Chapter 20
Skyla
I am still pissed at Rocky and Clark a few days after the altercation with Camo, when he came to the gym to confront me on what has been happening.
I cannot believe that they went to him and the club.
When I saw him, my heart stopped in my chest. My mind whirled with what he was there for, but when he brought up my troubles, it turned my blood cold as ice. To say that I wanted to hit something or someone was an understatement.
I have ignored the guys for three days.
They hate it.
I hate it, but I needed to show them that I was so angry and hurt by what they had done. This is not what our friendship was about.
Seeing Camo hurt was also hard. He looked like death warmed over, pretty much like how I felt. Sleep has not come easy for me, and my appetite has slowly drifted away, but I know that I will find my footing again and get back to being me.
This stuff that has been happening, the attack, and Camo have taken a toll on my body, so I let it naturally happen and I will deal with it as it comes.
Camo has been in the dreams I have been having when I do manage to fall asleep; he tells me that he loves me but can’t be with me as the club comes first, and that includes the club girls.
I wake up sweating, with my heart racing. So I climb out of bed and get on with my day. Since seeing Camo, the dreams have turned into nightmares, and I am always tied to a chair watching him have sex with different women while they laugh at me.
“When are you going to speak to us again? How long are you going to make us suffer?” Clark’s voice breaks through my thoughts.
I turn my head to look at him. He is next to me with a cleaning spray and cloth in hand. We are closing again tonight, and I have been on edge since we locked up.
True to his word, Camo has left a prospect with me at all times; tonight it is Toad again and I really do not like him. He looks at me and licks his lips. I get the feeling that he is undressing me with his eyes and it makes my skin crawl.
I sigh, looking at my best friend. He looks tired and remorseful.
“You hurt me, Clark. You knew that I did not want him involved.”
“I know. We are so fucking sorry, Skies.”
Tears fill my eyes when he uses his nickname for me that he made up years ago.
He pulls me into his arms and I settle against his body, breathing in his familiar scent. I feel his lips on my head, then he sighs.
“We know what we did was messed up, honey, but we hated that Tate couldn’t do anything. There is only so much the police can do, but the club can do more. I know that he has hurt you, but I see it, Skyla. He wants you to be his, but he is just stubborn.”
“If he wanted me, Clark, then he would have come to me sooner instead of waiting until I got hurt to show his intentions.”
“True. What do you say we finish, then lock up and stop for some ribs and wings on the way home? I have some beer and red wine in the refrigerator.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We carry on cleaning. No music is played because we both feel like we need to hear if anything happens. Since the attack, we have all been on edge.
“We need a night out just the four of us, soon,” he calls to me.
“We need to pry Eva from Tate before we do.” I giggle and he joins in.
“True.”
“I am happy for them. Eva deserves a man who will treat her right and worship her and I know that Tate will be that man.”
“I agree with you there. So far, he has shown that he will do right by her; fuck, I think he already loves her.”
“Do you think?” I ask, stopping the mopping.
“Yeah.”
My heart sparks again, hearing how happy and in love my friends are.
“I think she loves him too. Do you think they have told each other yet?” I finish mopping and put everything away.
Clark joins me, putting the cleaning products away.
“I think so. She was glowing this morning.”
Clapping my hands together like a happy seal, I jump up and down on the spot.
“God, it makes me so happy that she gets to have this.”
I force the smile to stay in place as images of Camo flash through my head. He is still messing with my thoughts, even though he is not in my life.
He is to be yours.
A voice bursts into my head, making my steps falter.
We gather our things, and I sling my purse strap over my body, before checking that I have my cell phone and keys.
I see a text from Eva.
Eva: Be careful when you leave. Please use the prospect.
I type out a quick reply.
Me: I will, I promise.
Tucking my phone back into my bag, we walk through the gym, switching off lights as we go. We reach the door and Clark sets the alarm and a red light appears in the center of the gym.
I go to push open the door but something feels off. A wave of anxiousness rolls over me. Looking through the glass doors, I see nothing out of the ordinary, so I shake it off.
“You okay?” Clark asks.
Smiling up at him, I answer, “Yeah.”
“I will go first and get the prospect’s attention, okay? We will put you in your car, and we will follow you home.” I nod to him.
Clark goes first, calling for the prospect as we push through the doors, but we get no answer.
Something is wrong.
My soul tells me to go back into the gym but my feet won’t move.
“Toad,” Clark tries again and my stomach gets tight with worry.
“Shit, come on, let’s get back inside. I can call Tate.” We turn on our heels but we do not get far.
Clark is dragged from me, and I scream, seeing four men all dressed in black, their faces covered bar their eyes.
“Payback is a bitch, for not listening,” one says before a pain I have never felt before hits me in the face.
The hits keep coming.
I shield my face as much as I can but their hits are all over my body. A boot connects with my ribs and I scream out in pain. Blood fills my mouth, as I cry and try to protect my body as much as I can.
My bag is ripped from my body, my zipped hoodie tugged open, and I feel a hand grip my breast hard, making me scream, which makes them laugh louder. Every inch of me hurts, but I know this is not over yet, they plan to hurt me more.
“Tits for days. Such a shame.”
I hear grunting, and thuds, along with Clark calling my name. Blood rushes through my ears, muting a lot of the noise.
The men are speaking but I cannot make out what they are saying, as everything is muffled.
A fresh wave of pain crashes through me, then I’m lifted off the ground—my body suddenly weightless—before I slam hard into a pillar. My screams fill the air around us, mixed with heavy breathing and grunting.
“Mouthy cunts who stick their noses into other people’s business need to shut up. Maybe now you know that we mean fucking business. Stay the fuck away from the boy.”
“Fire is going, man. Let’s get the fuck out of here,” someone calls.
“Skyla.” I hear a gargled call from Clark.
He calls me again, but his voice cuts off midway when a big thud sounds before my friend goes quiet.
I scream his name, making the men laugh.
“They will burn with the building, man. Let’s go. The cops will think it was electrical.”
“You hear that, bitch? You are going to die tonight.” He laughs.
My body deflates as his words sink in. No one is coming to help us.
I pry my eyes open, blood seeping into one of them as I watch black booted feet and legs leave through the main door. As one passes, they give Clark one more kick to the head.
His head snaps back and I swear I hear a crack. I scream his name, but get no reply.
Needing to move, I drag my body across the floor, ignoring the mess and pushing down my pain. Reaching Clark, I roll him onto his back, my gaze moving over his face, seeing the blood.
So much blood.
Clark is almost unrecognizable.
“Oh, Clark. I am so sorry.” I sob.
My shaking hands hover over his face, too scared to touch him. I check that he is breathing, and I sigh in relief feeling that he has a pulse.
I locate his phone in the front pocket of his pants and call Camo.
“Clark?” His voice makes me sigh.
“Camo,” I force out, suddenly feeling lightheaded.
“Skyla? Baby, what happened?”
“Got attacked. Call 911. Hurt bad,” I manage to say before my body loses all will to stay awake and everything goes black.