Sky (Legacies Book 2)

by Erin Osborne

  I will the tears I feel forming in my eyes to stop and pull a picture of Colt up in my mind. There’s no way I’ll taint my daughter thinking of her right now. Colt can handle what life throws at him; he’s strong and has seen more than even I know about. So, I go to my happy place and think of the man I love and wish I could spend my life with.

  “Fucking answer me!” Jeremy yells, slicing into me deeper, this time on my breast.

  “I wasn’t fucking them all,” I tell him, my voice shaking and weak once again.

  I’m so tired of feeling weak, pathetic, and less than I am. I’ve been beaten down for so long that I forget how strong I used to be. How I took charge of the house when my dad couldn’t pick up the pieces of himself to do it. That’s who I used to be before Jeremy wormed his way into my life and beat me down. Made me believe my dad didn’t even want me because he had no clue I wasn’t even going home anymore.

  Then, it was how much of a shit mother I was when Zoey was born, and I was too beaten to move fast enough to get to her before she started crying worse. He would tell me my daughter would grow to hate me because I didn’t finish school, had no job, and was so weak and pathetic he didn’t want to look at me. So how could I expect her to want anything to do with me as she got older.

  That’s when the taunts would start about her not being his and how I was a whore, a slut, a skank, and any other name he wanted to call me. This is how I was treated for years. After a while, you start to believe the things you’re told and realize no one really has your back or wants you around. That’s why it’s hard for me to accept Colt after so long and the life he leads. But, I’m trying to push everything to the back of my mind to be with him.

  It looks like I won’t have to worry about it anymore though. Jeremy is going to see that I don’t ever see Colt or anyone else I love again. He’ll make sure even if I manage to survive his wrath that I won’t want to be around anyone. Including my daughter because I’ll be so fucked up, I’ll push everyone away. It’s what he does and what I’ve seen from him in the past.

  “How does it feel to know a common whore who fucked all the bikers gave you up? And that someone who’s not even a member made sure I got my hands on you? No one wants you around. Colt would’ve gotten rid of you sooner or later,” Jeremy states, trying to inflict pain in any way he can on me.

  “I don’t care what you think,” I tell him, getting the words I’ve wanted to say for so long out.

  Jeremy truly means nothing to me. I made a bad decision when I was young and now, I have to lay in the bed I made. Do I regret my decision? No because I know I wouldn’t have my daughter if I wasn’t with Jeremy. I would have a different child with someone else. I don’t even know if I’d have found Colt and his family again. My only regret is staying with him for so damn long. And going back when I knew it was the last place I needed to be. I can’t think about the past though.

  My only concern right now should be getting out of this alive and protecting my unborn child. Even if Colt wants nothing to do with me after this, we’ll have to work together to raise our child. I’m prepared to do whatever he needs from me as long as he’s truly happy and has what he needs in life.

  “I’m going to have fun taking my time with you. And at the end, I’m going to gut you,” Jeremy says, placing one more cut along my cheek.

  The second he leaves the room, I allow myself to break down. I let more silent tears fall down my cheeks to the filthy, nasty mattress below me. It stinks and I don’t want to know what all the stains under my blood are.

  My body begins to tremble from pain and fear. I try to stop it, but I feel as if I’m going to pass out again. It’s the last thing I want to do because who knows what they’ll do to me. However, when the pain and everything catches up to me, I can’t stop my eyes from closing on their own and pulling me into the darkness where I’ll feel nothing except the pain of losing everyone I hold close to me.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Colt Johns

  IT’S BEEN ALMOST three days since Emersyn was taken from me. Three days I haven’t given up my search for her. I’ve been going up and down every single street, country road, and hidden spot I could think of. There’s no sign of her and no one’s seen her or anyone resembling Jeremy’s description.

  I’ve also been looking for Charlie. He has yet to make an appearance after not following through on watching my girl’s back. Every member of the club has been looking for him. It’s as if he’s just vanished into thin air. We don’t live in a small town so it shouldn’t be this hard to find him.

  No one has seen Ginger either. She went from being seen around town on a regular basis after getting kicked out of the clubhouse to becoming a ghost as well. I swear I’ve never been more frustrated, felt more defeated, or as alone as I feel now. There’s no one I can even take my rage out on because some of the members are still gone on the run.

  My thoughts are constantly on Emersyn and how she must be feeling right now. Of what she’s going through at the hands of her bitch assed ex. And about what she’s thinking about. Then my mind fills with thoughts of our baby. I know my girl will do whatever she has to in order to protect him or her. She’s more of a fighter than she truly realizes.

  We didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving this year. No one was in the mood with Emersyn being gone. We’ve been out looking for her; me more than anyone else. I haven’t slept, sat down for more than five minutes, eaten anything, and barely had anything to drink. The only thing I’ve had to drink is when I stop at a gas station to fill up and grab a bottle of water.

  My mom has been inconsolable since finding out the news. She’s been at the clubhouse with Zoey, Sydney, Needa, and Briar. The only time she doesn’t have Zoey in her arms is when my dad is around. He tries to get her to rest, but she doesn’t. I don’t think she’s slept more than a few minutes at a time in the last few days. Mom is either wrapped around Zoey or making calls. At least that’s what I’ve been told on the few check-ins I’ve made.

  Today, I’m going to the clubhouse. I need to eat and get an hour of sleep or so. My body is starting to feel like it’s shutting down and I can’t let that happen. I need to be strong for Emersyn. She needs me to find her and make sure Jeremy doesn’t take another breath; he doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as her or anyone else.

  Pulling in, I park in my usual spot at the end of the row of bikes. Levi’s bike is here, and my brother’s is gone. He’s on the run with the other members and pissed as fuck that he’s not here to help find my girl. He loves Emersyn like a sister and always has. My parents love her like their own and it’s why it’s hitting my mom so hard. Why she won’t rest and feels guilty.

  Yeah, my dad let it slip that she feels guilty because she couldn’t watch Zoey the night Em was taken. It’s not her fault she had an appointment and then had to go to work. Her way of helping is making phone calls we don’t have time to make. She’s calling around to every single place she can think of to try and find a lead on Emersyn. My mom is running herself ragged and she’s not doing all that much. This just might kill her if she doesn’t stop.

  Right now, she’s not even going to Legacies. We’ve closed it for the last two days because no one can be there to run the place; our numbers just aren’t that high. Every available man is out searching as long as they can. They only stop to rest and get something to eat and drink. Then they’re right back on the road looking again. We’ve looked every possible place we can think of and still nothing.

  As I walk toward the door of the clubhouse, I hear a bike coming up the driveway. Stopping in my tracks, I wait to see who it is. The second the bike comes up close, I realize it’s Charlie. The dumbfuck actually had the balls to show his face back here again. He’s mine and I’m going to kill him.

  Not thinking about what I’m doing, I charge him as he’s still on his bike. He tries to stop, but I don’t care about that. Grabbing onto his shirt, I pull him from the bike as he tries to pass me and turn around to leave and
go back into hiding. Not gonna fucking happen.

  Charlie’s bike continues forward as I slam him down against the ground. I begin to punch his face and scream at him. I’m not even sure what the fuck I’m yelling I’m so lost inside my head. He covers his face and tries to protect himself. Still, I don’t let it stop me. Instead, I begin attacking his stomach and ribs with punches and kicks to the area.

  I don’t know how much time passes as I take out my pain and rage on Charlie. Suddenly I’m being pulled off of him. I fight against whoever is holding on to me as the traitor lays on the ground coughing and trying to catch his breath. I hope he’s in more pain than my girl is right now. He’s lucky they heard me from inside because I’m more than prepared to kill him.

  “Calm the fuck down, son,” my dad whispers in my ear.

  He turns me in his arms and leads me inside the clubhouse. I’m still trying to get away from him to get my hands back on the piece of shit who let my girl get kidnapped.

  “Colt, you’re done,” my father growls out. “I’m pullin’ you in. You’re not to leave this clubhouse until you’ve slept, and I’ve questioned Charlie.”

  “Dad, I have to keep goin’,” I tell him as he holds his hand up to stop me.

  “No, son, you don’t. Right now, you need to take your daughter in your arms, get somethin’ to eat and drink, and then get some sleep. We’ll find our girl and bring her home. You’ll mend her broken pieces and put her back together again. Even better than before. Emersyn is strong and she has so much to fight for right now. You, Zoey, and your baby. The rest we’ll handle as a family and do whatever we have to in order to make her whole,” he tells me, directing me into my mother’s arms who’s holding Zoey.

  The three of us walk into my room and I sit down on my bed. Zoey is placed in my arms and I hold her close to my chest, breathing in her clean, baby scent while I attempt to calm down. Needa brings me in a plate of food and a bottle of water. I accept both of them and thank her as she leaves the room and closes the door behind her.

  Keeping Zoey in my arms, I switch her to my side so I can use one hand to eat. As I shovel the steak, potatoes, and corn into my mouth, I don’t even taste it. I don’t taste anything right now and I won’t until my girl is back in my arms.

  Zoey presses her little hand to my cheek that’s covered in scruff because I haven’t shaved in days. I turn my face slightly and press a kiss to her little palm. Then, I turn and set my plate on the nightstand. I look at my mom and completely lose my shit. Tears streak down my face and I couldn’t give two shits about what anyone will think right now. My heart is broken and the only way to heal it is to bring Emersyn home.

  “Mom, what am I gonna do?” I ask her, my pain and anguish filling my voice.

  “You’re gonna get some rest so you can go find our girl. Dad will get the information you need. Then, you’re going to show her all the love you feel for her and finally make her your wife. Emersyn is yours and you need to prove it to her no matter how she comes back to us,” my mom answers, wrapping Zoey and me in her arms. “Zoey will be ready for a nap. She hasn’t been sleeping too well. Get in bed with her and show her the love she needs to feel right now.”

  “I need to be out there searching for her,” I say, my voice getting harder in my conviction.

  “No, you don’t. If you don’t get some sleep, you’re not going to be any good to Emersyn when we bring her home. You’ll end up killing yourself on your bike. I’m surprised you haven’t done it already. Colt, I love you, but you’re going to sleep. When you wake up, your dad will have more information and we’ll go from there,” she demands.

  Nodding my head, I climb under the covers after slipping my boots off. My mom pulls the covers up close around Zoey and me. Zoey lays her head on my arm and her little hand goes to my chest. Her eyes flutter closed a few times before she closes them one more time and falls asleep.

  “See,” my mom says softly. “She needed her daddy to sleep. Grandma and Grandpa weren’t enough for her. Get some sleep, son.”

  I close my eyes and listen as my mom shuts the door behind her. Sleep pulls me under, and I dream of a life with Emersyn and our children. All the good things I want to happen in our future.

  Waking up, I look down and expect to see my daughter still in my arms. She’s not. I jump out of the bed and barely have my boots on before I’m tripping to the door. Jeremy already has my woman, he won’t take my fucking daughter from me too.

  Running into the common room, I see my mom holding Zoey and feeding her. Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks at me. My heart is racing and I’m panting as I walk closer and place a kiss on Zoey’s head. Finally, my heart rate begins to slow, and I can breathe easier again.

  “What’s wrong, Colt?” my mom asks, concern lacing her face.

  “I didn’t know where Zoey was. How long was I sleepin’ for?” I ask her.

  “About ten hours,” she says, sliding another spoonful of food into Zoey’s mouth.

  “What the fuck?” I growl out, knowing I needed it, but that’s ten more hours Emersyn is out there suffering. “Where’s dad?”

  “He’s in his office waiting on you,” she answers me.

  Leaving her after placing another kiss on Zoey’s head, I turn and leave everyone alone so I can find out what my dad found out today. I knock on his door and wait for him to call me in. Finally, after what seems like hours, he does.

  “What did you find out?” I ask him, not waiting to sit down.

  “Charlie was workin’ with Ginger and Connie. He was helpin’ them get into the clubhouse. And he left Emersyn alone so he could let Ginger know she was alone. Jeremy has her somewhere close by. They’re still in town. He said Ginger said somethin’ about an abandoned huntin’ lodge,” my dad tells me. “Zeus is pullin’ up a map now to figure out where the huntin’ lodges are so he can see if they’re used or not.”

  “He still alive?” I ask, needing to know.

  “For now. You’ll get your shot at him again, son,” he assures me. “He’s in the shed and he’ll be left alone until we’re done lookin’ for Emmy. You don’t go near him in case we need more information.”

  “I won’t. I just want my woman home where she belongs. I’m gonna go help Zeus if I can,” I tell him, leaving the office.

  I’d rather be out there searching for her. But, there are so many places to build a hunting cabin and I don’t know them all. The best thing I can do right now is see what Zeus has already found and do what I can to help him narrow it down until we find her.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Emersyn ‘Sky’ Wilkes

  TIME IS NOT relative any longer. I have no clue if it’s day or night so I can’t tell how many days I’ve been here. I’m knocked out more often than not too. Jeremy is continuously coming in to beat me and then leaves when I don’t give him the satisfaction of crying out in pain or talking to him. He wants to get information on the club, and I wouldn’t give it to him even if I knew something.

  When I’m awake and semi-alert, I think of Colt, Zoey and the rest of my family. My thoughts often go to my father and I wonder about how he’s doing and how he’ll cope with everything once he finds out. Colt isn’t coping well at all; I know him well enough to know that. He won’t be sleeping or eating, and it will take his mom and dad to force him to do everyday things to take care of himself.

  I wonder about how much my daughter has grown and if she’s okay. If she is thinking about me and wanting to know why her mommy isn’t there to take care of her. I spend my awake time crying until Jeremy or Ginger come waltzing in. They taunt me, beat me, and Jeremy keeps threatening to rape me. So far, he hasn’t touched me, but I’m not dumb enough to think it won’t happen. He’s waiting until Ginger pisses him off bad enough. Then he’ll make her come in the room and watch as he fucks me. He’s done it before.

  Since I don’t know what day it is or how long I’ve been gone, I’ve been thinking of the club and my family having Thanksgiving dinne
r. I picture them all in the clubhouse with Blood carving the turkey and cutting up the ham. Tonya placing all the food out on the long table so everyone can grab what they want. I picture Tonya and Blood doting on my little girl and letting her try different foods while Colt’s back is turned. Of everyone going around the table and saying what they’re each thankful for. I picture Needa actually talking to the other men and women and starting to come out of her shell; something she desperately wants to do.

  I’ve only had something to eat once since I’ve been here. Ginger comes in a few times a day, I think, and makes me drink a few sips of water. They want me alive and don’t want my body to shut down too soon. So, water is what I get. Half the time, she’s shaking so bad I end up wearing most of it. After her spilling my food the last time, it took Jeremy a while to let me have anything. It’s not my fault the dumb bitch fucked up and spilled the food.

  When I’m passed out and unconscious, I dream of my mom. She comes to me and tells me it’s not my time to join her. I cry as she holds me in her arms like she used to when I was little. Then, she reminds me of my daughter, Colt, my dad, and the little one I’m carrying now. She’s tried to tell me what I’m having, but I don’t want to know. Honestly, I kind of want to be surprised and wait as long as possible to find out. But I’ll do whatever Colt wants to do since this is the first time he’s experiencing this.

  My mom also tells me my dad is getting stronger every single day and I’ll see him soon. That we’ll live as a family and he’ll finally be able to move on with his life. He won’t ever forget her, but he will find happiness once again. I smile when she talks about my dad filled with so much love for him still. It warms me to know she’s watching over us all.