“We needed laundry soap. Dani wanted to ride with, so I took her. I went inside to get the soap. She waited outside. I came back out and she wasn’t on the bike where I left her. I yelled for her, but nothing. I circled the building and found Dani’s helmet on the ground.” His eyes glassed up and his face went soft. “I fucked up.”
The rage filling my very existence is at its breaking point. Why in the hell would he leave her outside? Why was she even on the back of his fucking bike? Without another thought, I rear my fist back and crack Charlie across the jaw. He stumbles back but doesn't go down. This fucking prick took my girl on the back of his bike, breaking a club law, and then didn’t even protect her? Hell no! I grab him by his shirt and crack him in his mouth again, blood splattering across my fist as it collides with his mouth. I am going to kill him with my bare hands.
“You took her without permission and then didn’t even protect her, you piece of shit!” I grit out between my teeth.
“Calm down, Shadow. Let him go!” Bobby yells, coming up from behind me and pulling my death grip from Charlie.
Bobby leans his head next to me, “you better get hold of yourself. I know you are a fucking mess, but everyone is going to wonder why you are taking this so personal.”
“Let them think what they want,” I huff. I don't care anymore. All I want is to know that Dani is safe, and who has her. A part of me knows he's right, though. I lost my cool with the thought of her on someone else’s bike and the fact he didn’t protect her. It's like she's my Ol' Lady; that I have subconsciously claimed her. I know the last week with her made me feel for her on a whole different level, I just didn’t realize how fucking deep 'til now.
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The voices on the other side of the wall have gone quiet without revealing any usable information. What the hell would anyone want from me? Whatever it is, I won’t go down without a fight. I will cut, claw and kill whoever I need to to survive. Ha, listen to me, I sound so bad-ass. The Dani in New York would never have said that. She would have let them do whatever they wanted, and would have given them whatever they needed. That was when I was weak and I molded to whatever form my mother wanted. I'm convinced my mother saw the evil lurking within me, even before I did. I can see now why she shielded me from anything that would have provoked the darkness within. Shadow and my father’s club lures the savage out.
Enough of this sitting around. It’s time to fight and survive.
I climb off the bed, the chain rattling as I walk over to the door. It stops me about a foot short, so I lean over and start slamming my fist against the old door. My heart hammers with adrenaline and the fight to live.
“Let me the fuck out!” I scream, my voice crude and every bit of rude.
“Sounds like the priss is awake,” the male voice says. I hear footsteps coming toward the door. I back up, ready to pounce on the first person that comes through. When the door opens, I see the man that took me against my will. His brown hair shags down to his eyes; it’s oily and unruly. He's wearing a flannel shirt with the sleeves ripped off and stained blue jeans. He smiles; his teeth rotting out; his thin colorless lips snarling. His eyes are dull like someone who should be in rehab or in a casket.
“Well, well,” he rasps. The sound of his voice is infuriating, making him my target. I pull my fist back and connect it with his oily face. He stumbles and falls to the dirty floor; curses flying from his mouth. I start toward him, the chain rattling behind me, to kick him in his stomach but, he grabs me by the foot and pulls me to the ground with him.
“You little bitch!” he yells, his breath permeating my space. I can feel my stomach protest at its rancid smell. He punches me in the face with no warning. His knuckles collide with my mouth, making my teeth sink deep into my lip. I immediately taste blood. My face screams out in pain and I see stars. He jumps to his feet, rears back his black boot, and connects it with my ribs. My eyes water to the point I have to close my eyes. My breath stolen from my lungs, I gasp for air. He leans down and grasps me by the throat, squeezing tightly. His muscle no match for mine, he brings me to my feet. My eyes pop open and stare at the man who is killing me by refusing my lungs air.
“Put her down, Ricky,” the raspy female voice sounds from behind me. “We can’t use her if you kill her.” Ricky's eyes squint and scowl at me, but his grip releases and I fall to the ground. I instantly reach for my throat and take in the sweet air I was deprived of. I choke and sputter as my lungs inhale that first shaky breath. I was stupid and naive to think I could overpower him. I will need to be smart about this if I ever want to see Shadow again.
“You would do well not to do that shit again,” the woman says, walking over and squatting down in my line of view.