by Vera Quinn
“Charlie, you may not remember that I am your brother but trust me. The night you left, your only agenda was to get you and your child away from Duke. Duke and Jules were trying to make a power play to take the club away from Dad and you were determined to stop it.” I look at the man’s patch on his cut. His name is Sinister. This is all too much. I hear Stormy waking up on the monitor and I know I don’t want my daughter hearing any of this. I pick the monitor up.
“I don’t know what to think of any of this. I need time to think and I need to get Stormy up and give her a snack. I would appreciate it if none of this is discussed in front of my daughter,” I tell the men who all have their eyes on me.
“Our daughter,” Deacon speaks up. I say nothing but look at the man I don’t even know anymore. The only thing running through my head is all the lies.
“After I feed Stormy, I am going to take her home for the night. I would appreciate it if you would give me some space to get this all straight in my head. I would like for you to stay at the clubhouse until I do that.” Deacon is shaking his head.
“Nope, not doing that. That house is our home, and I don’t care if you want me sleeping on the sofa, but I will be staying under the same roof as my family. You’re pregnant with our child and you never take care of yourself when you are worried about something else. I will be there to take care of what is mine, end of story.” Deacon is determined. I hear it in his voice.
“We won’t be leaving town until this is taken care of,” Tracker says with just as much determination. I don’t wait for anyone else to say anything. I walk away from them all and leave them watching me walk away. I walk down the dark halls to the brother’s rooms. They need to add some lighting down this hall.
I walk in the door and I see Stormy sitting up in her toddler bed. I need time to settle this all in my head before I try to explain everyone to my daughter. I see her bag sitting beside her bed and I walk over to it and look inside and then go to the drawers on the dresser and stuff the bag full of clothes for both of us. I grab my purse. I know I don’t have a lot of cash in my purse but enough for a room for a couple of days. I was running when I arrived here and looks like I’ll be running when I leave.
I change Stormy and grab her sippy cup. I open the door to the hall and it’s clear. I pick up Stormy, my purse, and our bag and I sneak out the door at the end of the hall. I see my car and it only takes a few minutes for me and Stormy to be in it and on our way. I drive into town and pull into a parking lot. I get out and crawl under the car, and it doesn’t take long to find two trackers. I get them off the car and throw them as far as I can. I get back in the car and take the battery out of my phone. I keep telling myself this will only be for a couple of days and I hope that will be it. I look at Stormy and she is as happy as she can be playing with the toys on her car seat. How did I get us into this? I turn my stereo up and listen to The Wheels on the Bus. It’s mindless music that will keep my daughter entertained so I can think.
My mind can’t process everything as fast as I try to figure it all out. I’m going to be branded as a whore. I’m having children with brothers. Am I Eve or am I Charlie as Tracker said? Does my family love me and who is my real family? There are too many questions and “Facing the Pain” is too hard. No, I will be “Stepping Away from the Pain”, even if it is for a little while.
The End For Now…
Notes From The Author:
I know everyone hates cliffhangers, but this isn’t a cliffhanger. This is a prequel to Stepping Away from the Pain. I stated that on the first page. Facing the Pain gives you all the backstory you will need going into the full book. I have not decided whether to make this a series or not. It depends on what happens when I get into Stepping Away from the Pain. I can’t give you a timeline on when Stepping Away from the Pain will be released. If 2020 has taught me anything it is all good plans have a way of getting delayed so all I can say is that sometime in 2021 you will be getting Stepping Away from the Pain. I am wishing you each a happy holiday season. Be safe, stay healthy, and be happy.
Also by Vera Quinn
BlackPath MC
1. Never Forever
2. Catching Forever
3. Holding Out Forever
4. Making My Forever
BlackPath Motorcycle Club Box Set The Complete Series (Box Set)
Feral Steel MC
1. Beginning of the Inevitable
2. Beginning to Breathe, Again
3. Beginning of the Reckoning
Demented Revengers MC: Quitman Chapter
1. Surviving for Tomorrow
2. Surviving, One Day at a Time
3. Surviving Until the End
4. Surviving The Chaos of Life
The Complete Box Set Demented Revengers MC: Quitman Series
Troubled Fathoms MC
1. Severed Ties That Bind
2. Ties Bonded by Blood
Rebellions 4 Blood MC
1. New Bloodlines of Destruction
2. Beauty from the Ashes of Destruction
Deacons of Peril MC
Sweet Whiskey Dreams
Haunted Hills MC (with Penny Anglene)
Love the Man, Love the Club
Standalones
Comfort Side of Heaven
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