Chapter 2 #2
I shake my head. “There is nothing to fix.” She moves toward me, her aging body shuffling slightly, and I see that body splayed out at the bottom of her mansion steps because of Justin. I can’t lose her. “Please, just let it be, Gigi.”
She takes a deep breath, looks at me as if scrutinizing something important, before glancing toward the door.
“If he’s hurt you, I’ll have him taken care of.
Your papa told me there was a way one time.
I won’t tell you more, but be assured, I’m here to protect you.
Now, follow me to the car. I have a gift for you. ”
Allowing her to take my arm, I lead her past Justin and out the side door where Clint waits with a small pet carrier.
“You needed something to make you feel like you weren’t alone when you’re studying.”
I investigate the crate, and this time I jump up and down like a kid. Plowing into Gigi, I wrap my arms around her as she laughs. In the crate is the tiniest white-and-gray fluffball Persian kitten with the bluest eyes.
“Thank you, Gigi,” I shout, and Clint now laughs, too. I hug them both, take my new little baby to my car, and place him in the back seat before waving as they leave.
“Are you trying to run off on me?” Justin corners me before I can return to the house.
“No, Gigi just gave me a gift.”
“Did you tell her?” Justin grips my arm tight, and I can’t help but yelp as he twists and squeezes my arm.
“No. Stop, Justin, you’re hurting me.”
“I’m going to hurt you, alright.” He backs me up to my car, and before long, his hands wrap around my throat, squeezing hard.
“If I didn’t need you, I’d just kill you and get rid of your body.
But I do need you. I’m going to have to fuck this fat-ass body.
” He scans my frame while squeezing harder, and my breath stalls.
I claw at his hands to stop him, but he won’t; he continues applying pressure until I’m about to pass out.
Leaning in, he licks my cheek and sneers, “But I’ll be the first and only cock to ever get into your body.
Play nice, and I might make it fun for you too. ” He releases me and steps away.
I gasp and drop to the ground, trying to draw air into my burning lungs. Standing when I can, I turn toward the house to go say goodbye to my parents when Justin grabs my arm again.
“Don’t you fucking go back in there. They’ll see my marks on your neck.
Are you fucking stupid or something?” He smacks me hard, and my lip splits as tears spring to my eyes.
“I’ll tell them you had to get back to campus.
Now go. Be a good girl, Evie,” he mocks before I close the door on him. I hate that phrase.
Driving away from my parents’ house, my heart is in my throat. My eyes sting from the tears, blood drips from my split lip, and it’s now crystal clear that I’m trapped. What am I going to do?
I call my parents after crossing the bridge, tell them I love them, and I’m sorry, I must study.
“That’s what Justin said. Are you okay, sweetheart?” my mother asks, and with no easy answer, I hold back the sob as more tears drip down my face.
“I’m just tired, Mom. I’ll see you on Saturday with Dad, right?”
“Yes. We’ll see you then.”
I stop on the side of the road before entering Eastport and cry for an hour.
To keep my family safe, I must do this. For years, it was apparent that Justin could become abusive; he just withheld it until now.
He’s no longer keeping that part of him hidden.
I’ve sensed his evil. It’s been awakened, and I’m scared.
Pulling into my parking space at my off-campus apartment complex, I shut off the car and glance over at the kennel with my new, little fur baby. I didn’t even think of getting him food or anything.
Inside my apartment, I immediately lock the door before opening the kennel and lifting the kitty out.
He’s so cute and sweet. I’ll call him Cassini, after the renowned fashion designer who dressed Jackie Kennedy when she was first lady, and even afterwards when she became an Onassis.
He perfected the “Jackie Look” and inspired me while researching designers years ago.
I cuddle with the kitten as I set up a DoorDash delivery from the local pet store, then head to the bathroom to inspect the damage to my face.
My lip is swollen, and Justin is correct, his handprints bruise my neck.
Hiding all of this will be challenging, but I’ll figure out a way.
For tomorrow’s classes, I can possibly wear an outfit I’ve been designing.
Practice, however, I might just have to call out or hope they fade enough that no one notices.
By the time Cassini’s supplies are delivered, and I’ve done some studying, I’m worn out and fall asleep with nightmares of Justin killing me.
Judge
After dropping off my sister and arriving at the Shiver of Chaos clubhouse, I’m exhausted and ready for sleep.
Striding into the building, I shake hands with familiar members and learn that Gambit, their president, has already gone home with his expectant wife.
My guys and I party with the members who are around, and I make my way up to a room without a chick.
Hooks hooked up with a girl, and maybe the other two did as well, but I couldn’t.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t propositioned, I was. I just couldn’t get the luscious Evie out of my mind. I even had to take care of myself in the shower to her image. My fantasy was those red lips wrapped around my cock as she sucked me off.
Gaining control of myself is necessary before seeing her next time, or I’ll likely throw her over my shoulder and take off with her.
That’s a pleasant thought. I could just take her for myself, knock her up, and never let her go.
She’ll eventually care for me, won’t she?
Isn’t that what psychiatrists say? It’s a sick idea, but one I honestly like.
I’ll evaluate these feelings sometime soon. I’ve never thought of another woman this way. Never thought of kidnapping someone and hoping they get Stockholm Syndrome.
My phone rings as I step out of the bathroom. It’s my sister.
“Hey, Ruby Roo, why are you calling me? Don’t you have an early class?”
“Yeah, I do, but something is wrong with Evie. She wouldn’t come get me after she got back.”
“Maybe she was tired. Didn’t you say she had to drive over to Newport?”
“Well, yeah, but there’s something else. Her voice sounded off.”
“What do you want me to do, sis?” I know what I want to do.
“Will you come get me and take me to her apartment to check on her. She lives off campus, and you don’t want me walking in the dark, right?”
“Let me see if I can get a cage to drive instead of my bike.”
“Okay. Call me when you know.”
Hanging up, I make my way back out to the main room. Members are still partying and getting it on with chicks. The first guy I come across is Jumper, the club’s Sergeant-at-Arms.
“Hey, man, you got a cage I can borrow. My sister needs me.”
Hammer, who lounges nearby, jumps up. “What’s up with baby girl?” My men don’t take protecting my sister as an assignment but a desire.
“She’s okay, but she’s worried about her friend.”
Spike stands up too. “Let’s go.”
Taking a moment to observe both of my men, I glance between them, trying to determine if it’s Evie that they’re into, or if it’s just helping Ruby.
“Yeah, here.” Jumper tosses me a set of keys. “It’s the Escalade out there. You can’t miss it.”
Together, the three of us march out of the clubhouse. The key fob button in my hand brings a dark-colored SUV to life. As I get closer to it, I can tell it’s black and lifted on heavy off-road tires. If I didn’t know Jumper, I’d laugh and say he has short man’s syndrome.
We all climb in and drive back toward campus just north of town. As soon as I pull up to the curb, Ruby rushes out and climbs in the back.
“She’s just off campus in a small apartment complex. She didn’t even message me when she got home. I’m the one who checked on her. She was still on the road, which was odd because it was only a thirty-five-minute drive. Her mother called me before that and asked if I’d heard from her yet.”
“You’re friends with her parents?” Hammer asks.
“Yep. Went to their house and then to her grandma’s estate.
She’s one of those rich old ladies whose house is too big for her, but she’s not pretentious.
All of Evie’s family is very down-to-earth.
They didn’t judge me at all when I told them I was raised by my father, who was president of a motorcycle club.
As a matter of fact…” She pauses for a moment as a thought hits her.
“I think she knew Grandpa. Said that her husband once defended a gentleman from Jupiter.”
I turn to gauge her seriousness. That’s something only a few people know about.
My grandfather’s cemetery had been illegally investigated by the state police years ago.
It was prior to developing a relationship with the local sheriff.
He was charged with several counts of improper disposal of human remains, concealing a death, and desecrating a corpse.
They couldn’t prove he killed the man, but his attorney got everything thrown out due to an illegal search.
Technically, the pet cemetery is private property.
“You’re serious. She said that?” I ask.
“Yep. She didn’t give me names but said her husband, Flint, defended a man on false charges. They never had proof there were any bodies there.” Ruby sighs for a second. “Is that true?”
My sister shouldn’t be privy to club business, and this is technically that kind of business. It happened before my father chartered a membership with Kings of Anarchy, which wasn’t established at the time, but since the club now runs the pet cemetery, it’s not something I should confirm or deny.
“Please don’t worry about this, Ruby. But I do know that Gramps had to hire a bigwig attorney from Providence. Dad did, too, for something once. Was the same guy’s son.”
“So, our family and theirs have been friends for years.”
“I guess.”
It worries me that Evie is related to this family. She and I getting involved would be a complication I don’t want to involve the club in. It’s a favor that was never returned. Yeah, money was passed, but both men helped us out in extraordinary ways.
Ruby directs me, and we make our way to the apartment complex.
Evie’s Audi is parked against the curb, and I find a spot in the guest parking area.
We all exit the SUV, and Ruby rushes ahead of us.
She knocks as we climb the stairs to the third floor, beating us to the door.
And as soon as Evie opens up, I recognize something is wrong.
Her beautiful amber eyes are swollen from crying.
“Ruby, what are you doing here?” she asks and leans out the door. When she sees us, panic kicks in. She starts trembling and turns to monitor the parking lot. “You can’t be here.” She looks at me, not my sister.
Ruby pushes her back into the apartment, and we follow along. Hammer closes the door behind us.
Evie’s lip is swollen and split.
Not thinking twice, I step toward her, and when she retreats, I continue advancing until I fill her space, pressing against the refrigerator behind her.
“What happened, sweet cheeks?” I ask, gently laying a hand against the side of her face.
She feels so soft. She’s wearing no makeup now, and her olive skin is clean and glowing.
Her hair trails down her back in loose, wavy curls.
It’s natural, whereas most women would pay hundreds of dollars for this style.
“It’s nothing,” she lies as her eyes focus on my collarbone instead of looking me in the eye.
“Eyes,” I order, and when they snap to mine, I observe the color lighten from a golden copper to an almost honey color.
It’s in that moment that a sense of peace settles in my chest. My heart thumps furiously, and I know I’d do anything for this sweet creature.
“Who hurt you, baby? I want to help you.”
Her eyes transition again. This time they shutter, and the color goes flat. Her every expression is displayed in those exquisite irises. “I can’t. You must leave. If he finds out you’re here, it won’t be good.”
“You broke up with Justin.” Ruby moves in close to us. Evie steps away, and the collar of her sweater shifts. Her neck is marred with bruises.
Anger like I’ve never felt before floods my system. My body tightens as I realize what was exposed, and I slowly reach for her collar. Stretching it away, the marks become visible, and air whooshes from my lungs, burning with the need for oxygen. I will kill the fucker who damaged her like this.
“Sweet cheeks, did he do this to you?”
She looks at me, and in her eyes, I see what she won’t say. But it’s Hammer that speaks instead of her. “We need to go.”
I whip my head around to stare him down. I’m not leaving her like this. “No,” I growl the single word through clenched teeth.
“Please,” she begs, and when I turn back to her, tears pool in her eyes.
I step away, hating myself for making this sweet girl cry. “I’ll return. Just call me if you need help. Ruby will give you my number. Put it in your phone so only you know it’s me.”
“I don’t know you,” she whimpers, her voice heartbreakingly soft. “Why would you help me?”
“My name is Lucian. I’ll always be there for you.” I caress her cheek, and being unable to help myself, I lean down and kiss her forehead. She sighs, and her hands grip my waist, holding on for dear life. “I’m leaving for now because you asked me to.”
Ruby doesn’t give up so easily. “I’m not leaving. I don’t care what Justin says or threatens; he can’t hurt me.”
Evie responds, “Ruby, I can’t. You must leave, but I won’t cut you off. I promise,” then she releases me, and her loss is instantly felt.
I take Ruby’s hand, and we step toward the door. Hammer moves toward Evie, whispers something to her, and the tears roll harder down her face as she nods. She says nothing more, but as we step out the door, I worry we’ve just left her to deal with the devil.