Chapter Thirteen
Master
ANNISTYN FOUND ME after she saw Taleah at the cemetery and told me she’ll be heading there today to move in so she can get treatment.
When we were talking, Annistyn cried when she was talking to me because of the lingering bruises on Taleah’s body.
She told me it reminded her of her past and she hates that some else has been hurt that bad.
Especially when she saw the bruising around Taleah’s neck.
That was the last conversation I had right before leaving to go see my sister and meet her family.
Annistyn’s words lingered with me all through the meal and the time we spent together.
I was distracted and everyone knew but didn’t call me out on my shit for once.
I have a feeling Elara knows why I was distracted and wasn’t going to bring it up in front of the kids.
I really like Tim. He was really standoffish when I first got there and Elara introduced us.
She told him what happened between us and he knows Taleah very well and is protective of her.
When I kind of explained my reasoning, Tim warmed up to me and we got along really good.
My niece and nephew, Nadia and David, are the absolute cutest kids in the world.
Yeah, I might be slightly biased as their uncle.
Nadia is one and a half and David just turned three.
Elara told me she was done having kids after her third was born.
They don’t know what they’re having yet, but she feels it will be another boy.
I hope she’s right. I plan on getting the kids a bunch of shit since I’ve missed so much of their lives so far, but I don’t want to until the new baby is born.
I don’t plan on telling Elara either because she’ll yell at me.
My sister doesn’t realize I have been saving all of my money and I’ve made some wise investments over the years.
I’m set financially and have more money than I know what to do with.
I’ll never spend it all during my lifetime.
By the time I got back to the clubhouse last night, I was exhausted but I couldn’t go to bed yet.
I talked to the guys to find out who was working the security detail on the ranch today.
Thankfully, Count was supposed to work and gave me his spot because he found out Taleah is going there.
Manic wasn’t about to give up his spot because he wants to spend time with Ivy and Charlotte.
We all know he has a thing for the young mom and cares about her infant daughter already.
He’s at the ranch seven days a week, even when he’s not assigned to be there.
We’re giving him space because he seems to be building something with this girl and he isn’t rushing things between the two of them.
Manic is doing things right and slowly getting to know her the way he should be.
“You ready to head to the ranch?” Viper asks me as I leave my office and make sure the door is locked.
“Yeah. I already packed a bag because I’ll be there overnight.
Not gonna leave Taleah there on her own for the first night.
This is gonna be a massive change for her and I need to be close by in case she has nightmares,” I answer him as we leave the hallway and head upstairs to our rooms. Both of us meet in the hallway again with our bags.
I guess Viper is staying overnight as well.
“Manic is already outside waitin’ on us.
He’s eager to get there because Ivy had a rough night last night once he left.
Manic seems to be one of the few people who can keep her calm when the nightmares get too bad.
I guess she begged them not to call Annistyn because she’s the only other one who can help Ivy.
It was bad enough they removed Charlotte from the room and one of the therapists took care of her overnight.
Ivy feels horrible and like she’s failin’ as a mom.
That’s the update I got when Force called me earlier.
He didn’t want to tell Manic, but he already knows,” Viper informs me as we leave the clubhouse and head for our bikes.
After tucking my bag in the saddle bags, I put my bandana and helmet on before straddling my bike.
The three of us start them at the same time and we leave the compound.
The trip to the ranch takes us to the other side of town.
Roger is about to start work on the second location where Annistyn grew up.
We’re going to help with the demolition and construction when he’s ready.
Annistyn will be involved but doesn’t want to step foot on the property until all of the buildings have been torn down.
Roger is currently selling off all of the animals.
None of them will work for the equestrian program he has.
The animals have been abused and not properly taken care of since Annistyn has been gone.
She was the only one who ever did anything on that farm.
Our trip takes just over a half hour to get there.
We park our bikes along the side of the house where Roger has put up a makeshift garage.
It’s one of those things you can move wherever it’s needed.
He didn’t want our bikes left out in the elements and we assured him we didn’t need anything special because our bikes are out in the open when we’re at the clubhouse.
“I’m gonna put my bag in the room I have here and go find Ivy and Charlotte. I need to see them,” Manic informs us before taking off.
Viper and I follow behind him and head in the house.
We all have rooms on the first floor to use when we work overnight.
They’re away from the individuals here for treatment so they feel at ease with us being on the property.
Viper takes the last room we’ve been given while I take the first one.
I need to be close to wherever Taleah will be sleeping so I can get to her as soon as possible if she has nightmares.
Mr. Winslow already told me she has them every single night.
I know he’s on a business trip with his wife and he called to keep me updated because they were worried about her being all alone.
That’s why I was adamant about leaving the club if I had to in order to protect my girl.
She can’t be all alone after everything she’s been through.
After leaving my bag in the room on the bed, I head back outside to meet up with M.B.
and Demon. They were the ones working overnight and we always check in with the previous team to go over any problems or things that happened while they were here.
None of us talk about private matters involving the people here for treatment because it’s against the law and we don’t know much of that anyway.
When they’re done giving us the relevant information, M.B.
and Demon leave us alone. Viper takes off after letting me know he’ll be at the back of the property because he knows I want to stay close to the front where I can see Taleah when she arrives here.
Annistyn is also going to show up at some point because she wants to be here when my girl arrives.
Wants her to see a friendly face she’s already met before.
I’m walking along the fence line when I see Annistyn’s SUV pull in followed by Taleah’s car.
They park in front of the house before Annistyn helps Taleah get out and grab her things.
Obviously Taleah can’t carry in her bags and use the walker at the same time.
Annistyn takes them from her and they disappear in the house from the side entrance where there aren’t any steps for Taleah to worry about.
I know they’ll be in there a while as Roger shows my girl around and lets her get settled in her room.
I remain at my post while keeping an eye on the house so I can see when they come back outside.
Roger will show her where the therapists offices are and the barn.
I have a feeling Taleah will spend most of her free time in the barn because she’s always loved animals.
It’s been a few hours and Taleah finally makes her way around the side of the house.
She’s alone as she slowly makes her way toward the barn.
The ground is uneven in spots and it takes a lot for her to maneuver the walk over the grass.
I want to go to her and help, but I know we’re not there yet.
I’m not sure if we’ll ever be there again.
Silently, I follow behind Taleah as she finally disappears in the barn.
I don’t immediately follow her inside as I simply listen to her movements and the sounds from the horses and puppies.
When I hear her crying, I make my way in the barn and carefully make my way closer to the woman I hate to see cry for any reason.
Taleah is leaning against the body of a horse.
The large animal doesn’t move as it gives my girl comfort the only way it can.
This is one of the more gentle horses from what I’ve been told.
A lot of the individuals here love this one.
I believe it’s name is Storm. She’s huge and dark brown with a white stripe down her nose.
Taleah lets go of the walker and wraps her arms around the horse’s neck.
I want to laugh as Storm rests her head heavier on Taleah’s shoulder but not enough to knock her over or make her unsteady on her feet.
“I can feel you staring at me,” Taleah says, her voice a broken sob as she continues to bury her face in the horse’s neck.
“It’s a sight I haven’t seen in a very long time, Doll. You think I’m gonna pass up the chance to look at you when you’re right in front of me?” I ask her, stepping closer but not enough to make her uncomfortable with me being near.