CHAPTER 15
Bennett
“How’s Loverboy?” Gabe calls over to me and I walk towards him and Callum in the hall of the compound.
“Fuck off, you’re just jealous because you’ve lost your spark with Viv.” I grab a beer and sit with him and Callum at one of the tables set by the bar.
“Oh trust me, it’s very much there, especially in the bedroom.” Gabe smirks.
“You two sound like a bunch of fucking women!” Callum half shouts, sounding exasperated with us.
“You’ll understand when shit gets serious with Lewis.” I smirk.
“Don’t fucking go there.” Callum glares at me.
“Chill, Brother.”
“Don’t fucking tell me to chill.”
“Whatever happened between the two of you is cool with us you know,” Gabe says trying to calm him down.
“Nothing happened but a drunken mistake.” Callum groans.
“I’m surprised to see you get so worked up over a woman,” I say.
“What happened between me and Lewis was a fucking mistake that I’m still paying for. It was a couple of days of good sex but that’s it. She wanted more and you know damn well I don’t do more. That’s all there is to it.” Callum huffs.
“Is that really all there is? There’s no way you would get this worked up if there was nothing more to the story.” I shrug and the next thing I know I’m on the ground with Callum’s hands around my throat and Gabe trying to pull him off of me.
“Let go of him, Callum. As much as we all want to strangle him sometimes, he can be useful and you don’t want to upset Nancy.” Gabe tries to reason with him.
He squeezes one last time before letting go. “Right, but only because I don’t want to see Nancy cry again.” He makes pained a face, looking as if he’s remembering something that happened to her.
“Motherfucker.” I cough and return to my seat.
“It’ll teach you to fuck with me.” Callum glares at me.
“All in good fun, Brother. Do you know Nancy or something?” I ask him.
“Yes,” he replies, making Gabe and I look at each other and then back at him.
“What? How?” I can’t hide the shock and surprise in my voice.
“Before joining the club I used to ride around aimlessly and one day I crossed paths with the Satan’s Inferno. I was in a fucked up place at the time and needed to blow off some steam so I pounded two of their guys, who were getting on my nerves, into the ground. A couple of days later, their Prez found me and wanted me dead. Not sure how I managed to get myself out of that fucked up mess but I did and after one too many drinks, they claimed that they had the best pussy from all over the country. At the time I didn’t think anything of it and assumed the women were willing, so I went with them to their compound.
“I had some more drinks with them and then after about an hour they led me to where they kept their women. Each woman I passed was more beautiful than the previous one. A couple of them were already occupied so I passed those. I had been offered any woman I wanted for the night for the right fee and I was more than happy to jump at the chance. A willing woman ready for a night of sex, no man would say no to that. I went to the last room and she caught my eye. She was really young but fuck she was beautiful; perfect body, perky tits, nice rou-”
“If you’re talking about Nancy then you’d better stop right there.” I grunt; I’m two seconds away from bashing his face in.
“Anyway, she caught my eye and I wanted her so I gave the guard a load of cash and walked into the room, closing the door behind me. They protested about that, and usually I don’t care if I’m seen fucking someone, but I didn’t want anyone watching that night. I locked the door before walking slowly over to her, it was clear that she was scared of me. She was cowering against the headboard of the bed. After a few minutes she realized I wasn’t there to hurt her and she crawled on the bed towards me. She reached for my zipper and was about to take my co-” Fuck, I feel sick just thinking about this.
“Please tell me you didn’t fuck her.” Rage and hatred threaten to consume me as I stare at him.
“Let me fucking finish!” I nod and he continues. “I stopped her before she could take it out. I couldn’t do her. She looked so scared and innocent. So, believe it or not, I sat down on the bed and we talked until they banged on her bedroom door to get me the hell out of there.”
“You paid to fucking talk to her?” I ask in disbelief. I look over to Gabe and see that he looks just as confused as I feel.
“I had the intention to do more than that, but the look of horror and fear in her eyes stopped me in my tracks. I couldn’t do anything with her even if I wanted to.” He has a hint of a smile on his lips, which is not like Callum at all. He’s not the smiling type, at least not a happy smile type. If you ever see him smile it’s more of a sadistic leer because he’s up to something bad or fucking filthy.
“What else are you hiding?” Gabe asks.
“So much fucked up shit that you don’t need to know. I went back once a month to see her. Just to talk.” He adds quickly when he sees my face. “We talked about everything and anything and I would sneak her in stuff that she’d manage to hide, mainly chocolate, god that woman can eat her weight in chocolate.” He smiles and his eyes glaze over as he remembers what I’m assuming is a funny chocolate related memory which should have been mine.
“What the fuck have you done to our heartless Callum?” Gabe asks, sounding and looking shocked.
“Nancy is the reason I haven’t gone bat shit crazy yet. Talking to her has helped me cope with the shit my life had become. She knows more about me than all of you put together.” He chuckles to himself.
“Well fuck me, I didn’t expect that,” I say, feeling in shock by his confession.
“Neither did I,” Gabe exclaims.
“Why didn’t you try to help her get out of there?” I ask.
“I was just one man, there was no way I could rescue her without getting us both killed in the process.” He sighs.
“Why didn’t you come to us?” It’s Gabe’s turn to ask.
“I had no idea she was linked to one of us and I didn’t think it’d have been a good thing to go against the Satan’s Inferno.”
“Fair enough,” Gabe declares, sounding okay with that reasoning but I’m fucking livid. He knew she was there all along and didn’t do a fucking thing about it? He could have asked us to save her once he had joined as he was still visiting her after joining the MC!
“Did she tell you what happened to her?” Callum asks me.
“Yes, but I think she’s still hiding a shit load of stuff from me.” I sigh.
“Like what?” Gabe asks.
“I think she knows who’s behind it but she’s not telling me. I know that she was forced to into prostitution but that’s about it. She told me how she was feeling and how she coped for so long without going crazy, but I don’t know any other details and it is fucking killing me. I need to know but I don’t want to force her to talk if she isn’t ready. Since you’ve been there do you know who is behind it all?”
“As I said, I know more than I wish I did,” Callum says through gritted teeth.
“You’re not gonna spill, are you?” I ask, desperate to know more.
“No. I’m not the one who should tell you.”
“Tell me what?” Why is no one being honest with me!
“Don’t push it,” Callum says with finality in his voice and I know I have to drop it.
I’m even more confused after talking with Callum. Obviously he knows who’s behind Nancy’s kidnapping and captivity but he’s not letting anything slip. I need to know who took her and wanted to hurt her, it’s no coincidence that she was taken. The thing is, I don’t know if they were targeting her, her parents or me but after what Callum’s just told me, I think it’s the latter. I just want the person behind all of this to suffer for what they did to my Gorgeous Girl.
CHAPTER 16
Nancy
A few days later
Today is the day.
The day I look for a job so I can finally start my life properly. I’ve never lived on my own or had any sense of independence, that’s what I want the most right now. To have somewhat of a normal life. If I work, that means I can afford a place on my own. I don’t know where yet, nor have I looked. I’m not being ungrateful to the guys and girls from the MC, everybody has been very welcoming, offering me clothes and shoulders to cry on. Someone is always watching me and it’s driving me crazy. They are making sure I’m not going to have a mental breakdown or am about run away and I appreciate the effort, but it’s too much. I went from having no one to talk to; to crazy amounts of people all wanting to make sure I’m okay.
Bennett is always hanging around the compound, and me. Not that I mind, but he needs to chill out and stop thinking I’m going to disappear every time he blinks! I have to hand it to him though, he’s been very caring and loving. I’m also a little bit surprised by it, I didn’t think that after so many years he’d still love and care about me as much as he does. I haven’t told him yet that I still love him, but I do. Fuck me, I do. I love him as much as I did before, maybe even more so now.
This past week has been quite eventful. Besides the fact that Bennett has been following me around like a lost puppy, much to the amusement of his friends, he’s been questioning me about Callum. Apparently Callum spilled his guts to Gabe and Bennett about us knowing each other and how we met. I don’t mind as long as that’s all he told them because Callum and I are the only two keepers of a very dark secret that Bennett can’t find out about. I’m afraid it’ll soon come out into the open and it’ll be too late to fix the damage. It’s getting harder to lie to him about it, especially when he knows that we’re hiding something from him.
Bennett and I haven’t heard anything from my parents since the night I bumped into Bennett, which to be honest is both reassuring and scary. I don’t know if Bennett is the only one they hired to find me and if they are just being patient and waiting to hear back from him or if something more sinister is at play. For all I know they could’ve hired morethan one person to look for me and it’s just a matter of time before they show up unannounced. My mind is still questioning why they decided to look for me. I know they had received pictures of me, but I can’t see that being the only reason. They must have an ulterior motive and I’m dreading what it could be.
I walk downstairs in a desperate need for some coffee to wake me up properly. Last night was rough, I had a nightmare which I haven’t had for a long time. I’ve been having nightmares ever since I was taken and usually they are pretty vivid but over time they have been occurring less and less. I’m glad Bennett wasn’t around at the time or he would have questioned me all night long about it. Luckily Callum was my ladysitter, as everyone likes to call them, and heard me cry out. He’s well versed in my nightmares and has seen what I’ve been through first hand so he knows how to calm me down. It’s a huge comfort having him nearby, I know I can talk to Bennett about anything and everything, but with Callum around and him already knowing what’s happened, I don’t have to explain anything to him and relive the nightmares. He’s been my confident and best friend for years now. I’ll forever be grateful that he didn’t force himself onto me that first night. If he had, we would never have formed our special bond. I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t attracted to him because the man is fucking hot. He’s tall, ripped, tattooed and has a killer smile when he’s not being his moody self, and has a heart of gold. Even though he’ll tell you he’s the opposite and a ruthless killer and not made to be in a relationship, it’s a lie, he just doesn’t want to admit it to himself and does all he can to put himself down. He thinks he’s damaged beyond repair, but I know that there’s a woman for him somewhere. He just has to find her and when he does, he needs to suck it up and open up.
I walk into the kitchen, pour myself a cup and take a tentative sip before spitting it out in the sink instantly. Oh shit, that’s disgusting. I frown and run back upstairs quickly. I get dressed properly and make my way to Viv’s bar. I walk in and the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pancakes greets me. Thank God for Viv.
“Hey, Chica,” she shouts from behind the bar as I walk over to her.
“Hey, figured I’d stop by for some coffee.” I smile.
“Let me guess, you tried their coffee and noticed that mine was loads better and worth getting dressed for?” She chuckles.
“God yes, I don’t even know why I tried it when I’ve been here every morning. Need any help?”
“Nah, we’re pretty quiet in the mornings, but the evenings are getting tedious on my own behind the bar and well with this little one it’s not getting any easier.” She smiles as she rubs her baby bump fondly.
“Well if you’re hiring I’m looking for a job and I’d love to help you.” I smile. Please let her need someone. Please let her need someone. Please let her need someone.
“I didn’t know you were looking for a job. Are you planning on leaving?” she asks with a tone that’s full of attitude. She crosses her arms over her chest and raises her eyebrow at me, clearly not happy about the idea that I might leave them and Bennett. Not that I would ever leave Bennett, never again.
“No, I just need a place to live that’s not above the compound where Bennett can walk in whenever he pleases.” I roll my eyes.
“Is he doing your head in already?” She smirks.
“I wouldn’t say that, I just need some privacy and I know that with me being at the compound twenty four seven, there is no way I’ll ever get that. Callum had to actually threaten Bennett last night to get him to go home; he hasn’t been to his place since the night he brought me back from the cabin.”
“Seriously? He has it bad for you, Hon.”
“I know, he’s told me. I just need some time to get my head straight before I contemplate anything serious with him.” I sigh.
“I don’t blame you,” she says as she places a mug of coffee in front of me.
“Thanks, I just wish he would understand. He can be quite overwhelming at times.”
“He’s Bennett.” She chuckles.
“So true. Were you really serious about me working nights with you?” I ask tentatively.
“Nights and some afternoons, yes. I like you; you’re cool and you’re sweet. You need a job and I need a barmaid. It’s the perfect combination.” She grins widely at me. “When can you start?”
“When do you need me?”
“Oh yeah baby, when do you need her?” Aleck asks as he suddenly appears out of nowhere and sits on the stool next to me.
“I’m banging your brother,” Viv declares with a smirk.
“Oh now that’s fucking gross.” Aleck groans as he physically shudders and makes a gagging noise.
“Payback’s a bitch. Coffee?”
“Please.” He smiles. “How’s it going?”
“I’m good, I have a new employee.” Viv smiles.
“Who?” Aleck asks before taking a sip of his coffee. “I don’t know why we bother having a coffee machine at the compound, that shit is disgusting.”
“You’re sat next to her and I have no idea; one of these days one of you guys will get sick from drinking that shit.”
“Way to go girl!” Aleck exclaims and holds his right hand up for a high five. “Why are you looking for a job? So desperate to leave us already?”
I shake my head and giggle. “No, why would you think that?”
“I don’t know, just thought you liked it at the compound.” He shrugs.
“I do, don’t get me wrong the place is great and you’ve all been amazing and I owe you all so much, especially Viv, but I just need some independence. I want a semblance of a normal life, I’ve never lived by myself, I want to experience that. It’s nice having all of you around making sure I’m okay, but in a way I feel like I’m still trapped? If that makes any sense?”
“It does.” I hear a
male voice say. Oh shit, that wasn’t Aleck. I slowly turn around to see Bennett with a face like thunder behind me.
“Morning.” I smile sweetly at him.
“Yeah. Morning. Can we talk?” he asks, clearly pissed off with me.
“Uh, sure.” I take my mug with me and follow him outside. Before closing the door behind me, I turn quickly to Viv who shrugs with a confused expression on her face. “What’s up, Sugar Tits?” I say, trying to lighten the mood.
“Why do you want to leave?” he asks bluntly, completely ignoring my hilarious nickname.
“I don’t want to leave.”
“Well it looks like you just got a job so you can make some money so you can leave.” He sounds so wounded, which makes me feel guilty.
“I’m just wanting to move out of the compound, that’s all.”
“Why? So I can’t be around you all the time?”
“Don’t do this, I really just need some privacy, I don’t feel like I have any at the compound. I’m stuck in the room all day because I feel awkward walking around and being around people I don’t know, there’s nothing for me to do there, I feel useless and slightly trapped.”
“You’re not useless and you can go wherever you want.”
“Saying it doesn’t mean I’ll believe it, this is how I feel.” I shrug.
“Come stay with me,” he states and sounds determined.
“I do-”
“Look, I know things have been a bit quiet this week, but there’s no way the Infernos won’t retaliate. At the compound you’re safe, if you move out then you need to move in with one of us. It’s for your own safety, I’m not trying to trick you to get you to come live with me. You can go live with Ayd, Viv, Line or Nicole if it makes you feel better. I only ask that you don’t move in with Callum. I still don’t believe that nothing sexual ever happened between the two of you.” He glares at me.
Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC Series Book 5) Page 11
