Chapter 1
Chapter One
CJ
Two Weeks Ago . . .
“You know you don’t have to leave, right?” I close my eyes and hold back from groaning at my ex-boss/friend, Kenny’s voice.
I’d met her when I first moved here two years ago and quickly became friends with her and the rest of the ol’ ladies who come into Outlaw Racks. Hell, I’d even made friends with several of their men who are members of the Devil’s Riot MC.
Which was my mistake. I knew becoming friends with any of them had the potential for disaster. It happens every time. I move somewhere, it’s good in the beginning only to have things happen and those around me end up getting hurt. That or they end up leaving me when they find out the truth.
I refuse to allow something to happen to Kenny or any of the others around here. They all have kids to take care of and from what I’ve heard, they’ve been through enough in their life to deal with anything else.
I finish loading the last of my boxes into the back of my truck, which I’d bought when I first moved here.
I turn to look at Kenny and see the concern in her eyes.
She’s a ballsy woman, but I’ve learned she’s got a heart of gold.
It’s why I’m leaving now to keep anything from happening to her. Or anyone else.
The threats started a couple months ago, and I won’t let those threats be carried out.
I swear to them, it’s just a game that has ruined my life, but to me, it’s life or death as I do what I can to survive.
It’s why at twenty-four, I’m still a virgin with no hopes of finding someone to be with.
Plus, I know if they find out I’ve lost the one thing they want most, hell will be reaped not on just me anymore but my little sister who lives in Alabama with her adoptive parents.
Our parents died when we were just kids and where my aunt and uncle took me into their care, they threw Apricot away like she was nothing. Yes, my sister’s name is Apricot. Mine’s Citrus, which is why I go by my initials, CJ.
Anyway, I survive to give her the life she deserves to have.
I’ve looked into her family and they protect her in a way I’m thankful for.
Marcus, her stepdad, has offered many times for me to come there and stay with them, but I refuse.
I sometimes think he knows. He’s a member of the Toxic Warriors MC down there and gives my sister all the affection a girl should get from a father.
I sometimes wish I could go down there and live a happy life.
Then I think about what will happen if they find me there and decide they’ll go for Apricot as well. I don’t want that to happen.
“This is for the best. I need a change in scenery,” I say, hoping she believes me.
Nodding, Kenny sighs. “Okay, fine, but you’re going down to South Carolina to take that management position I told you about, right?”
“Yeah, I’ve already spoken to Hammer from the club and told him I’m heading that way. He’s got a house ready for me to rent and everything,” I mutter, thinking of the conversation I’d had with the man.
He’d asked questions about my experience with bars and I’d been honest. I’ve been working in them since I was sixteen and could get a fake ID. It’s at this age, I ran away from home and never looked back. From there, I lived in my car that I’d bought dirt cheap.
Damnit. I don’t like the fact I’d been so forthcoming with my history. Maybe it’s ‘cause he’d had his ol’ lady, Avery, talk to me first, to butter me up. I don’t know.
All I know is he knew things I didn’t want him to and now I gotta hope he keeps that shit to himself like I’d asked. I don’t want people knowing my life story and I intend to be keeping to myself when I’m not working.
“Okay, well, you better keep in touch as much as possible. I want to know how it’s going down there,” Kenny states with a smile in place. The sound of motorcycles coming down the road has her smile brightening even more so.
I envy her relationship with Horse. In my opinion, they complement each other and show their affection toward one another as much as possible.
“I’ll keep you up to date. But I’ve gotta get on the road if I want to make it down there in a decent amount of time without dealing with a lot of traffic,” I murmur, not wanting to leave but at the same time having no choice.
From the last threat I received, it was directed to Kenny and her daughter. I couldn’t let any of that happen to them.
Kenny hugs me, and I climb up into the driver’s seat as several motorcycles pull up next to Kenny’s SUV.
I give them all a wave and start the truck. Putting the ignition in gear, I pull out of the driveway, turn left and head for my next place to call home for the time being.
Way too many hours later, I’m finally pulling into the driveway of my home.
It seems everything that could go wrong on the way down did.
First, I ended up getting rear-ended by this little Honda.
They did more damage to their car and barely scratched my bumper.
Then after stopping for gas to top off my tank, my phone rang with a message from an unknown number.
Run and hide again. Time ticks by and time speeds up. Don’t worry, mouse, the cat will catch you again and next time will be the last time for this little game to end.
My heart lurched and I’d started to panic as I read the message nearly twenty times before putting my phone down.
I finished pumping gas and got back on the road without worrying about food or stopping for anything else.
Of course, when I get about an hour away from my new home, I have a tire blow on me, and I ended up on the side of the road.
Thankfully, I had my spare and I knew how to change my own damn tire.
Now finally pulling into the driveway, I’m both physically and mentally exhausted. I put the truck in park and shut the motor down. Opening the driver’s door, I hop down and head for the front door and bend down to snag the key from under the mat where Hammer and Avery told me they’d put it.
Men’s voices can be heard from across the street, and I look to see several motorcycles parked in the driveway.
A little girl squeals and runs around the men’s feet as she plays.
Sighing, I pray I’m about to keep them from coming around me.
Unlocking the door, I take a moment to examine the inside of the house.
They’d said it would be furnished, which was good since I didn’t have any furniture.
Once I have the lay of the house, I go back outside and start to unload the back of my truck, more than ready to pass out. I ignore the offers of help with a wave of my hand and finish what I’m doing.
With the last box in tow, I close the tailgate and head for the door, not missing the fact the men are watching me.
I’m used to the stares, it’s not uncommon. I get them all the time. See, I’ve not only got a unique name, but I have the hair to go with it along with the scars to go along with it all. I guess you can say that’s another reason I’m still a virgin.
Maybe, I don’t know. All I know is this time around, or until they finally do catch up to me, I’ll make sure they never hurt someone again.
My aunt and uncle see me as their slave to do with as they please.
My uncle claims he owns my body, where my aunt has her own claim.
She preferred to beat me while my uncle found other ways to do his infliction of pain.
When they were bored with me and wanted something new, they’d throw me to the wolves. This was when the cat and mouse game started, and now they want it to come to an end.
Guess one way or another, I’ll be ending it once and for all, dead or alive. But I won’t be going back there. No way in hell will I allow them to hurt me anymore than they already have.