Never once has he spoken to me. I’m sure he blames me for not helping Milley more than taking Cody with me. I’d blame myself as well if I didn’t know the full story.
“Milley, you have to listen to yourself,” I protest. She’d just given me the letter she’d written and the address of the clubhouse to the Devil’s Riot MC. Like I needed that. Grigory, I knew, worked with them on some occasions close to where he lives.
“I can’t. If I want to protect Cody from my brother’s hands then I can’t go with you. I’ll go home and face Mason,” she sobs.
“But we can get you out of here,” I argue once again.
“No, we can’t. The moment Mason finds out I’m not here he’ll come looking for us. And since he saw you that means he will seek you out first to find me. At least with me going home, I can tell him I gave Cody to Social Services. That will buy you some time.” How did it come to this? In what world do men think it’s okay to abuse a woman like Milley has been.
“Okay, I’ll take him, but you promise me you’ll hold on until my cousin can get one of his men to you,” I demand. Smiling weakly Milley merely nodded her head. I should have known then that it would be too late.
Internally, shaking my head to clear thoughts of anything but work, I paste a smile on as I face Mike. “You know it. Let’s see what lives we’re gonna be able to save tonight.”
Taking a fortified breath, I follow my co-workers just as the chaos of patients are rushed in. My mind goes to where it’s supposed to for when I’m working and I get to it.
Nothing else matters except for the now. Helping people who need it most.
Not some dark hair Adonis who avoids me but consumes my dreams.
Rushing up to one of the beds, I run along with it as the paramedic gives his report on what’s been done to stabilize the patient.
This is what I live for.
By the time I’d ended my shift, we’d been able to save two out of three of the patients who’d been in the accident and I was exhausted.
More than exhausted.
Thankfully I had the next two days off work, and I was going to use them to catch up on the sleep I desperately need.
“See you all later,” I call out, waving to Mike and Shannon as we get to our cars.
“Wanna join us tomorrow night over at the Devil’s Drink?” Shannon asks with a grin. I groan at the name of the bar. Of course, she’d name a bar owned by Coyote’s club.
“I’m good. I’ve got to catch up on sleep and other things that I’ve neglected to do.” Like unpacking all of my things. The movers had finally gotten everything up here. I’d been living out of a suitcase for the past several weeks only just getting my furniture and clothes the other day.
My cousin’s men had supervised the move to be cautious of Milley’s brother. He didn’t like the fact I wasn’t going with him back to his place in Pungo. I had wanted to stay near this sweet baby that seems to have a hold on my heart.
Maybe I feel responsible for Cody since I was there the day he was born. Held him when Milley passed out. Stayed with him the entire time. For whatever reason, I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving him alone without protection.
It’s the only thing that made sense to me as to why I’d agreed to leave the hospital with him. Shit, I was lucky to not get arrested for kidnapping because in all reality that’s what I’d done. Doesn’t matter I had a letter from his mother stating he was to be in my care until I reached his father.
Then again, I didn’t need it considering she didn’t even put her name on the form for his birth certificate. No, she’d put mine. If I’d had noticed it, I would have asked her why. But I’m sure I know why. Milley was doing the only thing she could to protect that sweet boy.
“Okay, maybe next time. I know you're just getting settled in. How about next Friday? We’re both off, we could hit up one of the clubs, go dancing, what do you think?” Seeing the excitement on Shannon’s face, I nod in agreement.
“Sure, hopefully by then I’ll have everything unpacked and organized,” I say as I open my car door.
“Awesome. I’ll see you guys later,” Shannon says as she gets into her own car.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I sigh in relief to be heading home. As much as I love my job it can be mentally draining. Especially when we lose a patient. Some people don’t understand what doctors and nurses feel when those situations occur. It’s not easy trying to stay unattached to emotions.
Inserting the key, I start my girl up. I’m proud to say with all my hard work, I’d bought and paid for her in full. A six-speed manual transmission Chevrolet Camaro. Yea I’m proud to say this baby is mine and I love it. I’d wanted a blacked-out Camaro with black and purple interior.
It might sound silly, but I love the way it looks.
Making it to my place in no time, I cut the engine and get out and head for the door. As I try to find the key, I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings like Grigory always got on me about.
Right as I open my door, I’m shoved from behind. Unable to catch myself, my head hits the door before I fall to the floor.
“Stupid fuckin’, bitch. Did you think I wouldn’t find you?” Turning my head to see who my attacker was, I realize it’s Milley’s brother, Mason. The other guy who’d been with him stands directly behind him along with two other men.
“What do you want?” I ask as I stand up to face them.
“First of all, I want to know where the kid is,” he sneers.
“I don’t know,” I respond. I won’t let him know where Cody is. That won’t happen. No child should be a pawn.
A slap to my face told me he didn’t like my answer.
“Don’t bullshit me, bitch. Tell me where he is and I might consider leaving you be.” I want to vomit at the way he leers at my body.
“I really don’t know,” I mutter.
“Guess you want to learn the hard way,” Mason grins, sadistically. Stepping back, he lets the guy who’d been right behind him come forward.
Inching backwards, I do my best to try and think of a way to escape these men. The blank dark look I’m receiving is one I know will haunt me.
“Last chance to tell me where that bastard is,” Mason states.
“Go to hell,” I snap and do the only thing I can, turn and make a run for my room. Hoping maybe a barrier between them and me will bide me enough time to at least call for help.
I make it as far as my bedroom door when the jerk catches me by the arm. “Not so fast, bitch. You caused me to lose something that belonged to me.” The first punch to my stomach was painful enough; however, the punches he continued to rain down on me were more than I could take.
But nothing compares to when he draws a pocketknife out and uses it to shear my hair. Too weak from the beating he’d already rained down I’m not able to fight him off me.
“I’m going to leave you a little reminder of this day for not telling us where the brat is. But don’t worry we’ll find him and when we do, I’ll kill him in front of you,” he taunts, pressing the tip of the blade of the knife along the edge of my face.
Biting the inside of my cheek, I refuse to allow them the pleasure of hearing my pain.