Chapter 7
One
Scarlett
It’s been over a month since Ghost stopped by my house looking for me, and I’ve yet to use his phone number regardless of how many times after that I got a new bruise.
Anytime my dad would lay into me over something so small, I would go into my room and bring his number up, with my finger hovering over the call button, but I never had the guts to follow through.
The beatings seem to be getting worse. My dad is more stressed out than ever, and I seem to be his favorite punching bag.
He comes home later than usual and keeps all the curtains in the house closed.
I don’t know what he’s gotten himself into now, but I know it’s bad.
God, what I wouldn’t give to have my old dad back.
The one who used to play with me when I was little, who would take me to the park and push me on the swings.
The dad who would hold me when I was scared of the monsters under my bed.
Now he’s turned into the monster most people fear.
The beatings, the hateful looks he gives me because I look so much like Mom, and the hurtful words he says to me daily.
When is it enough? How much more can I take before he takes it too far?
I sigh and try not to think about what’s in store for me when I get home tonight. I had just finished stocking the shelves and turned to find Grandma Silvia standing behind me, scaring me, making me jump slightly.
“Tinkerbell, why don’t I get Owen to drive you home? It wouldn’t take him but a minute to get here. It's getting late, and I don’t like you out walking by yourself.” I look out the window and can see that the sun is starting to set.
I turn back around and smile at Grandma Silvia.
“No, that’s okay. I don’t mind the walk; besides, it’s such a nice day out.
” In truth, I don’t want to go home so quickly, so I take my time walking home.
It’s a gamble because I never know what kind of mood he’s going to be in, but it’s better than Grandpa Owen seeing my dad.
I walk to the front, grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder, trying to hold back my wince since I have a fresh bruise there.
“Are you sure, Tink? Owen wouldn't mind.”
I grab her hands in mine and squeeze them before she really does call Grandpa Owen. “I’m positive.” She pulls me into a hug and holds on. I close my eyes at the motherly hug and, like every time she hugs me, I will myself not to cry.
She pulls back and starts fussing over me, making me smile. “Alright, Tink. Now you be safe walking home, and I put some snacks in your bag for later. I made too many cookies, and Owen is banned from having any since he has to watch his sugar intake. I will see you tomorrow.”
Grandpa Owen is as fit as ever. I do believe Grandma Silvia is telling a fib. Though I do love her cookies, so I don’t say anything. “Thank you. I will see you tomorrow.”
I walk out the front door and turn back around to see Grandma Silvia waving at me.
I wave back and make my way home. With each passing moment, the little bit of happiness I was feeling leaves me, and dread fills my body.
My house comes into view, and my heart sinks as I can see my father looking out of the window.And and as soon as he spots me, a murderous look overtakes his face.
For just a fleeting moment, I have the urge to run far and fast, but I know if I don’t get in there, it will be much worse if he catches me.
I make it to the front door, and before I can use my key; the door opens up, and I’m dragged inside and thrown on the floor.
A solid kick to my ribs makes me groan in pain.
“Where were you, bitch?” Another kick, and this time I’m pretty sure he’s cracked a rib, but I know better than to cry out for help.
I guess I don’t answer him quickly enough because he grabs me by the hair and drags me to the living room.
I bite my lip to stop the scream. “Answer me, you whore!” Spit flies from his mouth.
“I was at work.” I whimper with each breath I take; it hurts so badly.
He delivers another solid kick this time to my kidneys, making me cry out in pain. "Don’t lie to me. You were with that biker trash you had at the house. Don’t think I don’t know about that. Whoring yourself out, I see, just like your mother."
I don’t even know how he found out about Ghost stopping by unless he has people watching me, which wouldn’t surprise me.
He has control over my entire life. “Please, I'm sorry. I won’t let it happen again.” I cry out in pain, hoping he will stop the beating, but he just smiles, and I know it’s going to be bad.
“It seems I’ve been too lenient with you.
It's time you finally learned your lesson.” He’s truly lost it this time, and I don’t think I’m going to survive this one.
And maybe I don’t want to because then I will know what peace feels like.
With that, he lifts his foot and brings it down, and it’s lights out for me.
I groan, lying on the floor where he left me, my entire body killing me.
I try to move, but all I do is cry out in pain as tears roll down my face.
This is the worst he’s ever gone. I have no idea where he is or how much time has passed.
I strain my ears to listen, but I don’t hear him in the house.
God, what has my life become? I can’t do this anymore because with the next beating I don’t think I can survive.
He will kill me when he comes back. I saw the look in his eyes.
With me gone, he no longer has to look at the reminder that Mom left.
I deserve better than this. I want to live and be happy, but first I have to ask for help because I can’t do this on my own.
As much as it pains me, I roll onto my stomach and crawl to my bag that’s thrown across the floor.
Blood drips from my face as I crawl towards my bag slowly.
Each movement feels like thousands of knives cutting into me.
It takes me a good solid ten minutes before I can even reach my bag.
I lay there looking up at the ceiling, trying to catch my breath.
I manage to pull my phone out of my bag, thankful that it still works, and bring up the one number I know that will help me.
Not having enough energy, I put the call on speaker and lay back down.
When I think there’s no hope of him answering, his gravelly voice comes through the line. I can hear people talking in the background and know that he’s most likely at the clubhouse. “Scarlett, is everything okay?” He hushes the people in the background until I can hear him breathing down the line.
“Help me, Ghost, please, before he comes back.”
“Tell me where you are, Scarlett.” I can hear movement, and I know he’s coming for me and bringing reinforcements.
I cough, and blood dribbles down my face from my broken nose. “Home. Please hurry, or he’s going to kill me.”
“I’m coming, Scarlett, just hold on.” I can hear a bunch of bikes start up as Ghost keeps the line open, and I close my eyes, sighing, knowing I’m going to be okay.
Just when I think everything is going to be okay, I open my eyes to see my father standing over top of me with another man. “What the fuck did you do?” He lifts me by my hair, making me scream.
“Let me go, please.” My attempts at getting free are useless, and he made sure of that. My body is too weak to do much. I can hardly keep my eyes open right now.
“You better let her the fuck go if you know what’s good for you. The Lost Saints are coming for your ass, Ian,” Ghost growls down the phone line, making me sigh in relief that he’s still on the line.
The guy standing beside him looks like he’s gonna piss himself.
“Ian, man, I didn’t sign up for this, especially if she belongs to The Lost Saints.
Selling her isn’t an option now.” With that, he runs out of the house.
Wait what? Selling me? My own father was willing to sell me to God knows who just to save his own ass.
Dad drops me on the floor, making me cry in pain.
I can hear the rumble of multiple motorcycles coming down the street.
My dad delivers one final kick. “This isn’t over, Scarlett.
” With that, he runs out the back door, leaving me bleeding and broken on the floor.
My body wracks with sobs not just from the pain but from the fact that my dad was about to sell me without regard for my safety, leaving me in the hands of God knows who.
My front door splinters open, and Ghost runs in with a gun in his hand, but stops dead in his tracks when he sees me lying on the floor.
I know I must look like a mess. I truly feel awful.
Joker, Blade, Crow, and Hawk run in after him with their guns out, rushing out the back door to try to track my dad down.
Ghost drops to his knees beside me, hovering his hand over the top of me as if he doesn’t know if he should touch me or not. “Fuck Scarlett. I’m so sorry.”
I grab his hand loosely and hold on for dear life. “Not your fault. You didn’t know.” I whisper out.
His jaw clenches as he looks over all my injuries. “And it won’t happen again, I promise you that.”
The guys take that moment to come back, and I can see from the hard set of their jaws that they couldn’t find my dad.
Which means he’s still out there and is going to come back for me.
Joker walks over and kneels beside me. He goes into medical mode as he catalogs all of my injuries that he can see, nodding his head.
“Hey there, Tinkerbell, feeling a little shitty, eh? Don’t you worry, when we get back to the clubhouse I will fix you as good as new. How does that sound?”
I give them a weak smile. I'm finding it so hard to stay awake right now. My body is growing weaker by the minute. “Sounds good.”
“Fuck, I don’t want to hurt you more, but I’m going to have to lift you, Scarlett.
I will try to be as gentle as possible.” Ghost says as he comes closer to me.
His jaw is set hard, as if the thought of me being hurt upsets him.
With that, he lifts me off the ground, and I can’t help but cry out in agony.
Tears keep falling down my face as I try to breathe through the pain in my ribs.
He gently wipes the tears from my face, looking at me in pain. “It’s okay.” It’s not okay, and I don’t think it ever will be.
“Let’s get you out of here, dollface. You never have to see this place again.
” With that, he walks out of my house and into the chilly night air.
As soon as I breathe fresh air, knowing that I’m still alive, I promptly pass out in his arms, knowing just for that moment I am well and truly safe for the first time in my life.