Chapter 11
The packing was going along great. I had the bathroom, bedroom, and my living room boxable items packed away. The kitchen, easily the room with the most items aside from my clothing and linens, was half finished. A few more hours and I’d have it all ready to move.
I worked steadily all day long. I was motivated.
I’d been ecstatic when I received my property cut after church on Monday night.
I thought nothing would top it. But when Shadow told me later, at his house, that he wanted me to give up my apartment and move to the compound to live with him, I discovered I was wrong.
My old man made it clear that my place was at his side, and the compound provided not only everything I could need in terms of security, comfort, and friendship, but also kept us from bouncing between two places. Shadow hadn’t needed to twist my arm to get me to agree.
I was counting the minutes until he could leave work and come here.
It wasn’t because I needed help packing.
I just loved spending time with him, no matter what we were doing.
As each box was filled, my excitement about the move grew.
I never imagined that day I walked into Punishers’ Eden that my life would take the turns it did.
I’d been desperately seeking a way to remain independent of my family so I could achieve my goal and escape their reach.
My instant reaction to Shadow had frightened me even as it intrigued me.
And when he seemed to offer friendship at first, I’d allowed myself to hope.
Only when he stopped it and grew more and more distant as the months passed did I tell myself I’d imagined it, that I was stupid to have ever thought he’d be anything to me.
A loud knock at the door made me jump and stop reminiscing.
I looked at the door. I knew it wasn’t Shadow.
He would’ve messaged that he was on his way, but I checked my phone to be sure.
No message. My next thought was that Derrick had another need for baking ingredients.
Was he making dinner for the same person again?
I went over to the door, but years of being careful made me look through the peephole to be sure who it was. I cut off the gasp that almost slipped out. I shrank back. My heart pounded. No, it couldn’t be, I thought frantically.
A pounding sound, not a knock, followed by a voice.
“Elle, open this goddamn door. I know you’re in there. Your car is in the parking lot. We need to talk,” my dad’s voice thundered.
When I looked out, I’d seen not only him but Uncle Jock and my brothers.
What were they all doing here? Whatever the reason, I knew it wasn’t good.
They rarely came to Bristol, but when they did, to check that I was doing okay, as they called it, it was never as a group.
It would be a single person, but always the same demand had been the reason.
I needed to send more money home, or they would make me come back and live at home.
My rent was cutting into family support.
My education was taking too long. I should quit college.
The list went on and on, but not once had it been to see if I was doing okay.
It was always to complain and extort more out of me.
In the past, I’d answer. Let them say what they had to say, agree to send more money, and remind them of the payoff when I graduate.
They’d leave, and I’d get peace until the next time.
Sometimes, it would be three months or longer before the next visit.
They didn’t call. The phone was too impersonal to intimidate.
To do it right, you had to show your face.
However, this time, I had no intention of answering the door or agreeing to give them more money.
Shadow and I had discussed their behaviors, and he told me that the next time they came, I wasn’t to promise anything.
If I were alone, he instructed me not to open the door.
Don’t engage. If they wouldn’t leave or tried to break in, because that would be so like them, I was to call him and lock myself away.
Now, I was faced with doing what we agreed to do. My whole body shook. I rushed to find my purse. I removed the handgun from it. My phone was in my other hand. I stayed quiet, barely breathing. A louder thud, then the doorknob rattled as if they were trying to see if it was unlocked.
“Aubrielle Carter, you open this door right now. This is your family. Don’t ignore us. We have family business to talk about,” Dad hissed.
I slipped further from the door, closer to the bathroom.
It had no window and the most solid lock.
Shadow had placed a secondary lock on the inside.
My man had been prepared just in case they came, and I was here alone.
My thumb hovered over the call button under Shadow’s name.
Should I call him now? I was about to do it when I heard another voice in the distance.
“Hey, what’re you doing?”
The voice belonged to Derrick, and he sounded threatening, which wasn’t a good idea when it came to my family. They might jump him, though it was the middle of the day, and they liked to do their dirty work after dark.
“We’re here to see my daughter,” Dad called back. His voice sounded smooth as honey.
“Well, if she’s there, I don’t believe she wants to see you. If you don’t leave in the next two minutes, I’m calling the cops,” Derrick threatened.
There were furious whispers, and then I heard Dad’s voice addressing Derrick again, but he was farther from my door.
“Son, there’s no need to call the police. We’re here because my daughter hasn’t been acting like herself. We’re worried about her. We came to check up on her.”
As Dad lied, I heard the furious, low mutter of Rome.
“Elle, this isn’t over. You need to bring your ass home. Be there Friday night at seven. Don’t be late. And don’t stand us up. You won’t like the consequences if you do. We have family business to discuss.”
Then, without another word, just a single hard thump on the door, there was silence.
After several seconds, I crept to the peephole and looked again.
They were over near Dad, who was still talking to Derrick.
I noted the fake concern on my family members’ faces.
Derrick was frowning. He wasn’t buying it.
I held my breath until they walked off toward the parking lot.
I sucked in air and sank to the floor with my back to the door.
I took several deep breaths. I jumped when there was a soft rap on the door.
“Aubrielle, if you’re in there, don’t come out.
They might be lingering. I don’t know what’s going on, but I know it’s nothing good.
Stay inside. Keep your door locked. Call the cops if they return.
I’m leaving my number out here, stuck in the door.
Call me. I’m usually around. Take care of yourself,” Derrick said softly from the other side of the door.
I remained there frozen after he stopped speaking.
It took me another minute to get shakily on my feet.
I checked that the coast was clear before unlocking and opening my door a crack.
A piece of paper fluttered to the ground.
I snagged it between two fingers, then shut and locked the door.
Stumbling to the couch, I sat, then pushed the call button beneath Shadow’s name. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey, beautiful, I’m close to being done here. I’ll be there soon to help you pack.” His loving voice filled me with warmth. All I could do was let ragged sobs escape.
“Ellie, what’s wrong?” he barked.
“Brax-Braxton, I need you. Please,” I sobbed.
“Are you hurt?” He asked.
“No, not physically, but I can’t stand to stay here alone,” I whispered.
“Stay there. Keep the door locked. You have the gun I gave you?” Shadow ordered.
“I do.”
“Good. Keep it handy. I’m coming.”
“Thank you.”
When I disconnected, I collapsed back against the couch cushions. I sat there, straining to hear if my family had returned or if Shadow had arrived—time dragged by. Every tiny sound made me cringe. I watched the clock on my phone.
Exactly twelve minutes later, I heard a bike enter the lot. I straightened. After the engine cut off, I stood and made my way to the door, but I didn’t open it. Instead, I waited, peering out the peephole.
When the unmistakable form of Shadow entered my view, I tore at the lock and fumbled with the knob before swinging my door open. I flew into his arms. He crushed me to him, backing me up, my feet inches off the ground.
Once back inside my apartment, he lowered me, but kept his arm around me, while his boot kicked the door closed and his hand locked it. Then I was swept off my feet and into his arms. Shadow carried me to the couch, where he sat, placing me on his lap.
I buried my face in his neck and whimpered. Shadow rubbed my back and made soothing sounds. When I’d regained enough control to speak, I lifted my head to meet his gaze. His expression was a mixture of concern and anger.
“Tell me what happened,” he demanded.
Haltingly, I ran him through it all, including Derrick’s arrival and what he said after they left. A huge sigh left Shadow when I was finished.
“Ellie, we’re moving you tonight. Whatever isn’t packed, we’ll get finished, and the guys and I will move it on Saturday. I won’t leave you here alone to face them again. And they’ll be back, whether tomorrow or after you don’t show Friday night.”
I was about to reply when I heard more bikes outside.
“That should be some of the brothers. Reaper activated them, though I got here first and let them know. We’re getting you out of here. Are all your clothes packed?”
“Y-yeah, they are. I have the rest of the kitchen to do and a few odds and ends in the bathroom,” I answered.
“Good. Let me get up and get the door.”
Shadow slid me onto the couch so he could stand and go to the door. A minute and a half later, five additional Punishers entered my tiny apartment. They sucked up all the space. They weren’t happy-looking.
“Are you alright?” Reaper asked.
With him were Crusher, Maniac, Lash, and Diesel. I nodded.
“I’m fine,” I said.
“She’s not, but she will be. I’ll fill in the club tonight.
I need Jonas and Pax to get her boxes of clothes and bring them to the house.
I don’t want anyone to come near here alone.
She’s coming home. I don’t know if they’re lurking around.
A neighbor ran her entire family off,” Shadow explained concisely.
“We’ll escort you. Elle, which boxes are the ones that need to be taken to the house?” Reaper asked.
“They’re in my bedroom,” I said, feeling as if I were in a daze.
“Good. Is there anything you need to do before we leave?” Shadow asked.
I shook my head. And just like that, I was bundled up, my forgotten gun placed back in my purse.
The apartment was locked up, and I was assisted into my helmet and onto the back of Shadow’s bike.
I was a bundle of nerves the whole ride to the compound.
I kept scanning for signs of my family. The other Punishers were riding all around us, a fierce honor guard.
I didn’t relax until the compound’s gate closed behind us.
When it did, I slumped against Shadow’s back.