Beginning of the Reckoning

by Vera Quinn

  She brings the application and I fill it out as I eat but I soon see what my problem will be. I have a fake ID, social and birth certificate but I have no work history or address or references. Oh well. I can wait, but a man comes and sits across from me. The first thing I notice is, he is wearing a MC club cut. He is a SAA in the Troubled Fathoms MC. Oh shit not another MC. Then I look at the man and he is very handsome. His hair is longer. A sandy blonde and he has cool looking gray eyes. Almost like spun glass. His chest is so broad and defined through his tight t-shirt. Nice. He puts his hand out for me to shake it but I just barely put my hand in his and take it back. This girl will not go down this road again.

  “Hi. I’m Dra and heard you was asking about the position we have?” I might as well get this over with. “Sorry I wasted your time. I just got into town. I’m staying at Mrs. Clark’s. I have no permanent address. No references and no prior work record so to speak.” I give it to him straight.

  “What do you have? Someone chasing you?” He asks and I really don’t care for his attitude. About that time the waitress brings my food to go box. I hand the waitress twenty dollars and tell her to keep the change. And get up to leave.

  “Hey, where you going?” Dra asks me. “I don’t like prying people. I don’t ask you prying questions Mr. Sergeant At Arms for a MC. I don’t like them either. I don’t have information. No cops are looking for me. Keep your job. I’ll find something else.” I know I am giving attitude but I have had a rough week.

  “In this town if you want to work it’ll be for us. We own most of everything.” Just my luck. Dra is a smug ass. Then I walk out and drive back to the motel. I go to my room and go back to my darkness. Sleep is the only thing that saves me. I wake early the next morning and shower and I’m thinking I better just get in my car and drive some more. When I have my stuff back together I hear a little knock at my door and open it. There stands Mrs. Clark. She wants me to have coffee with her so I agree but I grab my purse before I go. We go back to the office and she has coffee and Danish set out. She drinks coffee and I drink water and eat a Danish with her. She just wants company. She’s lonely. Then I remember my vitamin. I get it out and Mrs. Clark gives me a strange look and I explain I am pregnant and she just fusses over me. She asks my age and I tell her. She asks me to stay a few days but I don’t know. Then we hear a commotion in the lobby part of the motel. She goes to check it out and I follow her so I can get back on the road. In the lobby is a stringy haired man who looks like he could use a bath and there is a bigger man with tear drops tattooed down his face. He looks intimidating. The bigger man grabs Mrs. Clark roughly and the stringy haired man pulls a knife out in a menacing way towards me. My hand automatically goes to my stomach.

  “This is none of your concern, bitch, so stay put.” The stringy ha ired man said waving the knife in my direction. The bigger man has Mrs. Clark pinned to the check in counter and now has his hands around her neck. “I told that the club I would get back at them for kicking us out and you are that ticket old woman.” He slaps her hard across the face. So hard she has blood running from her lip but she doesn’t show fear. Ok, who takes their frustration out on an elderly woman? Stringy hair guy is enjoying watching the show from the bully and is distracted. I am just pissed. I pull my gun out of my purse and shoot it in the air.

  “That’s the only warning you’ll get. Let her go.” Mrs. Clark squirms herself away from him and gets behind me. “Mrs. Clark get my purse and call whoever is going to come and take care of these assholes.” Both guys look at me. Mrs. Clark does as I ask but then the big guy tries to rush us and I shoot him in the kneecap. Then I point the gun at stringy head, “You want to make it two?” With that he bends down to help his friend. I look at Mrs. Clark, “Do you know these two?”

  “Why yes. That one is Abe.” She points at the one I shot. “And that one is his cousin, Harold. They used to be with my son-inlaw’s club.” Just my luck. I wonder who I pissed off now. That’s when I hear the bikes approaching. Five minutes later six bad-ass looking bikers walk in and one of them is Dra from the diner. The man in front resembles Dra a lot but older. He’s wearing the president patch on his cut. He looks at Mrs. Clark and then back to me, “Darling you can put that gun down.”

  “No sir I can’t. Not until Mrs. Clark tells me if you are the good guys or someone else I need to shoot” I don’t back down a bit until I see Mrs. Clark and the president smile. Dra looks pretty amused himself.

  “It’s ok sweety, this is my son in -law. Definitely a good guy.” I let my gun down and put the safety back on then put it back in my purse. Dra steps to the front and laughs, “You always carry a 45 with you?”

  “Yes, I do. Among others. If you have this, I was just leaving.” I go to leave but the president stops me by stepping in front of me. “Don’t you want to know why she called us instead of the cops?” He’s trying to find out if I am going to rat on them when I leave. I know my next answers are important and he has to believe me. “Not my business. Help was needed. I gave it. You’re here now. If it was me I would put them to ground but that decision is yours and your clubs.” Direct and to the point. Then I feel my head swim and I start to fall but strong arms catch me. He lifts me in his arms and sits me in a chair.

  “Get this girl some water and give her room to breathe. She’s pregnant. The excitement probably gave her a head rush.” Mrs. Clark tells the men standing around watching me. Mrs. Clark hands me a glass of water and I drink some and I start to feel better. Dra is squatted down in front of me, “Darling where is your man? By your application you gave me you’re only eighteen and you’re pregnant. Why are you by yourself?” this man is digging too deep.

  “I don’t ask questions and I don’t like to answer them. I am not running from the law and that is all you need to know. Now I need to leave so I can get on the road.” With that Dra gets up and goes over to the president and Mrs. Clark comes to sit beside me. I squeeze her hand and go to get up and the glorious darkness takes me under again. I feel like I’m floating and I’m peaceful and I embrace it.

  The End For Now. Watch for Catching Forever coming Spring 2016.

  PLAY LIST

  1 Addicted by Saving Abel

  2 Ain’t worth the Whiskey by Cole SWINDELL

  3 Answer to No One by Colt Ford featuring JJ Lawhorn

  4 Back (Remix) by Colt Ford featuring Jake Owens

  5 Because of You by Kelly Clarkson

  6 Better Do It by Raelynn

  7 Black Betty by Ram Jam

  8 Calm Before The Storm by Sarah Ross

  9 Confident by Demi Lavoto

  10 Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry

  11 Dirty Laundry by Carrie Underwood

  12 G.R.I.T.S. by Brantley Gilbert

  13 Good Times, Cheap Wine by Kid Rock

  14 Gunpowder and Lead by Miranda Lambert

  15 Hell Raisin’ Country by Moonshine Bandits featuring Big Smo

  16 If You Want A Bad Boy by Brantley Gilbert

  17 Jekyll and Hyde by Five Finger Death Punch

  18 Marvin Gaye by Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor

  19 Might As Well Get Stoned by Chris Stapleton

  20 Play Ball by AC/DC

  21 Read Me My Rights by Brantley Gilbert

  22 She’s Crazy by Moonshine Bandits

  23 Sweet Child of Mine by Guns ‘N Roses

  24 Tainted Love- Album Version by Marilyn Manson

  25 Take Your Time by Sam Hunt

  26 This Means War by Avenged Sevenfold

  27 Tonight Looks Good On You by Jason Aldean

  28 Twilight Zone by Golden Earring

  29 Two Rings Shy by Miranda Lambert

  30 You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC

  31 Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones

  32 He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones

  33 Look At You Girl by Chris LeDoux

  Never Ever

  Copyright ©Vera Quinn 2016. None of the material in this novella can be used by anyone
for anything unless given permission in writing by author, Vera Quinn. Only exceptions is short excerpts for review purposes.

  All people, places, circumstances, and events are purely fictional. Made up solely by the author.

  This novella is recommended for adults only due to strong language and violence. 18+

  If family violence is a trigger of any sort for you may want to reconsider reading. Editor & Formatter: Avril Stepowski

  Chapter One

  Tommy Today I get my baby sister away from that wretched woman we have to call mom, Karen Monroe. She is a sorry excuse for a woman, but you don’t get to choose your parents. Callie, my baby sister, is only three and she is laying in the hospital again with another concussion and a broken collar bone and she is bruised everywhere. This time when Karen flew off into her drunken rage she wasn’t as careful. The bruises were seen by her neighbor and she was taken to jail and then CPS called me. This is not the first time, but this time she couldn’t hide it.

  Callie, my half-sister, is truly beautiful. She has gorgeous blue eyes and when not being abused does nothing but laugh. She is a happy baby. I fell in love with her the minute I held her and she’s had me wrapped around her little fingers ever since. I’m not the only one. My best friends, Cameron, Blake, and Trent love her, too. Cameron was the first to hold her in the hospital, because he has baby experience with his son, Ty. He nicknamed her Baby Girl and it has stuck. She’s everyone’s Baby Girl.

  I am receiving temporary custody. The CPS made me take parenting classes and show my stability. I understand they have rules, but I have been raising that girl since she came home from the hospital. Karen only came and picked Callie up when she thought she could use her as a meal ticket. Then she’d bring her back to me with bruises or drop her off at a friend’s house and I would have to go pick her up. I love the girl and it is no burden, just hard to keep a job when I don’t know when I’ll have her. Maybe this time it will be different. Maybe we’ll have some stability. Right after court we are going to our new home.

  Cameron is married with a son. They just bought a big older home to be renovated. It’s a six bedroom with four and a half baths. Older beautiful home. His brother Trent and I are moving in to help with the mortgage and utilities. We’ll share the food, too. His wife, Cheryl, gets to quit her job and take care of Ty and Baby Girl. I’m starting a new job working at Lee’s Automotive and it includes insurance. Now all my bases are covered. Trent and I are going to help Cam do all the work on the house. We’d be there helping anyway.

  Legal Aide appointed me an attorney. He has a big heart and is doing his best to see that I can obtain full custody within this year. Karen has her ways around the legal system. She knows if she walks the straight line for a while they will give Callie back but I hope this time she gets a jail sentence. That’s a shame to say about your own mom but I don’t want to see my sister hurt anymore.

  Callie’s dad has never been in her life and I will do everything in my power to keep it that way. Diamondback is a biker. He’s not just outlaw. He’s in a one percenter club. He’s married and has other children but he’ll never have Callie. I swore Cam, Blake, and Trent to secrecy. Never will we let him near her. Not while any of us are breathing. He doesn’t deserve her goodness.

  I can remember when my life wasn’t always this way, but when my dad was killed by a drunk driver I think they buried all the good that was in her with him. Now she is a bitter, addicted shrew of a woman. My dad, Thomas Monroe was the love of her life. That’s the reason she treats me reasonably better than Callie. I remind her of him. She says I am his spitting image and she has to keep me safe. Go figure that from a woman who wouldn’t even name her daughter. Cam and I named Callie. Just like we do everything for her.

  Mr. Hankins, my attorney, says I have an excellent chance to keep Callie as long as I keep my nose clean and have help and I do have help. My friend, Blake, is sitting outside of the courtroom when I come out and I am glad I have someone to help me. Mr. Hankins was partially right. The judge has a bleeding heart when it comes to mother’s rights. Karen is getting to go to a lock up rehab and then she is to have training for parenting and then she can put in to get Callie back. I was granted temporary conservatorship. We’ll have more court dates. At least we have the next six to nine months to breathe easily and to get some stability. Callie’s really never had that. Now I just have to get back to Callie at the hospital. Grandma Sue is with her right now but Callie does not like it when either Cam or I are not there when she wakes up from her nap.

  “Blake, we need to get going now, so I’ll be there when Baby Girl wakes up.” I know he doesn’t like the courthouse anymore that I do. He spent many hours here when he was younger with his mom and dad fighting over him. He’s an only child and when they divorced it was a ruthless fight in court. He seldom talks to either of his parents now. Cam, Trent, and I became his family when we became his friends in high school.

  Trent is the oldest of us and then Cam, his brother. Blake and I are both nineteen. Karen was never much of a mom, and Cam and Trent’s mom, Cheyenne, died when Cam was born, so their Grandma Sue has just about raised us all. She made sure we always had clean clothes, food in our belly, and a safe place to sleep. Now she is helping with Ty and Callie. She had so many boys, but Callie is a new experience, her first girl. She also had three sons, Whiskey, Rye, and Bourbon. Sue’s husband had a passion for liquor and a warped sense of humor. He died in a car accident one night after drinking too much, Nicodemus Black better known as Bear, was a hulk of a man.

  We are heading to the door to leave when the bailiff steps out the courtroom door, “Mr. Monroe, Judge Wilson would like to speak to you in his chambers.” I look around for Mr. Hankins, my attorney, but I guess he is already gone.

  “My attorney has already left.” I really don’t want to talk to this judge. Bleeding hearts are the reason Callie still has to endure being around Karen and that pisses me off.

  “It won’t take a minute. Judge said it was important.” I follow the bailiff to the judge’s chambers. I step inside and look around. There sits Karen, her attorney, Mr. Hankins, and Judge Wilson. I don’t know why this surprises me. Karen always has her ways to get the law to do what she wants.

  “Mr. Monroe, would you please have a seat. We’d like to save some time and the tax payers some money.” Judge Wilson tells me and I know to follow his directions. “Judge Wilson, I would like it to go on record that this is highly improper. Mrs. Monroe’s case has already been heard and it has been arranged for her to go to the rehab as soon as space becomes available. She’s to be held in county lock-up until then.” I thought that was the circumstances and I don’t know what I’m doing in here.

  “Yes, Mr. Hankins, you are correct and if you would give me a chance to speak I will tell why we’re here.” Judge Wilson does not like being interrupted or questioned.

  “Mr. Monroe, someone who has a vested interest in your mother has come forth and is willing to pay for an insurance that will pay for your mother’s rehab saving the tax payers some money. Also saving some time because they have found her a facility with a space for her. Saving more tax money. Does this sound feasible to you? It will also shorten your time for your being responsible for your sister which I’m sure will help your situation. With your age I’m sure the shortened time would help with your circumstances.” He has to be shitting me. He thinks I want to have less time with Callie?

  I look to Mr. Hankins for instruction. “Judge Wilson, Your honor, does Mr. Monroe have permission to speak candidly?” We wait for the judge to speak. “Yes, Mr. Monroe, please do, so we can get this over.” He doesn’t know what he just asked for. “No sir, this does not sound feasible. My little sister, Callie, is three years old and she is in the hospital covered in bruises, a broken collar bone, and another concussion. This isn’t the first concussion she has caused her or the first bruises. She also received a broken wrist not six months ago. All this, while she was in the care of Karen Monroe
. She also has left her alone or just dropped her off with people she barely knows.” The Judge looks at Karen and then back to me.

  “Mr. Monroe do you have proof of these circumstances. Was there any CPS cases filed or police records?” I knew she was going to get around it. “There was one CPS case but it was filed unfounded for lack of evidence and that time she was arrested for the same thing. This is the second time she has been arrested. A two-yearold cannot tell. I did not see it or I would have stopped her.” Why can’t these people understand? I just want to protect my sister.

  “Without evidence or someone to come forward it is hard to prosecute.” Judge Wilson looks like he is thinking it over. Please let him help us. “Your honor, the person providing the insurance would also help Mrs. Monroe get suitable housing, and get on her feet when she resumes life in society. As well as any counseling that may be needed for aftercare.” Mr. Timmons adds. He is giving it a good act trying to convince Judge Wilson Karen will become a better person. I don’t know how Karen could afford an attorney like Mr. Timmons or who would pay her insurance. Who has she conned into bank rolling her this time?

  “Judge Wilson, can I ask who is paying for the insurance? I know Karen does not have that kind of money?” Someone has deep pockets. “Not that it ma tters, Mr. Monroe, but it is a Mr. Tractor Bonesville. He said he was a friend of your family.” Her pimp is backing her. I guess she can’t make him any money locked up. T-Bone and his brothers, Chaz and Grit are no friends of mine.

  “That’s her pimp.” I yell it out. I can’t help myself. She’s been getting her drug money on her back for the last three years and I don’t trust those scum around my baby sister.