Chapter Five
Juniper
It had been about a week since I’d first woken after Breaker found me, but I was still slowly getting acclimated to this strange place. I sat on a barstool at the end of the bar inside the Hades Abyss clubhouse, feeling out of my depth. The raucous laughter and coarse shouts echoed off the walls, an assault on my already frayed nerves. My eyes darted from face to face. The men either talked over beers, were shooting pool, or throwing darts. I was the only woman in sight.
What if these men decide they don’t want me here? Will they make Breaker toss me back onto the streets ?
A particularly loud burst of laughter made me flinch. Across the room, I spotted Breaker deep in conversation with two other men -- Fox and Spider. He’d pointed them out to me when we’d first arrived, and after getting me a soda, he’d walked off to speak with them. His brow was furrowed, his posture tense. Discussing me, no doubt. Plotting the best way to get rid of the stray he’d brought home.
No, that wasn’t fair. He’d been nothing but kind, and extremely considerate. If anything, he made me want to stay here as long as I could. Just as Leo had told me the first day I’d woken up, Breaker was one of the good ones. I’d honestly never met anyone like him before.
My stomach churned at the thought of being alone again. I’d only just begun to let myself believe that maybe I’d found a safe place to land. A place where I wouldn’t have to constantly look over my shoulder, wondering where my next meal would come from or if I’d make it through the night. But now, surrounded by the rough-and-tumble members of the Hades Abyss, I felt more lost and alone than ever.
Breaker suddenly broke away from his conversation and strode toward me, his tall frame parting the crowd. I tensed, bracing myself for the worst. But when he reached me, he gently touched my cheek.
“Hey there, darling,” he said. “How are you holding up?”
I tried to answer, but my words caught in my throat. Breaker seemed to understand anyway. He reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face with a calloused finger.
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” he murmured.
“I -- I don’t know if I can do this, Breaker,” I whispered, hating the quiver in my voice. “I don’t belong here. I’m not like them.”
Breaker’s eyes softened. “You’re right. You’re not like them. You’re something special. Besides, a lot of these men have women and kids at home. They don’t act like this all the time. This is the one place they can cut loose and let off some steam.”
He held out his hand, an invitation. After a moment’s hesitation, I placed my trembling fingers in his palm. His hand engulfed mine, strong and steady. Before he could say anything else, the doors opened and a man strode in. He scanned the room before heading our way.
Breaker eyed him. “I take it you were looking for me?”
Surge’s gaze raked me with a mix of curiosity and warmth. “I’ve got something for you. Thought you might need this, given the circumstances.”
Breaker unfolded the document, his eyes scanning the contents. My brow furrowed as I tried to make out the words from where I stood. Curiosity gnawed at me, mingling with a growing sense of unease.
“Is that what I think it is?” Breaker asked, his tone a mix of surprise and something I couldn’t quite decipher.
Surge nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. “A marriage certificate. Fully legal and binding. Well, you know, legal minus the part where I hacked into the vital records department to create it.”
My heart stuttered in my chest. Marriage certificate? My mind reeled, trying to process the implications. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Did he seriously mean… No, that couldn’t be it. No one did crazy things like that, right? I glanced at Breaker.
He ran a hand over his face. “We can talk about this more at home, but Surge did this to help keep you safe.”
“But how is it supposed to do that? And how is this even possible?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Surge chuckled, a sound that held both amusement and pride. “Let’s just say I have a particular set of skills. Hacking into government databases is child’s play for me. Creating a legitimate marriage record? Piece of cake.”
“As to how it will protect you, if we have to get the law involved, this makes me your husband. Which means I can help you file a restraining order, among other things.”
I stared at the two men, my mind struggling to comprehend the lengths they were willing to go to protect me. A part of me wanted to protest. After all, this was completely insane. Normal people didn’t do things like this. But another part, the part that craved the safety and security Breaker offered, whispered that this was a lifeline I couldn’t afford to refuse.
Breaker must have read the conflict in my eyes. He reached out, his hand gently cupping my cheek. “I know it’s a lot to take in, Juniper. But trust me when I say that this is the best way to keep you out of harm’s way. As my wife, on paper at least, you’ll be under the protection of the club. No one would dare touch you.”
I swallowed hard, my heart racing as I met his intense gaze. There was no deception in his eyes, only a fierce determination to keep me safe. Slowly, I nodded, my decision made.
“Okay,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. “I trust you, Breaker. If you think this is what’s best, then I’m with you.”
The smile that spread across his face was a mixture of relief and something deeper, something that set my pulse racing in an entirely different way. He brushed his thumb across my cheekbone, a tender gesture that contrasted with the hardened lines of his face.
“That’s my girl,” he murmured.
The moment was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. I tensed, my eyes darting toward the doorway as two women entered the room. They moved with a confident grace, their presence commanding attention without demanding it.
The first woman, with dark wavy hair and soulful brown eyes, exuded a gentle strength that seemed to fill the space around her. I couldn’t discern her age, but if I had to guess, I thought she might be in her mid to late thirties. I’d always sucked at guessing ages though. She offered me a warm smile, her gaze holding a depth of understanding that made me feel seen in a way I hadn’t experienced before.
The second woman, her features strikingly similar to the first, carried herself with a quiet determination. Her eyes were every bit as kind as the slightly older woman’s. Sisters maybe?
Breaker’s hand slid from my cheek to rest on my shoulder, a reassuring weight that anchored me in the midst of my uncertainty. “Juniper, I’d like you to meet Luciana and Violeta. Luciana is with Spider and Violeta is with Rocket. They’re sisters who came here under some not-so-great circumstances nearly twenty years ago.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry as I faced these women who seemed to radiate a strength I could only dream of possessing. Part of me wanted to shrink back, to hide behind Breaker and let him shield me from the scrutiny of their gazes. But another part, the part that had survived on the streets for so long, refused to cower.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I managed, my voice steadier than I felt.
Luciana’s smile widened, and she stepped forward, her hand outstretched in welcome. “The pleasure is ours, Juniper. We’ve heard so much about you from Breaker. He’s quite taken with you, you know.”
I felt my cheeks heat at her words, and I glanced at Breaker, who merely shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. I turned back to Luciana, surprised by the warmth and strength of her grip.
“I don’t know about that,” I murmured, my gaze skittering away from hers. “I’m just trying to survive, same as anyone else.”
Violeta stepped forward then, her voice soft but filled with a quiet intensity. “Survival is something we all understand here. You’re among friends now, even if it doesn’t feel that way yet.”
I met her gaze, saw the sincerity shining in her eyes, and felt something within me begin to uncoil. I leaned into Breaker, grateful for his steadying presence. He turned to Luciana and Violeta, his voice low and serious. “She’s been through a lot. I know the clubhouse takes some getting used to, but I wanted her to see she didn’t have anything to fear from anyone here.”
Luciana nodded, her expression sobering. “Of course. We understand better than most. Juniper, we know you’ve just met us, but we want you to know that you have a family here, if you choose to accept it. The men can seem a bit scary at first, but they’re all really good men. Even if they don’t look like the type, they’ve helped a lot of people.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. Family. It was a word I hadn’t allowed myself to contemplate in years, a concept that seemed as foreign to me as the idea of a home. But as I looked at the faces around me, at Breaker’s unwavering support and the genuine warmth in Luciana and Violeta’s eyes, I felt a tiny spark of hope ignite within me.
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.
Violeta reached out, her fingers brushing mine in a gentle, reassuring gesture. “You don’t have to say anything. We understand. Just know that you’re not alone anymore. We both live here at the compound, the same as you. Reach out anytime you need someone to talk to, or just want some girl time.”
I nodded, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. It was almost too much to process, this unexpected acceptance and support.
Luciana clapped her hands together, breaking the weighted silence that had settled over the room. “Well, now that introductions are out of the way, how about we show Juniper around the clubhouse? Give her a chance to get her bearings?”
Breaker glanced down at me, a question in his eyes, and I nodded, grateful for the chance to catch my breath and absorb everything that had happened. As we followed Luciana and Violeta out of the room, I couldn’t help but marvel at the twists and turns my life had taken. Not long ago, I had been alone and adrift, my future as uncertain as the streets I called home. But now, with Breaker by my side and the support of the Hades Abyss MC surrounding me, I dared to hope I had found a way out of the darkness and into the light.
Luciana led us through the dimly lit hallway, pointing out the bathroom, rooms that had once been used by men like Breaker, and even the President’s office. As we walked, she spoke, her voice steady yet tinged with emotion. “I know what it’s like to feel alone, to have nowhere to turn. Before I came to the Hades Abyss, before I met Spider, I was trapped in a nightmare.”
I watched her, my heart aching for the pain she must have endured. There was a strength in her posture, a resilience that spoke of battles fought and won, but beneath it all, I could sense the scars that lingered.
“Growing up in Colombia, my father…” Luciana swallowed hard, her fingers clenching into fists at her sides. “He was a monster. He forced me to do things, terrible things, from a young age. I thought I would never escape, that I was destined to live in that hell forever.”
Violeta reached out, her hand resting on Luciana’s shoulder in a gesture of silent support. The two women shared a look, a bond forged in shared trauma and survival.
“But then I met Spider,” Luciana continued, a faint smile softening her features. “He showed me there was another way, that I could be more than what my father had tried to make me. I fell in love with him. The club became my family, my safe haven.”
I listened intently, my own pain resonating with hers. I understood the desperation, the yearning for a place to belong, for people who would accept and protect you.
Violeta spoke then, her tone more defiant, a fire burning in her eyes. “We’ve all got our scars, our stories. Some of us more than others. Luciana is my older sister, and we share the same history. We had each other, but our sister was alone with a different club down in Alabama. Just know you aren’t the first to be saved by these men, and I doubt you’ll be the last.”
I felt a surge of emotion, a mix of empathy and admiration for these women who had endured so much and yet stood tall, unbroken. Their strength gave me hope, a glimmer of possibility that I, too, could rise above my past and forge a new future. I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible turn my life had taken. In the span of a few short hours, I had gone from a lost, lonely girl to a woman with a purpose, a family, and a chance at a future I had never dared to imagine.
Although, this marriage thing was something I needed to discuss with Breaker in more detail. What exactly would he expect of me? Was it like a real marriage, which would mean sharing a bed?
Breaker’s hand on my shoulder dragged me from my thoughts. I met his gaze, finding understanding and patience in his eyes. Luciana and Violeta had shared their story with me, or at least part of it. I felt like I owed them the same.
“I… I’m not ready to talk about my past,” I said. “Not yet. But I want you all to know how much it means to me to be accepted like this.”
Luciana and Violeta exchanged a knowing look, their eyes filled with compassion. Had they done this very thing before? They’d said I wasn’t the first woman to be saved by the club. How many had there been?
“We understand, Juniper,” Luciana said softly. “Take all the time you need. We’re here for you, whenever you’re ready.”
I nodded, grateful for their acceptance, for the space they gave me to heal at my own pace. I knew the road ahead would be challenging, that I had so much to learn and even more to overcome. But with Breaker by my side and the support of this incredible group of people, I felt like I could reclaim my life and build something beautiful from the ashes of my past.
As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, I allowed myself to relax, to soak in the warmth and camaraderie that filled the clubhouse. As the evening wore on and the conversations began to wind down, Breaker caught my eye from across the room. With a slight tilt of his head, he motioned for me to follow him, and I found myself rising to my feet, my heart fluttering with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.
We slipped away from the main room, the sounds of laughter and chatter fading behind us as Breaker led me down a quiet hallway. He stopped in front of a door and turned to face me, his gaze searching mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and gentle.
I nodded, my fingers twisting together in front of me. “Y-yeah, I just… it’s a lot to take in, you know? But I feel better about everything than I did when we first walked in.”
Breaker’s lips curved into a soft smile, and he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips brushing against my skin and sending a shiver down my spine. “I know. You’re doing great.”
His words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, and I felt a sudden rush of emotion, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Why was I so emotional lately? I felt like I was all over the place. Scared. Happy. Anxious. Grateful. And so much more… it all swirled inside me.
“Thank you. For everything. For believing in me, for giving me a chance.”
Breaker’s hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “You’re worth it. You deserve so much more than the hand you’ve been dealt. And I promise, I’ll be here every step of the way, helping you find your strength, your voice.”
As I looked into his eyes, I saw a recognition of the pain and the fear that had shaped my life. The more time I spent with him, the more I knew for certain he would be my anchor in the storms to come.
Without thinking, I leaned forward, my forehead resting against his chest as his arms wrapped around me, holding me close. We stood there in silence, the steady beat of his heart echoing through me, a promise of safety and belonging.