Chapter Eleven – Matilda
Worried about Harley, Mattie slipped away amid Diesel and CJ’s showdown. Those two argued at a moment’s notice and if they decided to throw hands she didn’t want to be anywhere near.
Her bookbag was still in the auditorium.
With Harley’s play premiering this Friday, she was spending most of her time there, so Mattie stopped in and checked on her on her way to her French class.
What she hadn’t expected was seeing Harley on the floor in tears with her nose bleeding and claiming she’d fallen from the catwalk, which was nowhere near.
The catwalk was above the stage and Harley was away from the stage, in an aisle.
Harley begged her not to worry Uncle Mort and Uncle Christopher and swore her injuries happened as she described.
Mattie did the only thing possible and got Harley to the nurse, then ran to CJ’s class to get him, so Harley wouldn’t return to the auditorium after her triage.
When Wally had been terrorizing Mattie at school, she made illogical decisions too.
Insanely, Harley’s trauma not only worried Mattie on behalf of her friend, but it also made her feel as if she was the target again.
Skidding to a halt, she glanced around. Pressed her fingertips to her wet cheeks. Drew in harsh breaths, since she’d run all the way to her current location, as if she was trying to outrun her own demons. She sniffled, wanting her mother.
Swiping her wet cheeks, she took her cellphone out of her blazer pocket.
Mommy, Harley’s in trouble and I’m scared. Please call me.
It wasn’t until after Mattie pressed send and reread the message that she realized she’d written Mommy. After five minutes, she realized her mother was probably in court and wouldn’t answer anytime soon.
Covering her mouth to hold in her sob, Mattie realized she was near the parking lot of the mall, where brush and brambles filled the pathway. Overgrowth stretched on each side because the city refused to landscape the area.
Her thoughts were so jumbled, she wondered if she’d be any help to Harley.
“You’re Mattie, ain’t you?”
Mattie blinked and turned toward the owner of the voice. The small man had a long beard, wrinkled skin, bloodshot eyes, and a wild, feral look.
“You don’t have to answer, Mattie. Usually don’t remember cunts, Mattie. But they got something I want, Mattie. My bitch, Mattie.”
Afraid to respond, Mattie took a step back. The moment she moved, he stepped closer.
“Ain’t got to tell me your name, Mattie. I recognize your face, Mattie. Still don’t know who I am, Mattie?”
Should she answer? Sometimes, Eric and Billy hurt her more when she did. She wanted to ask why he insisted on saying her name every time…
The day Aunt Meggie locked her and Rebel in the car and confronted a little man surrounded by bikers rose in her head. Later, Aunt Meggie grumbled about how he said Meggie so many times, she wanted to slap him.
Mattie’s gaze flew to Wally, Jr. Wally’s father. Willard’s father. She was in so much trouble.
He smirked. “I see you figured it out, Mattie. Come with me like a good bitch, Mattie.”
He stuck his hand in his pocket, but she didn’t wait to see if it was a gun, a knife, or something innocuous.
Screaming, she sprinted away, praying she reached the part of the pathway bordered by the street. She almost did. Except right before she would’ve made it, he tackled her and momentarily knocked the wind out of her.
He flipped her skirt up and pressed his erection against her backside. Tears pooled in her eyes, but she wouldn’t give in without a fight. She used up the little air she’d gotten back to scream again.
He slapped the back of her head. “Shut up, slut,” he whispered against her ear, his rancid breath and unwashed body turning her stomach, “and keep fucking still. I’m turning you over and if you try anything, you’re going to be fucking sorry.”
If she didn’t try, she’d be even sorrier. The moment his hold slackened, she bucked against him and knocked him off her. Before he got his bearings, she balled her fist and screamed again.
“You fucking bitch!” he snarled, and punched her jaw, momentarily stunning her.
He ripped her panties away.
“No!” she sobbed. “Please!”
“Fuck you,” he said, wrapping his hands around her throat and squeezing.
Suddenly, she was free. Grabbing her throat, she rolled to her side and coughed through her sobs. Flesh connecting with flesh rose in the silence around her before Wally, Jr. landed next to her, knocked out. Or dead. She didn’t care which. She just wanted her mother.
Mama…
God, if Daddy found out, he’d hate Mattie. He’d blame her and call her all kinds of names.
“Mattie?”
She thought she was imagining Grant Harrington’s voice. He wasn’t a fighter. That was more Diesel’s style. Then, Grant kneeled next to her, blond and strapping, his eyes gentle. His hand brushed her thigh. It took her a moment to realize he was covering her.
He lifted her into his arms and stood without breaking a sweat.
“Don’t tell Daddy,” she whispered. “Please?”
“We’re all at Turn Creek Bridge, sweetheart,” he explained, starting to walk in that direction. “We drove there and CJ realized you were unaccounted for.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I just wanted to check on Harley. I didn’t know he was there.”
“It’s okay. No one blames you.”
“Daddy will,” she said, a little hysterical. “I can walk.”
“No, you can’t. You lost your shoes.”
“I wore my slip-on Oxfords today. I shouldn’t have. I won’t ever do it again. Daddy hates my slip-ons. He said it takes away from my uniform. He doesn’t like me to wear pants either. Ladies wear skirts. I’m not a lady though. I can wear pants.”
Grant allowed her to ramble, for which she was grateful.
She yapped as he walked up the pedestrian deck and didn’t stop.
She jabbered as he made his way down the other side and voices filled the air.
But when those voices stopped, it seeped into her brain that Grant had reached everyone and they were staring at her.
Suddenly, Diesel loomed next to her. “Nardo?”
Mattie wasn’t sure how he infused such viciousness into that one word, but he did.
“Wally, Jr.,” she croaked. Her throat was throbbing as much as all the places he’d hit.
She started to cry again. Or, maybe, she’d never stopped and she was so…
so hysterical—real ladies never lost control—that she didn’t feel her tears.
“He…he…don’t tell Daddy, Diesel. Please. He just started loving me again.”
Fury marched across Diesel’s face. “Can you walk?”
She knew what he was asking. “We didn’t have sex. I-I fought him.”
“She’s in her bare feet,” Grant explained. “She probably lost her shoes in the fight.”
“I shouldn’t have worn those shoes. Daddy hates them.”
“Mattie!” Rory cried, running to her and yanking her from Grant. He set her on her feet, then grabbed her shoulders to steady her. “We were in the picnic shelter with Harley. What happened to you?”
“Wally, Jr.,” Diesel said coldly. “I’m wondering if he got to Harley, too.”
“It was Ned Grevenberg, Nardo’s father,” Rory said as Diesel stalked away. “CJ finally got it out of Harley. She didn’t want Mattie to call Uncle Mort because that motherfucker said he’d shoot Uncle Mort down because he was hiding in a place no one could find him but where he could see everything.”
“Mattie!” Axel cried, racing toward her from the direction of the dilapidated shelter. “What happened?” He looked at her feet. “My men and me’ll go to the mall to get you new shoes. Wait here. Okay?”
“No!” Mattie shook her head frantically, sick to her stomach. “I can’t have shoes,” she sobbed. “They won’t be right, Axel. You can’t get them.”
“Do you want socks?” Axel asked, stepping toward her then stopping without anyone telling him to. “What happened?” he asked again.
A lot. Nothing. Everything. “I don’t know.”
“Did somebody hurt you?” he asked.
She started shaking. “I want my mom.”
Axel closed the distance between them and gave her a quick hug before letting her go.
“You need shoes, Matt,” Rory told her. “You can cut your feet.”
“No, please. Daddy will be mad at me and…and…and…” She raised her gaze to her brother, trying to control herself. “I don’t ever want to see those shoes again. But…but I-I need shoes. I–”
Rory’s stricken look left her even more afraid and ashamed. “Please, Rory?” she begged, not sure what she was asking. But one thing she knew: “I want Mama.”
Rory hugged her tightly. “We’ll call her, ” he said gently. “And I swear to you if Dad upsets you, I will gut that motherfucker. He’s the fucking reason this shit is so fucking out-of-hand.”
“We’ll find your shoes, Mattie,” Axel promised, “and toss those motherfuckers in Turn Creek. They’ll be to you like Red Riding Hood is to me. Triggertizing.”
“No, he’s still there. Grant just knocked him out. You can’t go there, Axel,” she sobbed. “He’ll hurt you. He tore my panties off and everything. Please. I love you. All of you. You’re my family. Please.”
“Breathe, Mattie,” Grant told her, in front of her again, his hands on her shoulders.
Mattie heaved in a breath, unable to calm herself. It felt as if she was in the middle of a nightmare, hovering just above but somehow still in the thick of it. “Where’s Rory? Don’t let him go, Grant. Daddy loves Rory more than me and if he’s hurt, he’ll kill me.”
“I’m here, sister,” Rory said, his voice cracking. “I swear.”
“He just needs a moment,” Grant told her.
“What happened to you?” Ryan asked from behind the crowd of boys.
“Stretch and Val are on the way,” Bishop said from the same direction. “We can’t reach Mortician or Outlaw.”
“What the fuck?” CJ finally stepped into view, his arm around Harley, his jacket on her.
Bishop weaved his way through the crowd and his eyes widened.
“Wally, Jr.,” Grant said for the hundredth time.
“He s-said we h-have something he wants,” Mattie blurted, picking out each of their faces.
Ryan and Devon, standing side-by-side, shocked into silence.
Axel taking in everything and glancing between Ryder and Ransom.
CJ holding onto Harley, a combination of anger and concern on his face.
Rory, his eyes filled with pain and anger, hardly able to meet her gaze.
Bishop just seemed incredulous, while Harley stood in silence, her head bowed, much like it had been earlier as she explained herself to Ms. Mendez.
“I don’t know what that is,” Mattie admitted, suddenly exhausted. “I don’t even know where Wallace is.”
“He didn’t mean his sons,” Ryan said in a stricken voice. “He meant his wife. Eliza.”
“He’s gone,” Diesel snarled from behind Mattie.
“We have to get people out here to cut back that overgrowth,” CJ said. “This is the second fucking time one of those motherfuckers have gotten one of our girls. First, Rebel. Now, Mattie.”
“Bishop, call as many brothers as you can,” Diesel instructed. “Tell them to move their asses and bring lawn equipment. Anything available.” He started to say something else, then gritted his teeth and looked at CJ. “Only that spot or anywhere else?”
“Just there for now,” CJ said. “Tell them to hurry, Bishop.”
“Dude, shouldn’t Outlaw give that order?” Bishop said nervously.
“Is Dad here?” Axel demanded. “That motherfucker should answer his fucking phone. He knows we’re all at fucking school. CJ gave the fucking order. That should be enough.”
“CJ isn’t a fucking member,” Bishop retorted.
“Diesel is, fuckface,” Axel said. “So either you get those motherfuckers out here or I’m going home and getting my fucking bombs and blowing all of that up.”
Mattie heaved in a breath, blocking out the arguments, staring at Grant to calm herself since his face was so kind.
“Grant, call Aunt Bailey,” CJ said. “I still can’t reach Uncle Mort, Dad, or Mom.”
“I can’t reach my mom either,” Rory announced.
“Are they okay?” Mattie asked, hysteria rising up again. “Mama was supposed to be in court. Shouldn’t she be out for lunch by now?”
“We’ll find out soon,” CJ told her. “Grant, carry Mattie to Diesel’s Mercedes. I’m bringing her and Harley to the club.”
Mattie stumbled back and shook her head. “No! Daddy’s there. Please, please, please. He can’t see me. I’m fine. I promise. I’m fine. I just…take me to Mama’s office. Please. I can wait for her there. Please.”
“Okay, sweetheart,” Grant said, grasping her shoulders. “Okay. We’ll take you to either Aunt Kendall or Bailey.”
“No! Daddy’s office is near Aunt Bailey’s and—”
“We’ll take them to Aunt Kendall,” CJ said in a pained voice.
“I-I have something to do.” Ryan hurried up the bridge with Devon hot on his heels.
Diesel returned again. Mattie hadn’t realized he’d walked away another time.
“Narci, Torrin, Huck, Potter, and Pike are on the way,” he said. “Was Wally, Jr. wearing a cut?”
Mattie shook her head.
“Either that motherfucker went rogue or Bash played Kendall,” Diesel said grimly, then nodded between Mattie and Harley. “Suppose this had been Rebel? With either of those fuckheads?”
At the look in his eyes, Mattie stepped closer to Grant.
“Rebel’s at home, all safe and sound, Diesel,” CJ told him cautiously. “She’s fine. Mattie and Harley aren’t. They’re our concern right now.”
Diesel’s nostrils flared. “Get them to safety, CJ,” he ordered, and stalked away.