I Dare You To Meet Me -
Chapter 34
-I don’t know how the hell you convinced me to support you in this, the doctor said three days of rest and you’ve only had two, my father or Hell are going to break my face because of you. Bruno complained as he helped me walk around the backyard of the club.
I rolled my eyes at his exaggeration, but I couldn’t stop an evil grin from escaping.
-Calm down, they’re not going to do anything to you, I’ll just blame myself, I’m sure they’ll have no problem believing that I forced you to agree to get me out of my confinement.
-I was only supposed to bring you the food tray, not become your accomplice to crimes.
A low chuckle escaped me at his bittersweet tone and his grimace of horror. My ribs grumbled again and I admitted that it was taking a lot of my energy to walk upright, my arm was intertwined with my stepbrother’s and I was leaning most of my weight on him.
But still that walk was taking its toll on me and I would probably regret convincing Bruno to take me for a walk inside the club grounds.
Although in my defence, I had been incredibly susceptible to my wet dog eyes that I used to get my way with my mother when I used to want something.
Ah, good times.
-I was going crazy in there and you know it, I admit I’ve been having a bit suicidal thoughts lately and this isn’t the best one either.” A snort from the dark-haired man, “But it’s not just the hospital break,” he continued, putting special emphasis on my words, “It’s also the fact that I was sequestered for three f*****g weeks Bruno. I don’t think you understand what it’s like to be twenty-one days without being able to leave a damned cell except to go to the toilet and that’s it. And before all this,” I waved my arm around the building, “I was tied up in an orphanage for three whole years. I always did whatever I felt like anyway, but my point is that I’ve never been my own master, not entirely.
I finished with the melancholic voice and the attempted biker’s countenance changed to a more relaxed one, I could even say he looked guilty.
-You’re right, I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget what a son of a bitch life has been with you.
-Yeah well, you’re not the only one. Hades and Hunter seem to have some sort of truce to keep me busy and forget I’m locked up. I say, rolling my eyes and banishing any sense of pity I might feel.
I’ve been very sentimental in the last few weeks and I don’t like it one bit.
My attention is diverted to the doors of the building overlooking the courtyard where we stand as we walk slowly out of consideration for my tender ankle, a sixth sense calling out to me.
-What’s with you and the Vice President?
-Huh? Bruno’s question makes me look at him again.
I don’t like the superior smile he gives me with that mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Is he laughing at me? Jerk.
I narrow my eyes warningly before answering.
-None of your business.
-Oh come on, give me some credit sis, we’re all betting on how long it’ll take for the idiot to grow some balls and propose to you head on.
My b***d ran hot at the memory of last night.
Confessions, hugs, k****s, dreams without nightmares.
My biker was better than a f*****g dream catcher.
Wait, the crows were betting on my love life with Hunter, stupid.
-I hope for your sake that by the end of the day a percentage of those bets ended up in my hands. Besides, who told you there’s anything going on between me and that biker, we barely know each other?
I lied shamelessly, Bruno looked at me with irony, ignoring my comment.
The attempted biker continued to tell me something about how badly we were hiding our feelings for each other when my eyes returned to the doors. A tug hit my stomach and I was assaulted by the need to turn back.
-Bruno,” I said interrupting him, “Let’s go back to the club. I urged and he looked at me with concern.
-Are you ok, did something happen to you, are you feeling sick, I knew this was a bad f*****g idea. He asked hurriedly as he inspected me in detail, I tried not to roll my eyes again.
-I’m fine, call it survival instinct if you want, but something is wrong and I don’t like being so far away.
I was afraid he would call me crazy but he just looked me straight in the eyes for a few seconds before accepting and leading us back, we were walking at a slow pace and we almost reached the door when screams sounded inside.
The dark-eyed man and I exchanged a glance.
-Stay here. He said leaving me alone as he ran inside.
Stay here, really, they didn’t know me yet, did they?
Resolutely, ignoring the throbbing pain in my body, I hurried my pace, following the same path that led me through the kitchen and then to the bar, which was where the commotion was coming from.
Several brothers and sweet asses looked at me questioningly, they all knew I was not to leave my room on my father’s orders and several had stood in our way to avoid going out.
But as usual I told them to f**k off and dragged Bruno to the courtyard without caring if any of them went to Hades with the gossip after that.
-We told them we’re not looking for a fight. I heard them say over the din and my breath caught in my throat.
It couldn’t be…
I was definitely going crazy.
-And we’re not going to let some idiots come into our territory and give us orders. Another voice I recognized as Toro’s chortled.
I opened the door separating the kitchen from the bar and saw the crows tense and defensive.
-Who are you calling a godzilla imitation idiot! shrieked a high-pitched voice I would recognise anywhere in the world.
A grin split my face in half.
-Sabrina! All my friends chortled in chorus.
And stupid tears of happiness welled up in my eyes as I recognised the figures of Reykon, Caleb, Ivan, Boris, Anton and Sabrina standing at the side of the bar, surrounded by imposing bikers but not at all intimidated.
The six of them looked just as I remembered them, dressed in dark clothes and with looks of danger screaming from their gruff expressions.
My friends were as tall as any Russians, about the same average height as most of the brothers in the club. But unlike them, they didn’t have impressive muscles that looked like steel, although the guys didn’t look weak at all because their bodies showed they worked out often, they couldn’t compare to the mountains of testosterone that were all the bikers.
-Look, let’s all just calm down,” said Ivan as he stood between an annoyed Toro and a rabid Sabrina.
-Tasha! Caleb shouted being the first to notice me.
Every pair of eyes in the place turned to look at me, without stopping smiling for even a second and sending to hell all the recovery progress I had made, I ran to where my friends were, pushing some bodies to get there faster.
And although it was Caleb who shouted my name, it was Reykon’s arms that held me up as I threw myself on top of him in a koala bear hug where I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck.
Immediately other arms wrapped around me from my right side, then my right side, then my back. Soon we became a sort of walking pineapple from our group hug.
I closed my eyes as I squeezed my friend tighter, I was afraid to open them and that it was just a dream. Reykon also increased his strength and my ribs complained to the point that I let out a small cry of pain.
They all broke apart with worried expressions, Rey carefully lowered me down, a spark of recognition and anger shining in his eyes when he noticed my injuries.
The people I considered my family changed their attitude to one of death as one by one they scanned me complete. I inwardly cursed my choice of clothes that day, I had put on grey shorts and a purple short sleeved blouse with black trainers. Which left most of my recovering wounds in plain sight, apart from the ones on my face.
The bikers around me didn’t understand the threat in Rey’s words but they did interpret his tone correctly as one of them stepped forward and looked at my friend with eyes of annoyance.
-What did you say, brat? He spat and I had to pull Boris by the arm to stop him from going to meet him.
-Calm down everyone – I spoke loudly to calm them down – I’m fine, I just had an accident along with a couple of unforeseen events that we’ve taken care of.
I said that last in Russian because I didn’t want the crows to start a fight over the insult to their Prez, the guys relaxed a bit but still looked at me doubtfully. The bikers on the other hand were wary.
-Everybody breathe in agreement. These here are my guests and I’m not going to let them start a stupid fight over a misunderstanding.
-It’s not our fault that they started a conflict. Another brother replied and I placed myself as a barrier between the groups.
-It wasn’t my fault that one of you wouldn’t take no for an answer the first day I got here, but that didn’t get me out of a fight, did it? Relax your asses for once, you’re not enemies. I sounded annoyed as I addressed the crows.
Several relaxed a bit and went about their business, others just stared at me suspiciously.
My gaze swept over each of them until I reached the brown eyes of Toro who as usual was indifferent.
-You shouldn’t be out of bed. He said in a neutral voice.
-Are you going to take me back? I arched an eyebrow and crossed my arms.
-I’m not your f*****g babysitter,” he snorted and then swept his eyes over my friends, pausing for a second longer at Sabrina who kept looking at him as if he wanted to throw something at her, “You take responsibility for them?
-I do. I affirmed without hesitation, he nodded his head.
-Well, I’ll let the Prez know you have visitors, anything that happens will be entirely your a*s’s fault. He warned in a curt tone.
-Fair enough. Where’s Hades?
-He’s out with Hell and Bullet on some club business, they’ll be back in a few hours. Try not to get into any more trouble before they get back. He gave me a meaningful look.
-Good. I mumbled and he went off to continue whatever it was he was doing earlier.
When the huge Enforcer walked away everyone else followed suit and at last calm was back in the air.
Toro was definitely the man with the worst gruff face I’ve ever met in my life, the biker with the bone-deep intimidating scar looked like he still hadn’t decided whether he liked me or not.
And the feeling was mutual.
I let out a sigh at the strange discussion and focused on my friends who had come all the way from another country to see me.
-You seem to have a lot to tell us, Medusa. Ivan said and everyone nodded in agreement.
-I know and I will do it right away, let’s just go and sit down, you shouldn’t be standing for so long. Again they looked concerned and Anton and Boris helped me to the farthest table in the bar where we all sat down.
As we arrived I caught sight of Bruno and motioned to him that I was ok, he nodded and went to the bar with other prospects who were busy with the sweet arses.
I returned my attention to the Russians who were looking at me impatiently and had been following my movements.
-We seem to be missing a long story,” Reykon commented and I was grateful that he said it without reproach in his tone.
I let out a sigh and swung my legs up onto Caleb’s lap who was sitting next to me, even though it was a little late, the clubhouse bar wasn’t as crowded as it had been at other times. Or rather the brothers had stepped back a bit to give us some privacy, which I was also grateful for.
-So long that I don’t know how to begin. I confessed in a half-voice.
-How about why you dropped off the face of the earth for almost a bloody month, do you have any idea how worried we were, when Rey told us you hadn’t answered your phone for weeks and after Ivan’s cousin told us about what he found out about him we assumed the worst. If it took us so long to come here it was because these useless people had to get fake papers to get out of the country because they lost theirs. Sabrina said annoyed but looked at me with relief.
I gave her a shaky smile, I missed my best friend.
-Sorry about that, until a couple of days ago I was in the hospital. I haven’t had my phone for a while and it didn’t cross my mind that they would be so worried if they didn’t hear from me, I promise it won’t happen again. I said with a guilty and regretful tone.
-Why were you in the hospital, I mean, it’s obvious that you’re injured and they had to treat you, but I don’t understand how you got in such a condition, did you jump from a moving train or what the f**k happened? Boris asked, I scratched the back of my neck uncomfortably and looked down uneasily.
F**k they were going to lose their minds when I told them.
-Medusa… pressed Rey when I didn’t answer.
-I paused and composed a grimace of innocence, “I had a motorbike accident and then I was sort of kidnapped”. I tried to sound calm and collected so as not to upset them.
But the inevitable happened.
After a few seconds in which they took time to process my words. Sabrina let out a high-pitched scream, Boris and Caleb cursed loudly in Russian, Ivan got a twitch in his right eye, and Rey just stood deathly still, like a goddamn statue.
-Who was the fucker?
-How did it happen?
-When did it happen?
-Where were your father and the others?
-Why didn’t you warn us?
A thousand questions in all directions poured in without giving me time to answer, with each passing moment the tone of the boys’ voices was increasing, drawing a few glances in our direction.
I let them vent a little until they gave me a chance to explain, when they realised I wouldn’t open my mouth until they were quiet they struggled to calm down, until Rey slapped the table hard to silence them completely.
-Thank you – I nodded in my friend’s direction, I made a plan in my mind to explain everything without sounding so serious – Well, since my arrival things have not been on their best terms, but everything got worse since I found out that the death of my mother and grandparents was intentional and not an accident – I took a deep breath, I still found it hard to say that out loud -I didn’t find out in the best way and the news hit me like a brick in the face, I went to get drunk in a bar and things got out of control with a drunk. But don’t worry, Bruno got me out in time and things didn’t escalate, and yes, before you ask that guy got what he deserved.
After that incident I was looking for information about what happened with my family because I was sure that Hades, my father wouldn’t tell me anything about it. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but they’re very suspicious around here about not sharing confidential information with anyone who isn’t a member of the club. And I obviously am not, in my search for answers I found out several things while my relationship with my father only went from bad to worse.
One afternoon I just exploded and threw everything in his face, I couldn’t stay here any longer, so I took my bike and left. I wasn’t in my right mind and the sons of bitches who killed my family followed me and caused me to lose control of the bike. They kidnapped me while I was unconscious and I was held captive for three weeks, my father rescued me along with the brothers from the club and took me to the hospital for my injuries, I spent three days asleep, two days under observation, and finally yesterday I was allowed to return, but until a few hours ago I was confined to my room because I was supposed to rest.
I recounted without giving too many details, although I knew they would demand them anyway.
And I wasn’t wrong.
I spent the next few hours answering every question they had. Until I ended up describing in detail my entire life since I arrived. The arguments with Hades, my love-hate relationship with Bruno, the tadpole, my purchase of the Trenton bar, the disco incident, the death of my assailant at my hands, the clandestine fight, I told them about America and Darren (it was fun to see them jealous of my new friends, I tried to keep things simple about my captivity at the hands of the Golden Dragons, (though the look on Reykon’s face told me he’d question me later when we were alone), my subsequent rescue led by the Black Ravens and most of all, I told them about Hunter, though I told them about Hunter, even though he was a very good friend of mine.
I told them about Hunter, though not on purpose, simply after Reykon asked me about the hot biker who had left me wanting, they all demanded to know EVERYTHING about my relationship with the onyx-eyed man.
And the more I told them about him, the more I found myself unable to stop.
I told them about how he only had to look at me for an electric current to run through me, how I trembled when his fingers made contact with skin, how I enjoyed our arguments, how the nightmares disappeared when he slept with me, how he completely disarmed me with a k**s, how he pulled me off my feet with astonishing ease, how he paid attention to the little details about me that most people overlooked, how he had been a jerk but was working hard to prove to me that it wouldn’t happen again. And how we weren’t an official couple but had confessed our feelings to each other.
During my story several sweet asses came over to get the attention of the guys, who spurned them with shoves, I knew Caleb and Anton wanted to accept the invitation but I also knew they wouldn’t touch any slut until they made sure it was okay.
Because that’s what family did, we had each other’s backs and made sure everything was in order with each other.
The loyalty and love we felt for each other was priceless, and so strong that nothing and no one could tear us apart even if they tried.
So despite the seriousness and gravity of the matters I was telling them, instead of feeling uncomfortable, the more I spent time in their company, the more relaxed I became.
When they were satisfied about my story we moved on to more pleasant topics and they filled me in on everything that had happened since my departure.
Ivan had gotten a girlfriend, which impressed me as they were all first rate womanisers, and they had told me ad nauseam that they would never be tied down by anyone. But from the stupid grin on my friend’s face every time he mentioned her name, I knew the girl had to be special and I wanted to meet her right away.
Reykon had been involved in a settling of scores when a new group had tried to take over his land to sell their merchandise. Merchandise that came from direct competition, which ended in a fight where my friends beat them up, as usual.
Sabrina got into a fight with some cats because the husband of one of them was hitting on her, and the stupid wife had blamed my friend. After leaving the woman crying on the floor she slept with the guy, just to make the beating worth it.
Boris didn’t do anything interesting other than start remodeling the house they lived in because the place was a pigsty, (his words, not mine), and babysitting the useless guys who seemed to come back every night with a new bruise.
And Caleb and Anton had only managed to tell me that they had made a lot of money betting on the races, (because since Niko neither of them were too happy to go back to the fights), before once again some sweet asses caught their attention and this time they didn’t hesitate to disappear in the direction of the rooms with them.
When my friends disappeared Bruno approached us and I made the necessary introductions. The guys gave him a bitter pill to swallow for the first twenty minutes and then treated him as if nothing had happened. At first it was a lot of fun, until they started telling embarrassing stories about my past, then I wanted the earth to open up and I disappeared.
-Our little Medusa was like an innocent chick, did she tell you how she got her first tattoos, she was incredibly drunk because it was her first time drinking, and the girl couldn’t come up with a better idea than betting against Anton on who could handle more shots of vodka, obviously she lost and we all ended up in a tattoo parlour listening to her babble on about how she was a wolf and she was going to find her mate and how vampires shouldn’t glow in the sunlight. Ivan recounted and everyone at the table laughed at my expense.
Fools.
In spite of myself I laughed too, because it was a funny story, and because in the middle of that club, in a different country, surrounded by the people who mattered most to me in life, I felt more at home than ever.
But the absence of the pair of bikers responsible for making my life such a mess didn’t let me be completely happy, I admit that I missed them, and that I would have liked them to be here to share the best afternoon I’ve had in a long time.
-Why do they call you Medusa? Bruno asked curiously as he drank some beer.
Everyone was drinking something except me, as I couldn’t drink any alcohol due to the medication. I leaned back on the table as I rolled my eyes and dropped my head on my right hand.
-That was Sabrina’s fault, I’ll let her tell you the story. The Russian let out a laugh as she poured herself another shot of tequila.
-Tasha already had a bit of a questionable reputation for the fights she’d get into to watch our asses, plus she’s not shy about getting idiots off our backs. One time we were at a party after Caleb won a particularly difficult race, and we were all enjoying ourselves. – I clicked my tongue and Bruno gave me a little kick so I wouldn’t interrupt – Your sister at some point went to the bar alone because she was in a bad mood after a drunk accidentally spilled his drink on her. Some sixteen or seventeen year old brats crashed the party and thought it would be fun to bet on who would be able to get her number.
The bravest, or the most stupid, approached her at first very confidently, not knowing that she had been watching them since they arrived and had an idea of what was going on. The guy bought her a drink and tried to talk to her, but Tasha never opened her mouth to answer him, the only thing she did was to look him in the eyes, more and more serious. The guy went from being all smiles to being uncomfortable and then getting nervous, as I told you no one was oblivious to his reputation for getting into fights. It got worse when your sister’s piercing gaze turned to one of total anger that scared the brat so much that he spilled his drink on the bar and down the front of his trousers.
We all laughed at that story, even a couple of brothers standing nearby who had overheard our bullshit for the last hour.
-The brat didn’t know where to put his head from embarrassment, he started babbling like crazy and apologised like a thousand times in one minute, again your sister didn’t say anything, she just looked at him like he was a little insect that she would squash at any second. The kid ended up running off tripping over his feet, he and his friends were never seen by any of us again that night. I don’t think they would ever crash a party like that again. But the point is that after we saw that Boris came up to him and said, “You have a heartless bitch look that would make even the bravest of men run for cover”. I laughed and told him that sounded a bit like the myth of Medusa where the broad turned everyone to stone.
The next day he ran for the first time in the clandestinas, and the guy who organised them advised him not to use his real name. Imagine our surprise when she was announced with that nickname. What started as a joke between us ended up as a very present nickname, most people recognise her more as Medusa than Tasha, which is perfect considering her situation. Even we call her by that name because it’s funnier.
Sabrina finished telling the story and I saw how Bruno seemed to be really into the story, in general the crows seemed to really enjoy every time they knew something about my past.
And I couldn’t blame them, I had good stories to tell my grandchildren when I got old.
-Thanks to that nickname I got one of my favourite tattoos,” I interjected and showed him the top of my right wrist.
A black ink drawing from the middle of my nose up of the mythological creature’s face starts the sleeve of tattoos covering my skin.
My stepbrother whistled under his breath and ran his fingers over the outline, then looked me in the eye and smiled.
-I want a tattoo too. I declared in a confident voice.
I arched an amused eyebrow, it was clear to me that the only reason I had so many traces of ink on my skin was that there was no one to stop me at the time. Because neither my father nor my mother would have given me permission.
-And what would Hades think of that? I asked mockingly.
-I’m old enough to decide that. Bruno squared his shoulders and it made me laugh to see him so macho.
-I’ll tell your mother next time I see her.
Now it was my turn to pick on him, and my friends and I laughed at the look of shock on his face when I mentioned Isadora.
For although the woman had been a sweet a*s in her younger days and was no stranger to the MC scene, she wasn’t a big fan of tattoos or piercings.
-Tell me what’s the problem with mini godzilla who’s been annihilating us with his eyes since we came to this place. My friend says, Bruno and I follow her gaze to Toro, who indeed has his attention on us as he plays a game of pool with one of the twins at one end of the place.
I shrug my shoulders dismissively.
-Ignore him, he’s like that. He doesn’t like anyone, or at least that’s the impression he gives, it’s nothing personal.
-Well, it seems very personal to me. She said resentfully.
-You’re seeing things where there aren’t any, relax. King replied, but instead of listening to her, the girl just rolled her eyes.
-I can’t relax if a gorilla like that’s ogling me like I’m the worst scum in the world. Where we come from means you want a fight.
-Sabrina, don’t exaggerate, better go for a walk to calm down, I think the tequila is already affecting you. I try to talk some sense into Boris but he only makes her angry to the point of getting up from her chair.
-I’m telling you, that oaf is weird, but don’t believe me, there you are. She threatens us while pointing a finger at us.
Then she wiggles her h**s to the bar where she’s sure to order one of her favourite drinks, which are a deadly combination that usually leave her drunk as hell.
Boris, Ivan, Reykon and I share a look. Ivan is the one who finally gets up from the table as well.
-I’ll take care of her. He tells us and walks off in her direction.
Sabrina was a bad drunk, she had a history of losing her clothes in creative ways when she had too much to drink, and none of us thought it was a good idea for her to do it in this specific place.
For my part, I went back to see Toro and was surprised to find that he was no longer looking at us.
Or at least not us, because the giant biker was squeezing the wooden stick while his brown eyes were fixed on my friend’s back. So much pressure was put on the cue that he accidentally snapped it, I must have let out some noise that attracted his attention. After giving me a sidelong glance, she picked up another cue, leaving the broken one behind, and continued playing as if nothing had happened.
-Playing pool brings back good memories, don’t you think so, Tasha?
Boris said and I turned to look at him with an accomplice smile.
-If you mean that time we played billiards, then yes, those are good memories, my friend.
-Garment billiards? Please tell me that’s not what I’m thinking. Bruno asked in horror as he looked at me with a grimace.
Reykon laughed at him.
-It’s exactly what you think it is, the same thing as clothing poker. Every time your opponent puts a ball in the basket on the table you have to take off something you are wearing, we used to play it a lot in Russia. Rey answered and took a long drink of beer.
-Medusa was very bad at first, she almost always lost, but then the damn thing got enough practice and left us all in our underwear, losing no more than our jackets. Boris continued and the red-eyed man shivered.
-I don’t want to have the image of my half sister or any of you half naked in my head thank you very much.
The three of us laughed and Bruno reluctantly joined us.
Boris got up from his chair and stuck his hands in his trouser pockets as he gestured with his chin in the direction of the tables.
-What do you say, black-haired girl, shall we reminisce about old times?
He challenged me with that glint in his eye that usually spells trouble. I gave him one of my famous half smiles.
-If you throw me the gauntlet I’ll always be happy to pick it up Boris, but I can barely stand still, let alone play a game without dying trying.
I grumble half-heartedly because it’s true, as much as I’d like to, I’ve already demanded enough from my body for one day.
-Your loss. He said as he shrugged his shoulders.
-I’m game, but I’m warning you, I’m not taking anything off. The attempted biker gulped down the last of his drink and stood up from the table as well.
-I wouldn’t want to see your balls, little gringo. My friend joked and they both walked to the table next to Toro’s and the twin’s since it was the only empty one.
And so finally Reykon and I were alone.
At first we just sat there enjoying each other’s presence with the typical bar sounds in the background, Rey was drinking his beer and I was looking around.
Finally after a couple of minutes he put the bottle down with particular force on the table, catching my attention.
-I’m only going to ask you this once because I know it’s a sensitive subject, I expect you to answer me honestly and I promise we’ll never talk about it again. But I need to know,” I swallowed and nodded, I already knew what he was going to ask me, “What happened during those three weeks you were kidnapped?
His tone of contained rage made my skin crawl, the memories also contributed to my stomach twisting and my mouth taking on a bitter taste.
-I’ll never be able to hide anything from you, will I, King? I asked sadly and my friend shook his head, crossed his arms and adopted a more comfortable pose.
I too looked for a way to sit down where I could put my injured foot up on a now empty chair.
-I can’t tell you it was the most horrific thing in the world because that would be an exaggeration. But it wasn’t a f*****g walk in the park either,” I began to recount as I looked into his eyes, somehow the warmth of his gaze anchored me to the present, “There were several guys guarding the three of us who were held captive, I told you about them. But there were two in particular who spent the most time with us. One was Zazu and the other was called Memphis, I didn’t pay much attention to the first one because he just kept tugging me up and down whenever I needed to use the bathroom and that was it.
But the second one was completely different, the son of a bitch didn’t waste any opportunity to hit me for anything, if I thought he was too impertinent, or that I wasn’t grateful enough every time he brought me food. Idiocies of that kind earned me several blows or kicks, and normally they wouldn’t have affected me. But I was in bad shape after my accident, the bastards didn’t even heal my wounds properly so they kept opening up again and again, it’s a miracle they didn’t get infected.
I let out a sigh and hugged myself suddenly feeling cold.
-But the worst thing wasn’t the beatings and insults, because he didn’t pass up the chance to tell me what I was going to die of, but after Rex, the other guy disappeared and we were left alone. Memphis would give me beatings that sometimes left me unconscious, when… When I woke up… -My voice trembled and I clenched my jaw, Rey’s hands held mine and squeezed them, giving me courage – My clothes… My clothes were a mess, sometimes they were mismatched, or sometimes they were just not there.
Reykon’s fingers trembled between mine.
-Did the fucker rape you? He asked, and his voice sounded absolutely dead.
I shook my head.
-I don’t think so, the doctor didn’t tell me anything and I never felt any discomfort or pain there. But I don’t know what the hell was going on in those intervals where I was fading. Several times I asked Maggie but she would tell me that they would take her out of the basement where we were as soon as I couldn’t and only bring her back when I was waking up, I guess they did it to scare us more and keep us under control – My lips trembled and I took my eyes away from hers, My voice became a mere whisper – I can’t get it out of my f*****g head Rey, I have f*****g nightmares where I see myself lying in that f*****g cell, I see myself passed out and I see him touching me at his whim, I see him enjoying my body with his or his tongue while he laughs or insults me. And no matter how much I scream I can’t do anything, it’s like watching a damn movie where I can’t intervene no matter how much I’d like to-.
A sarcastic, broken, ironic laugh comes from my soul, I release my grip and cross my arms.
-What pisses me off the most is that I don’t know how to fight it because it’s not even a memory that’s causing me not to sleep at night. It’s more the stupid intrigue of not knowing what it was that made me all those times I was falling asleep, they say that your own imagination is your worst enemy and the truth is that it’s completely true. I haven’t had a peaceful night since Niko died and this just makes it worse. I’m so tired Rey, I just want to sleep a whole night without waking up crying, screaming, or sweating like a pig.
I finish and rub my face with my hands. It feels good to finally get it off my chest, Doc was the only person I had told but he didn’t know me as well as Rey did.
-Where is that fucker? He asked after a few seconds that I took the opportunity to recover.
-I think he was killed but I’m not sure. I said bitterly.
The truth is that the moment of my rescue is a bit blurred in my head, only the important parts I could see clearly in my memory. Like the second Hunter had saved my life with his knife.
-If he’s not dead I’ll make sure he is before we go back to Russia.
He said and I knew he was making me a promise, the gesture touched my heart and I gave him a small smile full of warmth.
-Tasha,” he said, “I’m not a specialist to tell you how to get rid of the demons that have been tormenting you since Nikolai. But as I see it, you have two solutions to end the nightmares. The first is to go to a psychologist as I’ve been recommending for the last year.
-I told you I hate psychologists,” I interrupted him with a gesture of displeasure and Rey shot me an annoyed look for the interruption, “Excuse me, what is the other option?
-The second is to spend more time with that hot raven of yours, which I haven’t met yet, but which you tell me helps you sleep better.
I raise an eyebrow and adopt a sceptical attitude.
-So my options are basically going to the shrink or sleeping with a man I’ve known for a couple of months, wow what a good choice I have. I said with irony.
Although the idea of spending more nights with Hunter was really tempting.
Reykon smirked at me, reading between the lines of my expression.
-As if that would be a sacrifice for you. He scoffed and we both laughed.
-But seriously, if this guy is helping you and is interested in you, don’t let him get away. I know that relationship stuff doesn’t suit you since you’ve never really had one. But from everything you’ve told me, (and it’s been a lot), it’s obvious that the guy is sincere with his feelings, and that in this day and age is like a f*****g unicorn to find. I’m not telling you to run into his arms but don’t lock yourself in with a padlock and seven keys either, give him a chance-.
-I’m already giving it to him. I defended myself.
-Are you sure you’re really doing it? My friend’s tone made me think, I bit my l*p as I made myself small.
-I don’t know. I answered at last. Reykon shrugged his shoulders.
-In the end only you know what you do, it’s your life. But as your friend it’s my duty to tell you when you’re screwing up. And now, as much as I love spending time with you I’m dying of sleep, we came all the way here straight from the airport after a brief stop at the hotel to drop off our luggage, so if you’ll excuse me I don’t know what that missing bunch is up to, but I’d like to get some rest.
-It’s ok, I understand,” I say with a bit of sadness because I don’t want him to leave, but to be honest I was tired too, “What hotel are they staying in?
-In a crappy one in the middle of the city, about half an hour away from here.
-Don’t you want to stay in my flat, I mean, it would be more comfortable for you and you wouldn’t have to spend that kind of money?
-You have a flat? He looked at me with an arched eyebrow and I smiled cockily.
-My mom’s heritage. I’m a rich girl now, remember?
-I didn’t have any problem, but, are you sure about what you say, remember how our poor house is in Russia, then I don’t want any reproaches.
-Of course, as long as they don’t wreck anything, I don’t mind the mess and you know it.
-Then I’m happy to take you at your word, I wasn’t very happy to sleep on that mattress with the bad fleas. I laughed at his fake shudder.
-The keys are in my room upstairs, but I can’t walk, I think I strained my ankle too much. Would you mind carrying me? I pouted and batted my eyelashes as I stretched my arms in his direction,
Rey looked at me mockingly.
-Are you sure it’s your ankle, or are you just being lazy?
-It could be a bit of both, it doesn’t matter. Get off your a*s and take me upstairs, the sooner I give you the keys, the sooner you can get some rest.
My friend hurried to take me in his arms.
-That’s a good point, now please be kind enough to show me the way, miss.
I tapped him on the shoulder as I laughed.
I told her how to get there and soon we were out of the bar under the watchful eyes of several club brothers. My friends were too busy to notice our disappearance.
Reykon walked at a brisk pace so it didn’t take us long to get there.
He carefully placed me on my bed and helped me take off my trainers. He also passed me a glass of water and the medicines for the night, because yes, it was already dark and there was still no sign of life from Hunter or my father.
I thanked him and settled in between the blankets as I motioned for him to open the desk drawer.
Rey pulled out the set of keys, I also told him to pass me a piece of paper with a pen where I wrote down the address. He made sure I texted everyone about the change of plans along with the address, then gave me a k**s on the forehead and said goodbye, promising to come back tomorrow to meet my hot biker who wasn’t mine.
Yet.
When I was finally alone in the privacy of my room, cut off from any noise, I was aware of how my body was heavy as well as my eyes.
It had been a very lively afternoon, and I was grateful with all my heart that my friends had travelled to another continent just to find out if I was okay.
But I was definitely not yet in full use of my physical faculties as I felt completely exhausted. So it didn’t take me long to cover myself as best I could and close my eyes.
Looking for the rest I deserved.
I hoped that the excellent afternoon I had spent together with the moment of sincerity I had experienced with Reykon would allow me to have a peaceful sleep. But I was again, too deluded.
After about an hour’s sleep I began to stir restlessly from the onset of a nightmare.
But unlike every other night, this time the matter did not escalate, for just as I was getting to the worst part, I felt a weight sink beside me on the bed and arms wrapped around me, pulling me out of the clutches of the nightmare.
I didn’t need to open my eyes to know who it was, the male cologne was unmistakable.
As much as I wanted to wake up to ask Hunter where the hell he had been all day I couldn’t find the energy to do it.
Much less when the fucker started stroking my hair and my back.
With a trembling sigh I settled in so that the biker became my personal pillow, enjoying the warmth of his exposed skin, since I wasn’t wearing a t-shirt, and slowly let sleep take me again.
Mmmhmm.
Maybe Rey was right about this.
I could definitely get used to sleeping this way.
Spending a lot of time locked in these arms sounded like a good idea.
A very tempting and delicious idea.
And who knows…
Fate was very capricious in my experience.
(1) What the f**k happened to you, was it your a*****e father, give me a name and I’ll kill him with my own hands Medusa.
(2) The person responsible for my injuries is already dead and it wasn’t my father so please relax.
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