Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC Series Book 5)

by Muriel Garcia

  FORGIVING Nancy

  Copyright © 2016 by Muriel Garcia

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The author makes no claims to, but instead acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the word marks mentioned in this work of fiction.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Editing by Ellie Aspill

  Formatting by Muriel Garcia/ Bookworld Author services

  Cover design by Muriel Garcia/Bookworld Author services

  Cover image photographer: Eric David Battershell

  Cover model: Robert Simmons

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  Dedication

  To my amazing readers,

  Thank you for sticking with me

  through the first four books

  and for waiting for Bennett patiently.

  I hope you enjoy his and Nancy’s story

  as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  Love you all.

  Table of Content

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  EPILOGUE

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  STRIPPING CALLUM PREVIEW

  OTHER BOOKS BY MURIEL

  COMING SOON

  AUTHOR’S BIO

  CONNECT WITH MURIEL

  PROLOGUE

  Nancy

  Life isn’t a fairy tale. If you lose a shoe at midnight, you’re drunk, not destined for a Prince.

  I should have known better that night.

  I should’ve known that losing a shoe would be just the start of something terrible. Losing a shoe that night helped to turn my life into the mess it is right now.

  Here is how my nightmare started…

  I was a normal seventeen-year-old girl. I went to school, hung out with my friends, went shopping, you know, the usual teenage girl stuff. The only shadow to my perfect life was that my parents were controlling, and I mean incredibly controlling. I couldn’t even sneeze without asking for permission. They weren’t always like that though; it was only after they joined a very exclusive country club that they changed. The moment their membership was confirmed, I couldn’t be seen with my friends or do normal teenage stuff anymore. Instead, I could only hang out with kids my parents approved of and only take part in appropriate activities suitable for a person of my age and status, they used to tell me. It wasn’t like I was a party animal but I did like to spend time with my friends, going to parties and hanging out. Nothing too crazy, but you know, the usual underage drinking in the local park, scaring older people and spending hours just hanging out. Suddenly that was all forbidden. I hated my parents for doing that to me but there was a part of me that was telling me to hang in there. It was only one more year and I’d be able to go away to college and do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, without them constantly breathing down my neck.

  I used to live in a really nice and peaceful neighborhood. You wouldn’t hear kids yelling or see any shady people walking around. It was a proper posh neighborhood with good families not bringing any trouble but that all changed when one family moved in next door to us. The Sawyers. It didn’t became a rough neighborhood, but according to my parents, it did tarnish its image.

  As soon as my parents saw the moving truck pull up, I was forbidden from even looking in the direction of the house next door. His parents were part of an MC, so to my parents, they were instantly criminals. They didn’t want me to be seen anywhere near them or their son in fear that it would tarnish their precious reputation.

  The only problem with their plan was that the more they kept me away from Bennett, the more intrigued I became. We started to talk through our facing bedroom windows. They were about three feet apart, which came in quite handy and obviously, the fact that my parents slept on the other side of the house. Bennett and I were making plans to meet up whilst my parents were asleep. All of this secrecy resulted in us becoming really close and we eventually started dating. We had to hide it from the public eye, god forbid that anyone would tell my parents, but we were happy.

  We had planned to leave town as soon as I turned eighteen. We were going to go on a long road trip on his bike the minute I graduated. But unfortunately life never turns out the way you want to in situations like these. To this day, I still don’t know how my parents found out about us, but somehow they did. That day is still embedded in my mind like it was yesterday, when in reality it was five long years ago.

  “Nancy Elizabeth Larkins, get yourself down these stairs. Now!” I hear my mother yell at me from downstairs. Immediately, I feel my body tense as I wonder what I’ve done this time. It’s never good when my mother full names me. I save my lit essay on my laptop and close the lid before making my way downstairs. As I reach the stairs, I see my parents standing at the bottom with their arms crossed over their chests. There’s a very pissed off look on my mother’s face and a disappointed expression on my father’s. Jeez, what have I done now?

  “What’s going on?” I ask as I come to a stop a couple of steps above them.

  “What do you think could be wrong, Nancy?” My father glares at me.

  “I don’t know or I wouldn’t have asked,” I say with a voice full of attitude, looking between my parents. I’m not one for confrontation but I hate it when they treat me like this when I’ve done nothing wrong.

  “Don’t you dare use that tone with your father, young lady!” My mother exclaims.

  “I have no idea what you’re accusing me of. You yell at me to come down here, acting all upset and annoyed when I have no idea what I could’ve possibly done wrong,” I huff.

  “This is the exact reason why we forbade you from spending time with that boy. He’s obviously a bad influence, but no, you had to go and date him behind our back. Did you really think we wouldn’t find out? You’ve disobeyed and disappointed us, Nancy. You went against what we told you and you dishonored this family,” my mother all but yells at me. I feel my face drop when she mentions Bennett.

  “How?” Is all I manage to say as tears threaten to fall. I know exactly what’s going to happen next, what they’re going to make me do.

  “Oh please, did you not think that you would be seen? The whole town is talking about it, you stupid girl. We
know all about your little night-time escapades. I hope you enjoyed those few months because you are grounded indefinitely. The only place you can go is to school and you will come straight home after. We will know if you don’t. You will also break up with this boy and never see or contact him again. If you do, then you will find yourself sent away to a Convent, and him and his family will be locked up in a prison cell, we’ll make sure of that.” My mother glares at me, looking like she’s about to burst with rage. Tears are now falling freely down my cheeks as I take in what they are going to make me do.

  “You wouldn’t dare?” I was hoping my voice wouldn’t break, but it did and the smirk that forms on my father’s face tells me that they are far from joking.

  “Just try us. We’ll be more than happy to get them out of our good, law abiding neighborhood.” He chuckles.

  “They’ve never done anything to you or to this neighborhood! Just because they have a different lifestyle doesn’t make them bad people!” I yell. I’m past the point of caring about how my parents see me and abiding by their strict rules. I’m hurt and heartbroken. I don’t have much choice but to do as they order. I don’t want anything to happen to Bennett and his parents because of my parents’ judgmental thinking.

  “Go to your room! NOW!” my father yells at me and points up the stairs behind me.

  I begrudgingly make my way back up to my room and face plant my bed before breaking down into uncontrollable sobs. I hate this. I hate my parents. I hate the fact that I let them dictate my life. I hate that I still have to wait a few weeks before I can leave this place.

  I’m not sure how long I cry for, but the sound of my phone ringing next to me brings me out of my dark and depressed thoughts. I look at the screen and smile as I see Bennett’s name. My smile is short lived as I remember what I have to do. I slide my thumb across the screen to answer the call and put the phone to my ear.

  “Hey, Babe,” I murmur sadly.

  “Hey, my Gorgeous Girl. You sound sad. What’s wrong?” I cheer up slightly upon hearing his deep sexy voice.

  “My parents know.” I sigh.

  “Fuck.” I hear him yell, his voice sounding distant and I’m guessing he’s pulled the phone away from his face. “I’m sorry my Gorgeous Girl.”

  “It’s not your fault. I don’t know how they found out though.”

  “I’m not sure either, we were always careful and met late enough that no one would be out. Maybe they looked through your phone or put a tracker in it, it wouldn’t surprise me. What did they say?” he asks and I can hear the worry in his voice.

  “They want me to break up with you or they will make sure you and your parents end up in prison.” My voice wavers as the little strength I had left vanishes quickly.

  “Come to the window,” he says with sadness lacing his voice. I get up and walk over to the window. I smile sadly upon seeing him standing in just his jeans at his bedroom window. The tattoos that cover his arms are on show and I can’t stop myself staring at him, he really is the definition of male perfection. His chuckle brings me back to reality. “It’s rude to stare you know, not that I mind,” he states playfully.

  “I wish I could apologize…but it would be a lie.”

  “We’ll get through this. We only have a few more of weeks of waiting until you’re done with school and then we can leave.” He places his palm against his window. I do the same, wishing it was him that I was touching, instead of the cold, hard glass of my window.

  “I hope you’re right.” I sigh.

  “Don’t you want to leave with me? I thought that’s what you wanted.” He looks at me with a scared and wounded expression.

  “Of course it’s what I want. But their threat worries me. Why wouldn’t they want me to be happy? Why do they have to be such judgmental assholes?”

  “Trust me, Gorgeous Girl. Life isn’t easy; it throws shit at you that you have no option but to confront it. It’s only three weeks, we can do this. My parents and I have to go out of town for a couple of days so at least there’ll be less temptation for us to sneak out. Maybe we should slow down until they get off your back. Although it’s really difficult to not just take you with me, but then it’d be kidnapping and I’d be in deep shit. It’d be so worth it though.” He chuckles.

  “You’re crazy, you know that?” I tell him whilst shaking my head.

  “I know, that’s why you love me.” He smirks.

  “I do. I’ll always love you.” I murmur with a small smile.

  “I’ll hold you to that.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that.”

  “Who’s reassuring who now?” He raises a cocky eyebrow at me.

  “Admit it, you needed to hear it.”

  “Alright, alright, you’re right.” He shrugs. “Graduation day, I’ll be waiting by the big oak tree at the back of the school. We’ll leave then and ride off into the sunset.”

  “That sounds so romantic, too romantic for you. What did you do to my Bennett?”

  “Your Bennett.” His voice comes in a breathy whisper and it sends a shiver down my spine.

  “Yes, my Bennett, what have you done to him?” I ask and let out a small laugh.

  “I’ll always be yours, and you know half of me is a hopeless romantic. It’s just that the other part is a bit of an asshole.” He laughs.

  “That’s why I love you.” I giggle.

  “I know you do, I love you too. Always. This is not goodbye.”

  “No, this is see you later.”

  “Yes, my Gorgeous Girl. Graduation. I’ll be there.”

  “I’ll be there too.” I hear some noise in the background and someone calling for him to get his ass downstairs.

  “I have to go.”

  “I know. You better get your ass downstairs.”

  “You love my ass.” He smirks.

  “I do, a little bit. It’s nice and bubbly.” I giggle.

  “So is yours. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” We both stay on the line for a little longer, just staring at each other in silence, neither one of use wanting to say goodbye and hang up. Finally Bennett moves the phone from his ear and hangs up. I pull the phone from my ear as well but we keep looking at each other as if trying to remember every single detail of the other. I see him sigh before he places his hand over his heart and blows me a kiss as he disappears from my view.

  I throw my phone onto my nightstand and sit on my bed. I pick up the strip of pictures we had taken in a photo booth a couple of days ago.

  “Only a few weeks to get through and we’ll be together again,” I whisper to myself and climb under the bed covers. I don’t feel like finishing my essay on ’Romeo and Juliet’ or doing anything anymore. Sleeping the rest of the day away is the only option that makes any kind of sense to me right now. At least it’ll bring me one day closer to Graduation. Just before I doze off, my phone alerts me to a text. I look at my phone and smile.

  Bennett: 24 days.

  I sigh in relief knowing that he’ll be there waiting for me. I can’t wait for this nightmare to end.

  That used to be my very worst nightmare; being away from Bennett. Despite my parents’ threats, we didn’t break up and I knew that I was making the right decision to leave with Bennett as soon as I could. But I never got to fulfill that dream. It was stolen from me in the blink of an eye and I will always blame my parents for it. It’s true that what happened that night technically wasn’t their fault, they were the reason we were running away, they were the reason we had to meet up in secret and they were the reason that I was at that ridiculous country club in the first place. If they had been more open minded, Bennett and I would still be together today, I’m sure of it.

  “Nancy, if you don’t hurry up we’re going to be late! We cannot be late!” my mother shouts at me from downstairs as I put the final touches to my makeup.

  “I thought it was okay to be fashionably late?” I yell back.

  “Do not talk back at me, young lady!”
>
  “I can never win,” I mutter under my breath and walk to my bed to grab my clutch bag. I send a quick text to Bennett before leaving my room.

  Me: 10 days can’t come quickly enough.

  Bennett: I know my Gorgeous Girl. Hope you stay safe and sane tonight.

  Me: Safe, yes. I’m under constant watch. Sane? Never with my parents and their country club friends.

  Bennett: Sane is boring anyway. Try to enjoy yourself, it’s not long now.

  Me: I know. Hope you’re staying safe with whatever it is that you’re doing.

  Bennett: I’m always staying safe, don’t worry. I love you my Gorgeous Girl.

  Me: I love you too. I have to go, she’s yelling again.

  I drop my phone into my bag and make my way downstairs carefully so I don’t ruin my god awful dress that I was forced to wear. I hate wearing dresses. I’m more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl but here I am, wearing a horrible evening gown, to a ridiculous party, just to please my parents.

  “Well, it’s about time. In the car. We’re late enough.” My mother glares at me as I walk past her. I clamber into the back of the car as best I can in this absurd dress and keep quiet. The less interaction I have with them at the moment, the better. They’ve been threatening me with the Convent on a daily basis if I even think about speaking or looking at Bennett, so not talking is the best option.

  Before I even manage to undo my seatbelt, my parents are out of the car and already talking to their ‘friends’. Why make me come if they’re just going to leave me on my own whilst they talk to the so-called friends they spend half their time bitching about. I swear they only spend time with each other because they have a lot of money and want to show off.

  I.

  Hate.

  This life.

  I might have been brought up within a rich family but money doesn’t interest me at all. It doesn’t make people happy, it most certainly has never had that effect on me and it seems that the more money you have, the less happy you are. At least that’s the impression I get from over half the people at this party. It’s quite sad if you think about it; all these people are loaded and the pleasure all that money brings them only occurs when they flaunt it to others.