I Dare You To Meet Me
Chapter 24

How the f**k did you think it was a good idea to leave your brother alone in a park! Hades shouted, making Bruno’s a*****e startle.

-He’s always complaining that he’s bored when he’s here, so I thought it was best for him to enjoy himself a bit. You know he doesn’t spend much time with kids his age,” he babbles and I roll my eyes.

Was he born this dumb or did he just hit his head?

-What if something more serious had happened to him, what if he had broken something, what if when you went to pick him up he just wasn’t there anymore, how stupid can you be?

I’m sure Hades’ screams can be heard all the way down the block. Bruno lowers his head and looks embarrassed.

-Maybe I didn’t think it through…”. He starts and I laugh.

-I can tell. He glares at me when I interrupt him, I just fold my arms and give him an ironic look.

-You shut up, you have nothing to do with this. He lets me go and I just click my tongue.

-Considering that I was the one who found our brother bleeding, cured him, and brought him here, I think I’ve earned the right to say how much of an idiot you were.

Bruno reddens with rage and opens his mouth to yell something at me. But Hades interrupts him.

-Don’t even think about saying anything to him, the only thing you’re going to open your mouth for is to thank him for correcting your mistake. You’re also going to go outside, look for Gael, and ask him on your knees for forgiveness for leaving him alone. Then you’re going to ask him what he wants to do and you’re going to fulfill every f*****g whim he has, even if it’s the stupidest thing like riding a f*****g unicorn. Am I clear?

-But today I have to finish the car for Sawyer, you know the deadline is tomorrow and he doesn’t tolerate procrastination. Bruno excuses himself and my father gives him a death look.

-As I already told your brother, Bloody is here and he can take care of the engine perfectly. Hades says with a deadly serious voice, and my stepbrother denies a little.

-He asked permission to leave early and the car needs at least all afternoon to be ready.

Hades rolls his eyes and throws his arms in the air in frustration.

-If you’re so busy, why the hell did you bring Gael to take care of him! My father shouts losing his patience and I bite my l*p as an idea crosses my mind.

-I didn’t want to bring him! Mom left him to me last minute with a note and I couldn’t refuse! That’s precisely why I left him in the park! Bruno also says, losing his patience, and before they make my head even more dazed with their shouting I clear my throat, both men with the same eyes turn to look at me.

One annoyed and the other inquisitive.

-I can take care of him if they want. I blurt out as I fold my arms.

The bikers stare at me as if I’d claimed I’d seen the penguins fly. I snap my fingers to snap them out of their reverie.

-You, take care of my brother? Bruno said and made a disgusted face at me. I gave him a cold look to show him how little I cared about his opinion.

-Yes, I do. Or are you afraid that the kid will end up seeing how trashy you are as a brother and will love me more? I answer him while arching an eyebrow and looking at him with defiance.

-Are you sure of what you’re saying, you’d have to be with him all afternoon at least. Hades interferes and I stop seeing Bruno’s reddened face to see his serious one.

I’m a better person.

A cold smile plants itself on my face. As I look at him.

-Believe me, if there’s one person in this place I can stand for that long, it’s that boy, so yes, I’m sure. My words cut like a knife and I hope the double entendre is clear to him.

From her wounded expression it seems to me that she has. But again he says nothing to me and just nods.

I almost roll my eyes at his passive and tolerant attitude.

If at some point he has the balls and courage to tell me the things he really feels instead of beating around the bush and crying to others maybe this relationship can go somewhere. Not before.

-Dad, I don’t think it’s right. Gael has no f*****g idea who she is. Bruno intervenes and I can tell by his voice that he is having a hard time controlling himself.

-For starters, he doesn’t need to know who I am to spend time with me, besides that didn’t matter to him when he asked me for help because he was hurt because someone left him alone. I emphasized the last words and enjoyed seeing the dead expression he gave me.

-Tasha is right, we will tell Gael everything in due time. Bruno shut your big mouth if you don’t want more trouble than you already have. Just wait until I tell your mother about this audacity and we’ll see if tomorrow you come back to the clubhouse in one piece. Now go away and let me talk to your sister alone.

-Sister-sister. I corrected without being able to help it, but then I didn’t say anything. Bruno only nodded with his jaw clenched and then went out leaving me alone with the man who gave us life.

As soon as the door closed, the tension in the atmosphere rose and fell. Like an electric current trying to come after a storm.

Hades looked into my eyes, searching for something in them. I returned his gaze like a steel wall. If he thought he was going to find an answer there, he really didn’t know me.

-Why? He asked at last and I let out the air I didn’t know I was holding. Despite his vague question I knew exactly what he meant. So I didn’t flinch, just lifted my chin a little and my eyes sparkled before answering.

-Do I need to have a reason? I answered with another question. He snorted a little.

-You look just like your mother. He answered and my body tensed at his mention.

-I don’t want you to talk about her in my presence. I blurted out through clenched teeth, my body trembling.

We had a duel of glances again and I don’t know what he saw in mine that made him nod and divert his attention to some papers he had on his desk.

I opened the door and with my hand on the doorknob Hades spoke again.

-You called him brother. I stop and turn my head to see him.

Hades sees me over the document but I just shrug my shoulders.

-Is that a question or a complaint? I ask with a raised eyebrow, Hades does nothing.

-Neither. He answers at last.

-Good. I say and just leave, closing the door.

I walk quietly and now I pay attention to the things around me, the shelves full of mechanical parts, the amazing amount of cars and motorcycles with their hoods open. Big, burly men working bent over them. My eyes search for the boy and I find him in one of the more secluded parts of the shop, he is sitting on top of a shelf with various tools as he plays with a wrench.

A tall man with his hair tied in a low ponytail, tattoos on his left arm, a beard, and storm-colored eyes is working on the engine of a Mercedes next to the little tadpole.

I head in that direction and my stepbrother’s blue eyes sparkle when they see me.

-Tasha, did you come to say goodbye? He asked calmly as he twirled the key in his hands. The biker gave me a sidelong glance but went about his business so I ignored him too.

I gave the little guy a smile as I shook my head.

-In fact little tadpole, your father asked me to take care of you, so we will spend the whole day together. Do you think it’s a good idea? I tell him and the boy shouts happily.

I approach and take him down from where he is sitting, the little one starts jumping around me and his good mood catches me, making me smile brightly.

-Go and say goodbye to your dad and your brother while I make a call for us to get out of here. I push the tadpole a little and he runs off to do as I tell him.

When I lose sight of him I look back at the man working on the cart and reach over to tap him on the shoulder. The biker stands up to his full height and looks at me with a calm expression.

-Yes? He asked me in his husky but calm voice.

-Do you have Hell’s number? I ask as if nothing, the man sees me arching an eyebrow but says nothing as he pulls out his cell phone from a back pocket of his overalls and dictates it to me.

-Thank you. I tell him and dial from my cell phone to his.

-This is Hell. He answers after a few rings.

-It’s Tasha, are you busy? I go straight to the point, I hear some noises in the background, some footsteps and then peace.

-Nothing important, do you need anything,” he comments and I hear a slight concern in his tone.

-Just a favor, if you are in the club house, can you bring my truck to the main club shop? I ask him and for a second silence is all I hear, then he clears his throat.

-I was just about to leave, but I have time to do it. He says and I nod even though he doesn’t see me.

-The keys are on the nightstand in my room. I say and listen as he starts walking.

-I won’t be long.

-Hey Hell. I bite my l*p.

-Yes?

-If you scratch him, I’ll kill you. I say seriously and I can almost see him smiling.

-Don’t worry princess, nothing will happen to your truck.

And he hangs up on me, I’m still mad as hell at the idiot but that doesn’t mean he’s not useful when he wants to be.

He keeps me waiting with my cell phone in my hand and I decide to send several messages to catch up on everything. I text Sabrina to see how she is doing, I ask Trenton how the remodeling is going, I also contact the secretary of the current head of the company’s shareholder’s board and ask her to tell her boss to contact me when he can.

-Are we leaving already? The little boy’s voice makes me take my eyes off the screen and see him standing in front of me.

-Let’s wait for Hell outside, when he arrives we’ll leave. Before my lips finish saying those words, the little tadpole is already running for the exit, making me laugh a little at his enthusiasm.

-He likes swimming, he loves sea animals and the beach. The thick voice makes me turn and look at the biker who examines me with his eyes while he wipes the grease from his hands with a rag.

-Thank you. I answer and he tilts his head to one side as he looks at me curiously.

-Why are you thanking me? He asks and I give him a half smile before I start walking while I answer him.

-For being different from the rest and not judging by the cover. I say as if nothing and without staying to see his reaction.

It doesn’t take me long to walk across the shop and out into the street. I arrive just in time to see Hunter pull up in my beautiful Jeep which he parks next to my bike.

The biker gets off and sees my bike with an arched eyebrow, a clear question in his eyes but I don’t clarify anything. I just hold out my hand and he hands me the keys.

-Thank you- I say dryly and unlock the locks, Gael gets into the passenger seat immediately and Hunter now has both eyebrows arched but still doesn’t ask me anything.

-Do you want me to take your Harley back? He asks and I give him a smile that indicates danger.

-No one but me rides my bike big guy, so don’t even dream about it. I comment coldly and walk to the door. A hand grabs my arm and stops me from continuing. My eyes return to the biker who looks at me doubtfully and firmly.

-Can we talk about last night? He asks and I tense under his grip, jerking free of him and his arm falls limply to his side.

My green eyes pierce him.

-There’s nothing to talk about. He snorts and runs his hands through his hair, tousling it, just like my fingers did at the club.

-I have some things to make clear to you and you to me. He says in a tired, annoyed voice. My heart shrinks with anger at the memory of the busty redhead.

-You’re wrong, you don’t owe me anything and I don’t owe you anything. I snap.

-Oh no? He says deadly serious.

-No, and even if I did, in case you can’t tell, I’m busy. I point my head to the van, “So if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way. I say and continue on my way.

-You and I are going to talk whether you want to or not. He speaks loud enough for me to hear him, I open the door and give him a wry smile.

-Make me. It’s my only answer before I get in and close the door.

I put on my seat belt and check out of the corner of my eye that the tadpole has it on. When I confirm I pull out my cell phone and set the GPS in the direction of the Santa Monica Pier, my mom took me there once when I was little and I remember having a blast.

When a woman’s voice gives me directions I put the key in the ignition and turn it to accelerate and start this adventure.

I leave behind the biker who k****s like the gods, my backstabbing father, my idiot stepbrother, and one of the few people I could trust in this place.

It takes me almost an hour and a half to get there.

The ride was filled with questions from the blond and simple answers from me. I got to know my brother little by little and I must say that I was pleasantly surprised to see that he was nothing like Bruno or Hades. He was incredibly intelligent for his young age (which I now remembered was exactly ten years old), he loved animals, especially aquatic animals, and when he grew up he wanted to be a marine biologist.

I also discovered that he liked country music and hated vegetables. The little brat was kind of a weirdo if you asked me and that only made me like him better. I told him several things about myself, how I was an only child, (in a way that was true), how I spoke two languages, (I made him laugh by saying weird words to him in Russian), how I hated vegetables too and how I was good at many martial arts. Gael made me promise to teach him a few techniques to which I reluctantly agreed.

When we arrived at the place it was hell finding parking but it was all worth it when I saw how his eyes lit up with excitement and how he was running back and forth.

Although neither of us were prepared for the beach that didn’t stop us from enjoying the sand on our feet and getting them wet on the shore. I bought a ball and we played a mini soccer game. After tiring ourselves out we went to a restaurant where we both ordered a big steak and the tadpole kept filling me with questions.

His good vibes made me smile all the time, plus my stomach hurt from laughing so hard at his witticisms and nonsense. I had never spent time with a child before, and I never thought I would have such a good time with this specific child.

Surprises of life.

After lunch we went to the fairground rides on the pier and we both went into competitive mode. We tried everything, most of the time it was either me winning or another unknown adult playing too, but I slyly let him win a couple of times. It was addictive to watch his cheeks turn red and he would smile with all his teeth when he was happy.

In the end I had to beat him a goldfish at target shooting because the brat was a worse shot than I was before I learned how to use a gun. The look of amazement from the guy manning the stand was epic when he saw me take down all five targets without flinching or missing a shot.

Gael named the little fish Nemo because according to him it was the same color as the cartoon.

From all the comings and goings the sun started to get into the sky and I knew it was time to go back to the clubhouse. I didn’t feel like seeing the faces of any of the bikers waiting for us though.

The tadpole almost started crying when I told him we were leaving, so I had to promise him that we would go out more often. See if you can keep that promise Tasha.

On the way back the blond fell asleep in the seat, tired from all the day’s exercise, I carefully put the fish in the cup holder and turned down the radio. I drove calmly trying to sort out my feelings and thoughts, it had been quite a busy day emotionally. And almost arriving at the crows clubhouse I came to several conclusions.

1- I was attracted enough to Hunter to have s*x with him, but not enough to let him treat me stupid.

2- My father was an idiot to whom I had to make it clear, (again), not to go telling my problems to the world as if they were breaking news. And that I would do absolutely nothing to improve our relationship no matter how much others asked me to.

3- No matter how bad my relationship with Bruno or with Hades, or with the mother of both half-brothers, (whom I didn’t know yet and hoped it would stay that way), Gael would be part of my life and I would treat him like the brother I never had.

Feeling calmer with things clear, I calmly pulled into the parking lot of the building. I got out and put my keys in my pocket, walked over to the passenger door and unbuckled the tadpole and then carried him so that he was still asleep on my shoulder. The little guy stirred and adopted a comfortable pose but didn’t wake up. I took Nemo out as well and had to juggle so as not to knock any of them over.

I walked across the driveway and several bikers, (including the twins and the guy with the scar), stared at me as usual. Undecided what to do with the tadpole but knowing that if I stayed any longer in the bar he would wake up I chose to take him upstairs to my room.

A smile tugged at my lips as I settled him on my bed, took off his shoes and tucked him in with the quilt, leaving the little fish on the side table. Then I left the place, closing the door, satisfaction running through my veins when I saw the repaired lock.

My feet returned to the bar, where I sat at the bar. I asked the sweet a*s who was tending bar to give me a bottle of mescal and a caballito. I had it in front of me right away and started drinking while texting with Sabrina and Trenton.

Tomorrow I would have to stop by the bar to discuss the plans with him and the architect.

It wasn’t long before a presence sat down on my right side, out of the corner of my eye I watched Bloody order a beer, but I said nothing and went about my business.

-Half of these idiots would take you to their bed if they could. He commented as if it was nothing as he took a swig from his bottle, I locked my cell phone and put it away. I also drank while I looked at him first and then at all the bikers who were watching us slyly.

-What about the other half? I asked indifferently and he gave me a sideways smile.

-The other half wouldn’t worry about getting to their room, a wall would be more than enough for them,” he said and I laughed. He smiled too and finally turned to talk face to face.

-Which of the two groups do you belong to? I asked as I took a gulp and watched him choke on his beer. I repressed the urge to laugh at his expression.

-I may be old enough to be your father. He said half shocked half amused and I gave him a flirtatious teasing smile.

-I don’t think you’re that old, besides, nowadays age is just a number, as long as we’re both of age everything is fine. I say teasingly and he rolls his eyes as he sets the beer aside and orders something stronger. Vodka.

The glass arrives immediately with his response.

You’re right on both counts, I’m thirty-six. But I’m sorry to disappoint you and tell you that I’m one of the few exceptions here who doesn’t want to get in your pants.

He tells me seriously but I just smile at him while shrugging my shoulders.

-Don’t worry, you’re not my type either. I wink at him and we both laugh.

-If I were you, I’d be careful with this kind of comments with the other brothers. More than one would take it as an offer and the Prez won’t like that at all. I tense up at that comment but say nothing as I refill my little glass and take a sip.

-What I do and don’t do in my room is nobody’s decision but my own. I say seriously and he nods as he sips his Vodka.

-I know, and I’m not saying otherwise. I’m just saying that it’s hard for any parent to see how their daughter stops being a child and becomes an adult. Hades is very temperamental and I think you both have enough problems to add to it.

I grimace, and say nothing.

-Your father loves you. He affirms and I let my green eyes look at him ironically. His gray ones look at me without hesitation.

-That’s what I’ve been told, but I’ll believe it when I see it. It was my only answer and then we continue drinking in silence.

A few steps and the sensation of being watched made me turn around and see how Hades and Hunter came in walking clearly tired. The first one looked doubtfully at the biker next to me and me while the second one only saw my eyes and did not turn them away at any time.

Both came closer to where we were and I didn’t take my eyes off the VP’s onyx eyes either until my father made a noise with his throat for me to turn and look at him. I looked at him almost bored as he continued to drink.

I saw the disapproval shining in his emerald orbs as he saw the bottle of mescal on the bar.

-Gael is asleep in my bed. I said and he nodded.

-I’ll take him to my bedroom so he can let you sleep. How’s he been? A genuine smile tugged at my lips with the memory of my afternoon with him but it faded when I realized again who I was with.

-He behaved well, I won him a fish at the fair and I call him Nemo. Hades smiled a little and thanked me for taking care of him. I shrugged and told him it was nothing.

I finished my drink in one gulp and then stood up from the bench I was sitting on. I said goodbye to Bloody who gave me a smile and then waved goodbye to Hades.

I left the bar and went to my truck, unlocked it with the key control and looked in the glove compartment for a pack of cigarettes I had bought the day before with a lighter.

I locked the Jeep back up and opened the pack, pulled out one of those deadly instruments and put it to my lips as I lit it.

I took a deep puff and leaned back against the side of my truck as I closed my eyes and let the smoke relax me.

I stayed alone for a few minutes with my cigarette until footsteps sounded nearby. And I didn’t have to open my eyes to know it was the hot biker making my skin crawl. I didn’t say anything, just took another puff on the cigar.

-I didn’t know you smoked. He said and now I did open my eyes to see him standing with his arms crossed a few feet away from me. I let the smoke out of my nose and lifted my chin a little.

-There’s a lot you don’t know about me. We’ve just met, it’s obvious. I say quietly and he denies a little as he shifts his weight from one knee to the other.

-That’s not true, I know several things about you. He said and his husky voice reached right to my crotch.

The fucker looked absolutely edible in those pants and that shirt attached to his torso with the leather vest.

-Oh, like what? I challenged him as I took one last puff on the cigarette before dropping it and crushing it with my boot.

Hunter gave me a half smile that I was beginning to know well before answering.

-I know you hate being underestimated. I know you have loved ones who care about you and you care about them. I know you love wearing your combat boots and you don’t care what others think of your life as long as you like it- He approaches me while his onyx eyes dive into my lips and I unconsciously run my tongue over them moistening them -I know your skin is soft and your lips taste like mint. You don’t care to speak your mind or express your emotions. If you’re angry you say it, if you’re sad you show it, if you’re happy you shout it- My arms cross as my breasts begin to heaviness and I take a deep breath, Tasha control- If you’re excited, you work it out- She whispers and my throat goes dry when I see how close she is.

But as much as it weighs on me I’m not going to fall for this twice. So my hands go up to his chest and caress it for a second, then I push him hard making him pull back, grab my h**s and strike a pose of indifference I don’t feel.

-You’re right about all that, but there are several things too that you don’t know yet- I say coldly and peel myself off the truck. Hunter looks at me with dilated pupils and I don’t wait for him to ask me when I move closer and stand on my tiptoes, my lips pressed to his ear- For example. I’m incredibly good in bed, but I’m better at beating the shit out of guys twice my height-.

I whisper and bite his lobe, Hunter lets out a grunt and before he reacts my knee meets his crotch and my arms push him hard. The big biker falls to the floor as his hands search for his private part and he winces in pain.

-Don’t play with me Vice President, I’m not one of your bitches that you can call when you feel like it. I don’t work like that. I said before I started walking back to the clubhouse.

-Don’t take her with me to that club. Jenna is jealous of all the attention you’ve been getting since you arrived and she made that up to break us up, you’re not a slut and she would never consider you one.

We stood in silence for a moment while I processed that information.

-I don’t care. That’s all I blurt out before walking on and putting it down.

As I pass the bar I can see how now the twins and the guy with the scar have joined Bloody and join him in drinks.

No sign of the gray-haired Bullet guy or the a*****e Bruno, no sign of my dad either. So without saying goodbye to anyone and with exhaustion weighing on my bones I walk heavily to my room.

I open the door and am not surprised not to see the tadpole lying down. The fish is also missing, I turn on the light and enter the room, I’m halfway there when I bend down to take off my boots and leave my feet free. A m**n of satisfaction leaves my lips.

-Are you going to stay there all night or are you going to say whatever it is you came to tell me? I ask as I move my neck and my bones creak. My eyes fly to the left side where the desk is and where Hades is sitting as he looks at me with his arms crossed.

-None of the brothers are good for you,” he finally says, and even though that statement makes me angry I just shrug my shoulders.

-I won’t discuss my romantic life with you, so if that’s all you have to discuss, you can leave now. I say coldly and reach for the hairbrush to untangle my mane.

-Gael told me you’re amazing,” he commented and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.

-Oh yeah? I say as if it’s nothing.

-Yes, like the big sister he always dreamed of, he also said that you promised him to spend more time together and that you would teach him how to defend himself. The serious tone he used put me on the defensive, I stopped brushing my hair and looked at him with narrowed eyes.

-And the problem is? I asked bitingly. Hades took a deep breath before answering.

-He’s just a kid Tasha, it only took him one afternoon by your side to admire and respect you. I want to know how serious you were about those promises because I don’t want to see him suffer.

A big knot formed in my stomach and my eyes were covered with a salty layer.

-Of course that’s all you care about, that an interloper like me doesn’t harm your beautiful family,” I spit and turned my back to him as I went on with my business, “Don’t worry Hades, unlike you I don’t make promises lightly. I have every intention of getting along with the tadpole- I give him a look over my shoulder- But only with him, you and your other son can go to hell-. I finish and throw the brush on the bed.

My father’s mountain of muscle takes a breath as if I’ve just hit him and he needs to pull himself together.

-I understand you’re mad at me, but you don’t have to be like this.

He says hurt and I try to calm down, but I can’t, and the anger I’ve had locked in my chest since this morning finally comes out.

-I think you don’t understand, not really- I say without turning around while I look at the ceiling, my heart is racing and I try to summarize everything I feel- I was twelve years old when the first girls in my class made fun of me because it was my grandfather who went to school to see me on Father’s Day because I didn’t have one- I said with my lips tightened remembering the brats- At fourteen I accused mom of being the culprit of your abandonment, she slapped me and punished me for a month. At fifteen I found out you wouldn’t talk to me no matter how much mom begged you to. At sixteen I met your beautiful family that you now have. At seventeen I lost mine- I say with my voice getting hoarser and hoarser, I turn around and see the biker who is getting paler and paler. My hands move and remove my white t-shirt leaving me only in a bra, I reach over and take my father’s hand and place it in a strategic point on my back, over one of my scars- At twenty I received my first stabbing in a street fight- Hades inhales sharply and tries to withdraw his hand but I hold it tightly. He guided it now to my h*p- Months later three bullets hit me making me almost bleed to death had it not been for one of my friends who acted fast and covered my wound-.

My voice finally breaks and I let go of my father who walks a couple of steps behind me, his eyes watching me in horror. I put my shirt back on, covering my skin, my tattoos, my scars.

-I had no idea…”. He started but I cut him off.

-Exactly, you didn’t have a clue and you still don’t. You don’t know all the shit I’ve had to go through since you sent Mom and me away. You don’t even half think about everything I suffered, so don’t come to tell me that you understand me and that I’m exaggerating my feelings- I took a breath as if I had just finished a race -Don’t you dare say something like that again because you have no idea who I am or what I’m capable of. I also have no idea what has been going through your head for the last thirteen years and I have no interest in finding out. This is the last time I tell you to mind your own business and leave mine alone. I close my eyes and swallow my saliva, opening and closing my fists in an attempt to calm down.

-I’d also appreciate it if you’d stop commenting on my private life as if it were school gossip. I don’t go shouting from the rooftops about what a bad father you are, so I expect the same courtesy from you. And I don’t know about you, but I’m done here, so please leave my room and let me rest. He finished and a great weight is released from my chest.

-I’m sorry. That’s all he says, I hear him leave my room and the click of the door closing. And only when I’m alone I allow myself to open my eyes, several tears fight to come out but I don’t let them.

-A forgiveness is not enough to fix this Hades, to fix me. I whisper with a hoarse voice even though I know he can’t hear me anymore.

More tired than before I take off my clothes and throw them in any direction. I stay in just my panties and put on the t-shirt Darrel lent me last night when he let me sleep in his bed while he slept on the couch.

The green-haired guy is a good person.

I plop down on the bed and curl up like a cat between the covers. My arms imprison a pillow, and for a brief moment I can imagine what my life would be like if I had never gone to Russia.

What it would have been like growing up in the midst of bikers, learning to assemble engines and swear. I can see my parents happy as they kissed each other every chance they could, completely in love. I can see myself annoying a black-eyed biker since I was a teenager falling for his smile day in and day out. How this one would pretend to hate me but secretly lusting after me. How I would wait until I was old enough to talk to my father, how he would threaten him and then accept it. How happy I would be.

But that would never happen, my reality was a completely different one.

And I had to accept it.

My eyes closed and I fell fast asleep. The nightmares completely different this time. I pretended not to notice that my sobs woke me up several times in the early morning.

It was harder to hide what I felt when I was alone.