by Mallory Funk
“Hale, tell me where you are,” I say as calm as I can so that I don’t freak him out. The thought of someone hurting Olivia has me seeing red.
I put my phone on speaker phone once everyone has gone quiet after hearing me say Hale’s name.
“I don’t know, daddy. We passed the candy store when mommy took us here.” I pause to think of what place he was calling a candy store.
I look at Damien who quickly calls Ella and asks her what place Hale thought the candy store was, and she explains that it was the one just past their house.
“Okay, son, are you able to look out the window and tell me what you see?” I ask trying not to rush him.
“There’s stuff on the windows, daddy, like bars. Past the stuff is trees. Lots of trees. Oh, I see water. Maybe the bad man likes to go swimming,” he says.
“Okay, son, that’s good. Where is your mommy?” I ask.
“The bad man is hurting her. I can hear yelling,” he whispers in the phone.
“Hale, stay in the room. I will be right there. Okay, be a good boy for daddy and don’t leave that room, okay? Daddy is coming to get you,” I say.
“I love you, daddy,” he says quietly, and I now I can definitely hear the tears in his voice. “I love you too, son.”
I reluctantly hang up the phone.
“Do you have any idea where we are going?” Torch asks.
“Let’s head past the candy store and then follow the road into the woods. They have to be by the lake. He mentioned seeing water and said that the bad man must like swimming. They have to be close to the lake. They are so deep in the woods, we never thought to look there,” Damien says as we all head out onto our bikes and hope that we don’t take too long in finding my family.
It doesn’t take us long to find a house deep in the woods. When we pull up to what I’m sure is the house, I can see the bars on the windows.
The first thing we hear is yelling, “Stupid bitch.” I don’t bother coming up with a plan. I run into the house, kicking the door open on my way in and I find a man holding a bloody knife, but there is also blood coming from his shoulder. I sure fucking hope that it’s not Olivia or Hale’s blood.
He is heading down the hallway when I kick the door in and, at the sound of the front door opening (well whatever is left of the door), he stops in his tracks.
He looks surprised to see us for a second before the look of pure hate comes across his face.
“Snakes.” He spits out the word like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
“Where the fuck are they?” I ask on a growl.
He smirks. “Missing something?” he asks not looking the least bit worried of all the bikers walking into his house.
“Where. the. fuck. are. they?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Oh, they are here, but what makes you think that my dear Olivia is going to want anything to do with you after the way you treated her?” he says confidently.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Why? What do you have against this club?”
“You killed my brother. I needed to get revenge,” he says simply right before he moves to the side table by the couch and pulls out a gun.
It happens so fast. He just starts shooting- no warning or anything. I dive on the floor to get away from the bullets, but I don’t take my eyes off the hallway. I need to be able to see if he goes back there.
I can’t tell if any brothers are hit right now.
It doesn’t take long before I see his body slump to the ground. I knew it wouldn’t take long for one of the brothers to pull out a gun.
Once he’s on the ground, I waste no time getting up and running to the hallway.
I throw open each door to find the room that they are in. I know they’re here. The second last door from the end is next. When I throw it open, my eyes dart around the room and I find them huddled in the corner.
Relief fills my body when I see them alive. I honestly never thought that I would see them again.
They both lift their heads at the same time. When Hale sees me, I see the same relief on his face. “Daddy!” he yells and then gets up from the floor and runs into my arms.
I hug him so tight that I’m afraid I’m cutting off his oxygen.
“Hale,” I say on a relieved breath and kiss him on the head.
I look back over at Olivia. She is shaking and looks very uncertain. I hate that look on her face right now.
I try to tell her with my eyes that she has nothing to worry about, and when I stretch an arm out for her to come to me while I’m holding Hale, she turns her head away and shakes it so lightly that if I wasn’t looking at her I would have missed it.
Fuck, I don’t know how I’m going to fix this, but I will do anything to get her to look at me the way she used to.
Chapter Nineteen
Olivia
The ride from Elliot’s to the clubhouse was a blur. I remember Steal telling me to look straight ahead and not to look around, but I ignored him and couldn’t help but gasp at all the blood.
I remember hearing shots and was hoping that no one was hurt, but I couldn’t be sure if anyone was. I heard someone yell, “clean up,” but that was as much as I heard.
I spent the drive back to the clubhouse in a trance. I couldn’t think of anything but Hale being safe. For me, I wasn’t so sure. Maybe I was physically safe, but I wasn’t sure about my heart and at this moment. I wasn’t sure I had any heart left for anyone but Hale.
When we got back to the clubhouse, they insisted that Doc check me out and I reluctantly agreed. I just wanted to get out of everyone’s regretful faces. It’s clear that they all were sorry for assuming that I was the one to turn the club in, but that doesn’t mean that I forgive them. Even if I forgave them, how could I forget the lack of trust they showed me?
When Steal had his arm out to me while he was holding our son, I had to look away. I thought for sure that I would tear up, but once I knew there was no more danger to Hale, it’s like the tears dried up and in it’s place was anger- and a lot of it.
Doc didn’t tell me anything that I didn’t already know. I was bruised on my wrist from Elliot grabbing it, and my throat was tender from him choking me. I didn’t want to talk anyway. At least this way, I didn’t have to talk to anyone for a while. I could use the excuse of letting my throat heal.
My stomach was bruised from him punching me, so it was tender and made it hard to move around much. I was also sporting a nice black eye, but at least I didn’t have to go to work for a while. I had called into work and took a couple weeks off to heal from my injuries.
There were a couple of Vicious Snakes that were shot by Elliot, and I had felt terrible that they were shot trying to save me. Especially since one was the President. It was only in the arm, but I still felt terrible.
Bear and Crash were both grazed by a bullet. I’m glad they all have quick reflexes and were prepared for anything to happen.
Prez and the VP tried talking to me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I completely shut them out and they knew it. The looks of guilt on their faces had said it all.
Once Hale and I were both looked over, we had walked across the street to our house. Steal had followed, not wanting us out of his sight, but Hale never let go of his hand either.
I took a deep breath to calm myself. If Hale needed the comfort of his dad right now, then I will learn how to deal. We just went through something that no little boy should have gone through.
Just because he’s here for Hale doesn’t mean I have to acknowledge him.
We went to lay down in my bed and had Hale between us. He was very panicked and didn’t want either of us away from him.
I fell into a restless sleep. I could feel Steal’s eyes on me the whole time, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Aiden ‘Steal’
She was more like an emotionless robot the whole way home. I didn’t leave her and Hale’s side for anything. I didn’t want them out of my sight.
I didn�
��t know how to deal with her this way. She had lost the light in her eyes that was there only a week before. That doctor may have taken the light away from her, but I helped by treating her like I did and not giving her the benefit of the doubt.
Whenever someone asked her a question, she turned her head away, completely shutting us out. The only time she responded is when Doc asked her questions about how she was feeling and what was hurting.
That was when I saw the bruise of a hand on her wrist. He grabbed her hard enough to bruise, and then when she tried to talk and started coughing her eyes started watering and I had seen her throat. He was choking her. There was a handprint on her throat from the force of him. The bruises on her stomach and face were just the icing on the cake, and I couldn’t wait to head out into the shed to take care of him.
Damien had shot him in his leg which brought him down but didn’t kill him. That was what I had wanted. Now I can show him what happens when someone not only fucks with my family, but also tries to take them from me.
I made sure that Hale and Olivia were both asleep before I made my way back to the clubhouse. I had known that Hale didn’t want me out of his sight and that’s why Olivia was letting me around her.
I stepped back into the main room and no one had left. By the looks of it, they were all waiting for me.
“How are they?” my dad asks as soon as he sees me. I walk straight to the bar and grab a beer.
I shake my head. “Well, Hale didn’t want me out of his sight, so it wasn’t until he fell asleep that I was able to get away and come here. They both fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow, so it didn’t take long. Olivia won’t even look at me,” I admit in a grumpy tone.
Everyone nods their heads in understanding. “We have to find a way to fix this with her. She has completely shut down. She wouldn’t even acknowledge anyone,” Torch says with a regretful look on his face.
“I know that if it wasn’t for Hale wanting me around that she wouldn’t let me in her presence. I’m just thankful that his son needs his dad right now,” I say, and then take a long swallow of my beer.
“We will figure out a way to make her forgive us,” my dad says clapping me on the back.
“It’s not just about forgiveness. We showed her our lack of trust in her. We have to find a way to gain hers back to show her that we won’t let ourselves judge her so quickly in the future,” Bear says taking a seat beside my dad.
We all nod our heads. “Whatever it is, it’s going to take time. I can tell that she won’t let us off the hook that easily,” Damien says adding to the conversation.
I already know that I’m going to do everything I can to prove to her that I trust her and that she means everything to me.
I don’t like this wall that is between us, and I need to find a way to break it down.
That was the last thought I had before I went out to the shed and took it out on the man who had tried to take on the Snakes. I was going to show him that he messed with the wrong club.
Chapter Twenty
Olivia
The next day, I woke up and Steal was still in my bed. I couldn’t think of him as Aiden, the man I had fallen in love with, but only as Steal, the man that didn’t show any trust in me- the one that cares for his club and only his club.
I get out of bed quietly and head straight for the kitchen. I didn’t want to look in the mirror and see if my eye and throat were worse today than they had been last night.
I move slowly since my stomach had been hurting more this morning and take some pain killers while I make coffee.
I kept thinking about everything that happened these last couple days, and how much worse it could have been if the Vicious Snakes hadn’t of found us, when I feel him enter the room.
When I look over my shoulder and see the sleepy expression on his face, I make sure to make my face look like he doesn’t affect me.
“Morning Olivia,” he says in low, husky voice.
I just nod my head, walk over to the table, and sit down with my coffee. I make sure not to make eye contact with him.
“How are you feeling this morning?” he asks as he grabs his own coffee and sits down across from me.
I give him a thumb’s up and a slight smile before turning back to my coffee. I stare at it hoping that he wouldn’t try and make any further conversation with me. It’s not like I could talk much anyways.
“Olivia…” he starts, but I just shake my head and grab my coffee while I stand up to head out on the back porch.
I hear him take a frustrated breath.
“Olivia, please, I’m sorry,” he says in a pleading voice.
I just shake my head again and walk out back shutting the door harder than necessary on my way out.
I couldn’t feel anything but anger. If I were a selfish person, I would take Hale away from here, but I know that I can’t. Now that I know I’m not in danger of losing Hale to him, I can’t run away.
Not with the way Hale needs him now.
The anger sitting inside me is getting stronger, and I know that at any given moment I’m going to break.
Relationships are supposed to have trust, and I didn’t know it was so one sided. I should feel hurt and sad, but I can’t help but feel numb to all of my feelings but anger, and I’m not sure that it’s a good thing.
Aiden ‘Steal’
Fuck.
I don’t know how I’m going to begin fixing this. The cold, detached look on her face is one that I could live without.
The woman I fell in love with is nowhere to be found. All that’s left is this emotionless robot.
I watch her slam the back door closed. I want so badly to run after her, but what do I say? I know that if I say anything right now I doubt she would even hear it.
It’s not long before there is a knock on the door. I walk over to open it, and I’m not surprised to see my sister and her best friend, Stacey.
“What are you doing here so early?” I ask Ella as she leans in and gives me a hug.
“I’m here to check on Olivia and Hale. Honestly Steal, how could you think that I wouldn’t check up on them after what they went through,” my sister says in her most stern voice.
“Sorry, sis, Hale is still asleep in our bed, and Olivia is out back. Not sure if she will talk to you, but you are welcome to give it a shot,” I say as I walk back into the kitchen and pour myself a new cup of coffee.
Stacey helps herself to a cup while Ella takes a bottle of apple juice out of her purse. I can’t help but shake my head at the bottle.
“It’s worth a shot,” Ella says before they both make their way outside.
I don’t get a chance to see if Olivia will talk to them because I hear my sweet boy call for me.
“Daddy?”
“Hale, buddy, I’m here,” I say as he walks into the kitchen and automatically goes into my arms.
“I thought you left me,” he says quietly into my neck.
I walk us over to the table and I sit down with him on my lap.
“I’m not leaving you, bud. Daddy is here now,” I tell him, and I feel him nod against me.
I can’t help but let my gaze move back to the door.
How am I going to fix this?
Olivia
I hear the back door open a few minutes later. I glance back at it and see Stacey and Ella walk through with sympathetic smiles on their faces.
“Hey girl. We wanted to see how you were doing,” Ella says softly.
I’m sitting on the grass in the middle of the backyard and they both come to sit on either side of me.
“Did you guys think I did it too?” I ask, might as well get down to the point.
Stacey lets out a snort. “Hell no! Our men aren’t always the smartest. They tend to act without thinking when they are angry. If they stopped to think, or even bothered to ask us, we we would have told them that there was no way that you would have done that to the club,” she says, and I let out a breath of relief that these women
would never have believed I could turn my back on family.
“They are all beating themselves up over how they acted. I saw Dad last night and I can tell you that no one feels worse than he does right now. Well, maybe Steal because I heard he was the one who did all of the yelling,” Ella says adding to the conversation.
I take a sip of my coffee and nod my head. I have no idea what to say to them regarding all the men.
“How’s Shield?” I ask quietly.
They both let out a burst of laughter. “He’s fine. Maybe a bruised ego for letting you get the better of him, but nothing he won’t be laughing about in the future,” Ella says.
“Well he was trying to do his job, but I am always prepared because of my brothers. They always want me protected,” I say softly.
I had seen my brothers last night, but I didn’t have the energy to deal with them. I gave them the same treatment I gave everyone else. I know I probably shouldn’t have, and I should see them later today so that they know I’m not mad at them.
“Speaking of them, they should be here shortly. They were extremely worried about you and Hale, so I know they will want to spend some time with you guys,” Stacey says, and I just nod my head in acknowledgment.
We sit there in silence for the longest time. Finally, Ella broke it by speaking. “Are you going to stay mad at them forever?”
She sounded really worried and I felt bad that I was causing it.
I shrugged a shoulder. “I’m not sure how long I will be mad, but the way that they had made me feel and the way that they all looked at me…” I let out a small shudder at the coldness I remember in everyone’s eyes. “It’s not a feeling that you can really forget, especially when it’s people you trusted and thought of as family.”
They nod their heads in understanding. “I get it, I do, but they aren’t going to stop until you forgive them. They love you and Hale. For a moment, they let anger cloud their judgement. I have no doubt that they would have seen that they were wrong if given a bit more time.”
I don’t say anything and they know not to say anything either. They want to show their loyalty to their men and family, but they also understand where I’m coming from.
