I had forgotten I had even asked a question as I continued to stare at the taped-up prisoners in front of me, but Trevor finally answered, drawing my attention away from them and to his calming voice.
"Well, you see, me and the boys arrived here last night and scouted out your apartment building, taking shifts to watch for your arrival. Then Nico here," he tilted his head towards the large man flanking my right side.
I looked up to see a black haired young man, not much older than me, with hard amber eyes and a scar running the length of his left cheek. He nodded once at me and I quickly turned my attention back to Trevor.
"...saw these two goons entering the apartment, so he followed them. And what do you know, they came right up to the apartment we were waiting for you to come back to. Nico called us and we came as fast as we could."
"But why do they look this way?" I flailed my arm about pointing between the two bloody figures.
"Ah, well, we got into a scuffle after… let's call them Tweedle Dee on the left and Tweedle Dum on the right there, pulled out guns. They really should have learned to aim better." Trevor left my side and walked over to the man on the right and punched him in his already battered face. Blood dribbled from his mouth under the tape as his head whipped to the side.
I screamed and covered my mouth, backing up into the body of another heathen who gently placed his hands on my shoulders, causing me to shriek.
Trevor turned and in two strides was in front of me with his palms up. "It's okay, little lady, no one's gonna hurt ya," he promised. "I normally wouldn't let such a sweet girl see this sort of thing, but seems your father left you one last parting gift. And I tell you if he was still alive, I'd make sure he didn't die any faster the second time around," he growled as he shifted his gaze back towards the two captive men. "How about we let them tell you, shall we?"
Nico stepped forward towards the large man on the right who tried shuffling his chair back, though he had nowhere to go. If I were in his shoes, I would be doing the same thing. When Nico reached the thug's side, he forcefully ripped the duct tape from the man's mouth.
"Please… please! I'm sorry! I was just doing my job! Please, don't kill me!" he cried, as blood continued to drip from his mouth, his two front teeth missing.
Nico pulled a knife from his boot and the man screamed. He held the knife downwards and walked over to the man on the left. Stopping in front of him and without a second thought, he rammed the blade down hard into the man's knee.
The hands resting on my shoulders reached up and temporarily covered my eyes as I screamed again. The bloodcurdling wail that left his taped lips was the thing of nightmares.
"No, Brent, she needs to see this," Trevor explained to the man behind me. Reluctantly, he removed his hands and placed them back on my shoulders.
I looked at the man Trevor called Tweedle Dee. His face slumped forward, his body unmoving, the knife still plunged into his knee. I could see the faint rise and fall of his chest and breathed a sigh of relief realizing he was only passed out and not dead.
"You see, Charles here–say hello, Charles," he commanded the whimpering, scared man to the right to answer.
"Hel… hello… hello, Ashley," he sniveled, his crying uncontrollable. The Heathens had truly beaten him into submission. His mottled purple and red swollen face, the split mouth and all the blood that dripped from his body was evidence of what he endured before my arrival.
Trevor continued. "I believe you may have met these two men before but, you see, Charles here and his buddy, named Who-the-heck-cares, were coming around waiting for their payment. See, your daddy owed them a lot of money. Apparently, they never received the sixty grand your aunt sent. How 'bout you finish this story for me Charlie boy?" Trevor laughed, yet there was no amusement in his tone. It was haunting as his hands curled into fists, as if his demeanor was unreflective of his true feelings about the situation.
"I'm sorry, Ashley, but your father paid us nothin'. He said when he died you would be coming back here. Said you could work off his debts in one of Archer's clubs and the boss agreed. We had nothin' to do with it. We were just doing our job," he cried out to me.
I couldn't believe it. No, I didn't want to believe it. It was characteristic of my father to be cruel, but to have one last tormenting laugh on his deathbed… how could he hate me so much? What had I ever done to deserve such venom from him? I would just have to accept that some people were clothed with evil. My father had a soul so black, it never saw the light and not one ounce of goodness from anything or anyone could ever penetrate the hardened casing surrounding him.
It took a few minutes for me to accept what I had just heard. I stopped the tears that had broken free, wiping them away with the back of my hand. I lifted my head high and found that inner strength–the one that had kept me going throughout my life when I had lived with the monster known as my father. Within a split second I was no longer sad, but rather pissed off.
"You came here to get me?" I barked at the man named Charles, at least I think that's what Trevor had said his name was. He nodded regretfully, but I had not one ounce of sympathy for him. If he hadn't been beaten to a pulp already, he would have taken me as payment. I broke free from the gentle hold Brent had on me and rushed toward the broken figure, slapping him with all the anger and hurt that momentarily consumed me. "How could you? How? Where's the money? Where is it?" I hit him with every bit of rage that teared through my body, until strong arms wrapped around my waist pulling me back.
I kicked and wailed as I was torn away, not ready to be done. A torrent of anger had been unleashed, my adrenaline pumping. I would have kept wailing on him, if it hadn't of been for the man holding me. Then, as if I had been thrown in ice-cold water, the reality of the last few seconds and what I had done caught up with me. I stopped flailing around and threw my hands up to cover my mouth as I saw the man in front of me with his head hanging to the side and no longer conscious. "Oh my God, I killed him!"
Nico walked over and placed his fingers on the man's throat, feeling for a pulse. "Nah, he's still alive, just passed out like his buddy there," he chuckled. His coolness about the situation unnerved me.
"Calm down, Ashley," Trevor whispered behind me still restraining me with his arm around my waist. I was at least thankful for that part, especially since my legs felt like Jell-O as my entire body shook uncontrollably.
"As you can see, we ransacked your daddy's place. And lo and behold we found the money hidden in the floorboards inches from this room–a cliché, I know. Wrapped around the cash was a note and that's how we knew it was the money from Ava. We called Eric to find out the rest of the details. Obviously, your father was too sick to gamble anymore, seeing the money was still here, but he was too evil to pay his debts, too. See, I told you, seems he wanted the last laugh, to hurt you one last time by giving you over to these boys as payment, but this time it's you who had the last laugh because he didn't win," Trevor assured me.
I looked around the apartment to take in the whole scene–couches were torn to threads, the stuffing all over the floor and drawers were pulled out with utensils scattered everywhere. I stopped my surveying and focused on the unconscious men before me.
"Don't kill them," I whispered to the burly man behind me. I loathed the two men I barely knew, but I was not a killer. I was positive divine intervention had just saved me. If it wasn't for the Heathens I met ten minutes ago, I would be living a very different life, the outcome too unthinkable. I may have questioned God before, but in that dark moment He had saved me. He had sent people who saved me, even if it was in a gruesome way and just another memory that would leave its scar. But I was alive, I was free.
"Nah, we won't kill 'em. See, this was just a warning. We'll send them on their way soon enough with the money your daddy owed their boss and you'll never see them again, that I promise you. We happen to know their boss Archer, we've had dealings with him before, and there's no way he will pursue this." With one quick squeeze around my waist, Trevor releas
ed me and stepped back.
I was curious how they knew Archer, but then I remembered Alec telling me the Heathens MC weren't always legit in their dealings. This wasn't the life I wanted to be involved with anyway, so I let it go. Some questions, didn't need an answer.
I didn't want to be in the room a moment longer. All the drama of the past few days, the lies and secrets, seemed so minute compared to what had just happened. I knew without a doubt everything could be worked through. There was no love lost in that room, but with Ava, Sharon, Eric, and my friends, I had love and a home.
I turned to the man who quite literally saved my life, reaching out I grabbed his hand. "Thank you. I don't—"
"Think nothing of it. Our boy Eric must love you so that makes you family, little lady. Now, let's get you out of this place," he said as he pulled me towards the door.
"Agreed," I shot back, clutching his hand as he led me away from the nightmare that apartment held.
As he guided me out, I left all of my hurt, my anger, my sadness, and every horrible cruel thing that had ever happened to me behind. Trevor was right in what he had said—my father didn't win, he didn’t destroy me. I would make sure I continued to laugh and be happy for the rest of my life.
I won, I found victory.
Chapter Thirty-One
Eric
"They're waiting at Canyon Diner on Macy Street," I informed my father after I hung up my cellphone. Trevor had been calling every hour on the hour with updates and reassuring me Ashley was safe.
Ava had phoned me at my grandfather's house and told me about what had happened between her and Ashley. I looked at the time and it was almost ten o'clock by the time she called that day. I was beside myself with worry and wound up taking my anger out on Ava. If she had called right after Ash left the house, I could have stopped her from getting on the bus altogether.
As I paced the house trying to figure out what to do, I knew I couldn't blame Ash for not coming to me. I knew about Ava's secret. I should have told her straight away, but honestly it just slipped my mind as the elation of seeing, holding, kissing, and being with her was all I could think about.
When my father suggested we call the Heathens to see if they could beat us to Nevada, I was hesitant, but Alec assured me once family, always family. Trevor was a Godsend. He didn't ask any questions and agreed immediately. I knew the brothers would travel down to Las Vegas and keep an eye on my girl until I arrived–done and dusted.
When Trevor had called this morning and told us about the two goons sent there to collect Ashley, I felt helpless. My heart ached and my body trembled with rage unlike any I had ever known. I was even more enraged when Nico called back and told me they took Ash into the apartment. I had never heard my father yell as hard or as loud in his entire life, but I felt my dad's outburst was justified.
We had both seen and participated in that kind of scene before. I knew my father loved Ashley as much as any parent could, and he wanted to keep her safe and guarded from any more pain and violence. She had seen and felt enough abuse in her lifetime. Still, she exuded a remarkable innocence and a bravery I had never seen from anyone. I was adamant about never letting her out of my sight again.
If Trev and the boys hadn't pulled through for us, I didn't even want to think of the outcome that could have fallen on Ash. My chest clenched at the possibility that I might have lost her. Then again, I would have found her again, somehow, and more than likely wreaked havoc on anyone who thought he could keep her from me. But that didn’t happen and I knew she was safe, which was all that mattered. And I knew I had God to thank for that whole heartedly. He took our Heathen brothers, and used them for his cause, to save her from a life she didn’t deserve. From what Trevor had told me, the goons would probably never walk right, and as far as their boss Archer, he got his money and Ashley would never be thought about again.
I saw the sign for the diner and my father pulled up to the curb. I rushed from the truck before it had even stopped moving, my feet pedaling faster than I thought possible. Slowing as I reached the diner window, my heart skipped a beat when I spotted Ashley sitting safely in the booth, surrounded by my MC brothers. I took what felt like my first breath in almost two days.
She looked up and spotted me walking past the window and smiled, causing my chest to explode. Bursting through the diner door, I turned left and within three strides I was at the booth pulling Ash into my arms as she stood on the seat and climbed across the table. I held her as if tomorrow would never come, kissing every inch of her face. She had no idea what she meant to me. She was my entire world. Without her, my life never made sense, it had no purpose. She was what kept me going, the very thought of her made me want to be the man she deserved.
"Well look at that, our boy is in love!" Trevor bellowed and the brothers joined in whistling and making a raucous.
"Damn straight he is! That's my future daughter-in-law if I get my way," my father huffed from behind me. "And which one of you idiots is responsible for taking Ashley into that apartment?" his voice boomed, causing the patrons around them to fall into silence.
Ash broke free from my steel-tight grasp and ran to my father, throwing her arms around him. I watched as he visibly relaxed and held her close, looking just as relieved as I was.
"Alec, please don't be mad at them. What they did… I needed to see. Was it pretty? No. Was it necessary? No. Did it help? Yes, it did. It helped me to confront some things today. First, my father deserves no sadness from me and I have decided I'm not going to have a funeral to say goodbye, the State can worry about that. He doesn't deserve my goodbyes and as for forgiveness… well, I’m going to work on that. And second, it made me realize what I have waiting back home in Ligonier. And I truthfully have to thank Trev and the boys for that," Ash smiled up at my dad before turning and grinning at the guys behind her.
Trevor winked at her with affection and a big stupid grin on his face. I had known him my entire life and the club president was not a tolerant man. Never married, no kids, yet he was looking at my girl like the stars shone just for her. I had to chuckle. Who would have thought this angelic woman could soften up some hardened criminals and turn them into a bunch of puppy dogs?
We stayed the night in Nevada and caught up with the guys from the club. The entire time I made sure that Ash was right beside me, and I had a feeling she didn't mind one bit. Yet as much as I loved seeing my old brothers, my life was so far in another direction these days and I was ready to take Ashley home, where she belonged, where she was loved.
The next day, we filled up the truck, ready to return to Ligonier. While my father was over near the pumps saying his goodbyes to Trev and the guys, I leaned against the truck and pulled Ashley towards me. Tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear, I dipped forward and kissed her softly. She reciprocated and threw her arms around my shoulders as she stood on tiptoes. I circled her waist and pulled her off the ground altogether, her body flush with mine. A thousand words were said between us in that quiet moment–promises made and commitments honored. Within that kiss, I illustrated to her I would never let her go again. She silently agreed not to go anywhere for she had given me her heart, and soul.
I heard the driver's side door slam shut as my father jumped into the vehicle, ready to go. He cleared his throat and Ash giggled, breaking the kiss, and I rolled my eyes at my father's polite way of saying, “Quit it.”
I opened the truck’s passenger door so Ash could slide in. I climbed on up and shut the door, one arm leaning against the open window and the other wrapped about her shoulders.
"Ready to go home, beautiful?" I asked, kissing the tip of her cute button nose.
She looked up at me and nodded as the prettiest smile spread across her face. "Yes, Take me home."
Epilogue
Ashley - Ten Years Later
I walked back inside the house that had been in Eric's family–now my family–for over a century. Striding down the hallway, I stepped over the children's toys, pushing
them aside with my toes. Our son and daughter were in school for the day. After returning from dropping them off, I was ready to spend the day with my husband. Peering into the studio, I saw Eric busily sketching at his standing desk.
He looked up when I knocked lightly on the doorframe. "How did they do?" he asked.
"Annie was a bit cranky, but Max was ready to go. He just walked right in, which was a nice change from the kicking and screaming," I giggled.
"Thank God," he remarked, dropping his pencil on the desk and checking his pockets for something.
"Are you ready to go?" I asked him.
"Yes." He smiled, waggling his eyebrows at me.
A lot had changed over the years since Alec and Eric retrieved me in Las Vegas and brought me home to Ligonier. I went straight to Ava's place and managed to sit down calmly and finally get what I always wanted–the whole story. The greatest bit came when Ava disappeared briefly and came back holding a box. When I opened it, I cried. Inside were photos of my mother growing up. There were even pictures of us together taken before the accident from the one time Sharon fled with me to Ithaca. Ava gave the photographs to me, and they now hang proudly on the walls of our home.
When I asked about the names on my birth certificate, Ava explained, "When we moved here, I wanted a fresh start so I changed our last name to our mother's maiden name. I was afraid your father would find my sister and finish the job. But believe me, I never stopped looking for you. That's why you could never fit the pieces together. I should have been smarter, you're a bright girl and I should have known you would figure it out, but it was too late by then." She smiled sadly.
I could never remain angry with my aunt for doing what she thought was right by everyone. Still, it took a while to get back to how things used to be between us. Knowing the sacrifices Ava made her whole life for Sharon and me made me love her even more than I could ever describe.
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