Chapter 23
Tempest Miller
The heat of the sun pierced through the thick clouds as I slung a leg over the bike, feeling the thrum of its engine beneath me. I removed my helmet, relishing the cool breeze on my face, and handed it to Corvus. Leaning in for a gentle kiss, I murmured, ”I”ll see you later.”
”Later, babe,” he replied, his voice low and intoxicating.
I turned and walked towards the front door of the bar, the sound of gravel crunching under my boots barely audible over the distant roar of other bikes. Killer held the door open for me with a broad grin plastered across his rugged face.
”Morning, Tempest,” he said, his voice a growl. He winked at me, and I couldn”t help but smile back.
”Morning, Killer,” I responded, my voice betraying a hint of amusement. I sauntered past him, the scent of stale beer and cigarette smoke enveloping me as I made my way behind the bar.
The clink of coins pulled me towards the bar as I spotted Amanda already at the till, counting. She looked up and flashed me a bright smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
”Good morning!” I greeted her.
”Morning, sugar! No VP?” she asked, tying an apron around her waist as she gestured towards the door I”d just walked through.
”Nah, he has work. Said he”ll be back when I sing.” I replied, trying to keep my voice light even though the thought of him watching me perform made my pussy wet.
Amanda laughed, the sound warm and genuine. ”I don”t think he”ll ever miss your singing, sugar,” she said, her eyes dancing with amusement.
I grinned back at her and grabbed the cleaning spray and a rag, the scent of lemon and bleach already burning my nostrils. As I scrubbed the bar, the grime came away easily under my steady hand. The bottles lining the shelves sparkled as I wiped them down, their surfaces reflecting the dim light from above.
”Damn, girl,” Amanda said, watching me work. ”This bar ain”t never looked so clean since you came along. When the new girls take over the back bar, I”ll get you to train them up.”
”New girls?” I asked, raising an eyebrow while continuing my task.
”Yup,” Amanda laughed, her voice light and carefree. ”Corvus gave ”em their two weeks” notice. They”re bein” replaced and banned from the clubhouse too.”
My frown deepened at the news, curiosity getting the better of me. ”Why?”
”Those bitches were well overdue to go,” Amanda said, shaking her head. ”Corvus just kept ”em on ”cause of Lisa havin” a kid with Trey.”
”Wait, Trey has a kid?” I asked, pausing my cleaning to look at Amanda. Her laughter rang through the bar, echoing off the walls like a mockingbird.
”Damn, Tempest, do you not pay attention around here?” She wiped a tear from her eye as she continued, ”Trey”s got a one-year-old boy with Lisa. Now that she”s gone, his mom takes care of the little guy most of the time while he”s working. He used to hang around the clubhouse a lot, but since Lisa”s been out of the picture, he”s been staying at home more, being a full-time dad.” She blushed slightly, glancing away for a moment.
”Hey now,” I said, narrowing my eyes as I caught her blush. ”What”s that look for? You got a thing for Trey?”
”Um, I might...” Amanda stuttered, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red.
I set down my rag and walked over to her, leaning against the bar. ”Ohhh, you gotta tell him! Why haven”t you told him yet?” I prodded, genuinely curious.
”Because I”m scared, okay?” She confessed, wringing her hands together. ”He isn”t the type to choose an old lady, and I don”t want to be just another notch on his bedpost.”
I leaned in closer to Amanda, my curiosity piqued. ”So what actually goes on in the clubhouse? Do all the girls sleep with every guy?”
Amanda laughed, her eyes glinting mischievously. ”Yes and no, sugar. You can work for the club and not touch the men if you don”t want to. But a lot of the club whores do. They love the attention and dream of becoming an old lady. Honestly, though, maybe one out of a hundred girls ever reach that status.”
”Shit, those odds suck,” I muttered, ”But what about you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. ”Do you ever mess around with the guys in there?”
Amanda”s laughter grew louder, practically echoing through the dimly lit bar. ”Hell no! My old man”s part of the Devil”s Cut. I”ve been around these guys my whole life. We live in the clubhouse, so I see the shit that goes down, but I stay in my room when things get wild. And truth be told, I”ve had a thing for Trey since we were kids. We grew up together, y”know? But he”s... well, he”s the typical biker type. Just fucks anything with two legs and works his ass off.”
”Damn,” I mused, ”That”s rough. But hey, maybe one day he”ll realize what he”s missing out on, huh?”
”Maybe,” Amanda sighed. ”But for now, I”ll just stick to watching from a safe distance.”
”Suit yourself,” I shrugged, turning back to the bottles and glasses I”d been cleaning.
”Alright, we”re open girls!” Killer announced, swinging the front door wide with a flourish. The daylight streamed in, slicing through the dim haze inside the bar like a knife.
”Morning, Tempest,” one of the regulars greeted me with a nod, taking his usual seat at the far end of the bar. I tossed him a casual salute and grabbed a beer from the fridge, sliding it down the counter to him with practised ease.
”Thanks, doll,” he said, popping the cap off and taking a deep swig. His eyes flicked over to Amanda, then back to me. ”So, when”s your next performance? Don”t think I”ve ever seen Corvus miss one of those.”
———————————————————————————
The smoky haze in the room seemed to part as Corvus sauntered through the door at 4:30 sharp, a devilish smirk playing on his lips. I couldn”t help but wonder if his meeting had gone well – he looked like he was in a dangerously good mood.
He made his way over to the bar, slipped behind it, and also behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle, his breath brushed against my ear as he whispered,“You”re up soon, Princess”.”
”Alright, VP,” I replied, leaning back into his strong embrace. The scent of leather and gasoline mingled with the faintest hint of whiskey, comforting and intoxicating all at once.
”No more ”VP.” I like my name on your lips,” he said, his voice low and rough.
”Whatever you say, Corvus,” I murmured, feeling the heat of his body against mine as he pulled away and took his seat at the front of the stage. I couldn”t help but watch him as he settled in, his presence commanding the room even in repose.
Amanda glided across the dimly lit room, her hips swaying as she carried Corvus”s whiskey over to him. I watched her for a moment, admiring her confidence and grace. She returned to the bar and leaned in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ”You know you could take him the whiskey too? The men would part for you; you”re his old lady now. No one”s gonna touch you. You don”t need to be scared of walking over to him.”
I smirked, wiping down the counter as my thoughts raced. ”Oh, I know. I ain”t scared of the men touching me in here anymore.” A wicked grin spread across my face as I continued, ”I like making him sit there and sweat on me singing.”
Amanda threw her head back, laughing loudly. ”Oh, girl! You know how to fish!” We both laughed, our voices blending together in the smoky haze of the bar.
Amanda elbowed me, her eyes flicking to the clock that read 4:55 PM. ”You”re up, Tempest,” she said, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
”Guess it”s showtime,” I muttered, making my way to the sink and washing my hands with cold water. The apron I had been wearing came off, and I hung it up on a nearby hook. My pulse quickened as I walked towards the stage, feeling the weight of Corvus” gaze on me, like a predator stalking its prey.
The moment I reached the stage, I grabbed the mic and scanned the crowd, their faces a blur of anticipation and lust. They wanted a performance, and that”s exactly what I was going to give them. I chose ”Under the Milky Way” by Peter Raeburn, not bothering to change the way it was sung – it was perfect just the way it was.
Let”s see if they like this, I thought to myself, smirking as the opening notes filled the air. As the music swelled, I felt an electric charge run through my veins, empowering me to seize control of the room.
”Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty, sound of their breath fades with the light,” I sang, my voice sultry and haunting, weaving a spell over the audience.
I could feel Corvus” stare burning into me as I continued, each note dripping with raw emotion.
”Under the Milky Way tonight,” I sang, my voice soaring as I reached the climax of the song. The last note clung to the air like a desperate plea, still echoing in my ears as I opened my eyes. My gaze was inexplicably drawn to the door as if pulled by some dark force. That”s when I saw him – my stepbrother, his twisted face filled with hate and malice, staring at me from just outside the doorway.
”Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, feeling my body tense up, locking in place. The sudden rush of fear made my knees weak, threatening to send me crashing to the floor. The world around me became distorted, sounds garbled and muffled like I was submerged underwater.
”Tempest!” Corvus” voice broke through the haze, his face suddenly in front of mine. ”What is it?”
“He’s here,” I stammered, trying to regain control over my rapidly spiralling thoughts. ”My brother.”
“Your fucking brother?” Corvus” eyes flashed with confusion. Without another word, he lifted me into his arms, cradling me against his chest like I was his most precious possession. He carried me to his office, kicking the door open with his foot.
”Princess, you gotta tell me what”s goin” on. What happened? Who is your brother?” Corvus demanded as he sat down in his chair, still holding me in his lap. The urgency in his voice made it clear he would do anything to keep me safe.
I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. ”My stepbrother... he”s the reason I had to run away. He”s... dangerous, Corvus. More than you can imagine.”
”Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. His grip around me tightened as if he could shield me from the world by just holding me close. ”What did he do to you?”
Closing my eyes, I tried to shut out the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. ”Every scar on my body, every nightmare that keeps me awake at night – they”re all because of him.”
”Jesus fuckin” Christ,” Corvus growled, his anger simmering beneath the surface. ”You should”ve told me sooner, princess. I”ll make sure he never lays a finger on you again.”
”Corvus, I don’t want to drag you into this mess,” I admitted, feeling the guilt creep in.
”Hey, look at me,” he commanded, tilting my chin up so our eyes met. ”You”re mine, okay? You”re family now. And we protect our own.” The rage in Corvus” eyes burned like an inferno, igniting a fire within me that I thought had long been extinguished. I felt the weight of my past crashing down on me, but with him by my side, maybe I could finally face it head-on.
”Corvus,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I said, ”he is the reason I ran. But he”s found me. I think I always knew he would find me.”
”Where was he?” he asked, his jaw clenched tight.
”Front door,” I replied, my voice shaking. ”Just outside it. I saw him when I looked up after singing.”
”Alright.” He took a deep breath, trying to keep his rage in check. ”We”re gonna find this motherfucker and make sure he can”t hurt you again.”
The laptop”s screen flickered to life, casting an eerie glow on Corvus”s face as he leaned forward, his fingers flying over the keyboard. I held my breath, feeling a cold sweat break out across my skin.
”Fuck,” Corvus muttered under his breath, pulling up the cameras that pointed at the door. The man”s face was hidden by the door frame and the angle of the camera, frustratingly out of sight. Corvus slammed his fist on the desk and swore again, switching to another feed.
”Outside camera,” he growled, eyes narrowing as the image shifted. There he was, my stepbrother, looking down the whole time. He walked up to the entrance, peered inside for just a moment, and then took off like a bat outta hell.
”Son of a bitch,” Corvus cursed, clenching his jaw so tight I could see the muscles in his cheeks tense up. ”Princess, listen,” he said, turning to me with a fire in his eyes that sent shivers down my spine. ”We”re going home, and you”re gonna explain it all to me. I need to know what the fuck we”re dealin” with here.”
”Alright,” I agreed, reluctantly. In my gut, I knew there was no escaping my past. It had caught up to me and now threatened everything I held dear.
———————————————————————————
I sat on the couch, my heart pounding in my chest. Corvus crouched in front of me, his dark eyes searching mine as he held my trembling hand. ”Okay, Princess, you gotta tell me everything,” he said again, his voice firm but gentle.
”Alright,” I whispered, taking a deep breath to steady myself. It wasn”t easy, opening up like this, but Corvus had insisted. He needed to know my past, the demons that haunted me, if he was going to help keep me safe. And fuck, did I need someone like him to have my back.
After I”d agreed to tell him, Corvus had thrown me on the back of his bike and taken off for home, the wind whipping through my hair as we sped away from the bar. Now we sat, hand in hand, waiting for me to spill my darkest secrets.
”Where do you want me to start?” I asked, my voice shaky.
”From the beginning,” he replied, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. ”Take your time, but don”t leave anything out.”
I swallowed hard, ”Alright, Corvus, here goes nothing,” I said, taking a deep breath and letting the memories flood back. ”When I was little, my father died, leaving me a trust fund for when I turned 18. My mom didn”t have a lot of money, so we struggled to keep a roof over our heads until I was 13.” My voice cracked as I remembered those tough years, but I pushed through, not wanting to hold anything back.
”Then she met Steve, and he took us in. They got married, and for once, it seemed like things were looking up. Mom was finally happy, and she didn”t have to work three jobs anymore.”
”Sounds like a fuckin” fairy tale,” Corvus muttered, his grip on my hand tightening.
”Yeah, well, that”s where the story takes a dark turn,” I replied bitterly. ”Steve”s son Greg was 19 at the time, and I had just turned 14 when we moved in with them. The second we did, the abuse started.”
”Jesus, Tempest,” Corvus growled, anger flaring in his eyes.
”Greg would sneak into my room at night and touch me,” I whispered the shame from those memories still fresh in my mind. ”He told me if I ever said anything, he”d make sure my mom didn”t believe me, and that if she did, we”d be kicked out of the house. So I kept quiet because, despite everything, my mom was the happiest I”d ever seen her.”
”Fuckin” bastard,” Corvus spat, his fists clenching.
”Part of me hoped it would stop, but it never did,” I continued, my voice shaking. ”I felt so powerless, Corvus. I couldn”t protect myself, and I couldn”t protect my mom.”
”Tempest, that wasn”t your fuckin” job,” Corvus insisted, his voice softening. ”You were a kid. None of this shit was your fault.”
”Corvus, it got worse after their deaths,” I said, my voice barely audible as memories flooded back. The pain, the humiliation - it all came rushing back like a tidal wave.
”Fuck, Tempest. What happened?” he asked, his eyes filled with concern.
”Steve and my mom... they died in a car accident when I was sixteen, leaving Greg as my guardian. That”s when the real nightmare began,” I whispered, feeling nauseous just thinking about it.
”Jesus, Princess,” Corvus said letting out a deep breath.
”Greg had total control over me then,” I continued, tears streaming down my face. ”He”d chain me up for days, denying me food if I didn”t comply with him. He even pimped me out to his friends for money, and brought men in from off the streets to fuck me, just to line his pockets with cash.”
”Jesus fucking Christ,” Corvus spat, rage contorting his features. ”I swear, I”m gonna kill that sick bastard.”
”Listen, Corvus, I did what I had to do to survive,” I told him, my voice steadier now. ”The second I turned eighteen, I transferred the trust fund money to a friend”s account and escaped to America.”
”Smart move, Princess,” he said, admiration creeping into his voice.
”Once I landed in LA, I met some street kids who connected me with a guy who could get me a fake passport and birth certificate,” I went on, recalling the desperation that drove me to such lengths. ”That”s how I ended up with the car, too.”
”Fuck, Tempest...,” Corvus said, looking at me with new eyes.
I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. ”My real name isn”t Tempest Miller... it”s Louise Franklin,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper as I hung my head in shame.
”Louise?” Corvus breathed out, his eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, there was silence between us, heavy and suffocating.
Then, with a sudden intensity, Corvus”s large calloused hands wrapped around my cheeks, lifting my face until I couldn”t avoid his piercing gaze. ”Princess,” he growled, his voice dark and dangerous, ”I”m going to kill him. Are you okay with that?”
A single tear rolled down my cheek, but I didn”t hesitate to answer. ”Yes,” I whispered, knowing that the monster who had tormented me for so long deserved nothing less.
”Good,” Corvus said, his eyes blazing with a feral fury. ”You”ve suffered enough, Louise.”
The room seemed to close in on me as Corvus”s words wrapped themselves around my heart like a vice. ”You”re the most important thing to me in the whole world. I won”t allow another man near you. What you”ve gone through is possibly the worst thing I could”ve imagined, and I don”t understand how you”re still a functioning human.”
I looked down at our intertwined fingers, his large, calloused hand swallowing my own. The reality of everything I”d just confessed to him was sinking in, and so was the realisation that he wouldn”t be running for the hills. He was choosing to stay, to protect me.
”Y”know, you”re the strongest woman I”ve ever met,” he continued, his voice gruff but sincere. ”I had guessed a while ago that your name wasn”t your real one. Sometimes you don”t answer to it, like the name doesn”t register. And you gave me your social security number when I hired you but admitted to being Australian. You”re not very good at lying.”
I couldn”t help but laugh, even if it sounded more like a choked sob. ”Why did you hire me then?”
He laughed too, the sound surprisingly warm. ”I run an illegal business, sweetheart. Your reasons for lying were your own, and the moment I laid eyes on you, I was a goner.” A smirk played at the corners of his lips, making my heart race despite the gravity of our conversation. ”It”s all going to be okay, Princess. I”m gonna put him six feet under, and you”re going to sleep nightmare-free for the rest of your life, alright?”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fought them back, determined to hold onto whatever strength I had left. ”You really mean that, don”t you?”
”Fuck yeah, I do,” he replied, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. ”You”re not alone anymore, Louise. You”ve got me, and I”m gonna make sure you never have to suffer like that again.”
I stared deep into Corvus” dark eyes, his gaze never wavered, and I knew he meant every word he said. ”Okay,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.