It takes an eternity for me to get my throat to move enough to croak out, “Sweetheart, you need a bath. We need to wash the butter off your face.”
Levi’s smile falters and he glances nervously over at Hammy.
Hammy nods his head in encouragement. “Go on, little buddy, listen to your momma. We can watch more when you’re cleaned up.”
Sliding off the couch, Levi comes around to me, and when I move my arm to take his hand, the motion feels mechanical.
I walk up to the door of the bedroom I slept in last night like I’m a damn robot.
Just as I pull the door open and start to usher Levi inside, I notice movement out of the corner of my eye.
I turn my head and Steve freezes in place, one foot hanging over the threshold of the sliding glass doors.
I keep turning and see both Hammy and Poster Boy standing stiffly in place like they got caught doing something.
They’re going to try to stop me.
Realizing this seems to magically dispel whatever it was that came over me and I’m able to finally get my ass in gear.
Once Levi is in the bedroom, I slam the door behind me and lock it.
I wasn’t lying when I said Levi needs a bath so I rush him through one wishing I could take one as well. Who knows when we’ll get the next chance, because I swear once I get in my minivan, I’m not stopping.
I’m just going to keep driving and driving until I can’t drive anymore.
Thankfully Levi doesn’t put up too much of a fuss as I dress him then dress myself. Once I’ve got my purse, keys, and sunglasses on, I grab his hand and tug him out of the bedroom.
Hammy is still near the couch but he’s standing now.
Steve is the closest to me, standing in front of the sliding glass doors, and he jumps a little when he sees me. “Ma’am?”
I ignore them both and head for the front the door.
“Ma’am?!” Steve calls out behind me, his voice panicked.
Yes-men, the both of them. I knew it.
Neither one of them tries to physically stop me, they’re probably both afraid Coy will kill them if they touch me.
They just huff and puff behind me, saying, “Ma’am. Ma’am, where are you going?” over and over.
I don’t get stopped until I actually reach the front door and it swings open.
Poster Boy steps inside, wiping something off his hands against his jeans, and scowls at me.
Straightening and blocking the way out, he says, “You can’t leave, Allie.”
Hammy and Steve crowd in around me and I feel my hackles rising.
It’s almost like being back at my parent’s house again…
Mentally shaking the feeling off, I lift my chin and say with a curl of my lip, “I need to go to Walmart for a few things. Please move out of my way.”
Poster Boy spreads his feet and crosses his arms over his chest, standing his ground. “Sorry, can’t let you do that. Boss man’s orders.”
I knew he wouldn’t let me get away easily, but I’m not giving up without a fight, dammit.
“Really?” I ask as if I’m confused and purposely look to Hammy and Steve. “Is that what Coy really said? He said I couldn’t leave the house? I could have sworn he only wanted you guys to protect us. Not keep us prisoners…”
I watch doubt flicker across their faces and have to keep myself from smirking as they both glance at Poster Boy nervously.
Poster Boy’s expression turns downright icy as he looks back at them and sharply shakes his head.
Fucker. I’m still not ready to give up though.
“Poster Boy, please,” I say and try to look embarrassed. “I really have to go… I need… woman things…”
Poster Boy’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “What kind of woman things?”
I make a big show of biting my lip and shifting on my feet. I even glance down at Levi like I don’t want him to know what’s going on. Then I lean toward Poster Boy and drop my voice.
Both Hammy and Steve lean with me to hear.
“I started my period,” I whisper, but not too low. I want all three of them to hear me. “I don’t have anything on me, so I need to go to the store to buy tampons.”
I lean back and intently watch Poster Boy’s face.
Poster Boy nods his head and seems to think about what I said.
Then a slow smile creeps across his lips and his blue eyes glitter with amusement as he starts to say, “I’ll send Hammy—”
“Well, shit. If you need a tampon, ma’am, I got one you can have,” Steve cuts in.
What?
I blink in confusion as Steve’s face lights up and he reaches around to his back pocket. Then he whips out an actual tampon and thrusts it at me excitedly. “You can have this one.”
“I don’t want your tampon,” I say, aghast, and recoil as he waves the thing at me.
“Da fuck, man?” Hammy asks, equally as aghast.
Steve’s brow furrows at our reactions and he starts to pull the tampon back as if he’s unsure now. “What? I have seasonal allergies and sometimes my nose bleeds…”
Hammy slaps a hand over his face and shakes his head. “Fuck… man… That’s fucked up.”
Steve frowns, shoves the tampon back in his pocket, and says defensively, “It works, dude.”
Hammy shakes his head again in disbelief.
Poster Boy starts laughing. “You know we’re all going to start calling you Tampon now, right? What a way to earn your road name. Fuck, I can’t believe it. You offered the Pres’s ol’ lady your fucking tampon…”
All the color drains from Steve’s face as Poster Boy’s words sink in. “Nah, that’s not true. You brothers wouldn’t do me like that, would ya? Tell me you won’t let everyone call me Tampon…”
Hammy groans like he’s in pain.
And Poster Boy doubles over, laughing and clutching his stomach while he enthusiastically nods his head. “Yes, yes, we will.”
I roll my eyes in disgust and then feel Levi tug on my hand.
When I glance down at him, he asks, “Mommy, what’s a tampon?”
Lord save me…
Poster Boy bursts into a fresh round of laughter, laughing so hard he has to gasp for air. He even has to slap his hand against the open door to keep from falling over.
And it’s just the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.
I shove right past Poster Boy and march out the door with Levi.
“Shit!” Poster Boy curses behind me, his laughter cutting off as I tug Levi toward the minivan.
Rushing as fast as Levi’s little legs can keep up with, I take quick stock of the area. I’m a little surprised that Coy’s house is in the middle of a rather nice neighborhood, but it definitely works to my advantage. We’re surrounded by other houses and neighbors.
Neighbors that probably wouldn’t take too kindly to three bikers harassing an innocent mom and her young child.
Parked at the top of the driveway in front of the garage, the minivan is so close I make it to the driver’s side before Poster Boy finally catches up to me.
“Allie,” he pants like he can’t catch his breath, “you can’t leave.”
Ignoring him, I hit the clicker to unlock the sliding back door then frown when nothing happens.