Electra Chapter 4 #2
“Then let’s go do this, and I’ll give you a grade at the end.”
He winked as we stood. I patted his arm as I passed him.
We made our way to the front. I let Annette know they were coming.
She’d prepared the conference room for us.
We’d go there to get through the questions that I needed answered to get the woman started with us.
The rest would be learned over the first couple of days. She had to be scared and exhausted.
When the door opened, a biker I didn’t know walked in. Right behind him was a woman, and behind her, another biker. Again, someone I didn’t know. I went forward to greet them all.
“Hello, welcome to Wrath’s Recovery. I’m Electra. You must be Pillar. I’ll be the one helping you navigate this. We will have someone observing us since I’m new. He’s here to ensure I don’t forget anything. This guy is Micro,” I told the slightly cowering woman.
I had to keep my anger from showing. She had bruises and cuts on her face and arms. I bet her body was worse. She was walking stiffly and kinda hunched over. The man behind her hovered close but wasn’t touching her. He wasn’t happy.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Pillar said softly.
She took the hand I held out to her briefly, then let it drop. She gave Micro a hesitant smile, but didn’t offer her hand to him. The man in front of her held out his hand to me next as he made introductions, even though I read their road names on their cuts.
“Hello, Electra, we’ve been meaning to get over here to introduce ourselves. Sorry, it took so long. I’m Turbo.” He and I shook hands.
When we finished, the other one spoke up. “Hi, Electra, I’m Crash. I’m the club’s road captain.” His handshake was slightly stronger than Turbo’s.
With those out of the way, I quickly made the introduction to Annette, then asked Pillar if she’d join me in the conference room. Before we got there, however, I asked if she needed to use the bathroom. She gave me a thankful look and said, “Yes.”
We left the guys to find their way to the room while I showed her where the bathroom was.
I waited outside for her. When she came out, I thought I saw evidence of her crying, but I chose not to mention it.
She had every right to cry after what I suspected she had gone through.
I didn’t have all the details, but I could make an educated guess.
In the conference room, I had her sit close to me.
I figured she’d be more relaxed with another woman close.
There were refreshments on the table courtesy of Annette.
The guys were sweet and asked what we wanted, then served us.
I could tell that shocked Pillar. Her eyes had widened when they did it.
Once we were all served, I launched into my interview.
“Pillar, if you prefer not to talk in front of the guys, I can ask them to leave. They thought since you knew the two of them first, it might be easier for you if they were here. However, they have no issue leaving if it’s better for you.
Or if you want them to stay now and later change your mind, after you get to know me, then you can always tell us that. ”
The guys murmured their agreement to what I said. She took a few moments to answer me.
“I-I think I’d like them to stay. They already know most of this, or at least Crash and Turbo do. They’re the ones who came and got me.” She gave them a shy smile of gratitude.
“Then they’ll stay unless you ask otherwise. First, we have to get a bunch of demographic information. Things like your full name and stuff,” I informed her.
We got through that quickly, and then it was time for the more uncomfortable stuff.
“Pillar, we have everyone who comes here get a physical. It’s something to ensure your health isn’t compromised.
You can have me or another advocate of your choosing there.
However, I’d like to know if there’s anything you think needs immediate attention.
If you prefer to speak to me privately about any concerns, I’ll have the guys step out of the room. ”
She thought for a few moments, then shook her head. “Not that I can think of. My body hurts, but I don’t think anything is broken. I’ve had broken bones before, and it doesn’t feel the same.”
Fury opened inside of me. I had told myself to remain aloof and professional, but that single admission made me think of how she got those bruises, cuts, and broken bones.
What all had she suffered and for how long?
How did she come to the attention of the Horsemen?
When I asked how they obtained the names of those in need of their help, they were vague.
The consistent answer was that they had numerous contacts all over who knew they assisted in those circumstances.
They’d been up and running for less than a year.
How could they have that many contacts in such a short period?
“Pillar, we’ll take things slow. Today, I want to help you settle into your room and provide you with whatever you need. Were you able to bring any of your belongings with you?” I asked. It was unlikely she had. Very few had a chance to pack. She shook her head no.
“That’s alright, we’ll get you some clothes today and then more later.
You’ll be introduced over the next few days not only to the doctor who will examine you, but also to a wonderful lady by the name of Echo.
She’s a counselor of sorts who you can speak to about what happened.
She’ll help you work through your feelings and develop coping strategies.
There are others here who are in the same situation as you.
Annette was one of the first the club helped. ”
Her head came up. “She was? I didn’t know that. And she works here?”
“That’s right. She had done work of the same kind before and asked if she could help when we opened and had no one. Over time, she took things over and ended up with the job,” Crash explained.
“And the others here are like me. They had…” She faded to silence.
“They had what?” I prompted.
Pillar stared down at her hands. I was about to change topics when she began talking. As she got started, it seemed to pour out of her. She told us about her abuser.
“I thought he was so nice when I met Jordie. I thought he was the sweetest guy I’d ever met. We ran into each other outside the library. I worked there three days a week. He was on his way in, and we bumped into each other.
“We got to talking and I discovered he was a book lover like me, and we had a lot of authors in common whom we love. It all started there, and before I knew it, we were meeting after I got off work every day. We couldn’t freely talk in the library, so we’d end up at a nearby coffee shop.
We’d sit for hours and talk. He made me laugh, and we had so much in common.
“I didn’t date much. Most people make me feel self-conscious. I don’t like the same things they do. So when he finally asked me out on a date, I said yes. From there, it took off, and before I knew it, we were dating and then moving in together. I was ecstatic when he asked.” She stopped.
“How soon after you moved in with him did you notice he changed? That he didn’t seem to like the same things you did? And he wanted to criticize you or control you?” Micro asked.
“Almost immediately, it started. I’d say two weeks living together.
At first, it was little things, like wanting me to change my hair or not wear certain clothing.
He didn’t want me going places without him or wearing makeup.
Soon, he seemed to dislike any of the stuff we had spent hours talking about.
He made fun of me and often told me how stupid I was.
How ugly I was. He said no man but he would ever want me.
If I left him, I’d be alone for the rest of my life. ”
I reached over to take her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze of encouragement. “When was the first time it got physical?” I asked.
A shudder ran through her body.
“You know, we don’t have to talk about this today. You have to be tired. Maybe hungry. Why don’t I show you to your room and the commissary? We already have the necessities in your room, and I’ll get the sizes for your clothing from you. You can take a bath and a nap,” I offered.
“I’d like that, but I want to answer your question first. The first time he got physical was two months after we moved in together.
I’d gone out while he was out of the apartment.
I didn’t tell him that I was meeting my boss at the library.
She wanted to ask me to come back to work.
When I moved in with Jordie, he convinced me not to work.
He said he made enough money to support us, and he felt, as a man, it was his duty to take care of me.
I hadn’t wanted to quit, but I did it anyway.
“He kept grumbling about money the entire time we had been living together. I thought he’d be relieved I’d gone back to work. I was offered my job back, and if I wanted, I could work five days a week. I was thrilled when I got home. I’d been trying for two years to get on full-time at the library.
“He was there when I got home. I’d turned off my cell phone while my boss and I talked, then forgot to turn it back on.
He’d been calling and texting me. As soon as Jordie saw me, he began screaming at me, asking where I was and who I was with.
He accused me of cheating on him. I tried to explain, but he didn’t want to hear me.
Suddenly, he slapped me across the face.
I was stunned and didn’t know how to react.
He slapped me a second time and ranted some more, then stormed out of the apartment.
Before he left, Jordie warned me to go nowhere and not to talk to anyone. ”
“And he returned all contrite and told you how it would never happen again, and he brought you flowers or something, didn’t he?” Turbo asked gruffly.