“What do you want to know?” she frowned.
“Tell me about Hunter murdering your mother,” I asked.
She put her new shit down and joined me on the couch.
“I’ve never spoke of this before and I’m not sure why I told you last night but it’s basically like I said, my father beat her and then strangled her to death,” she said, as if we were talking about an earlier conversation of random shit.
“How old were you?”
“I was ten years old.”
Fucking hell, I blew out a heavy breath and continued listening to her.
“He was hardly ever home, but when he was my mother could do no right nor could I. He would always find fault with us, He would always hit first and shout after. Before she died, she would get in his way when he was coming after me and I hated it. I hated seeing her get hurt because she was trying to save me. I hated him. Of a night, I would hear him coming through the door and within seconds he would wake my mother and begin her nightmare all over again. The night he killed her, I heard him first. I crept to the stairs and hid in the darkness. I could hear every time he hit her, she was crying uncontrollably and it made him angrier. The last image I have of her is him leaning over her and strangling her. She never woke up after that.”
“You said she saved you from him. What happened to you when she wasn’t around?” I asked, although I had a good fucking idea already.
“He would blame me for everything…my existence was the biggest mistake of his life and he showed me just how much at every opportunity he could. Sometimes it was a random slap and on others, it was much more,” she shuddered. “I think I reminded him of her, I look exactly like her and he hated it.”
“She must have been beautiful then,” I blurted out before I could stop myself. I cleared my throat and remained silent to her blush.
We both didn’t hesitate to drain our beers. I opened another for us not sure I wanted to hear much more of her life. It was so fucked up it didn’t feel real.
Before the silence carried on into awkward territory I asked her another question.
“Who did this to you? I was there when your father hit the ground and bled out in front of me, so it couldn’t have been him.”
“Did you kill him?” she asked, not meeting me in the eye.
“Why do you want to know? Want revenge do ya?” I say, none too kindly.
“I don’t particularly want to know but I would like to thank who did it. It wasn’t only Alannah who escaped him that night. I used to pray he would get taken out when he went off to do business,” she said quietly.
It wasn’t for lack of trying that we hadn’t taken him out till a few weeks ago.
“No it wasn’t me.”
But, I wish I could have drawn his death out and finished him off myself now after hearing what she’s been through. The bastard died an easy death compared to the years of hell he put her through.
“Who did this to you Bonnie?” I asked again.
“It doesn’t matter, I’m free of them now,” she said.
Them? How many of them hurt her? That club is seriously fucked up. I could tell she wasn’t going to tell me. Eventually the conversation moved away from her life and we sat talking for hours not realising the day slipping away from us. She didn’t go into any detail about her life with those fuckers and she didn’t give up any names. From what I gathered when she spoke about college, I assumed they have been her only happy times. Having spent the day and all evening with her, I would bet my life she wasn’t here for anything apart from to heal. I’m so sure of it, I decided to speak to Cas tomorrow and tell him what I think as well.
It was getting late and she disappeared into the bathroom. When she came out she was in shorts and a tee shirt she bought today, which suited her much better than my sweats. She walked across the room and my dick came to life. Her slender, tiny body swaying with each step was making me throb. I silently berated myself. I couldn’t go there with Bonnie. Not only because in the eyes of the club she is a possible enemy, but after everything she has been through, it would be too much aggravation getting between those luscious looking legs.
Once I’m satisfied my dick is obeying me, I stand and undress to my boxer briefs. I know my body affects her because her blush is as bright as Rudolph’s nose. With her already comfortable on one side of the bed, I make sure to stay on the edge of my side. She hasn’t mentioned anything about curling against me last night. I was awake as she moved closer and purposely didn’t push her away, instead choosing to wrap my arm around her, holding her safe. Maybe it held the nightmares at bay because she didn’t wake screaming.
“You know I’m not gonna touch you right?” I asked, gesturing to me staying in the bed with her.
“I know, and I’ll try not to touch you,” she said, immediately hiding her face in the pillow.
“For what it’s worth, I am sorry you’re stuck with me like this. It isn’t how I imagined my new life starting,” she said, keeping her back to me.
“Don’t be sorry for wanting to heal in peace. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” I tell her, hoping she believes me.
I lay awake long after I know she’s asleep, thinking. I’m definitely going to speak to Cas tomorrow, she isn’t a threat to us. The only thing she needs from us is protection for a few days and then I have a feeling she will run far from here and we will never see her again.
Chapter Six
Sparky...
Yesterday, Bonnie thought I’d slept through her laying cuddled against me. This morning, we ended up in the same position. It was hard not to be woken by her snuggling beside me, her skin was burning hot and smooth as satin. I repeated my actions from yesterday and slipped my arm around her. I couldn’t get back to sleep after that, I lay there enjoying the closeness between us. Apart from her atrocious past, I’m beginning to see there is something different about her. All she’s been through and she’s still here to tell the tale.
Currently everyone is sitting round the table in the back room. Bonnie has been around for a few days now and everyone wants to know why she is still here.
“Let’s get this straight. The bitch is born and bred Ghost Riders scum and you’re fuckin’ allowing her to stay here after what they did to Micky and Alannah?” Slade grunts.
Cas wasn’t looking too happy about being in this position with the club. He has only been president for little over a month now but he is more than capable of bringing this room under control. The boys have the utmost respect for him and once they’ve aired their opinions on the subject they’ll listen to him and hopefully that will be that.
“Lana threatened to go with her if I didn’t let her stay. It was either have her where we could keep an eye on her or have Lana off somewhere alone with her.”
He couldn’t have sounded more pussy whipped if he tried.
“Anyway, she has no weapons on her and she isn’t in any condition to get the better of us. According to Lana, she is a victim of their club not an accomplice. Sparky has been watching her like a hawk. She isn’t in the best position to get anything from us. Lana is adamant as soon as she’s able she’ll be gone in a shot,” Cas said, casually leaning back in his chair.
I’m inclined to agree with Barbie. As soon as Bonnie feels she is strong enough she will leave and I’ll be left wondering why the fuck I care she’s gone.
“Alannah is adamant she’s not a threat, but what do you think because I was your biggest backer to become president? So whatever you say I’ll trust one hundred per cent,” Oak asked Cas, leaning his arms on the table.
“I’m keeping an open mind for now. I don’t trust her but I trust my girl and with everything she went through, do you think she would be taken in again?” Cas looked to me then back at the table. “When Hunter had her, they didn’t only beat on her, while she was alone at one point one of them started to…” Cas couldn’t finish what he was trying to say through the anger rippling through him. He looked to me for help. I didn??
?t want to say it out loud but they had to know, it might help Bonnie.
“She didn’t tell us because nothing happened in the end. One of the fuckers had started undressing her, ready to have his way with her while she was tied up. Thank God he was interrupted. It was Bonnie who dressed her again and promised she would cause a scene if it happened again. Bonnie got herself a slap tryin’ to stop him hurtin’ our girl,” I told them.
Every brother round the table had gone as white as a ghost. I hoped this bit of information would help the way they saw Bonnie. I wouldn’t say I completely trust her but the more I listen to my brothers doubt her, the more I feel the need to defend her.
“She rocked up here declaring war. I love Alannah as my own but we can’t take her word over this. It ain’t wise Cas,” Oak said.
“Hey, you’re more than fuckin’ welcome to tell her that. I’d rather take one of you fuckers on than her about this. She feels a connection to Bonnie because she saw for herself what they were capable of. For God’s sake, you all saw Lana when we brought her home, you’ve seen what they did to Bonnie. We knew they weren’t on our level, but you’re right, having her here isn’t wise but we’re not like them. If it turns out she isn’t with them and did need our protection, then what does that say about us?”
With that said, Oak fell quiet.
“Fuckin’ hell, I thought all this shit was over with,” Slade said, from beside me.
“We all did brother,” I added. “I’d say she’s here for at least another few days. If she is up to something, I will know. If not, then she leaves and we know she was telling the truth. But listen brothers, whether she is here on her brother’s orders or for our protection, we know one thing for sure. Our fight isn’t over with the Ghost Riders and we need to watch ourselves,” I said.
Finally, they all agreed with me. For the next couple of hours we sat thrashing out ideas and protection strategies. No brother could leave the club on their own, always travelling in pairs or more. On the next run, we’d double up making sure they were still enough brothers left to protect the club.
“Okay, so Bonnie stays and we wait to see when they strike. Apparently she brought a new cell yesterday so she has means to contact her brother if she is working with him. Sparky will remain her babysitter,” Cas said, with a slight smirk on his face. Sniggers went round the table as I glared at them all.
“Everyone keep ya eyes and ears open. If anything seems out of place let me know. I know this is our sanctum but watch what you say around the club. If we give her nothin’ then she has nothin’ to give them,” he finished.
“What about the Devils Bastards? Relations aren’t good between us,” Slade brought up.
Michael had not only been using our club for his own needs but our supporting MC too. Before Bonnie showed up, I’d expressed my views on this subject. The Devils Bastards have been loyal to us for many years and it would be wise for us to build bridges with them before we end up in a war with them too. Cas agreed so I remained quiet now. My thoughts wondered to what Bonnie was up to in my room? When she had washed and dressed this morning, she looked beautiful in her new summer dress. Not in the way the girls around the club wore dresses. There was nothing slutty about the way she wore the dress, more seductive than easy pickings. Thank God we’re sitting at the table because I’m pretty certain I wouldn’t be able to hide my bulge from anyone here. I found myself growing hard thinking about her over the last twenty-four hours and it is driving me crazy not being able to fuck her.
The gavel hitting the table snapped me back in the room and everyone was leaving.
“You alright bro? You looked like you weren’t even here,” Cas asked, when we were alone.
“I’m fine. Listen, I need to tell you something, I didn’t say in front of the rest ‘cos I don’t think they need to know.”
“Go on.”
“She has these nightmares, screams fuckin’ murder.” I huff, as literally that’s what they’re about and carry on. “When she was ten, she saw Hunter kill her mother and she’s kept it to herself all these years. She asked who killed her father so I shrugged it off and asked if she wanted revenge. She said she wanted to thank whoever killed him. I believe her, I don’t think she is here as a spy or whatever.”
There, I’ve said it.
“Fuckin’ hell. Has she asked anything about us?” he questioned.
“Nothin’. Barbie’s right, as soon as she’s strong enough, she’ll be gone.”
“Can’t say I have the same faith you do about her. Just stay with her and hopefully she’s a fast fuckin’ healer ‘cos I can’t wait till she’s gone,” he said.
I know Cas well enough to know he looks after who he trusts completely. Now that he’s president, he will protect our club to his death and he won’t be taken in by a woman claiming protection until he trusts her himself.
“You still thinkin’ with ya head and not ya cock?” he asks, bemused.
“My dick is goin’ nowhere near her brother,” I say. Not that it doesn’t want to, I add silently.
“You sure? Lana tells me you sleep in the same bed. You’ve been close to her for a few days now, can’t deny she’s a looker under the bruises,” he carried on.
He was beginning to piss me off now.
“Trust me, it would be easier to get you in a church then it would be to get in her pussy. Whatever she’s been through, it’s taken its toll.”
That should shut him up. Any talk of churches and Cas closes off. It’s where his birth mother dumped him after giving birth to him.
He nods and stands. I can see he doesn’t believe me but he doesn’t say anything else.
I pass my brothers as I head for my room. I can guess they are thinking the same…that I’m either fucking her or I’m at least trying. They would be astounded to know it’s neither and I’m fucking shocked it’s neither, thinking about being between her legs is completely different to trying.
Chapter Seven
Bonnie...
Sparky left a few hours ago on club business and I have loved the peace on my own. After refolding my new clothes again, I cherish everything I bought yesterday. It seems silly to be this happy but this is the first time I’ve been to buy not only items I needed but items I wanted. Books that will never be ripped from my hands and tore in half, cosmetics that will never be destroyed because they attract attention from other men. Tommy never approved, he preferred me with as little self-esteem as possible. An hour ago I curled up on Sparky’s small couch and began reading one of my favourite books. I was barely into the first chapter when I began daydreaming of what it will be like when I leave here and find myself my own place. I imagined a small apartment, nothing too big or fancy, just somewhere I can call my own. After my spending yesterday, I still have a few thousand dollars left to start with and with caution, I’m going to make every dollar count for something.
Whilst choosing curtains for my imaginary new place, Sparky comes through the door A lot of the tension he wore this morning has faded and makes him more attractive. I don’t know why but I find myself blushing once again as I remember being woke this morning in the exact same position as yesterday. Two days in a row we have woke up in each other’s embrace and each morning neither of us have complained about it.
He comes and sits beside me. Technically he sits at the other end of the couch but as it’s small he ends up beside me. He looks at the book for a moment before looking to me.
“You must have got some good shit yesterday, I can hardly see your bruises through it,” he states.
On the inside I am happy because it means I didn’t waste extra money on the more expensive concealer.
I smile at him, not knowing what to say to that and return to my book.
“How are you feeling today?” he probes.
“A lot better thanks, my ribs hardly hurt now. I tried telling your doc they were nearly healed, it was mainly the exhaustion that was killing me,” I say, truthfully.
All the rest I’v
e had in the last few days here has been the biggest remedy for me.
“And you still won’t tell me who hurt you?” he asks.
“Why do you want to know? You going to fight my battles for me?” I ask, beginning to get annoyed he keeps asking me this.
Nobody apart from Alannah trusts me so why is it so important to them to know who hurt me? I can’t see them running off to save me like they did Alannah.
He looks away and doesn’t answer. With the lack of faith they have in me, I knew I shouldn’t ask my next question but do anyway.
“I suppose you were talking about me?” I ask. His head snaps back to me.
“Club business,” is all he says.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’m not here for my brother, I swear,” I say, feeling like I really need him to believe me.
“I think I believe you,” he murmurs quietly.
It is in this moment that something changes between us. The knowledge he believes me is euphoric, it feels good having another person on my side.
“You don’t have to sit with me you know, I’m not going anywhere. I like being able to sit here in peace and I feel safe, even though they all hate me,” I tell him.
“And who says I don’t like sitting here enjoying the fuckin’ peace?” he says.
I know he’s outright lying. If I weren’t here I could not picture him just sitting here on his own in the quiet. He has been given orders to watch me and that’s what he is going to do no matter how much he might believe my intentions of wanting to rest.
“If you’re feeling up to it, do you want to get out of here for a while?” he asks raising himself off the couch.
“Sure.”
There is something about him that makes me think if I stay here much longer, I might just follow him anywhere he wants to go.
“You’ll need to change into something warmer, that dress will show everything you hide underneath on the back of my bike,” he says.