Chapter Six
Hope
Y ESTERDAY WAS THE worst day of my life. I went out with Becker like I said I would and he was worse than Bronx made him sound. When we met at the café, Becker was already there and talking to three other women. Even when I stepped up to his side, he didn’t stop his conversation so I left and ordered my coffee. The plan was to leave him with the other women and head back to the compound. This weekend I’m doing inventory at the store and it will be closed. I want to take a nap so I can go there tonight and work for as long as possible so we’re not closed for more than a day while I inventory the entire place. Raptor is going to show up and help me, but I don’t expect him to be there as long as I am. This was my idea and I’ll take care of it so he can focus on club business while he’s not working. I know they have a run coming up and Raptor will be one of the men leaving on it. No, I wasn’t told about the run. I overheard the guys talking about it being a day run instead of the three days they were anticipating to begin with. It doesn’t take a lot to hear shit when you’re around the clubhouse.
After getting my coffee, Becker caught up with me outside the café and acted as if he wasn’t just surrounded by women, flirting and completely ignoring me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my cousin following us on foot as we started to walk down the street. Becker was a fucking asshole to everyone around us. When I smiled at others we passed, he would tell me how horrible they were or that I shouldn’t lower my standards in order to simply smile at another person. What really pissed me off is when I waved to the guys when they passed by on their bikes. Yeah, they knew where I was and made sure to pass by and make it very known that I was with them. Becker scoffed and told me what a bunch of trash the guys were and how much worse they’re making the city of Pine View. That’s when I lost my shit and unleashed on the stupid fuck.
“Are you serious right now? What did you do to help everyone after the storms? Were you out there cleaning up rubble, saving those who had been injured and buried under piles of buildings that had fallen down?” I question him as Becker looks at me with shock filling his eyes followed quickly by anger.
“I would never help those beneath me, Hope. No one in this city deserves a damn thing from me. I’m making it known to you now before you fall into the same category. However, I think I’m wrong about you considering you obviously know those dirty degenerates on the bikes,” Becker said, his voice full of loathing as King’s steps quickened and I shook my head to hold him off.
“Those men aren’t dirty degenerates as you call them. They’re the best men I’ve ever met in my life and family. That club saves women and kids from horrible situations I’m sure you help them find themselves in. They go out of their way to help anyone in need and have several charity runs a year to ensure no one in their community goes without. When I need them to pick me up or keep me grounded, those men are there without hesitation and they won’t see anything I do as not good enough. I’m perfect the way I am in their eyes. Now, I think this was a mistake and we should just go our separate ways now,” I state, anger lacing my voice as I feel Becker’s hand brush against mine that’s holding my coffee.
“Hope, I didn’t mean to piss you off. But, you have to know that those bikers aren’t the kind of men you should align yourself with. They aren’t your family. They might help you now, but it’s not going to last. Not unless you’re already fucking them. But, I guess that doesn’t come as a surprise for the type of girl you are,” Becker says as I go to take a sip of my coffee only for it to be knocked from my hand and go flying through the air by King.
“Wrong, you stupid fuck. I am one of those bikers and Hope’s family. She’s my cousin. Not only am I in the club, but her dad is the Enforcer for the Mother chapter of the club. My dad, her uncle, is the tech guy. So, yes, those men are her family and nothing you say will ever fuckin’ change that. Those men will give their lives to protect this girl right here. I will give my life for my cousin every fuckin’ second it comes down to that. For you to insinuate that she’s fuckin’ bikers just because isn’t somethin’ I wanna hear again because my cousin isn’t a fuckin’ slut whorin’ her way through a club like the women you associate with. I’ve done a search on you, Becker. You don’t know what the word no means and you have a long list of crimes that Mommy and Daddy have gotten you out of. Now, I just watched you drug my cousin and you think I’m gonna let that shit fuckin’ slide? No, I’m not,” King says as I stare dumbfounded at Becker who has a cruel smile on his face as he stares at me.
“Well, I figured I’d up the odds of me fuckin’ the biker slut,” Becker states, completely fine with the fact that he just drugged my coffee.
I’ve never been drugged a single time in my life. I move to Pine View and within months I’m drugged by a guy I met at fucking work. What the fuck is so wrong with me? Why can’t anyone want me for me and nothing more than that?
Tears fill my eyes as pain like I’ve never felt before consumes me. King wraps me in his arms and glares over my head at Becker.
“If Hope weren’t upset, I’d beat your fuckin’ ass so bad your parents won’t recognize you,” King promises him as Becker starts laughing his ass off.
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. You ain’t got shit on me, biker bitch,” Becker states as I pull away from my cousin and turn to face the fucker who thinks it’s okay to take what women don’t want to give him willingly. Disgust fills me as I take him in from head to toe.
“The men in the club would never resort to drugging a woman to get them to fuck. Women flock to them because they know even if they ride a bike and have an attitude, they’re safe with the men in my life. A few minutes with you, and you try to drug me. Becker, you’re less than nothing and I’m not surprised that no one wants you,” I state as I watch Becker raise his fist while glaring at me.
If he could blow smoke out of his ears like those cartoons, that’s what would be happening right now. Becker is pissed as fuck and he’s going to try to hit me in front of King. In seconds, I’m pushed behind my cousin and watch on as he proceeds to beat the fuck out of Becker in the middle of the sidewalk. A few people stop walking and watch the beat down take place. The women are all smiling and I know Becker has hurt them in one way or another.
“Don’t. Fuckin’. Raise. A. Hand. To. A. Woman,” King grist out as he lands one hit after another while Becker screams like a bitch.
Finally, Jinx and Valor rush up from somewhere and pull King from Becker. King is breathing heavy and his knuckles are split open from hitting Becker so hard. Jinx looks me over and makes sure I’m okay before turning to Becker and crouching down so he’s on the pussy’s level.
“You even think of Hope again and I’ll find you to finish the job. That’s if her dad doesn’t get to you first. When he finds out, Mommy and Daddy won’t be able to save your ass. And they won’t be able to bail you out of this situation. Stay the fuck away from Hope, the club, and any businesses we own,” Jinx tells him, his voice full of repressed rage as Becker glares up at him.
“I’m gonna fucking ruin your little club. You’re nothing in this city. I run it and you will be run out or arrested for the crimes you commit,” Becker threatens, his voice weak as he spits blood onto the sidewalk next to him. “Get the fuck out of Pine View immediately!”
“We’re not goin’ anywhere,” Jinx states, no fear filling his eyes as he continues to glare down at the bitch on the sidewalk. “Pine View is our city now and we actually give a fuck what happens to the people who live here. When we take your ass out, no one will fuckin’ miss you. If anythin’, we’ll have a huge party to celebrate. It’s just a matter of time, Becker. Your parents can’t save you this time. If anythin’, they’ll be goin’ down right along with you.”
Jinx steps back as Becker pushes off the sidewalk and rushes away. Everyone surrounding us starts clapping and laughing as a huge wet stain appears on Becker’s perfectly pressed pants.
“King, get me out of here,” I whisper to my cousin as the entire situation finally hits me.
Tears fill my eyes and my body starts to shake with how close I just came to being assaulted by Becker. I know myself good enough to know I won’t be able to come back from him taking what I don’t want to give him. I’m not strong enough to withstand that kind of assault and move forward with my life afterward.
“We’re leavin’, Hope. Don’t look at anyone here,” King says, holding me close to his body as he starts moving away from the crowd.
It doesn’t take long before Jinx and Valor surround us so no one can get close. With every step we take, my body only feels as if it’s shutting down even more. I can’t hear anything around me and barely feel King’s protective arms holding me. My eyes remain closed as I feel King put me in my car before fastening my seatbelt and closing the door behind me. I don’t have any idea how much time passes before King enters the car and starts the engine after grabbing the keys from me. We don’t talk on the way back to the clubhouse as I sink deeper into my head and try to process what just happened to me. It doesn’t work because all I feel is the fact that I caused this to happen somehow. For some reason, I draw in the guys that want to use me or hurt me in one way or another.
I ’m alone in my room and it’s the middle of the night. King was planning on staying with me, but I need to be alone. I love my cousin, but I can’t handle him watching over me right now. He’s as bad as my dad when something is wrong with one of us girls. King loves us fiercely and will do whatever he feels is necessary to protect us. Faith, Jemma, Paige, and myself are the only girls King will ever go up against everyone for without hesitation. The love he has for his cousins and sisters is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s honestly gotten worse after his accident and I can’t blame him for it one bit. I love my cousin and always want to have the close relationship we do. When it comes down to it, I simply need some time away from him to try and process everything that happened today.
King got me in bed after I changed into a pair of my dad’s old sweatpants and one of King’s shirts. After covering me up and making sure I have everything I could need, he left me alone. I thought I would be able to fall asleep and simply forget about the day. That’s not what happened though. I spent the last several hours staring at my ceiling with my eyes wide open. Every single time I close my eyes, all I can see is Becker and the pure hatred on his face earlier. It only got worse when King dropped the bomb that I am actually family to bikers and it’s not just something I say. Becker is a judgmental prick who doesn’t know the first thing about being a decent human being.
A soft knock sounds on my door and I let my eyes fall to the only thing keeping the rest of the world away from me. After King left, no one came to check on me. He must have told them that I don’t want to see anyone right now and that I’ll come out when I’m ready to face the club. Now, someone doesn’t care.
“Baby Girl, it’s your Mom and me. Open the door, Hope. Let us come in and be with you,” my dad calls through the door as more tears fill my eyes and spill over.
Jumping out of bed as fast as I can, I race to the door and unlock it to pull open. The sight of my dad breaks me even more and he quickly pulls me into his arms while my mom steps up closer to us and rubs her hand up and down my back. I don’t feel my dad moving us in the room and closing the door behind him or being led over to my bed. My dad carefully puts me back in bed after my mom pulls the blankets back. Together, they cover me back up after my mom slides in next to me and pulls me into her arms. They let me sob as my dad pulls up a chair and takes one of my hands in his.
“What happened, Baby Girl?” he finally asks me as they hold me between them and offer me all the comfort I need.
“I found out that Jinx was telling the guys in the city that I’m off limits and they can’t date me. Including Bronx who I work with at the parts store. That’s where I met Becker. He came in for some parts and asked me out. I said yes even though I got a horrible feeling about him. I just wanted someone to be with me that didn’t know about the club or my past. Not that I have a horrible past or anything. Today was our date. When I showed up to the café, Becker was surrounded by women and didn’t leave them when I entered. If anything, he talked to them even longer. I planned on getting my coffee and leaving him to them.
“As I was walking out of the café, Becker caught back up to me and we started walking together. He’s such an ass. Talking so much shit about the people of this city. It got worse when some of the guys rode by on their bikes. Thankfully, King was following us. He saw Becker drug my coffee and came up to hit it out of my hands when I went to take a sip. King went off on Becker and was gonna beat his ass, but wanted to get me out of there. It wasn’t until Becker was going to punch me that King lost his shit and beat the shit out of him. Jinx and Valor had to pull him off. Jinx said some stuff to him and then he left. King got me back here and all I’ve been doing for hours now is wondering what’s wrong with me. Why would someone want to drug me to get what they want instead of dating me until I was ready for sex? Am I really that horrible that no one will ever want to be with me for me? Am I destined to be alone for the rest of my life?” I cry, tears falling so fast my pillow is soaked.
My mom wraps her arms tighter around me and I feel the strength of my dad’s hand holding mine. He’s trying to hold back, but I can see the rage covering his face through my blurry eyes.
“I don’t ever wanna hear you say that shit again, Hope. You’re an amazin’ young woman who is beautiful inside and out. This Becker asshole took advantage of your lovin’ heart and tried to hurt you in one of the worst ways possible. That has nothin’ to do with the woman you are at all. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to protect you from this, Baby Girl. Just know that you are more than good enough for the men of this world. If anythin’, you’re too fuckin’ good for them. They don’t deserve to breathe the same air as you. Becker just proved that point today with the bitch move he tried to pull on you. There is a man in this world who wants you for you, Hope. He’s workin’ some shit out, but I have no doubt in my mind that he’s about to step up and make sure he claims you as his. You two have a lot to work out and I have no doubt that you will,” my dad says, trying to keep his voice gentle as he talks to me while never taking his eyes away from mine.
“I just want to be loved, Dad. Is that honestly too much to ask?” I question him, not sure if he’s going to answer me.
“No, it’s not too much to ask for, Hope. Your dad is right. There’s a guy closer than you think who will give you all the love you want and need. He’ll make all of your dreams come true without you having to ask him for anything. This guy knows you better than you know yourself and will give you the world while burning it down to get to you if you’re in trouble. He’ll give you the family you’ve always dreamed of and you won’t ever have to guard your heart with him. Let him in to love you the way you want to be loved, Sweet Girl,” my mom says as she buries her face in my back while thinking of my dad and the relationship they have. It’s the kind of relationship Faith and I have always dreamed of having.
For a while, my mom and dad talk to me and try to make me believe that this shit with Becker wasn’t my fault. Neither one of them leave my side and they hold me as I finally start to drift off to sleep as the sun starts to fill the sky. Knowing my parents are here to chase away the demons trying to get to me, I sleep peacefully and don’t have a single nightmare about Becker and what could have happened if King wasn’t there to save me.