"What night?" He looks confused.
"When I was six. They knew about that night. They repeated the same words to me."
"What did they say?" He's instantly worried and pulls my hand into his lap.
"Tori, talk to me. I need to know what these fuckers said to you."
"They said I taste like my mom." It's so hard to say those words. They haunt me every single day. I remember seeing her for the last time. Her face terrified as they took me away from her, both of us screaming and trying to fight them all.
"Tell me what they did to you." He pulls me against his chest and I welcome the strength surrounding me as his arms wrap me up tight. He's secure. He's all man and someone who has never failed me, even in my nightmares.
"You changed your fucking hair. I should've known it was you, but your damn hair made me doubt it." I feel him caress my hair and I bury myself deeper into his chest. Voices, including his, fade to the back of my mind as I start to remember him fully. His smell. It's the same. How have I not noticed that my guy is Blade? That he is responsible for the only good thing to happen to me that day so many years ago. He gave me a good memory of that night to help me through all the nights to follow. I held on to the strength he gave me that night and have used it so many times since then. Without him there, that night would've ended so differently.
I wrap my arms tighter around his waist and fight to keep the sound of the world shut off. With him, I have peace. I know I'm safe and it's been so long since I've felt the solidity of that in real life.
I remember last night with his bike. He struck a similarity when he was trying to get me to get on the bike behind him, but I passed it off as not possible. I guess to me the guy in my nightmares would always stay there to protect me.
"Tori. Tell me what the fuck they did to you." His voice near my ear and so close to my heart.
"I will. I promise, just not here. I need some time." I need time to figure out what's going on with all of this. They talked about my mother. She's been dead for fifteen years. She died the same night I nearly did all those years ago. I can't hardly stand to talk about it.
"Let me see you." He pulls my face in front of his and looks at me. I watch his eyes as they look frantically over me entirely. He stops looking into my eyes.
"I need to know everything. I can't wait long because there are three more guys out there that we need to fucking find. I'm moving you and Piper in with me and I wont take no as a fucking answer. You can fuck off about working at Club Turbulence until this is all over with."
He's just as bossy as I remember him, even more so. Serious. Deadly serious and I don't dare challenge him.
"Ok." I can't argue about anything right now. My heart is still racing and I need a fucking shower to get the stank off of me from that piece of shit.
"Get up with me so we can get the fuck out of here. I want you to stand with Piper and Switch until I'm finished with Kyle."
He moves to hug Piper, saying something in her ear before he moves out of earshot from us and turns so that his back is blocking any chance of hearing him. I want to know what he's saying, but emotionally I can't handle any difficulty tonight. His demeanor is angry and for a few minutes I watch him change personalities right in front of my eyes.
He’s angry when he finally turns around. The look of rage reminds me of him so many years ago. He should've frightened me that night with that look, but he didn't. I knew he was there to protect me. I could tell it was safe to go with him then, just like it is tonight.
"Kyle wants us all to go in for questioning. I tried to get us out of it, but he's not budging this time. I don't see any reason for us to make a break for it on this one, so I guess we'll spend the fucking night answering shit at the police station."
"Doesn't he realize the girls have been through enough shit the past few fucking nights?" Switch sounds shitty as he releases me from under his arm to move toward Blade. I feel the cold return almost instantly.
"Tell his ass he's welcome to come to the club to talk all fucking week, but we're not going in. Better yet, I'll tell his ass. I need to remind him of a little something I saw a week ago." Switch walks away, and Blade follows.
I finally see Tori, like really look at her. She's a mess. Damn it, this shit has to quit happening to her. I keep bringing the bad shit into her life.
"I'm so sorry. This is my fault." Wrapping my arms around her, I squeeze her before we both start to cry.
"I thought they were going to kill us. I kept kicking and trying to get him away from me, but he was all over me. He just wouldn't stop." She's frantic as she starts talking about it. "Tori, they knew you. He was talking about you."
"I know. I just don't know who they are. They know about the night my mom died."
"We need to tell Evan everything. He needs to know anything we can remember from tonight and everything from that night years ago, Tori. He will find these fuckers and he won't sleep ‘til he does. I know my brother."
I decide to hold back telling her that he was the guy to save me that night. She knows the story, but I didn't tell her every detail of that night, but everything she's saying is true if that night was any indication of who he is.
I'll never forget him squeezing that man's neck until he died. I watched as long as I could, wishing I would've had the strength to do it. That disgusting man had taken me from my mom's car, while she was being drug out by so many others.
I didn't get to see them all, but one of them sticks in my mind. He talked to me like a child, even squatting down to my level, and told me everything would be alright. Then he ordered the slug, that Blade killed, to take me back to my dad.
"Tori. Did they hurt you?" Piper stops my memories from haunting me.
"I don't even know what's going on, Piper. They knew my mom. It's just bringing back so much shit for me right now and I'm trying to process it all."
"Kyle will meet us at Blade's. It's time to get you two out of here. I'll have a doctor come in tonight too. "
I don't ask questions about how they managed it. I just follow. The flashing lights in the alley aren't mixing well with the darkness in my past that has definitely come crashing forward tonight.
Blade slides his hand into mine as we begin to walk toward the side of the building. I stop walking to look over at him. He runs his other hand through the longer hair on top of his head and turns to face me just slightly.
"You comin'?" He gives a slight tug on my hand to urge me forward, but I don't move.
He steps in front of me. "Can I just get you to my house? I need to feel like you and my sister are safe and right now, I know there are at least three mother fuckers out there that would hurt you both." He slides both of his hands down my arms before he tucks a piece of hair out of my face. I just watch while his strong physique displays some of the most caring gestures I've ever felt. No one has ever made me feel like he is right now. Of course, I rarely let anyone get this close to me in the past.
I watch his eyes move over my face, slowly touching my skin without even really touching it. The grip of his hands on my wrists, tugging again slightly, moves me forward to follow him once again. I have so much to tell this man. So much I want to do with this man and I just really met him. How do I keep myself from falling for a guy who has captured my heart so many times over the past fifteen years without even knowing he was making me fall?
He reaches for his pack of cigarettes and lights up another as we continue to walk.
When in the hell did smoking become sexy to me, but this makes twice that he's made me think this way?
Chapter Ten
Blade
How in the fuck did I not know it was her? Now everything she does reminds me of that little girl that night. It must be her vulnerability. She didn't act like that before tonight. In fact she was quite the opposite, strong willed and independent, so I know she has some spunk left in her. That fucker fifteen years ago may have tried to kill her inside, but I'll be damned if she didn't prove he had
failed miserably.
I'm watching her closely tonight trying to see how she's taking tonight's insanity. I can see her struggling with a few things, but with a little help from a few of us I can see her getting through this. I can also feel my protectiveness kicking in. My mind is searching for shit I need to do to make sure she's safe and we get these guys.
What happened tonight is fucked up and I'll be finding out who did this shit. I'll take them to trial. My trial. Where I'm the mother fucking judge who decides what their payment will be and I can guarantee you, they won’t pay with anything less than their lives. I'll be sure to make it extra painful.
I glance down at my phone to see a message from Beast.
Beast: I've pulled a few guys and I'm heading to the Inferno MC on a lead I have. I'll let you know what I find out.
Blade: We're taking the girls to the clubhouse, so stop by there after you're done.
Beast: Got it. See you tonight.
There's no doubt in my mind that he'll bring me back any information he finds. I'm going to try to focus on talking to the girls to see what they remember. I'm hoping something will trigger another clue so I can find these fuckers.
"What do you remember?" They're both trying to get comfortable on my couch. Piper looks at me first and starts explaining.
"They entered after we did and one of them instantly harassed us at the bar. We turned him down, only to have another try it on the dance floor. When we went to the bathroom, they drug us out the back room and into the alley."
"Why in the fuck were you at the club in the first place? Two women like you shouldn't be out by yourselves!"
"Excuse me. You had your gorillas on us, so we should've been safe." I lean against the bar when my sister snaps back. I decide to switch the focus back to figuring out who the guys are while the girls have it all fresh in their minds.
"Did you recognize any of them?" Piper turns to Tori, not responding right away.
"I didn't, but they seemed to know T."
'Why do you say that?"
"Because they were mostly focused on her, and they said a few things to us that made us both think that."
"Tell me exactly what they said and what they did. Did they touch you? Where did they fucking touch you?" Because this will tell me how bad I’ll torture them before I watch them die.
I take a deep breath and wait for the words that will torment me for the rest of my life.
"There were four that went inside. At least four waited in the back. Your guys managed to run off a few when they first got out there, but it got bad real fast." Piper is the only one talking, but I listen because I want to hear them both before it’s done anyway.
"Tori stabbed a few of the guys with her knife trying to get away when the jackass ripped my shirt open." She stops as tears fill her eyes. Closing her eyelids, she lets the tears begin to run down her face. Tori stands and walks to the bathroom before Piper goes on with a forced whisper.
"The guy who had me last told me he couldn't wait to fuck us both like he did Tori's mom. Evan. I can't stand thinking about what would’ve happened if you didn't get there when you did." Switch and I both look at each other over Piper’s shoulder when I pull her into my arms to comfort her. The murderous feeling is mutual in our faces and we silently vow to avenge this nightmare right there in that moment.
"And I'm so worried about her. Can you even imagine living through all that she has as a kid, trying to get over it your whole life, then getting slammed in the face with it so many years later all over again? I have to be here for her, Evan. We have to help her."
"I plan to, Piper. I'll do everything I can to make sure she's safe." I leave it at that for now. I don't feel like getting into everything that happened so many years ago with her; hell, Switch doesn't even know about that night. I need to spare her the details of her brother killing someone. Not that he's the only guy I've killed in the past. He was just my first. I'd do it all over again. Every single one of them deserved to die. I won’t kill unless it’s justified by some horrible act. Many have forced me to cross that line, but most have met me for a lesser punishment.
I watch the bathroom door, waiting for Tori to come out while Piper continues talking. "She doesn't deserve this. I'm so fucking mad, Evan. She has done so much to become a strong person in spite of her terrible past. Hell, she's saved my ass big time with her fuck off attitude." I catch the hint again. This time I want to know what she's talking about. I'm tired of the fucking stories without the details that I need to fucking know.
"What are you talking about? Piper tell me what happened. I want every detail."
"We were at a party our last year of high school. I was drinking more than I should have. This guy pulled me to a bedroom and we were making out. Everything was good one minute, then I remember waking up to Tori shaking me." I sit up, trying to prepare myself for what's coming.
"I guess I had passed out and he wasn't stopping. He raped me. Tori got a guy to bust down the locked door and stopped him. She said she could tell I was out of it and when he locked the door and I wouldn't answer her, she knew something was wrong. Evan, she made his life hell that night. He had stab wounds in his back and a concussion from the huge vase she hit him over the head with. I guess it brought out an anger deep inside her and I'm so glad it did. She about ripped his head off. I wish I could've done it myself, but she was there for me that night. She went crazy. In fact, the guy that helped her had to pull her off of Zack. It was right after that when she shared some of her stories with me."
"Where is Zack now?" Switch interrupts her.
"I haven't seen him since that night. The word is, he moved back to his dad’s the next day. She left the house shortly after he did, saying she needed some air. The guys said they went looking for her and found her walking down the street." The sound of the door opening breaks her train of thought. Tori walks out, looking around the room like she's looking for something.
"What are you looking for?" Piper stands to meet her as she walks around my office.
"I'm thirsty, do you have some water or something?"
"He's got a bar downstairs. Do you want me to get you a real drink?"
"I could really use one. Do you mind?" Piper is moving before I have a chance to. Switch steps out of the room with her and I take this opportunity to talk to Tori.
"We need to talk tonight." She turns to look at me with her eyes piercing me deep. I'm so glad to see some fire in them, because I'm not sure most women would after a night like this.
"Can we please wait until later? I don't want to talk about it all right now."
"No. I need to fucking move on this and I need to know everything you know so I can try to find these fuckers." I move to her. I need her to hear me and understand that I mean business.
Facing her, I try to reason with someone who is trying to process the hell she's going through. Her breathing isn't steady and I can see her heart beating in her chest.
"Let me help. Tell me what I don't know so I can find them and finish this. I should've done it fifteen years ago, but I had no idea there were more guys."
She looks down, pulling away from my grip, turning to walk away from me. Piper and Switch walk in and hand us both a drink. I down mine and decide I need more time alone with Tori. I need to get her to talk before Kyle gets here.
"Switch, will you find out when Kyle will be here and take Piper to their house to get what they need to stay for a few days?" I'll have to deal with the specifics of their move later because they will be moving. I'm not sure where I'll feel that they're safe, but I'll have to figure that shit out soon. They need to be closer. I may just have to add on to this clubhouse and let them move in with me for good, although that goes directly against what I want to happen with my sister's involvement with the club. Fuck.
"Tori, do you need anything specific from your house? I'm sending them to get your things."
"No I'll go. I need to grab my things."
"Six. I need to talk to yo
u tonight."
"Blade. I need to go to my apartment. I need a fucking shower and I need to get new clothes. I can't even think straight right now, so you're going to have to wait." She begins walking with Piper toward the door as Switch and I both look at each other. I think he's waiting to see how I react to a woman telling me what is happening, but in this instance.... I'm going to let her. She's earned that after the shithole night she's had.
Chapter Eleven
Six
I walk next to Blade as we enter our apartment, Piper following right behind us. This is the one place I was hoping to finally call home after a lifetime of never really having one. My father couldn't hardly stomach what happened to Mom and I'm pretty sure he blames me for her death. In fact, he's said it before.
He's never been an affectionate father; hell, I don't even get a call from him on those 'special' days of the year. It works best that I've disappeared from his life. I know I feel relieved that I've escaped the glares and neglect of all of those years. I was just hoping to forever escape that night. I just can't seem to ever break free from it; no matter where I go, it replays in my nightmares and then tonight it became a reality once again.
I have nowhere to turn. No one to run to. Hell, I don't even know who to run from. It's hard to think about what happened tonight and feel safe.
"Get your things. I'm taking you both back with me." I look up at this bearded, heavily tattooed man giving me orders and realize he is my only hope. Not that I'm complaining. I'm actually very thankful he was there tonight.
"How much should we bring? It's only for a few days, right?" Piper asks exactly what I'm thinking. What do I even grab?
"Yeah, just get a few things. We'll decide what to do in the next few days. Maybe we'll get some information before then." Blade is looking at our pictures very closely in the living room. I walk over to see what has him standing so still.
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