Chapter 5 – Betsy
CHAPTER FIVE
BETSY
Bernie didn’t ask why I came running through the door like my ass was on fire. She simply looked up from whatever book she was reading, gave me an assessing look, then went back to reading her book. At that moment, I was thankful, because I’m not sure what I would say if she asked me.
Oh, why am I running, Bernie? Well, I just kissed my asshole neighbour, you know, the one that’s been making my life hell.
Then I ran. I ran faster than a lactose-intolerant person needing the bathroom after eating a spoonful of ice cream.
I grimace at my thoughts and move upstairs before shutting myself in the bathroom.
Standing in front of the sink, I chuck my glasses off to the side as I run the cold tap, letting the cold liquid fill my palms before splashing it over my face.
I gasp, and the freshness bites my skin.
Panting, I look at my reflection in the mirror.
My cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are wide.
I close my eyes and try to calm my drumming heart, feeling like such a fucking fool.
There is Eden and Mor; confident, freely having sex with the lap dogs, while I’m here having fucking palpitations over a kiss.
A basic kiss at that, with no tongues and no touching.
What the hell would I be like with the rest? ! I would probably pass out.
Loud pounding on my door makes me jump. “Betsy, it’s us. Open up,” Eden’s voice demands through the wooden door. I walk to the door and open it, knowing that I am about to receive a full interrogation.
I swing the door open and stare at them both, their eyes full of concern. They each give me a look over, making sure I’m not physically hurt. “I’m fine,” I mutter. I squint my eyes and reach out to Mor’s hair, pulling out a large twig. I hold it in front of her and raise my brow in question.
She snorts out a laugh. “Nyx didn’t make it to the party. I met him out front, and well, we went for a walk.” She shrugs.
I roll my eyes and grab my glasses off the side before pushing past them both into my room. Opening my wardrobe, I pull out one of my hoodies and put it on, knowing that Mor and Eden will be sitting behind me on my bed, waiting for my full story.
I sigh and turn around. “I will tell you everything, under one condition. You are not allowed to make a comment or say anything until I’ve finished.
Deal?” I ask, turning to face them. They both nod, so I proceed to tell them.
When I finish, I stand there and wait. They exchange a look, and I can tell Eden is about to explode.
“Eden,” I say, gesturing for her to talk first.
“Okay, I’m so confused. Like, I want to go over there and punch him right in the dick, but at the same time, I’m thinking of that school playground bullshit, like he likes you, and he’s just pulling your pigtails.” She shrugs.
“Eden, he left a rotting animal corpse in her fucking house, not to mention the whole letting her nearly drown in the pool and all the loud music. Plus, him just being a cunt,” Mor counters.
“Shit in my letterbox, endless takeaways sent to my house,” I state, walking over to the bin in the corner of my room and pulling out the recent post. “Not to mention, they get mail for adult nappies delivered here,” I state, dropping the pamphlet on my bed.
“Nun monthly magazine,” I snap, chucking it down.
“Gimps R’ Us subscription.” I hold up the magazine, displaying a person posing in the latest gimp suit.
“And monster cocks, for lovers of all cockerel breeds,” I add, holding up a magazine with a colourful cockerel on the cover.
Mor is covering her face, trying not to laugh. I glare at her. “I’m sorry, they are dickheads, but fuck, what does your mailman think?” She giggles.
“Oh, you mean my mailman, Frank? Well, he’s more than fine with it.
Gave me his number and told me of a club he goes to where people like us can be who we are without being judged!
” I snap. That has Eden and Mor falling on their backs, roaring with laughter.
“It’s not funny!” I protest, even though I’m fighting my own smile.
Eden stops laughing and sits up, wiping away her tears of laughter. “Look, there is no denying he is an asshole. I mean, Nyx wouldn’t have kicked his ass if he wasn’t.” She pauses, as if trying to decide how to word her next sentence.
“You’re worried about me and how I handle it,” I state, saying what is so obviously written on her face.
She nods. “Yeah. Not that we don’t think you can’t handle yourself,” she adds.
I groan and flop down face first on my bed between them. “Murnfplosni, fiodsdn it,” I mumble into the bedding.
Mor grabs my head and lifts it up. “Yeah, we are going to need to hear actual words from your mouth to understand you,” she points out, letting go of my head.
I just let it drop back down before rolling over onto my back. Adjusting my glasses, I stare up at the ceiling. “I...” I pause. “I have no idea what to do or what is going on,” I say truthfully.
Mor and Eden shift so they can lie down on either side of me, both of them clasping each of my hands in theirs. “Want to come crash at the Sanctuary?” Eden suggests.
I shake my head back and forth. “No. Like I said, I don’t want to run. Just the kiss threw me off. I now understand how Bella feels in Twilight,” I sigh. “I’m getting whiplash.” I scoff.
Mor gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “If it makes you feel better, Nyx made me feel like I’d been in a tornado with the number of twists and fucking turns our relationship took.”
“Alright Dorothy, we get it. You’re in love,” Eden quips.
We all laugh at her comment until we lie there in silence, the only sound coming from next door’s party. “Why are you calling kitchen?” I ask, breaking the silence.
Mor lets out a long and slow breath. “Not only do we need to induct the new members, but we received something in the mail,” she states.
Eden and I both turn our heads in her direction. “What was it? We never get mail,” Eden presses.
“A threat. Someone knows who we are, what we are, and is threatening to take us down,” Mor states.
“Pfft, so what? Give me the mail, and I will find the person that sent it, and then we can deal with them,” I suggest.
Mor swallows. “No, they know about me. They know I killed him. They sent a picture,” she states.
“Killed who, Mor? You’re going to have to be a little more specific,” Eden pushes.
“Dan, my mother’s—” She pauses, not finishing the sentence.
“Oh,” I breathe.
“Maybe Bernie knows who it could be. I mean, she would be able to know who all the old members are and if they have any family or bitter feuds,” Eden suggests, leaning up on her elbow.
“She doesn’t. Everyone, apart from Bernie, is dead. Only Mom had me. None of the other women had kids. Or if they did, it was before they came to the Sanctuary.” Mor shrugs.
“What if it’s to do with Henry Sparks? I’m sure we pissed off a lot of people taking him and the others down. Hell, even his investors must be pissed,” I point out, nibbling on my bottom lip.
“It’s the photo. No one would have had that photo. It’s someone that knows the history of this club and everything that goes on in it,” Mor counters.
I squeeze her hand back in reassurance. “We will figure it out. We always do.”
We lay there in silence, all of us wondering who this person is and if the threat is a real danger to the club.
“So, am I to run back over there and steal their cable again or what?” Bernie asks from the doorway. I grin and look to Mor and Eden.
“Nah, come join us on the bed, Bernie. We are having a bonding moment,” I state, patting the small space by my feet.
“Thanks, but I ain’t a cat about to curl up at your fucking feet.” She tuts and walks over to my window seat, sits down and looks out of my window across to the frat house. “I reckon I could shoot one of them from here, you know,” Bernie says casually.
“Bernie, you are supposed to be the voice of reason to keep us, and when I say ‘us’, I of course mean Mor, in check,” Eden jokes.
Mor clips Eden on the top of her head, making her laugh.
We fell asleep like that, the three of us huddled in bed together, and when we woke up, Bernie had covered us with a blanket.
Once showered and dressed, we make our way to our bikes in the garage.
Bernie is on her trike, and her loud chugging exhaust echoes all around us as we roll out onto the drive.
I press the button to close the door once we are all out.
Our engines rumble loudly as we sit idle for a moment.
Mor gives me a nod to look to the side of me, and I turn, seeing Archer standing there shirtless in his grey sweats, sipping coffee on his front porch. His hair is dishevelled with sleep.
“Ready?” Mor asks through the speaker in our helmets. “Or do you want to rev your engine a little more to make sure everyone wakes the fuck up?” She laughs.
I grin. “Rev it the fuck up!” I yell through my mic.
“Yes! She’s a badass bitch!” Eden laughs.
I throw my head back and laugh as we all continuously pull down on our throttles and rev our bikes.
“Ready, ladies? Let’s fucking ride!” Mor yells as she speeds off.
Bernie follows, then Eden. I give one last look at Archer, not sure why, but I hold out my hand and flip him off.
He blinks in surprise, his lips twitching as if he’s fighting a smile.
Feeling empowered, I grin to myself and speed off.
Once back at the Sanctuary, we park our bikes in the garage, and the lap dogs are waiting on either side of the door to take our jackets and helmets, like waiting butlers.
Nyx, of course, takes Mor’s, not allowing anyone else to touch her or her things.
At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t cock his leg and piss on her things, marking them as his territory.