Chapter 9
My heart broke for Connor. Rosa and Warren told me a bit about what happened, but I could see it for myself now. He wasn’t the same, he got confused and his eyes often went distant, even after cracking his usual jokes. He’d clung to me so tight when he first arrived at the house.
I’d held in my tears, but he could tell, giving me a sad smile and whispering, “I’m still here, Curtsey,” using my old nickname.
I’d missed him so much. He’d done nothing to hurt me. Now he wasn’t the same person, and I’d lost so much time with him. I told myself not to think of it that way. He was still here and even though I could see he was troubled, he was trying hard to keep me smiling.
Even after Hudson gave him some kind of signal and Connor quietened a little, lost in some memory, he still held my hand.
“So I’m gonna be hanging around a few days. We have a patching in coming up so we can spend some time together. Would that be okay?”
“Of course,” I squeezed his hand. “I’m on lockdown, so I’m going to be bored out of my mind,” I told him with an eye roll. “I can’t think of anyone better to keep me sane.”
“Ha, the guy with the brain injury keeping someone else sane. There’s gotta be a tragic comedy in there somewhere.”
I ran a hand through my hair, thinking about his words. “Do you do that often, Con?”
“What?” He asked, but I could tell he knew what I meant.
“I know I’ve been… gone, but you can talk to me. You don’t need to put yourself down.”
His mouth flattened. I’d always been able to talk to him, but he looked on the verge of lashing out. Had I pushed him too hard?
I hated not knowing what to expect or understand what was wrong with him. Before I could worry any further, he burst out laughing, startling me.
“Humor was always my thing, Curtsey,” he reminded me. “People are uncomfortable because they think it’s the only way I can deal. You’ve known me since you were a kid. When have I not got a kick out of seeing people laugh?”
“I know, but-”
“No buts,” he said with a smile more grimace than anything, not like the easy Connor smile I knew growing up. “I’m fine. This is the new me,” he held his arms out wide then looked around. “I’d offer to take you on my bike for a spin around, but they took my keys away.”
He was flitting all over the place, and I tried to keep a smile on my face.
“Well, join the club. They wouldn’t even let me have any keys.”
“That’s because bitches only ride at our backs.”
“That right?” I folded my arms and glared at him.
“Well, unless they’re called Waverley Curtis and steal the keys,” he grinned.
I’d have to ask Warren for more information on his brain injury. I wanted to understand what the right way to handle this was. I didn’t want to hurt Connor by saying the wrong thing.
“You two ready for some food?” Rosa popped her head out of the front door.
“I can always eat,” Connor got up, rubbing his belly. “And I can think of no better place to do it.”
He hooked his arm around my neck and pulled me towards the house. I saw how Rosa looked at him when his back was turned, a flash of pain in her eyes, but she wiped it away when Connor reached out and pretend punched her arm.
“Connor Westlake, you better not be starting anything with me,” she admonished him.
“Never,” he held his hand up. “You’d kick my ass.”
“Damn straight. Get inside before I rescind that invite.”
Connor let me go and walked inside ahead of me. He would normally let me and Rosa go first. It was small, but it was another thing taken from him.
“He’s good,” Rosa told me. “Warren and Hudson look out for him.”
I nodded and followed them inside. My phone rang as we were heading for the kitchen. Declan. I told Rosa I’d be through as quickly as I could and stepped into the living room, which thankfully was empty.
Honestly, I was feeling overwhelmed right now and speaking to Declan would help.
“Sorry,” I answered. “I’ve been so bad about calling you.”
“No problem, gorgeous. How is your aunt?”
My stomach clenched, and I dropped onto the chair by the window, looking out over the front garden. “She’s doing okay,” I lied, childishly crossing my fingers.
“That’s good. Do you know when you can get back?”
“Not yet, but hopefully it won’t be long.”
“Miss you,” he said.
“I miss you too.”
“I’ve got good news.”
I leaned back and tossed my legs over the arm of the chair. “Yeah?”
“Red Alert has been offered some dates for a club tour. It’s not the big time, but they’ll be headline act at a few clubs.”
“Wow, that’s amazing, Dec.”
“I know,” he said with an excited laugh. “Just seven shows, but a couple are over in Georgia and Virginia. It’s a mini multi-state tour.”
“The band must be thrilled,” I said, happy for them. “When does it start?”
“At the weekend, it’s two weeks, so I’ll be occupied if you have to stay with your aunt longer.”
“True.”
“Although I would rather you were here.”
“But you wouldn’t be,” I point out.
“It would have been awesome for you to come with though.”
“I couldn’t even if wanted to,” I huffed out.
“The bar is doing fine. You could have come.”
I didn’t enjoy hearing that about the bar, which was stupid. I wanted nothing to go wrong there, but I also didn’t want it to be proven I wasn’t needed.
“So I’m home right now. I just got out of the shower. What are you wearing?”
“Nothing sexy,” I snorted.
“Wrong answer. Besides, you make anything sexy.”
I bit my lip, imagining him getting out of the shower. Declan wasn’t all bulging muscles and hard lines, but he was lean and tight, and he was well endowed.
“Well, considering we’re just about to have dinner, my crotchless panties need to stay in my bag for a little while longer.”
“Really?” I could almost hear his eyebrows rising. “I could do a video call,” he suggested. “I wanna see you.”
Now I’m staying in this house. It wouldn’t be as awkward for that kind of call. I was in a room away from the other girls, so there wasn’t much chance people would overhear, although the thought of getting back at Hudson gave me pause.
“What about later on tonight?”
“The guys are playing a club tonight, but I’ll text you when we’re done.”
We chatted a little while longer. He spoke about how his boss was letting him run with this alone, which was pretty big, given he’d only been an assistant manager until this point.
I tried not to talk too much about what was going on here.
I hated lying to him and didn’t want to get any deeper than I already was.
“So, do you really have crotchless underwear?” he asked.
I laughed. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”
He cursed, but he was laughing too as we said our goodbyes. Through the window, I saw a group of women heading for the clubhouse. It was early, but I knew they liked to be on hand for whenever a brother felt like a woman.
It was disgusting. I wasn’t sure if between them there was enough fabric to cover two women, let alone the five of them. They tottered along on their heels with their hair and make-up done. I noticed Tanya wasn’t with them.
As I watched, my brother and Hudson came out of the clubhouse and headed for the bikes lined up outside. Two women broke off to get their attention. One of them got a kiss out of my brother before he laughed, slapped her ass, and sent her on her way. I tried not to vomit in my mouth.
Hudson ignored them and climbed on his bike, starting it up without waiting for Warren.
I could hear the women laughing as they headed up the steps and disappeared inside, mixed in with the roar of the bikes. I watched until they disappeared, and the gates closed behind them. Warren was as much at risk as I was.
I’d been here for two days, and I was already getting antsy.
I couldn’t remain locked up inside this place for weeks.
King was going to have to loosen the leash a little.
I’d even compromise and have a guard. I’d broach that in a couple of days.
I could get Rosa on my side first. She had a way of convincing people she was right.
Declan had given me a reprieve of another week with this tour, even though I would have loved to tag along. As of now, that didn’t matter. I was at the mercy of a motorcycle club, and I wouldn’t be running away in the dead of night this time.
I fell asleep waiting for Declan. When I woke up, I had a missed call and a slew of texts, apologizing and it was obvious he was drunk. I would have been pissed if I wasn’t so tired. I’d sat up with Connor, talking and watching movies, until Warren and Hudson got back after midnight.
My brother had come over to get him, and Connor hadn’t seemed too concerned about needing a chaperone. I hadn’t been in the mood for sexy times, so it wasn’t that much of a hardship to miss his call.
I’d asked Warren where he’d been and if dad said anything more, but he brushed me off with excuses about getting Connor back, saying he’d had a long day and needed rest.
I went for an early morning run around the compound. I didn’t get too close to the Shed, but I could see it through the trees as I ran past. It was quiet, so I presumed it was empty. But I didn’t loiter, I’d only get into trouble if I did that.
We’d learned that the hard way when we were teenagers and had snuck up on Ballistic. I was a girl so got away without the beating Ballistic gave the others. I had my phone taken from me for a week and wasn’t allowed to go anywhere except school. Didn’t mean I did not know what went on in there.
I shuddered and ran back towards the club house. I slowed to a walk, getting my breath back. Even here, in the middle of hell on earth, I had to admit it was nice to be running outdoors.
There was a lot of land and nature around the compound, and I’d seen the houses Warren told me about yesterday. It looked like there were going to be many people living on site when they were done.