Chapter 11 Five
Five
Ghost
I stand there and watch as her breathing evens out, knowing she’s already asleep.
The bruises covering her face are more prominent today, making my anger rise.
I try to keep that shit hidden from Scarlett, not wanting her to be scared of me, but it’s becoming difficult every time I look at her and what her father did to her.
I can’t wait until I can finally get my hands on him.
He's going to wish he had never laid a hand on her, and those he’s working with will suffer too.
He’s not going to see me coming, but he will feel everything that I do to him.
I don’t care how pissed off you are, you never lay a hand on a woman or child.
Scarlett might not know it, but the moment those green eyes looked my way, she’s been mine, and her piece of shit father is going to feel the full wrath of The Lost Saints MC.
I watch the rise and fall of her chest, knowing that she is safe, but I can tell she’s not having a peaceful sleep.
What I want to do is lie down with her, just holding her in my arms like last night.
When she’s all healed, I’m taking her ass out on a date to show her what we could be and show her the real me.
Scarlett will want for nothing in life. It will be my job to provide for her in all things.
Whatever she wants to do, I will make it happen for her.
She deserves the world, and I plan on showing it to her.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I pull it out, seeing a text from Blade.
Blade: I’m heading over with the guys for a meeting. Figured that Tink was too sore to head over to the clubhouse.
Ghost: She’s definitely feeling it today. She’s sleeping on the couch right now, so just be quiet when you guys come over. We can have the meeting in my office.
Blade: Be there in 5.
I stuff my phone back into my pocket and, with one last look at Scarlett, I turn and head towards my office.
Walking inside, I beeline for the coffee machine in the corner.
We've had many impromptu meetings here, so I make sure the coffee bar is fully stocked for the guys. I make each of us a cup, but I draw the line at putting their shit in it. I’m not just not that fucking nice.
Just as I take my seat, the guys walk in and head to the coffee bar, giving me a chin lift. Each guy takes his seat, looking tired. It seems like none of us got any sleep.
“How was Tink last night? Any problems?” Joker asks as he takes his seat.
“No problems, but I know she’s in a fuckton of pain today, even though she’s trying to hide it. I gave her two pain pills while we were having breakfast. Joker, I want you to look at her when she wakes up, just to be sure.” I know she’s okay, but I want to make sure she has no setbacks.
“You don’t even have to ask. I brought my bag with me just in case.” Joker nods his head at me. He takes his role as pseudo-big brother seriously, so I know this has him fucked up, just like the rest of us.
“Alright, let's get down to it. Crow, tell us what you found.” Blade starts the meeting as we watch Crow pull out his laptop and turn it on.
We watch as his fingers fly across the keyboard.
I’ve got to give it to him; the fucker is smart when it comes to this shit.
“Ian Lewis, 48. His wife, Marlowe, took off when Scarlett was 5 and never looked back. From what I gathered, she also took to doing drugs and died of an overdose 2 years later. So, he had to work two jobs just to make ends meet. I guess that’s where the resentment and drinking came in and turned his anger towards Scarlett.
Add in what Scarlett said last night, and the abuse has been going on for years.
Ian has also racked up a hefty debt through gambling and borrowing from loan sharks.
Let’s just say we aren’t the only ones looking for him at the moment.
He’s now involved with some small-time guys who are trying to make a name for themselves but went to ground when they found out we were involved, but they won’t be hard to track down if I need to.
As for Ian, he’s gone. He hasn’t shown up at the house, nor has he used his cards, but I’m sure he’s still here in town as he has no money in his account.
I’m sure whatever money Scarlett made working at the general store he was taking from her because he hasn’t worked in over a year. ”
With each word spoken, my anger notches higher and higher with everything Scarlett had to go through. “What about the fucker Ian was going to sell her to?” My knuckles turn white as I grip the table. Everyone at the table stiffens, waiting to hear what Crow has to say.
Crow runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “Not a fucking thing. Either Ian was talking out of his ass and didn’t even have a buyer lined up yet, or he left no paper trail on who it could be. I’m going to scour the dark web and see what I can come up with.”
Let’s hope he didn’t have a buyer lined up just yet, but either way, I will eliminate all threats towards Scarlett. “Thanks, Crow.”
“Anything for family.” He nods his head and goes back to concentrating on his computer.
“Alright, with Crow doing that, I want everyone else to reach out to their contacts and see what you can find. Someone had to see this fucker running off. Hawk, I want you and Stone to take a couple of prospects and look around the abandoned houses and shit. I bet anything he’s hiding out in one of those. ”
With that, Hawk and Stone stand up, heading for the door. Before Stone walks out, he turns to look at me. “Savannah said she will stop by later to drop off some stuff for Scarlett. Some girly shit or something.”
They walk out, closing the door softly. “That reminds me, Hailey is at the mall with John, the prospect, picking up some stuff as well. So I’m sure she will have everything she needs until she can go and pick up her own stuff.”
Crow stands up and stuffs his laptop into his bag. “If you guys don't need me, I’m gonna head to the clubhouse and to my office to work on this. I will keep you guys updated.” He walks out, leaving only Blade and Joker.
Before anyone can say anything else, an ear-piercing scream comes from the living room, making me jump from my seat, throwing open the door and racing towards Scarlett with my gun in my hand, the others following behind me searching yelling clear with each room they check.
I search for the threat but can't see anyone.
Looking at the couch, I race to a thrashing Scarlett, who seems to be in the throes of a nightmare.
She whimpers in her sleep, flinching as if she’s been struck. “Please, I promise I will be a good girl. I was hungry.”
I try to place my hand on her, and she flinches from my touch, making me grind my teeth.
She’s too far into her nightmare. “Scarlett, it's just a bad dream. It’s okay, Babydoll, you're safe.” Her whimpers slow down with each word I say.
“That’s it, come back to me. I promise you that you're safe. No one can hurt you.”
It takes some coaxing, but she slowly opens her eyes, looking right at me. I watch as a tear falls down her face. Whatever dream she was lost in clearly wasn’t a good one. I gently wipe the tear away, giving her a smile. “Are you with me, Babydoll?”
She clears her throat and nods her head. “Sorry for being such a bother.” She cast her eyes downwards, not looking at me as if she thinks I’m gonna be mad at her.
I lift her face towards mine. “You are never a bother to me or anyone else. With everything you've been through, nightmares are normal, so don’t think you have to hide how you are feeling, okay?”
She looks at me, really looks at me to make sure my words are true, and the moment she does, she gives me a small smile. “Okay.” She pulls the blanket back as I help her sit up, and that’s when she notices Joker and Blade standing there, making her blush in embarrassment.
Not wanting to make it more awkward for her, Blade steps forward.
“Alright, I’m gonna head out as well and get a jump start on my contacts.
Tink, Hailey will be by later along with Savannah to drop off some stuff for you.
I will check in later today if I have any updates.
” Blade nods his head at me and heads towards the front door, walking out, leaving Joker and me.
Joker hands Scarlett a bottle of water, and she drinks it greedily. “How are you feeling today, Tink? Any headaches?”
I take the water bottle from her and place it on the table as she faces Joker. “The headache is gone, but my body is still sore and stiff. The pills Ghost gave me helped some.”
Joker pulls stuff out of his bag. “That’s understandable, with everything you’ve been through.
With a few more days of full rest, you should start to feel better.
Do you mind if I check you over — just your blood pressure and stuff?
” He holds up a few things, showing her exactly what he wants to do.
“Ya, that's fine.” She whispers quietly as she sits there and lets Joker check her over. I reach down and grab her hand in mine, letting her know I’m here for her. She doesn’t make a sound or move while he’s doing all this; she just stares off into space, lost in her thoughts.
He puts everything in his bag and sits back, smiling at her. “Alright, Tink, everything looks good. Your blood pressure is perfect. Ghost has more pain pills if you need them; if not, just some Tylenol will work.”
“Thank you, Joker.”
He sends her his signature smile. He holds his arms wide open. “Come, give Joker a hug.”
Scarlett giggles and leans into his hug. An irrational jealousy emerges inside me seeing another man touch her. Joker looks at me and wiggles his eyebrows.
“You know, Tink, you can always come home with me, and I can take care of you.” This fucker is trying my patience now, and he knows it. The little shit is doing it on purpose.
She pulls back and looks at me wide-eyed. I pull her closer to me and give Joker the look. “Um, thanks, I think, but I think I’m going to stay with Ghost.” She looks up at me, and her face goes red, saying that, making me smile.
He puts his hand over his heart, looking sad. “You wound me, Tink. It’s just as well I think I’m going to stop off at the bakery and go see if my woman wants to go to dinner tonight.”
Scarlett gives him a wide-eyed look. “Um, I thought you were banned from the bakery?”
“Pssh, she doesn’t really want me to stay away. I’m wearing her down, Tink, don’t you worry, you'll see.” He waves over his shoulder and walks out the door, whistling.
Scarlett lets out a little laugh. “That’s not going to end well, is it?”
I can’t help but laugh. “I have a feeling Joker has met his match when it comes to Madison. That, or we are going to be getting a call later from the sheriff.”
I watch as Scarlett laughs without a care in the world, knowing that today is day one of her getting her life back.