“I’ve never known one who wasn’t,” I answer honestly.
“Listen, I’m not supposed to tell you this shit, but Beast he took a liking to you, so he told me to warn you. Our club has some dealings with Dragon, but there’s been rumors of bad shit going down and Skull asked me to check into it.”
“I don’t think I want to hear this. Honestly, I don’t know you any more than I know Dragon.” Yeah, I’m ready to get the heck out of here. I don’t want to be in a pissing match between men and clubs trying to proclaim who has the bigger dick. I’m here because I want Beast and Skull to help me and Nic get to Mexico. Of course if Nic knows how dangerous Dragon and his buddies are, Mexico would look better to her, right? The thought makes me pause and listen further.
“I get that, but I have proof that I’m telling the truth,” he says calmly and I freeze.
Proof? Do I dare check this shit out? If something is bad, would Nic even believe me? Maybe if I had something to back me up? One of the things I am the most ashamed of, the thing that I keep hidden away, down deep inside, is the fact that once upon a time, I liked Michael. I liked him a lot. I didn’t fight the marriage because he was rich, powerful, and sexy. He was all of the things that a stupid girl who had no experience in the world could want. I liked him. I wanted him. Eventually I woke up and I tried to run, but even then I had no idea how bad he truly was. It took him beating me, basically raping me while taking my virginity, to show me the monster I said ‘I do’ to. What if Nicole is just like I was? What if I don’t talk to her and ignore Tiny. Will Nicole turn a blind eye to all of the red flags, just like I did?
I beat down the panic I feel at just the small remembrances of Michael and my past. I look Tiny in the eye and do my best to act like I don’t have a fuck to give.
“Show me,” I tell him, hoping the so-called proof he has is nothing to worry about. I’m concerned though, because Tiny looks way too cocky.
Creepy. The description fits Tiny completely. He even has the cliché beady eyes and greasy hair. Suddenly I am even more thankful for Beast this strange friendship I have with Beast. Tiny gives a whole new meaning to your judgment may be impaired when mixing medication and alcohol. He walks over beside me and gives me his phone.
On it are pictures, not great quality, but I can still see Dragon torturing some man. My world tilts and the vision changes in my mind. I’m not seeing the photos at all now. Suddenly I’m transported back into my hospital room. Michael is standing beside me and it’s his phone I’m holding. His phone showing me a video of Ms. Martens. Michael killing someone who cared about me, just because she tried to help save me.
It takes me a minute to breathe and even longer before I realize it isn’t Michael I’m looking at in these pictures. Still, I make my mind up immediately. I have to show Nic. I have to get us away and into safety. She needs to see what Dragon is capable of before it’s too late for her. Like it was for me. With that in mind I text her and head out with Tiny on a mission.
*
Okay so I may have jumped into the fire without thought. Tiny had a member of Skull’s crew drop us off at the house Nicole and I shared. He didn’t want to drive—in case we partied later. Yeah, I hated to be the one to break it to him, but that was not happening.
“Maybe you and your girl will party after this. You owe me, Beast kept you to himself and didn’t share,” he says and his voice and words make me want to hurl. Definitely need to watch the meds and alcohol mixing.
“I don’t party with other women, Tiny.” Or men…or you…like ever, I add silently.
He doesn’t respond and a few minutes later we pull up to mine and Nic’s place. My beat up old car is in the driveway and I’m glad. I’ll use it to get away from Tiny later, because seriously his creep-o vibe is registering off the charts. Our ride drives off and leaves me with Tiny. I fight the urge to plead for the guy to stay. Instead, I walk to the front door and reach in my pocket to get my keys to let us in. Tiny immediately grabs the keys out of my hand and unlocks the door—then pockets them. I start to demand he give them back, but it’s not worth the hassle. Nic will have hers, so we can easily get away from Tiny. All these thoughts settle me, I like having contingency plans—a safety net.
When we get inside Tiny’s quiet and I’m good with that. I do nothing to invite conversation. He goes into the kitchen and talks on his cell phone. He’s whispering and I can’t make out what he’s saying, but I don’t really care. I’m here for one reason and as soon as that’s done, Tiny will be a bad memory. He will pale in comparison to the nightmares I pack around. I just have to get Nicole to listen to me. Then we can work out the rest together. My eyes stayed glued to the clock, and eventually we hear a car pull up. Tiny cusses when he looks out the window.