Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
JULIE
Never in a million years did I think, after my childhood, anyone would be able to get me to walk down freely into an underground to hideout.
But once again, Cobalt has that way about him.
Since we are being attacked and blown up, I didn’t have much of a choice because I know he couldn’t just stay and protect me when his clubhouse full of folks, who he feels responsible for, are being attacked.
I’m surprised at how comfortable I’m at being underground in Cobalt’s “special room” as he called it.
Man, a lot has happened in the last couple of days—so much that my life has done a complete turnaround.
I remember our mom always saying don’t get too deep in your thoughts because life is ever-changing, and she was so frigging right.
Just that quick thought has me missing her so much at this moment.
We did everything together and I truly admired and looked up to her.
She never let me down. Even when she was dying, she tried to keep things from me so I wouldn’t worry.
That’s why, when I knew my brother was getting in too deep, I squirreled my way into that job for Salvatore.
I knew once in there I’d be able to find something he was doing illegal.
I mean, one, he’s the Mob, and two, he’s a horrible person who thinks only of himself.
And man did I find something, but it was way worse and almost got both Jimmy and me killed.
Hearing something, I walk back to the entrance of the safe area and look up to see above it looks like the wall is opening.
Not hearing either Cobalt or Incubus calling out to me, something inside of me tells me to keep my mouth shut and hide immediately.
I move back quietly and look around for somewhere to find some cover.
I could hurry into one of the bedrooms and hide under the bed, but that’s an easy as shit find.
There’s nothing in the little family room or kitchenette to find a hidden place to be able to become invisible.
I head toward the laundry room and see a huge shelving unit with shelves stacked with supplies.
Behind me I hear footsteps coming down the stairs so, as quietly as possible, I first shut the door halfway then move some boxes on the bottom shelf so I can squeeze behind the entire unit.
Reaching, I pull the boxes back on the shelf so they conceal me then I try to get situated.
I’ve got plenty of room to sit or even curl up in the fetal position.
I just don’t want whoever is coming down to be able to see any part of me.
I grab the ponytail holder off my wrist and pull my hair back tightly, then put my hair in a ponytail and pull it through to make a messy bun at my nape.
I’m wearing leggings and a Kings of Anarchy hoodie, which is mostly black, so that’s good.
On my feet are a pair of gym shoes in a muted gray color.
The footsteps are moving around now, and just by what I’m hearing, seems like someone is looking around, maybe even searching for something.
The steps aren’t heavy so a smaller guy maybe.
I hold my breath when the door swings open and the overhead light comes on.
The voice I hear sends a shiver down my spine.
“All right, you numbers whore, where the hell ya hiding? I don’t have all goddamn day, got to grab you and get the fuck out of here without getting caught.
Might as well come out, I’ll find you eventually.
You ain’t the only one Cobalt has taken down here.
I mean we fucked on every piece of furniture down here.
Quit wasting my damn time, bitch, move your ass now.
If I got to look for ya it won’t be good just sayin’. ”
Something holds me in place and after a minute or two the lights go off.
I hear commotion right outside the door that sounds like two people are arguing.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh has me curling into a smaller ball with my body.
That sound brings back so many memories and none of them good.
I hear Honey begging, but if the person says anything I can’t hear.
Then I hear a muted boom and instantly it’s quiet.
The door to the laundry/utilities opens and the light is flipped on.
I’m breathing slowly and shallow so there is barely any noise coming from me.
Expecting it to be anyone but Honey, I hear a raspy breath then once again her voice vibrates through the room.
“I’m giving you one last chance then I’m calling in my backup and just saying, Julie, you won’t like the way he is ’cause he couldn’t give a flying fuck if he hurts you or not. Are you coming out or what?”
My body is shaking like crazy as my head starts to pound.
I have no idea what to do. I’m concentrating on weighing my options before making a decision when I feel a huge hand clasp on to my ankle, and I realize my time is up.
I waited way too long. The hand grasping my foot is huge and whoever is the owner of it seems to have no problem hurting me.
I hear a whisper and Honey replies just as quiet.
While she is whisper-talking that hand on my ankle becomes like a steel vice, as the person starts dragging me out from behind the shelving, over all the supplies, and I can feel stuff digging in while other items either fall off the shelves, crack, and leak.
I smell some kind of dishwasher soap, bleach, laundry detergent, and ammonia.
The combination of smells is starting to gag me, so by the time I’m dragged out my cough is getting worse and worse.
My arms are in front of my face so when I feel the first cuff snap on, I almost pee myself.
Then the second, though the only thing good about it is that my hands are in front of my body instead of behind it.
The problem is now I’m coughing even more.
When I see a bandana coming toward me I start shaking my head back and forth, but whoever is there is plenty strong to not only place that thing over my mouth but also to tie it behind my head.
The pressure is building in my head as I try to cough and the feeling of choking is getting worse.
My last thought before I lose consciousness is that Cobalt won’t even know I’m gone, or who took me, until he finally comes back for me.
And by then, it might just be too late. That brings such sadness to my heart, but I’m not able to do a damn thing about it.
That thought hurts more than you would think, being that Cobalt and I were together for only two weeks or a bit longer.
* * *
A loud thud wakes me up. When I open my eyes, it looks to be that I’m in a nasty motel somewhere.
I’m on a bed, which scares the ever-lovin’ shit outta me because I’ve watched the Dateline or 20/20 where they did that blacklight experiment.
My hands are still in cuffs in front of me but I’m able to wipe the hair out of my eyes and push the bandana out of my mouth.
And after one or two attempts, my body is able to work to get me into a sitting position.
That is when I see that there are two beds in this room and there is a body sprawled across that other bed.
One that has a Kings of Anarchy kutte on.
Holy shit, please don’t be Cobalt, is my thought as I stumble to get off the bed and see who it is.
When I walk around the bed my heart starts beating again because it isn’t Cobalt.
I can’t believe what they’ve done to Holy Joe, the chaplain of the club.
I barely recognize him. Both eyes are swollen shut and his nose looks to be broken.
I immediately move closer to get a better look.
My confidence is up since I helped Incubus with Rocket.