Chapter 17
Tempest Miller
Iwoke to the sound of gentle snoring, like a distant rumble of thunder. I opened my eyes to see Corvus lying beside me, his leg and arm draped over me in a possessive embrace.
Now, in the morning light, I studied his features, softened by sleep. It was hard to imagine this man, with his fine lines around his eyes and mouth, flecks of grey in his beard and at his temples, as the ruthless leader of an MC gang responsible for so much chaos and violence.
I eyed the digital numbers on the clock - 8:30 AM. Fuck, I needed to hurry. The real estate appointment was at nine, and there was no way I could risk waking Corvus. The memory of the gunshots and screams echoing through his phone last night sent a shiver down my spine. I didn”t know everything about his world, but one thing was for sure; he knew how to handle himself in it.
I carefully slid out from under Corvus” arm and leg, doing my best not to disturb him. As I reached the edge of the bed, I paused for a moment, taking in the sight of him one last time before leaving the room.
The sun was a sneaky bastard, slipping through the gaps between the curtains to paint warm streaks across my face. The realisation that I actually liked Corvus, despite his dangerous lifestyle, gnawed at me. It felt like a heavy weight pressing down on my chest, and I knew I had to get moving.
My room was just 2 doors down, but getting there felt like crossing a battlefield. The floorboards were treacherous, threatening to give away my position with every step. I made it to my own room in record time, hastily throwing on some shorts and a T-shirt before heading to the kitchen.
Scribbling a note for Corvus on a scrap of paper. ”Getting my keys today. Thanks for letting me crash in your spare room.” I paused, and scribbled my new address down at the bottom of the note, hesitating for just a moment before adding, ”Come find me when you wake up.” My heart raced at the thought of Corvus showing up, but I couldn”t deny that I wanted to see him again. I grabbed the magnet off the fridge and slapped the note onto it.
I quickly gathered my belongings. Throwing them into the backseat of my car, I took one last look at the house that had been my temporary sanctuary. Slamming the car door shut and starting the engine. As I pulled out of the driveway, my grip tightened on the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. I could feel the tension building in my chest, a mixture of excitement and fear threatening to choke me. But I refused to let it show. I had come this far, and there was no room for weakness now.
”Alright, Sarah, you better not fuck this up for me,” I grumbled under my breath, thinking about the real estate agent who would be waiting for me with a stack of paperwork. I needed her to believe my lies, or everything would come crashing down around me. And I couldn”t afford for that to happen – not when I was so close to finally being free.
The adrenaline coursing through my veins made it difficult to think straight, let alone concentrate on driving. But I had no choice; I was on the brink of a life-changing decision, and there was no room for mistakes.
As the real estate agent”s office came into view, my stomach churned violently. This should have been a moment of triumph – buying my first home, claiming a piece of the world that would be mine and mine alone.
With a shaky exhale, I stepped out into the sweltering heat, my nerves tingling with anticipation and fear. The door to the agency loomed ominously ahead as if daring me to take the plunge.
”Morning, Tempest,” Sarah greeted me with a saccharine smile as I entered the office.
”Morning,” I replied, trying to sound casual as I followed her to a small table littered with documents. My heart pounded in my ears as she pushed the papers towards me, each signature bringing me one step closer to sealing my fate.
”Alright, just sign here and here,” Sarah instructed, tapping two spots on the forms. She paused, narrowing her eyes at me. ”How does an eighteen-year-old girl born and raised in LA have such a strong Australian accent?”
”I spent a lot of time in Australia as a kid,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant. ”My parents had this Australian nanny, and I guess the accent just stuck.” The words tumbled out of my mouth, a desperate attempt to cover up my true past.
Sarah raised her eyebrows at me, scepticism written all over her face. ”Okay, Tempest,” she said slowly, clearly not buying it entirely but deciding to let it go. She pointed at a spot on the form I”d missed. ”You initialed that wrong. You”re meant to put ”TM” there, not ”LF.””
”Shit,” I muttered under my breath, quickly scribbling out the mistake. My hand trembled as I replaced ”LF” with ”TM” and continued signing the rest of the paperwork. It was hard enough keeping up this facade, but every little slip-up felt like a potential disaster waiting to happen.
”Sorry,” I mumbled, trying to regain my composure. ”Just a bit nervous, y”know?”
”Understandable,” Sarah replied, though I knew my nerves went far beyond a simple real estate transaction.
As I signed the last document, I blew out a breath I didn’t realise I had been holding.
”Congratulations, Tempest,” Sarah said as she handed me the keys to my new home. ”It”s all yours now.”
”Thanks,” I replied with a forced smile, my mind swirling with uncertainty. As I left the office, I felt both exhilarated and terrified – a strange mix of emotions that seemed fitting for my current situation.
As I climbed into my car, the seat warm beneath me, I couldn”t help but let out an exasperated breath, swearing under it, ”Fuck.” My fingers tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. The weight of the realisation that I hadn”t thought about my real name, Louise Franklin since arriving in the US hit me like a ton of bricks. Louise was dead; Tempest Miller had taken her place.
The engine roared to life as I peeled out of the car park, my heart pounding just as hard. My knuckles turned white gripping the wheel, and I couldn”t help but wonder if this was all worth it.
”Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, trying to shake the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm me. I glanced in the rearview mirror, half expecting to see someone tailing me, but the only thing chasing me was my own damn demons.
”Pull yourself together, Tempest,” I growled at myself, forcing my eyes back onto the road ahead. It was time to focus on what I could control—my new home and the life I”d built for myself here.
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The key slid into the lock with a satisfying click, and the door creaked open as if it was groaning in pain. I stepped over the threshold of my new house, inhaling the stale scent of abandonment that hung heavy in the air. It felt like stepping into a forgotten world, one where time had stopped along with the lives that once inhabited these rooms.
”Welcome to your fuckin” paradise, Tempest,” I muttered under my breath, letting the door slam shut behind me.
Granted, the paint was peeling off the walls like old scabs, the kitchen looked like it hadn”t been used since the goddamn prohibition era, and the floorboards creaked beneath my feet like they were begging for mercy. But it was mine, a place where no one could find me. A sanctuary from the chaos outside these decrepit walls.
”Home sweet home, eh?” I said to myself, already imagining how I”d turn this shithole into something liveable. The thought filled me with a sense of determination, a fire burning in my chest as I vowed to make this place my fortress.
The overwhelming smell of mustiness and stale air invaded my nostrils as I ventured further into my new home. It was a far cry from the life I had left behind, but it was a necessary step to survive. In a place like this, no one would find me, and that”s all that mattered.
”Let”s see what we”re working with here,” I muttered, pushing open the first door on my left. The room was small and cramped, with peeling wallpaper revealing cracked plaster underneath. ”Not exactly the master suite, is it?” I scoffed, shaking my head.
Continuing down the hallway, I peered into the second room. This one was slightly bigger than the first, but still not quite what I was looking for. I needed a space that offered some semblance of safety and control, a place where I could barricade myself if needed.
”Alright, third time”s the charm,” I said, opening the last door. The room was larger than the others and tucked away at the furthest corner of the house. Its position gave me a sense of security, as it would be harder for anyone to sneak up on me. ”This”ll do.”
”Home sweet fucking home,” I announced, tossing my bags onto the floor. Dust puffed up around them, dancing in the sparse light filtering through the grimy window. I”d have to clean that later, along with everything else in this godforsaken place.
I walked out to my car, the hot air nipping at my exposed skin, and grabbed the rolled-up mattress from the trunk. Hauling it back inside, I unrolled it onto the floor of my new bedroom and covered it with the few blankets I”d been using to sleep in my back seat.
”Alright, Tempest, let”s see what we”re dealing with here.” I pulled out an old notebook and pen from my bag, ripping a few pages out. They were stained and crumpled but still usable. Nothing fancy. I went from room to room, scribbling down what each space needed. This wasn”t going to be a fuckin” palace, but it had to be liveable.
”Jesus Christ,” I grumbled, glancing at the cracked windows and peeling wallpaper. ”Gonna need more than just paint and nails to fix this place up.”
As I continued through the house, I couldn”t help but think about how far I”d come. Not too long ago, I lived in fear and uncertainty. Now, I had a roof over my head, one that couldn’t be taken away from me.
The second room I walked into had walls stained with God-knows-what. ”Fuckin” hell,” I muttered, scribbling down ”fresh paint” on the paper. I could feel the weight of my past, and the determination to make this place home seeping into every word.
”Damn floorboards,” I grumbled as one creaked underfoot, adding ”replace boards” to the list. The next room had a rusted faucet that groaned when I twisted it. ”Shit, gonna need a plumber for this mess.”
I finished the list and made my way to the backyard. Overgrown weeds and tangled vines had taken over, creating a jungle-like atmosphere.
I slammed the door behind me, my pulse racing from the adrenaline pumping through my veins. That backyard was a fucking mess, but it would be mine to conquer, bit by goddamn bit. I tossed the pen and paper onto the kitchen bench and strode back outside, determined to haul all my shit into the house.
Sweat dripped down my forehead as I kicked the door open, cursing under my breath. This was what independence felt like—difficult, exhausting, but oh-so-fucking-sweet.
Just as I dropped my belongings in the living room, my mobile rang from my back pocket. The screen flashed ”Corvus” and I snatched it up, excitement surging through me.
”Hello?” I said, trying to sound casual.
”Princess, you should”ve woken me up,” Corvus teased, his voice low and gravelly. A smile spread across my face, my heart fluttering at the sound of his endearment. He”d been calling me that since we met, and every time it made me feel special.
”Didn”t want to disturb your beauty sleep,” I replied, wiping the sweat off my brow.
He laughed then said ”I have club business, princess. I won”t be able to make it over today,” Corvus said, his gravelly voice a mix of apology and regret. ”But I could swing by when I”m done, or pop over in the morning with breakfast?”
”Morning”s good,” I replied, my fingers tracing the rough edge of the kitchen counter. The thought of him bringing breakfast made my heart race; he”d taken care of me, even when I was too stubborn to admit I needed help. ”I”ve got some shit to do today anyway.”
”Alright, Tempest. Sleep well in your new castle, and I”ll see you bright and early.” He hung up before I could say anything else, but the smile on my face lingered as I grabbed my keys and headed out to my car.
I had become accustomed to being fed three meals a day while staying with Corvus and had gained a few pounds. I wanted to maintain this weight gain because I felt stronger than I had in years.
———————————————————————————
My heart pounded in my chest, rattling my bones as the sound of scratching and shuffling outside my window yanked me from sleep. Shit. Midnight, and someone”s trying to climb into my fucking window? Panic clawed at my throat, but I reached for my phone with shaky hands, dialling Corvus”s number.
”Hello?” His voice was groggy on the third ring, heavy with sleep.
”Corvus,” I choked out, eyes locked on the shadowy figure moving outside my window. ”Someone”s trying to climb into my fuckin” window!”
”Shit, Tempest! Get up, find a small cupboard or something and hide. I”m coming over now. Stay on the line. I can”t hold the phone while I ride, but don”t hang up ”til you hear my bike.”
”Okay,” I whispered, fear gripping me like a vice, sweat beading on my forehead. I tried to steady my breath as I scrambled out of bed, tiptoeing through the dark house in search of a hiding place. Every creak of the floorboards seemed deafening, and my heart felt like it might explode.
My heart raced as I crept out of my room, the darkness seeming to swallow me whole. It was like a nightmare come to life, and I felt like prey, waiting for the predator to strike. The terror clawed at my insides, threatening to rip me apart.
”Find a cupboard,” Corvus had said, his voice firm despite the sleep that clung to it. ”Stay on the line.” So I clutched the phone to my ear, desperate for any connection to him, my lifeline in this hellish moment.
The house loomed before me, full of shadows and secrets, every creak and groan feeling like an omen. I knew I had to move fast, but it was like wading through molasses, my body refusing to cooperate.
”Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, forcing myself forward. And then I spotted it: a small linen cupboard tucked away in the hallway. Barely more than a sliver of space, but it would have to do.
”Please, let this work,” I whispered, trembling fingers gripping the cold metal handle as I pulled the door open. It creaked ever so slightly, making me flinch, but there was no time to worry about that now.
As I slid into the cramped space, I couldn”t help but think of all the times I”d hidden from my stepbrother, from the pain and the fear. But this was different, this time someone was coming to save me.
I shut the cupboard door behind me, It felt like sealing myself in a tomb, the darkness suffocating and absolute. But it was better than being found, better than facing whatever horrors awaited me outside.
My heart hammered in my chest, each beat a deafening drum as I cowered in the small linen cupboard. The window in my room slid open, and I heard the sickening thump of someone climbing inside. My hand flew to my mouth, muffling the scream that threatened to escape me. The intruder”s footsteps echoed through the house, sending shivers down my spine.
Fuck, I thought, trying to swallow the terror that clawed at my throat. This can”t be happening.
The footsteps grew louder, moving from room to room as if searching for something—or someone. Each step brought them closer to the hall, closer to where I hid, praying they wouldn”t find me. In my fear, I could barely breathe, afraid even the slightest sound would give me away.
Corvus, where the fuck are you? My mind screamed, clinging to the hope that he”d somehow reach me in time.
As the footsteps neared the door, I could also hear the distant roar of a motorcycle tearing down the road outside. Relief surged through me; Corvus was almost here. I kept the phone pressed against my ear, my lifeline to him as he raced to my rescue.
Please, just a few more seconds, I begged silently, willing the universe to grant me this one reprieve.
The bike pulled up out front, its powerful engine a battle cry that filled the night. Just as the footsteps began to retreat, the front door crashed open, the sound both terrifying and exhilarating.
”Tempest!” Corvus bellowed, his voice fierce and protective.
”Corvus!” I screamed from the cupboard, my voice raw with fear and relief. It felt like an eternity before he found me, huddled on the floor amidst a sea of dust bunnies.
”Tempest,” he breathed, his eyes dark with worry as he took in my tear-streaked face. ”It”s okay, princess. The others are on their way.” He reached down and scooped me into his arms, carrying me to the kitchen as if I weighed nothing at all. Carefully, he set me on the counter, sliding between my legs and pulling me close, my trembling body pressed against his solid, reassuring warmth. His scent—leather, smoke, and something undeniably male—wrapped around me like a protective cocoon.
”Fuckin” bastards...” Corvus muttered under his breath, his anger palpable. As if on cue, the rumble of more bikes filled the air, followed by the thunderous sound of boots racing through the front door. Corvus turned his head towards the newcomers, barking out orders with the authority of a man used to being obeyed.
”Hammer, check the house. Trey, the backyard. Nate, find out how they got in and if they left anything behind.”
The men nodded, their expressions grim, and scattered in different directions. My heart pounded in my chest, a staccato rhythm that mirrored my racing thoughts. What if they come back? What if they”re still here, lurking in the shadows?
”House is empty, VP,” Hammer reported, his tone firm but reassuring. I exhaled shakily, grateful for the news despite the lingering fear that gnawed at me.
Next, it was Nate”s turn. ”Window lock”s broken, VP. I suggest nailing it shut until you can get it fixed.”
”Thanks, Nate,” Corvus replied, his grip on me tightening ever so slightly. I could feel the tension coiling in his muscles, a living, breathing thing that threatened to consume us both.
”Looks like they ran out the back,” Trey added as he returned from his search. ”You can see the trail through the overgrown yard. We should get someone out to clear that shit.”
I couldn”t help but shiver as Corvus took a deep breath, the tension in the room so thick it could be cut with a knife. ”Thanks, boys,” he said, his voice gravelly and strained. ”Take stock of what needs to be done and get it fixed tomorrow.”
”Consider it done, VP,” Nate replied, determination lacing his words.
As Hammer approached us, I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the ache in my chest from the fear that still gripped me. ”Don”t worry, Tempest,” he said, his eyes filled with concern. ”The house is empty now. But I have a question: was this place completely devoid of furniture when you bought it?”
I glanced around the bare kitchen, feeling suddenly exposed. ”Yeah,” I answered hesitantly. ”Why?”
”Most houses come with something inside,” Hammer explained, furrowing his brow. ”But this place is completely empty.”
”Is that...unusual?” I asked, shrugging. ”It”s normal in Australia for houses to be sold with nothing in them but a phone book.”
”Alright,” Hammer said, still frowning. ”But there isn”t even one of those here. I”m gonna look into it.”
”Okay,” I whispered, my heart still pounding in my chest as I clung to Corvus. The thought of someone having been in my home, violating my safe space, haunted me. And now, knowing that my house was somehow different from the norm added another layer of unease.
As I sat on the cold kitchen bench, feeling exposed and vulnerable, Corvus”s words cut through my thoughts like a well-aimed dagger. ”When you say empty, do you mean this place doesn”t even have a bed in it?”
I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. ”It”s okay, I have a bedroll,” I mumbled, trying to downplay the situation. But Corvus just shook his head, disbelief and frustration etched across his face.
”Fuck, you”re a stubborn, strong woman,” he muttered, turning to Trey. ”Arrange for the house to be furnished with the basics, please. Use my account.”
I opened my mouth to protest – I didn”t want him paying for my things – but he silenced me with a finger pressed gently against my lips. My heart fluttered involuntarily as his touch sent shivers down my spine.
”Shh,” he murmured, pulling back his finger. He removed his vest and draped it over my shoulders, the weight of it was surprisingly comforting. ”See this? This means you”re mine.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. Somehow, I didn”t mind.
Nate and Hammer walked in, laughing at the sight of me sitting on the kitchen bench in my sleep shorts and oversized T-shirt, swamped by a massive leather vest. I tried to ignore them, focusing instead on the warmth that spread through me from the vest.
”Fuck...” Trey exclaimed when he entered the room, taking in the scene before him. He pulled out his wallet and handed twenty dollars each to Hammer and Nate. Corvus raised a questioning brow at him.
”I bet them you wouldn”t give her your cut,” Trey explained, smirking. Laughter erupted from Corvus, a sound that both reassured and terrified me.
”Say hi to my old lady,” he told Trey, the words sending a thrill through me.