I live a boring life, one where I’m able to control all the factors about it.
Am I living the way I want to?
Nope, I use to love going out. Hanging with friends from school. I’d even found I like going to a certain type of club. One I haven’t been to again since everything. As much as I enjoyed it, I can’t go back even if I found one in this area.
My life officially has become tedious in all areas.
2 Days 13 hours 32 Minutes
“Alright, Luna. Charlotte and I aren’t letting you get out of tonight. We’re going dancing and you Miss Always has an Excuse are coming with us,” Harley, my co-worker and closest thing I have to a best friend announces as she steps into my classroom.
“Umm, why does it have to be tonight?” I stammer. I didn’t want to go out but I really didn’t want to go out tonight of all nights.
For the past two days I’ve felt off, not like I feel sick or anything but rather like someone was watching me. Nights have become worse for me. I’m not sleeping even with the medicine.
“Yes, tonight and we’re not letting you get out of it, Luna,” Charlotte declares as she steps into the room behind Harley.
“We’ll meet you at your apartment and catch an Uber from there. Prepare for a night out like no other.” I inwardly groan at the persistence these two are throwing at me. I’d been coming up with every excuse I could to keep them at bay and now they’re not going to let up.
Great.
Just what I need.
“Couldn’t we just catch a movie in or something like that?” I suggest in a last act of self-preservation.
“Babe, we’re going out. Let our hair loose and have some fun. You need this and don’t deny it,” Harley states leaving no room for argument.
“Ugh, fine.” I can do this. One night. It can’t hurt me, right? At least I hope it doesn’t.
“Sweet, we’ll be over at six with takeout. We’ll eat then go out to have some fun out on the town,” Charlotte declares.
“What if I cook us something before we go out? This way you don’t have to bring anything.” My heart begins to pound within my chest at the thought of takeout.
“No way, we’re not making you cook tonight. It’s your night after all.” Confused by Charlotte’s words, I furrow my brow.
My night?
What does that mean?
“Don’t tell me you forgot your own birthday, did you?” Harley demands, crossing her arms over her chest.
Oh God. I did forget. I don’t like to think of my birthday as a good thing. No, it’s the day the shadows always come out to play and I get burned.
My mom died on my fifth birthday.
Daddy moved my stepmom and two of my brothers who I didn’t know about into the house on my sixth birthday. I don’t like to think of the fact my dad cheated on my mom with Cruella de Vil.
Then there is the fact I’d been kidnapped on my twentieth birthday.
This does not include any of the stuff in between. Those are just some of the major things going on.
So, yeah, I don’t like celebrating a day that I’m doomed. Every single time something happens, and then I’m left to either clean up, hurt, or pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.
“She did,” Harley gasped. “Oh, honey, you are in some serious need of having fun.”
“I second that. How about we get out of here and get this party started?” I barely contain the flinch Charlotte’s voice causes due to it being a high-pitched screech. Another thing that I cannot handle.
Sure, music being loud is one thing, I love to listen to it blaring. However, a voice that raises above its octave makes me panic.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath trying to calm my anxiety down.
I can do this. It’s one night. No one knows where I am. It’s been almost two years.
Nothing can happen to me.
Right?
Yeah, I don’t think so. Life doesn’t work like that for me.
Just suck it up and get through the night. Tomorrow I’ll go back to my cocoon and stay there.
Chapter Two
Shadow
“Victoria, you are not going to get me to go out with you all tonight. No fuckin’ way,” I grumble as I stand next to the bar in the clubhouse, holding a beer I’d yet to take a sip from. All thanks to a certain woman bombarding me with demands that I go out with them tonight along with several of my brothers.
“You’re such a party pooper, Shadow. Loosen up and have some fun. Tracker’s coming and he’s not complaining about it,” she argues.
“That’s because my VP is your ol’ man and he’s not about to let your ass go out to some club where men will likely stare at your ass and tits without him there.” The girls found out it was Luna’s birthday; were upset they didn’t know before now and decided to do a surprise birthday celebration.
Yeah, I’m not into going to that shit.
After we got back from Louisiana, I’d had Gadget look into her and find out who she was. Turns out I know exactly who she is because I’d done jobs for her father.
Antoine Devore.
When stakes were high or a job was crucial, he’d contract the group I used to work with. Devore is the leader of one of the largest enterprises. His men run anything from guns, drugs, and high-class flesh. However, he’s a smart man and keeps each of his businesses separated from the other.
First time I’d seen her I knew she was familiar. Now knowing who she is, I’m staying as far away from her as fucking possible.
That is after making contact with her father. Evidently, he and his sons were looking for her. After giving him an update on what had happened to her, they decided to keep their distance from her for the time being. According to the oldest son, Grant, someone had to have set her up in order for her to be taken.
Luna’s brothers wanted to immediately swarm in and take her home with them; unfortunately, yet good at the same time, since Stoney and Tracker were both brought into this ordeal, they suggested giving Luna her space. At first, they didn’t want to agree to this. Not until Stoney told them she had their protection and would look out for her.
Not much to looking after considering she’s a hermit. From the security system Nerd had set up at her place, we know her routine. It’s been the same from the day she moved in and started her job at the school.
Work, home, and repeat. When she goes to the store, she’s there less than an hour then it’s back to the apartment where she stays cooped up until the next time she needs to go out.
I swear the woman is a shell only going through the motions and not living. I wouldn’t have a problem with letting her family have her back but then again, none of them knew she was missing until well after she was taken.
“That may be Tracker’s reason for going but in reality, he’s going because at the end of the night he gets to have drunken sex, after a good night of being worked up watching me dance,” Victoria proclaims.
“And this is why your ass has been dubbed PIMA.” I grumble, giving Victoria a pained look. “I don’t want to hear this shit. You’re like my sister, do not need visuals of you bumpin’ uglies.”