by Harley Wylde
I glanced at the guard and saw the hatred in his eyes when he looked at me. If I stayed, things would get worse. Even if I didn’t know Breaker, he couldn’t hurt me more. Unless he killed me, but death would only be a relief at this point. The way he’d attacked the guard led me to believe he wouldn’t force himself on me.
I reached out and took his hand, letting him pull me from the room. The nurse came running down the hall, Guard Larson on her heels. Whatever he saw in Breaker’s face made him pause.
“You can’t just leave with a patient,” Guard Larson said.
“The one your buddy was raping?”
Guard Larson audibly swallowed and glanced at me. I tightened my hold on Breaker’s hand, drawing his attention. I looked from him to the guard and back, hoping he’d understand. He seemed to, since his lips thinned, and he growled as he faced Guard Larson again.
“Or maybe I should say the patient you’ve both been raping?” Breaker asked.
The nurse gasped and stepped away from the guard. At least I knew for certain she hadn’t been in on it. She seemed too horrified for her reaction to be faked.
“Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m walking out of here with Raven, and no one from this hospital and certainly not the law, will come looking for her. If they do, I’ll make sure any guards she fingers as her rapists will get the same treatment in the worst prison possible. Are we fucking clear?” Breaker asked.
The nurse nodded. “I’ll speak with her doctor tomorrow. She’ll need her medication. I swear I didn’t know what was going on.”
“Doesn’t matter. You aren’t exactly helping her out of the goodness of your heart now that you do know. Your ass is on the line, right? Since it happened right under your nose. I have a doctor who will see her. I don’t trust any of you fuckers.” Breaker led me past them, pausing to look back at Larson. “I find out either of you hurt the nurse to keep her quiet, and things won’t go well for you.”
He turned and kept going, out the secured door at the end of the hall. We made our way downstairs and into the night. I breathed deep. It had been so long since I’d been in the fresh air.
He led me over to a truck parked at the curb and opened the passenger door. Breaker took a step back, giving me space, and I hauled myself onto the seat. He reached in and buckled me before shutting the door and walking around to the driver’s side. When he turned the key, the engine rumbled to life and cool air blasted me from the vents.
“I’m taking you to the clubhouse. It may be loud and rowdy, and I have no idea what we’ll walk in on. I need you to know the women there aren’t forced to do anything. They come to the clubhouse to party, and they can leave whenever they want.” He gazed at me as he put the truck into gear. “No one will hurt you, Raven. Not on my watch.”
I trusted him. Or rather, I trusted him more than I had anyone in a long time. No one had ever stood up for me. Not after the incident with the cowboys. Once my mother called me trash and a whore, I lost the last bit of confidence I’d had. The few friends I’d had turned away from me, and it felt like everyone stared when I left the house. I could almost hear them whispering about me. I sat quietly as we drove. The clock on the dash showed the trip had taken nearly an hour when we pulled up to a gate.
Breaker rolled down the window and waved at someone. The gate opened and he eased the truck through, pulling up to a building I assumed was the clubhouse he’d mentioned. Music blasted from inside and trepidation built inside me. He’d warned me women weren’t abused here, which made me wonder what I’d see inside that might make me feel otherwise. I unbuckled and opened the door. Before I could get out, Breaker lifted me into his arms.
I tensed but clung to him, not wanting to be dropped to the hard ground.
“Easy,” he said. “I don’t want you to hurt your feet. And the inside isn’t all that clean. Probably best you sit on a stool or chair, but don’t put your feet down.”
I tried to relax against him as he carried me inside. Smoke filled the air, and I coughed a little. It seemed rude to wave a hand in front of my face. My eyes and throat burned. As I scanned the room, I saw no small number of men wearing leather vests like Breaker. Some had their pants open and women on their knees, sucking them off. I inhaled sharply and tried not to freak the hell out.
They won’t hurt you. Maybe if I told myself that enough times I’d believe it.
Breaker walked up to the bar and set me down on an empty stool. The man next to me turned and I froze. His hair was going a little gray. Same for his neatly trimmed beard. He looked me over before focusing on Breaker.
“You really think bringing her here was the best idea?” the man asked.
“Sorry, Fox. If I took her to my place, she might have flipped out. I thought being around other people might be better. Plus, I thought Spider might be here. I have no idea where she’s staying.”
Fox. The name suited him. The man oozed sex appeal. In his younger days, he’d probably had to beat the women off. For that matter, he could very well have to beat them off now. They all had strange names. Who called their kid Breaker? Or Spider?
“You thought taking her somewhere quiet, and away from all this, would freak her out? But taking a rape victim to a clubhouse where people are openly having sex shouldn’t be a problem?” Fox narrowed his eyes. “Were you dropped on your head?”
Breaker tensed. “No.”
Fox switched his gaze to me. “Sorry, Raven. You shouldn’t have to deal with all this.”
“Want me to take her to Church?” Breaker asked.
Fox nodded. “I’ll call Spider and gather the other officers. We’ll be there in a few minutes. I’ll send a Prospect with a bottle of water for her.”
Breaker lifted me into his arms again and carried me through the room and down a long hall. He shoved open two doors and cursed as we entered the dark room.
“Shit. I can’t find the light switch while I’m holding you. Can you feel along the wall for it?”
I slid my hand from the doorframe outward, then up and down, until I felt the plastic plate. I flipped the switch and blinked at the bright light. Breaker carried me to the long table and pulled out one of the chairs with his booted foot. He set me down, then moved to lean against the wall within view.
“Only patched members are allowed in here,” Breaker said. “But I think it’s better to discuss your situation in here than out there. You okay with that?”
I nodded and folded my fingers together. So far, the men here hadn’t hurt me. If anything, the two I’d met seemed concerned about me. A knock sounded at the doors and Breaker cracked them open, reached out, and pulled a water bottle through the gap before closing it. He handed the drink to me, and I screwed off the top, taking a sip. He probably thought me rude for not saying thank you. It had been so long since I’d spoken, I wasn’t sure my voice even worked anymore. My last few months with the doctor had consisted of me nodding or shaking my head to answer questions. Anything more complex he’d had me write out, once he’d realized nothing would make me talk. Even when I wrote my answers, I didn’t tell him anything. What would have been the point?
The doors opened and Fox came in, with several other men in his wake. They took a seat, each eyeing me in curiosity, except Fox. I couldn’t read his expression. The man with Spider on his vest claimed the spot at the head of the table.
“Raven, welcome to the Hades Abyss,” Spider said. “I’m the President of this club, for now.”
Fox growled and shot a glare at the man. Spider cleared his throat and flipped off Fox before focusing on me again. I didn’t know what to make of their interaction. What did he mean by “for now” and why did it seem to upset Fox?
“Hatchet asked us to get you from Balmoral,” Spider said. “You’ll be safe here until he comes for you. I’m sure you’re confused and have questions.”
I stared at him. Yes, I had some questions. No, I wouldn’t be asking them. I glanced at Breaker and found him watching me, his brow furrowed. He�
�d likely figured out by now I didn’t speak.
“Pres, there’s something you should know,” Breaker said. “They abused her at Balmoral. The guards raped her. Caught one of them in the act when I got there.”
I shifted on my chair and looked down at my lap. And now they all knew. I’d be labeled a whore. Dirty. Just like before. They wouldn’t want me here now. Or maybe they’d expect me to join the women in the other room. Breaker had said those women were here voluntarily, but what if he was wrong? What if the women felt they had to do those things?
I heard a roar and jerked my head up in time to see Fox standing and throwing his chair against the wall. I felt my eyes go wide as I watched him proceed to pound his fist into the wall. I saw his knuckles split open and a small sound escaped my throat as I lurched to my feet. He turned, his gaze landing on me. Before I could second-guess myself, I rushed to his side and took his hand in mine, checking on the damage he’d done to himself.
“Sorry, pretty girl.” His voice sounded scratchier than before. “Didn’t mean to scare you. It pisses me off those men abused their power and did that to you. I want to string them up, torture them, and kill them slowly for daring to touch you.”
I lifted my gaze to his and saw the sincerity there. He meant every word. First Breaker had defended me, and now Fox wanted to rip the guards apart? Their quick leap to violence should have scared me. If it had been aimed at me, it certainly would have. Knowing they wanted to hurt the men who’d touched me? It made all the difference. I hadn’t realized men like them existed. They might look rough, and liked sex as much as other men, but I had to wonder if maybe deep down they were honest, decent men. They’d rescued me. Had they done the same for others?
“She hasn’t spoken,” Breaker said softly. “Not once. Not even when…”
I watched Fox and understanding lit his eyes.
“They told you to be quiet, didn’t they?” he asked.
I nodded.
“And if you talked, they’d hurt you.” He reached out and cupped my cheek. “You’re safe, Raven. Those men won’t hurt you ever again. You can scream, cuss. Do whatever you want. You don’t have to stay silent anymore.”
I felt the burn of a tear slip down my cheek and before I knew it, I was in Fox’s arms and sobbing. I hadn’t cried in so long. It felt satisfying and horrible at the same time.
“Surge, I need you and any other hackers to look into Balmoral. See what you can find so we can bury those fuckers,” Spider said. “Raven, I don’t have a place for you to live on your own. Breaker brought you here. Do you want to stay with him?”
I sniffled and looked up at Fox. A slight smile kicked up the corner of his lips and he ran his hand over my hair. “She can stay with me. I have an extra room.”
“That what you want, Raven?” Spider asked. “To stay with Fox?”
I nodded, not looking away from the first man to ever make me feel seen. Understood. My heart raced and I trembled, but it wasn’t from fear. Not this time. For once, I felt like things might be okay. I didn’t know the man they claimed was my father, but if they trusted him, I’d at least meet with him. Until then, I’d stay with Fox. I could feel it deep in my gut that he’d keep me safe. Possibly even from myself. I couldn’t promise the dark thoughts wouldn’t return. I might always have days where I wanted to end it all.
The thought of staying with Fox made me feel warmer inside. The shadows were still there, pressing in, but they were held at bay. If latching onto Fox would make things better, even a little, then I knew I needed to hold onto him.
Chapter Two
Fox
I didn’t know why Raven came to me. If anything, my display of anger should have scared her. Instead, it seemed to have made her feel safe. I couldn’t tell if Breaker had wanted her to go with him. He’d blanked his face when Raven rushed over to me. The speculative gleam in Spider’s eye didn’t bode well. Ever since he’d settled down, he seemed to think all of us needed old ladies.
Raven had been so badly abused I didn’t think she’d ever want to belong to someone. She could prove me wrong, but for now, I’d treat her gently and try not to scare her. With some luck, her dad would arrive before too long and take her home with him. I couldn’t imagine having a fully grown daughter and not knowing. Then to find out she’d been left to die by men who’d used her? Hatchet had to be losing his mind.
“She doesn’t have shoes,” Breaker said. “She shouldn’t be on this floor.”
I looked down and saw her bare feet. Shifting my hold on her, I lifted her into my arms and cradled her against my chest. Raven settled against me, tucking her head under my chin. Breaker’s eyebrows shot up and his jaw dropped a little. It seemed she hadn’t reacted this way when he’d picked her up to bring her into the clubhouse. I didn’t know what to make of it.
“She’s going to need clothes and other essentials,” I said.
“Luciana has more than she needs. I’ll gather a bag of toiletries and bring them over. Don’t think her clothes will fit Raven, though. She’s a tiny thing,” Spider said.
Surge snorted. “Don’t let your woman hear that. She’ll think you’re implying she’s fat.”
“She knows I love her,” Spider said. “No one I’d rather be with.”
“I need to make a run to the store,” Knox said. “I’ll grab a few things just to buy a little time before taking her shopping or ordering shit online. Raven, if you don’t want to talk that’s fine, but could you write down your sizes?”
She buried her face against me and held on tighter. I gave her a slight squeeze, hoping to reassure her. I didn’t understand why she wouldn’t write down her sizes. We’d just have to guess and hope we got close enough that whatever Knox brought home would be comfortable for her.
“Get some women’s size small pajamas, two shirts, and find some shorts with elastic waist.” As much as I hated thinking about someone else buying her under garments, I knew she’d need at least some panties. “Get a package of underwear. Just guess the size best you can. Anything else we can get later.”
“Raven, can I hold up your foot to guess your shoe size?” Knox asked, standing and coming close.
If anything, she tried to burrow into me, getting as far from my brother as she could. She hadn’t seemed scared when she’d been sitting at the table. What changed?
“Pretty girl, can you hold out a foot for Knox? He won’t touch you if you don’t want him to, but he needs to use his hand for a rough measurement.”
She stuck out her foot, and Knox held his hand up next to it. He gave a brisk nod and walked to the doors. “I’ll leave the stuff on your porch and knock. Think it’s best I don’t come inside until she settles in more.”
He left and Spider cracked his neck. “I’ll go home and get some soap, shampoo, razors, and that sort of thing bagged up. I’ll get a Prospect to drop it by your house. He can leave it on the porch like Knox plans to do, but I’d rather get home and send the stuff over now. She might like a shower.”
“I’ll take her home and show her where she’ll be staying,” I said. “If anyone needs me…”
Spider waved me off. “Take the next few days to get her situated. I want her to feel safe while she’s here. Don’t worry about the rest. I know I’ve been dumping a lot on you lately, but I’ll handle things.”
Honestly, as much as he’d been offloading, I’d started to wonder if he planned to step down. He’d already told me a while back when the time came, he’d be handing over the President patch to me. His comment earlier, about being President for now, made me think he was ready to hand the reins over. Technically, the club needed to vote, but I didn’t see any of them having a problem with the decision. Far as I knew, no one else wanted the job. Finding a new VP, however, would be interesting.
When I got to the parking lot, I realized I’d ridden my bike. I eyed the machine and wondered if Raven would be willing to ride behind me. She lifted her head and tilted it sideways, as if asking why I’d stopped.
<
br /> “I rode my motorcycle to the clubhouse. I live just down the road, but I wasn’t sure if you’d want to ride behind me or not.”
She patted me and I assumed it meant she would be fine. Walking over to the Harley Davidson, I set her on the seat before getting on the bike. I started it and walked it back away from the clubhouse. Once I made sure Raven held on tight enough, I eased down the road toward home, keeping the bike under twenty miles per hour since I didn’t know if she’d ever been on one before. Last thing I needed would be her toppling off and ripping her skin open.
At the house, I turned off the bike, swung my leg over the seat, and led Raven into the house. She looked around, taking everything in. I didn’t rush her. This would be her home until her dad arrived, and I needed her to feel comfortable. I gave her a brief tour and stopped at the guest room. I never really had company stay over, but I kept a bedroom with a queen-sized bed and dresser just in case. I’d even mounted a small TV on the wall across from the bed.
“This will be your room while you’re here,” I told her. “You can help yourself to whatever you want in the kitchen, although it’s a bit bare at the moment. I’ll order some groceries in the morning. I showed you the bathroom a minute ago. Spider will get some girly soaps and stuff to us tonight. I just keep generic shit in there.”
She stayed close. I could feel the heat of her body. It bothered me she wouldn’t speak. Hearing what she’d been through tonight, and possibly every day since she’d entered Balmoral, I could understand her not wanting to talk. I wondered how long it had been since she last heard her own voice. Or did she talk to herself and just not others?
The doorbell sounded, making her jump a little. I reached out to give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s probably the stuff Spider said he’d send. I’ll be right back.”
I left her to explore on her own while I retrieved whatever the Pres had sent over. I found a plastic bag with bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. I also saw a tube of scented lotion, a pack of pink disposable razors, generic shaving gel, and a brand-new lip balm and brush. Even though I never allowed women into my home, I kept a few toothbrushes and extra tubes of toothpaste stocked. I’d make sure she had one of each.