Chapter 8 #2
"Good news! We don't have to spend much time together after all.
It was a pleasure meeting you, but it's time for you to be sent to your forever home!
" he says with a wicked smile on his face.
Upon further inspection, I determine that he's wearing black eyeliner.
I don't comment on it, no matter how badly I want to.
I believe I made it here without taking a hit or being beaten, and I'd like to keep it that way.
If I open my mouth, then I may not stay in this condition.
He's got tattoos on his neck and face and the one that sticks out the most is the curved sword that follows his jawline, curves up toward his ear on his cheek, and the point ends at the bottom of his sideburn. It's a rust-color and it's a very identifiable marker.
A knock at the door makes me jump and I find myself holding my breath when he reaches for the doorknob. The door opens and I'm met with a familiar face. "No," I blurt. "Hello, future Mrs. Sonnier," Gater says with the most sinister grin on his face.
He's wearing a Moccasins cut-off, with a rank patch labeling him 'President'.
He walks behind me and unties my hands, freeing me from the chair.
He's got a death grip on my wrists, though, and no matter how hard I try to free them, it doesn't work.
He's got at least a hundred pounds on me and is nearly a foot taller than I am.
I'm fuming. I'm so mad I'm surprised that red smoke isn't bellowing out of my ears.
"Don't make this fucking difficult, you bitch," Gater barks, shoving me through the doorway.
I walk quietly as he guides me toward the front door.
Outside, there's a large wrap-around porch on the house and nothing but a huge, open field surrounding the house.
There have to be at least ten acres cleared, maybe more and only a long gravel driveway leading out.
Well, I assume it leads to the highway, I can only see it disappearing into the tree-line in the distance.
Gater's black lifted Toyota is parked in driveway beside two motorcycles and a blue, rusted Chevrolet Blazer that's got to be a nineties model.
I commit the license plate to memory, repeating it over and over in my mind until I know it by heart.
Gater shoves me into the bed of his truck, tying my hands behind my back before closing the tailgate.
The bed cover keeps me shut in and I can't get it undone with my teeth, not from lack of trying.
I don't know how long I'm in this bed, but I do know that this truck rides horribly.
So many thoughts are running through my mind.
So many questions. I don't know what Gater's motive is.
I do know he's probably the one who sent them into my house, telling them all of the ins and outs.
And stupidly, I made it so fucking easy for them.
I was alone, high, and so fucking complacent.
I should've been on guard. I should've known that I can never let my guard down.
This life does not allow for that luxury.
Ever. If I make it through this, I will be on guard twenty-four, seven.
I'm investing in a camera system first, then an alarm system. We must be riding through a town because we keep stopping, then going. We make a few turns and then we come to a stop. Gater puts the truck in park and opens the tailgate. I'm confused when I see my car in the driveway. My driveway.
Gater unties my hands, walks to the driver's side door, opens it and pauses.
"Tell Cass that I've got his fucking number and I can get you any time I want. And if he doesn't stop making this harder than it needs to be, I'll be back. This is your only warning, got it, sweet cheeks?" he asks with a crazed grin on his face.
"Fuck you," I spit, stepping two steps behind my driver's door. My pistol is in the door and I'll shoot him right here. My hand is on the door handle, ready to rip it off the fucking hinges if he so much as twitches in my direction.
"That mouth is going to get you in trouble one day, if it doesn't get you killed first," he grins, climbing into his truck and driving away.
I watch until his truck is no longer in sight.
Then I listen until I can no longer hear it in the distance.
I run inside, locking all of the doors first before I search for my cell phone.
It's on the couch where I fell asleep. Scooping it up, I rush into my closet and grab a few days worth of clothes and change into something more presentable than this.
I'm in my car and on the way to Linc and Mindy's before I make the first phone call. I call Cass and it rings twice before he picks up.
"Baby, are you okay?" he asks.
"Yeah. Wait, do you know what happened to me?" I ask, confused.
"No? I've just been trying to call you and couldn't reach you. What happened to you?" he growls.
"Gater happened," I tell him.
"What the fuck did he do to you?" Cass asks.
"Had one of the Moccasins kidnap me in the middle of the night, tie me to a chair, say that he was selling me only for Gater to walk in and throw me in the bed of his truck. To then drop me off in our driveway with a message for you," I word vomit everything he told me..
"What was his message?"
"Verbatim? 'Tell Cass that I've got his fucking number and I can get you any time I want. And if he doesn't stop making this harder than it needs to be, I'll be back.' He also said this was your one and only warning," I say.
"That bottom-feeding fucking scum," Cass growls. I can see the look on his face without looking at him. I know without a doubt that his brows are furrowed and his mouth is set in that tight line, the one that only happens when he's furious.
"I'm on my way to Linc and Mindy's. I haven't even called them yet."
Cass sighs on the other end of the phone. "Call Mindy. Let her know you're on your way. I'm going to make a few phone calls. Call me as soon as you get there."
"I will, baby. I love you."
"I love you, too," Cass says, hanging up the phone.
Why does it always have to be me?
I call Mindy and let her know I'm on the way. She doesn't ask any questions, so I assume Cass has already told Linc what happened before I called. Mindy's waiting outside for me when I turn into the driveway. She's wraps me into a hug so tight it nearly cuts off my circulation.
"I'm okay," I reassure her.
She has tears in her bloodshot eyes and I know she's been crying. "Min, I'm okay. I promise. They didn't even hurt me like last time," I tell her.
Mindy scoffs a laugh that is nowhere near amused.
"Yeah, this time. Do you realize how insane that is?
This is too much. I'm having a baby. I'm bringing a child into this world and I'm worried enough for my safety and your safety, I cannot imagine having to worry about someone using my child as a pawn in a club rivalry!
" she yells, wiping the tears that are streaming down her cheeks.
"Hey, hey," I hug her and run a hand over her face repeatedly in an attempt to soothe some of her anxiety.
Mindy leans away, wiping her tears again.
She walks inside, motioning for me to follow.
I grab my bag and sit it down on the bed in the spare room.
Linc is outside on the phone, probably talking to Cass or another one of the guys in the club.
I just want to be with Cass. I'm about to say fuck everything and drive my ass back to Oklahoma.
"I'm going to head to the bar later to work on settling accounts and doing some bookkeeping," I tell Mindy.
"By yourself?" she asks, concerned.
"Yeah. But it's a public place, during the day. And I'm not in Betty. I'm in my other car, that is not super recognizable and doesn't make me as easy of a target. And my pistol is in the door, and when I walk into the bar, it'll be stuffed into the back of my jeans."
"I know it's illegal, but I don't care. You could wear it on your head and I'd tell the cops they were lying if they asked," she says, jokingly.
"I'm not going anywhere unarmed, from here on out. I'm so sick of getting fucking kidnapped or feeling like a damsel in distress," I huff.
I hug Mindy's neck and head to the bar. Kelly, the new manager, is working day shift and she's a breath of fresh air when I walk inside.
"Hey, Lilly! It's so good to see you again!" She smiles at me when I enter the bar.
"Hey! It's good to see you, too. How's business been?" I ask, sitting down near the opening in the bar.
"Business has been picking up, oddly," she shrugs, pressing her glasses further up the bridge of her nose.
"Good. We could use a little business around here, but January is always a little slow after the holidays."
The bookkeeping doesn't take up much of my time and when I'm done, I opt to have one drink.
I need to be aware of my surroundings and getting drunk today, right now, is not in the cards for me.
A few of our regulars are in and one of my favorites is sitting at the corner of the bar by the front door.
Mr. Wayne, the bald-headed dancing guy, smiles and waves me over. "Get over here, girl! How you been?" he asks, wrapping me up in a hug.
"I've been good! How are you? How are those grandbabies?" I ask.
"Oh, they're getting big. Lena is four already and she's so smart. I swear she can work this phone better than I can," he beams.
Kelly sets my drink down in front of me and I take a small sip. God, that tastes fucking good.
"Oh, hey, Lilly! We got a new flavored Crown in. It's chocolate! Do you want to try it?" Kelly asks.
"I'll take one shot of it to try it, but no more. I've still got a long evening ahead of me," I tell her.
She pours me a shot in one of the frozen shot glasses and I shoot it down. The chocolate flavor takes some of the bite off, and it's actually smooth and delicious. I'm surprised.