Chapter Six
Link
ANNISTYN HAS BEEN even more subdued than before over the last few days since she had a panic attack in the common room.
There was a crowd who witnessed her and I know it embarrassed her.
Annistyn has nothing to be embarrassed about though.
She experienced something horrible in the past and Carly forced her to relive it publicly.
If I were a different man, I would rip that bitch limb from limb and watch her bleed out.
My need to protect Annistyn is all-consuming and I won’t hesitate to do almost anything in order to ensure she’s safe and never has to relive her past because of someone else’s actions or words.
I know Cali was pissed as hell and she went up one side of Carly and down the other one.
Punches were thrown and Carly is the one who now looks as if she went three rounds with a boxer instead of my best friend.
Annistyn still doesn’t know Cali is the one who beat the shit out of Carly and we don’t ever plan on her finding out.
The last thing we want is for her to change how she views Cali because of the violence.
Annistyn is also back to hardly eating anything.
Once a day she eats if Cali and I join her.
When she has a plate of food in front of her that’s made as small as the kids, she only takes a few bites, leaving most of the food behind.
We can’t get her to drink milk any longer.
The only thing she’ll have is water from a bottle, and she has to open it herself.
Honestly, I don’t think Annistyn actually takes five bites of food before she’s done.
It’s a restrictive form of an eating disorder and one I will be researching more when things settle down.
Right now, my focus has to be on Annistyn because I don’t want to see her disappear into the shell of the woman she was when she first arrived at the clubhouse.
It happens a little more each day and I don’t know how to stop her from pulling away from all of us.
The day after the park incident, I did buy her a phone on my plan.
It’s a new model smart phone and we’ve all been trying to teach her how to use it, but it’s slow.
Annistyn has a hard time remembering what to do other than making calls and responding to messages.
She doesn’t send a message to any of us first, but we have been sending her multiple messages a day in order to get her used to texting us back.
One day she’ll start messaging us first and I’ll patiently wait for it to happen.
Until then, I’ll keep helping her learn the phone and get used to being on it daily.
I hate to leave her for any reason, but I have to work and not treat her as if she’s a child who needs a babysitter.
I’m so worried about the woman who steals my heart each and every single day without even trying.
Viper and Cali have also been keeping a closer eye on Annistyn.
They spend time with her and try to get her to eat knowing she’s reverted back to how she was months ago when I first brought her here.
The three of us watch her when we’re at the clubhouse and have taken to remaining there in shifts.
When two of us are gone, one of us stays at the clubhouse in order for us to make sure she doesn’t overwork herself and comes out of her room.
For the most part, Annistyn stays in her room because she doesn’t want to be around everyone who saw her lose her shit.
I need to get Tank here immediately because he’s the only one who might be able to get a handle on the situation and figure out the best way to help Annistyn.
“We got church in five. Got a lot to go over today. Master also wants to talk to you in private,” Caleb says, walking up to the bar next to me where I watch Annistyn sit with Cali at the table in the back away from everyone else.
“I’m gonna talk to Annistyn before headin’ in. I want to know if she’s okay with others knowin’ what Master has to talk to me about,” I say, pushing off the bar and making my way across the room toward her. Annistyn’s eyes are locked on me as she watches me move toward her. “Can we talk, Pixie?”
She nods her head in response. That’s something else she’s reverted back to doing—barely responding with words and nodding or shaking her head in response to us.
I hate knowing she was making progress and a few words from a drunk skank caused her to go back to how she was months ago. This is all part of the process though.
I reach down and lace my fingers with Annistyn’s.
She doesn’t pull away from me and allows me to lead her from the common room and down the hall.
I take her into my office and close the door behind us while leaving it open a crack so she doesn’t feel as if I’m locking her in this room with me.
I will always do what I feel is best for her and making her feel as safe as possible with me is my only goal right now.
“Pixie, we’re havin’ church in a few minutes.
Master has been lookin’ into a few things for me and I was wonderin’ if he could share that information in front of the group.
If you’re not okay with it, that’s fine.
It would just save time and everyone would know what’s goin’ on at the same time.
I just don’t want to push past your comfort level and do somethin’ you don’t want me to,” I tell her, my voice a whisper because this is serious and I don’t want to make her sink into the depths of her mind.
“W-W-Will y-y-you g-g-go into detail,” she stammers, her sweet voice breaking again as she looks up at me with tears filling her eyes.
“Not great detail, Pixie. Just enough to ensure they understand what’s goin’ on.
The main thing you have to realize is that no one in the room with me will judge you for what’s been done to you.
You were the victim in the situation and deserve to be given the peace so you can recover however you need to.
If that means counseling, in-patient treatment, or anythin’ else you need.
I only want you to be protected when I’m not around to be there for you,” I answer her as she starts to tremble in front of me.
I’m dying to pull her into my arms, but until I get some sign from her, I don’t move an inch.
Annistyn looks up at me with fear filled eyes but there’s a determination behind the fear I rarely see in her.
She’s trying so hard to be strong and get past every single defense mechanism she’s put in place.
Not being able to hold back any longer, I take a step forward and pull her into my arms. Annistyn drapes her small ones over my shoulders and holds me close to her body.
I keep my arms locked around her and don’t let go until I feel her arms loosening around me.
Annistyn doesn’t take steps away from me though.
She continues to look up at me and nods her head once.
If I weren’t looking at her, I never would have seen her allow me to share parts of her story with the members of the club.
This is a huge step for her whether she realizes it or not.
“Thank you, Pixie. I’m gonna go to church now. Cali won’t leave until Reckless is done. I have a feelin’ they’ll be eatin’ dinner here tonight. Why don’t you go sit with her again?” I ask her as I lace our fingers together again and lead her from the room.
“Okay,” she whispers as we make our way down the hallway and toward the common room once more.
Once Annistyn is settled in her seat with Cali, I reluctantly release our hands and head for church.
Evan stands outside and takes the gun I carry at all times and my phone.
Without a word to the Prospect, I head inside and take my seat next to Caleb.
Manic sits on my other side while Force sits on the other side of Caleb.
Everyone else takes their seats while Master finishes setting up his laptop and pulling down the screen so we can all see whatever he has to pull up.
“Church in session!” Reckless says, slamming the gavel on the table in front of him.
“First order of business is Carly. She crossed a fuckin’ line the other day and the only one payin’ the price for it is Annistyn.
Her drinkin’ and bein’ drunk is no excuse for her puttin’ Annistyn in a position to relive somethin’ terrible.
All in favor of kickin’ her out of the clubhouse say ‘Aye’. ”
Everyone agrees to get rid of her as we go around the table with Reckless casting the final vote to remove her from the club.
Honestly, I wasn’t going to bring her up until the end of our meeting.
I didn’t realize Reckless was going to get her kicked out first thing.
Though, I really shouldn’t be surprised because he is my best friend and the only one here who truly knows how I feel about Annistyn.
“She’ll be informed of the decision once church is over.
I’ll be the one to tell her she’s no longer allowed in the clubhouse, on the property, or at any of our businesses.
I’d prefer to run her out of town, but we won’t take that step just yet.
She’ll get one more chance to leave us alone and find her own path in life.
Movin’ on. You all know the circumstances which brought Annistyn to the clubhouse.
She was one of the girls Link and the team rescued from the auction at the warehouse.
I was just informed yesterday everyone has been arrested and will be charged with multiple crimes.
Anyway, Annistyn has a story that is dark and twisted.
Link will share a little bit with us, but no questions will be answered and details will be the bare minimum.
This is her story to tell and she’s taken a huge step in allowin’ us to know anythin’ about her past,” Reckless says, looking around the table and pausing when his eyes find Viper who bows his head.