He stands up and straightens his shoulders. “I talked to the doctor at the hospital and Dolores was almost raped. Had Edge not gotten there, this would be a way different story.”
Shark hisses out something I can’t even understand and starts to pace. I wish he would look at me. I fucking saved her; they need to get me out.
“You guys need to know that his father is some wealthy businessman who is pressing charges against Edge Daniels for attempted murder and anything else he can.”
Prez puts his hand on Shark’s chest before he can speak, and for the first time since they entered, they all turn and look at me.
“So, you’re charging him?”
“Yes, he is being charged. He’ll appear in front of the judge tomorrow at nine a.m.”
“I’d like to speak privately with my client.”
The policeman nods and gathers up his files. “Knock when you’re done.” The door closes with a click. The room is silent as we all digest everything.
“Thank you.”
I look up and see Shark standing not three feet away. “I know I gave you shit because she’s my little girl, but you saved her.” His hands hit the table with a thud.
“I want that piece of shit dead.”
“Edge took care of him. We need to decide what to do. They’re going to charge you, Edge.” Prez puts his hands through his longish blond hair.
“I don’t care,” I spit out because I don’t. None of this matters if my Dolly is in pain. Guilt worms its way into my brain. If that night hadn’t happened, would Dolly be in this spot? Or would I for that matter?
“I need to see Dolly.” My voice is calm.
“She’s gonna be okay. She has a ripped-up back and her neck had to be treated, but she’s at home.” He starts to pace. “Goddamn it. I’m getting too old for this shit.”
“We both are, but he’s not.” Prez motions at me with his head. “Look, I’ve been around. These pricks are gonna come at you because of the club, kid. They don
’t give a shit about Dolly or you. That’s why we take care of our own.”
I look down at my swollen hands and open and close them knowing where this is going.
“I’m proud of you,” Prez says as he lowers himself next to me, his strong hand on my shoulder.
“Shark?” He looks over at his VP who leans against the wall with arms crossed.
“I think this one is worthy. I’m making him a prospect.” He lights up a cigarette and squints as he takes a drag.
“These boys…” He looks at Shark. “They’re our legacy. Edge has a fire in him unlike his old man. I have a feeling about this one.” He grunts and points at me as he takes another deep drag.
“You want my Dolly?” Shark pulls a chair out flipping it around to straddle it. “You prove yourself, get patched in…” He pulls out his own pack of cigarettes. “And I’ll give you my blessing.”
“Okay.” The lawyer slaps his hands together. “This is a nonsmoking room, but that aside, all of this is something I don’t need to be involved in.” He puts his fancy phone into his suit pocket.
“What is my business is this,” he continues. “I got the call. The kid made it through surgery.” He looks at me. “I’ve got to be honest. If you want Edge to have a fighting chance at not going to jail for beating this kid almost to death, we need your daughter to testify.” He turns toward Shark.
“No.” He shakes his head.
Prez takes over. I sit up knowing in this moment, I might very well be going to jail.
“No police, nothing. We handle shit our way. Edge knows all this. We have our own laws.”
The lawyer looks at him for a second and then down at me. Sighing, he puts his hands on his hips. “You agree? You’re willing to go to jail for her? And for the club?”
“Yes.” I don’t have to say more as both Prez and Shark lean back and smoke. Their faces say it all.
I proved myself.
I’m a prospect.
And I’m not even eighteen, but if I had a million dollars to bet, I’d say I’m going to jail.
“I want to see Dolly.” They all look at each other and nod as they stand.
Repent (The Disciples Book 3) Page 9