“You got it.”
Remy looked over to the end of the table and yelled, “Unkey WyWy!”
My stomach fell, knowing what was coming next.
“Come herez!” Remy pointed for him to stand right next to me.
Micah and Ensley stood on the other side, and Dryerson did not disappoint the little birthday girl, standing so close his heat was calling me.
Not having anything to do with my hands, I put them in the pockets of my shorts.
My entire left side tingled at his nearness. We hadn’t been this close since the day he’d come in and rescued me. My body came alive, and it was difficult to keep it in check. Sizzles tingled down my arm, reminding me of our time together.
How could one man affect me so much?
“Hey there, hot stuff,” Ax said, sidling up to my right. “You all healed up?” When was the last time I’d seen Ax? My mind raced at his question, not because it was rude, but that simple word took me right back.
All warmth or tingles evaporated into the air. Just like before, quicker than a snap, I was there in that hole.
Dirt. Mold. Blood. The smell was everywhere. Every place on my body hurt. There was not a hair on my head that felt any relief. Hours, maybe? Days? I had no idea the concept of time.
My arms and legs were tied, and I knew I had no clothes on because my bits were getting breezes they shouldn’t get.
Daniel ran the knife over my face, down my neck, in the middle of my breasts then to my stomach, where he began to cut. It was nothing like cutting your finger with a piece of paper. No, this was agonizing. And Daniel liked to go slow, drawing out each agonized scream.
My voice was so raw by then. Between my legs burned, and I could feel blood running down my legs.
I couldn’t move. I was stuck enduring this, but I made a mistake.
I called my sister, and she’d be here any moment.
Just then a deep slice went down my thigh, and I screamed out once again.
A solid presence came right behind me, and I breathed in hard as a hand came to rest on my neck right by my shoulder. This time I didn’t flinch or pull away. Instead, I closed my eyes as the hand started to squeeze at a soothing pace.
I sucked in his woodsy scent.
Dryerson. It was this special gesture reserved only for me. I’d missed it. Heck, I loved it. Just knowing this man had my back in this moment meant the world to me. Made me feel protected. Something I’d never had in my life. Just from one touch by him. That was all it took.
We stood there for moments that were probably only seconds but felt like an eternity.
“Hey, Katie,” Ax said in a soft voice, but I didn’t move or look at him, keeping my focus solely on Dryerson’s touch and allowing it to soothe the mess swirling around in my head.
A soft breath came to my ear and whispered, “Wild Kat, it’s okay. You’re safe.”
Safe? What did that even mean anymore? I had been kidnapped off the streets before. No one saw that coming. There was no way for me to be safe anymore, except with him.
But it was Dryerson, and he used his pet name for me, Wild Kat. He said I had a wild, sarcastic tongue and gave me the name. Now, it didn’t seem as fitting, but I loved it all the same.
After a deep breath, I opened my eyes and hoped like heck the void inside them wouldn’t show, but I knew deep down it would. At least there were no tears. That was a major plus. Tears always meant coddling, and that wasn’t what I wanted, standing in a room with a bunch of bikers.
“Sorry, babe.” Ax was serious. Heck, the entire room was silent, just staring at me.
Again.
This was turning out to be a bad idea. Coming here, knowing the past would be brought up, and knowing I wasn’t strong enough to handle it. But I couldn’t miss Remy’s party. Nothing would keep me away from Remy.
The hand squeezed again, jolting me back to the room at large. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, wanting the attention off me and put onto the birthday girl. “I’m good, everyone. Really. Come on, this little one needs a Happy Birthday song sang.”
My focus went to my sister who was assessing me, probably thinking about locking me up in her spare bedroom until I talked. I wouldn’t put it past her, but I knew it was out of love, right? I gave her wide eyes, demanding with them that she go along with this. I needed this.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Ensley clapped her hands and turned to the entire group. “Alright. Let’s eat some Trolls.”
Looking down at Remy, she even had a worried expression. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. Even my girl knew I was off. Guess my mask was falling down on the job. Around Remy I never had to wear one, but for her to see this side of me hurt like heck.
Micah’s gaze was on me and Dryerson, who I didn’t step away from; instead, I continued to fall further into him and his touch on my neck. Micah reached into his pocket and pulled out a lighter, his focus now on his baby girl. “Let’s do this.”
“Twollz!!!” Remy shouted, and a room full of people who loved my niece began singing.
3
KATIE
Spoiled. That was what Remy was. With such a huge family now, she made out like a bandit when it came to presents. I was pretty sure that there were no more Trolls toys for a fifty-mile radius because they were currently scattered all over the grass outside.
My gift was closer to the back of the lineup, and I couldn’t wait for her to open it. For once in a very long time, I felt excitement and anticipation to see Remy’s face when she opened the box. I even had my cell out ready to snap a few pictures. Neither Micah nor Ensley knew what I'd gotten her either, which was even better.
Ensley pulled out the card and read it to Remy, who didn’t give a hoot what it said and started to tear into the paper. “It’s from your Aunt Katie,” Ensley said to the little girl.
“I knows. I sees her brings it inside,” Remy answered matter-of-factly, tearing the lid off of the box.
I began to snap pictures rapidly, wanting to catch her every reaction. She went from confused to pulling it out and giving me the face I knew she would. Surprise and awe. Like her world just opened for her.
Ensley held it up tall, and Remy stood there for moments, mouth dropped open, not knowing what to think.
It was brief, the quiet, I mean, because as soon as she could move her body, she was pulling it from her mother’s arms and wrapping it in her own.
Remy hugged it so tightly I could see her little arms straining. Only then did I put my phone in my back pocket and move to Remy, being careful not to fall on all the toys.
“Do you know what this is?” I asked Remy who was still in shock. The reason I knew this was because her next words were soft, nothing like the Remy I knew.
“Tits … Oppy.” Her little voice made me smile.
“Yes it is. Do you want to put it on?”
Remy nodded slowly, still not knowing what to think. It was full out Poppy.
“I’m pretty sure this is the quietest she’s ever been,” Micah said from my side, making me smile. He’d better not get too used to it. This little girl had some pipes.
Remy reluctantly handed it to me, and I opened up the back, having Remy step inside it one foot at a time. She steadied herself on my shoulders with each precise movement.