Rage of the Phoenix

by Elizabeth N Harris

  “Take me.” I pleaded. “Don’t hurt my kids.” I tried dragging the shirt off but hands stopped me. No, no, don’t stop me, the girls are here. The thought vocalised and the air snapped red hot. I stumbled over something and fell on my knees. Peering up, he gloated over me. The monsters hand grasped my hair and yanked my head backwards.

  Raping my mouth was the monsters favourite thing, I began to gag. Not wanting this and I fought silently, I felt pressure on my jaw and it popped open. A wail escaped loud and long.

  “Jesus fucking Christ. Get the kids out of here!” The first voice thundered. “Bear let me the fuck go.”

  “Phoenix come back woman, You’re not there, you’re safe. Come the fuck back to me.” A voice kept insisting. I tried to talk but couldn’t as his horrible cock shoved in my mouth. I gagged and choked my hands rising to my throat.

  “Mum!” A distant voice cried, and the pressure lifted. Freed, I scrambled back on my heels. I drew my knees up and sitting on my ass, bent my head to them and covered my ears and face.

  There was a hand at my head, soft soothing but it was battling the hands dragging my hair backwards. A voice spoke to me drowning out the evil one. The voice of salvation.

  “Woman look at me. Fuckin’ open your eyes and see me.” I searched for the voice. For a hazy minute the monsters face blurred, and another took its place, a face with bright stunning green eyes.

  “Cunt, can’t even have dinner ready.” My head rocked at the force of the slap.

  “Look at me, woman look at me.”

  “Bear get the fuck off me!” That second voice shouted.

  “Phoenix, your name is Phoenix, you’re Hellfire. You’re Rage. Look at me woman.” The second voice kept on, soothing. A girl was crying, and I gazed in that direction, Jodie and Serenity, oh god Jodie and Serenity. He’d caught the girls! I began to fight, the monster could do what he wanted to me but not the girls. Not my babies.

  My body jerked one way and then another as I fought him. Punches and kicks fell in a flurry, I felt every blow, every kick but I couldn’t let the girls get hurt. Screeched this at him, he couldn’t have them! I’d never let him have them. Repeatedly, my body bent and rose with each thud. With terror smothering me, I began fighting and trying to tear his face to shreds with my nails.

  There were thuds and the sound of a body hitting the floor. A different face from the last two filled my vision. But those eyes, I knew those eyes. Burned through my terror, with a fury and passion that shocked me. Strong arms grabbed hold, and I was dragged up into a lap and forced to meet a concerned gaze.

  A gaze with green expressive eyes that held a world of fear. A face that imposed itself over him. I knew and loved that face. It wavered, and the monster reappeared but that face wasn’t letting him have me. Strong arms held me tight, trying to beat back my demons and then a second set of arms surrounded me.

  I heard words, words that were lyrical. Words that meant something. Someone was singing. A song that gave hope and a lifeline out of this madness. I latched onto those words. My hands rose and twisted in a tee I knew would be black. They moved sideways, and I felt his cut with the patch I loved.

  The nightmare faded and then I gasped and my back arched. Green eyes held me captive, and I was back. I was safe, was loved, and I wasn’t alone. The monster couldn’t get to me. Those eyes belonged to a man who’d walk through fire, who had walked through fire for me.

  “Chance.” His name broke from a throat raw from sobs and cries. “Don’t let go. Don’t let him get me.”

  Tattooed arms wrapped tight around me. A second set shoved at him and I got pulled into Drake’s. I stiffened and tried to crawl back to Chance. Drake’s arms tightened and his eyes held those same emotions as Chance. Fury and passion but fear too, a load of fear. He squeezed once and at whatever he saw in my eyes, he let me go. I scurried back to Chance and folded into him.

  One arm wrapped around my waist and the other around my chest. Drake got to his knees next to me and stroked my hair. Calmness came over me, making the black go away.

  “Make it go away Drake.” I muttered. “Light up the dark.” Audibly, he swallowed and kept stroking. Chance just held me tight.

  “Got ya Phoe, I always got you, never lettin’ ya go angel.” Chance began crooning those words again. I loved those words. Unstoppable by Rascal Flatts, Chance had sung them before to me.

  “Wanna explain what the fuck just happened?” Drake asked in a low voice, I sensed he wasn’t asking me but Chance.

  “Later brother.” Chance replied.

  Drake wanted to reply but kept soothing me. One hand touching my face trying to wipe away the horror etched on it. I’d shoved my head into Chance, his other hand remained on my hair. A sob echoed and my eyes met Serenity’s. Bear had folded her in his arms, holding her tight as she sobbed into his shoulder. Micah and Carmine were pale.

  Marsha had Carmine, who was paler than I’d ever seen him. My boy held Marsha and his long frame wrapped in her tight loving arms. She was rubbing his back but his eyes were on me.

  Micah was held in Apache’s arms. Apache held my boy loosely with an arm around his shoulder. He was giving my boy the support he needed but allowing Micah to remain a man. Micah stared into my eyes and I saw the hate and violence in them.

  Then I realised where I was and I shuddered. The bloody common room at Rage. Everyone was there, Hellfire and Rage alike, brothers, prospects, old ladies and skanks. Brothers looked shocked and in most cases like they wanted to beat the crap out of someone, that was Rage.

  Hellfire wanted blood, they’d seen, they understood, they wanted more blood. Old ladies looked horrified for the most part, Marsha was pale and Silvie had tears streaming down her face. Marsha met my eyes and held them. Silently, she tried telling me something, but I didn’t understand.

  Skanks looked a variety of things. Some nice and others not so nice. Misty was smirking at me and at the nightmare I’d suffered. Ace’s eyes cut to me and then followed my gaze. His face usually expressionless hardened and he grabbed Misty by the arm, hard.

  “Get the fuck out.” Ace whispered harshly. Misty’s mouth opened, and he cut her off. “Get the fuck out,” He repeated. “You’re not a brother, ain’t Rage and ain’t Hellfire. Get your whore ass out. This is a family matter.” He forced Misty to the door and his gaze cut to the other skanks.

  “Get out, all of you.” Ezra said herding skanks towards the door.

  I buried my head back in Chance’s chest, they’d all seen, everyone witnessed my shame, horror, my nightmare. Both clubs were judging me. I’d finally cracked and now they realised how weak, frightened and pathetic I was. At last he’d won. I let out a low sob as I realised, I was saying that out loud and Chance still holding me, got to his feet.

  Chance carried me out of the common room and down the hallway to Drakes room. A hard kick opened the door and Chance walked in and laid on me on the bed. Immediately I turned from him and curled in a ball and faced the wall.

  Chance swore and lay on the bed and dragged me into his arms. He sang to me until I slept. I didn’t see Drake’s eyes burning into us. I was unaware of the living fury coiled inside him and burning to get out. All I could see my shame, humiliation and in the end darkness.

  Micah pulled loose from Apache and letting out a wordless yell Micah grabbed a chair and swung it at the bar. It smashed into pieces and he grabbed a second. Apache stepped back as he swung that, smashing it too. Panting and needing to hurt someone Micah turned to Bear. Carmine stood mutely.

  “Son.” Drake said.

  “Not your fucking son.” Micah exploded. Micah turned and launched himself at Drake. Drake held him as he struggled and punched and kicked it out of him. Jodie cried out and Bear moved her and Serenity out of the way. Micah stopped, his anger spent and a huge wave of grief rolled out. It hit the room and everyone flinched.

  “I didn’t know Mum thought the girls were at risk. I didn’t fucking know!” He screamed at Drake. Drake held him, pin
ning him against the wall. Micah slammed his head back into the wall.

  “I didn’t fucking know about the girls. When that asshole found us here, Mum gave in to him straight away. She did it to protect them, I didn’t understand and thought Mum was being weak. I fucking judged my mother for being a weak ass bitch, when she was being stronger than I ever knew.” Micah whispered. Drake searched his face and decided it was safe let him go. Micah moved instantly dragging his sisters out of Bears arms.

  “Tell me.” Micah snapped. “Tell me he didn’t.” He broke off.

  “Of course not. Ma didn’t let him. Chance and everyone got to him first.” Serenity wept in his arms.

  “He’d have used anything against Mum.” Micah snapped.

  “Yeah but you saw.” Jodie’s voice faded out.

  “I didn’t get you out in time. Didn’t do enough.”

  “That’s enough son.” Chance snapped from behind, exiting the hallway. “You were fuckin’ fifteen, not a man, not a child. You did what you could and what you did allowed you all to escape.

  It allowed eleven other kids to have a life they wouldn’t have had. Asshole would have beaten you to death, Phoe wouldn’t have recovered from that. You did what you fuckin’ could. A boy of fifteen with no money, no course of action. No one to turn too, cops turning a blind eye ‘cause ‘a who he was, cops ignoring the bruises.”

  “I...” Micah tried.

  “There’s no I. Escaped to shelters, he found you, ran away, and he found you. Contacted cops and they fuckin’ turned a blind eye. Do you get me son? Everyone legal turned their backs ‘cause ‘a who the asshole was. Only thing you would’a done is died. You gave her those three bucks, and by doin’ that you saved her. Saved your brothers and sister and you saved your other siblings. Micah only you did that.”

  “She’s broken.” Micah whispered. Chance slid his hand around the back of Micah’s neck and held him close.

  “No she ain’t son. Phoe ain’t broken, woman’s fractured. If Phoe was broken, she wouldn’t be doin’ what she’s doin’ or bein’ who she’s bein’, understand me? If he’d broken her totally, she’d not be Phoenix. She’s Phoenix.

  She’s Ma to sixteen kids. Phoe’s survived. She got fractures, we can glue ‘em, we can fix ‘em, we can fuckin’ fill them, ‘cause ya gotta know son, fractures can be fixed. We gonna fix them and fix her. Gonna fill her up with love and then make her overflow.” Chance raised his eyes to Drake who stood silently.

  “See him?” Chance pointed at Drake. “I’m knowin’ ya don’t like him. I’m knowin’ you fear he’ll bring nothin’ but more pain to your ma. But Drake ain’t gonna. Man’s gonna be the one that fills those fractures but you gotta let him. He don’t know the shit that went down ‘cause Phoe’s protecting you. Stop and man up Micah, let him do what he gotta do.” Micah studied Drake and then studied Chance.

  “I was hoping it would be you.” Micah replied.

  “Love your ma until the day I die son. She’ll always own a piece of me. But I ain’t the one who can spark her light. I hate fuckin’ sayin’ it but Drake is. He sparks her in more ways than I can dream of. Drake fucks up, I’ll be waitin’ and I’ll be in there, but your ma, she deserves to be everythin’ to a man and that man is him.”

  “Still wanted it to be you.” Micah muttered stubbornly. Chance grinned at him.

  “Always be mine Micah. Not ever change that. Need to ride son. Axel.” He ordered and Axel came forward. Axel slung an arm around Micah’s neck and dragged him out. Carmine scuffed his toe on the floor, Tye by his side.

  “Son.” Chance said. Carmine looked up.

  “Not leavin’ her Chance.” He said. Chance nodded.

  “Go out to the shop. I’m sure Ezra has somethin’ you can beat the shit out of.” Ezra nodded, Tye and Carmine left. Chance turned to Jodie and Serenity.

  “I don’t need to ride or beat the shit out of something.” Jodie said tilting her head up at Chance. He grinned at her and she held his gaze. Serenity shook her head too, standing near to her big sister.

  “Then sit with the old ladies and get your shit sorted girls.” Drake said. She nodded in his direction.

  “Will of steel those girls.” Chance muttered. “Not every day you find your ma took a beatin’ to save your ass and kept on taking that beating.” Drake turned to Chance as the old ladies led Jodie and Serenity towards Fish and Marsha’s room. Bear moved towards the back where Phoenix lay sleeping.

  “I’ll wait with her.” Bear said and left. Drakes eyes followed him.

  “Man’s angry Drake, loves that woman with his heart, know we’re on Rage but let Bear do what he needs.” Drake inclined his head at Chance acknowledging his words.

  “Start talkin’.”

  “Not sure that woman wants every brother here to know.” Chance denied, shaking his head.

  “My woman just had a complete meltdown on Rage. Hellfire know, Rage claimed her, start talking.” Drake shot back. Chance nodded at Big Al who brought a brown file over. Big Al handed it to Chance gave it to Drake. Drake went to open it and Chance stopped him.

  “Before you read brother, make sure you’re locked tight. It’s Phoe’s file. Got a copy from Liz. Contains everything, every little incident, everything he did, every time she looked for help and didn’t get it. There is x-rays and medical shit in there. Make sure you’re locked up tight.” Chance stressed. Drake nodded and then sat and began to read.

  “Tell us what the file don’t.” Drake muttered an hour later. Fury burned deep inside him, it was locked tight but it burned. Now he wanted answers. The file gave him everything up until she left the UK. But it didn’t tell him everything. It was cold and lacking the human factor, Drake wanted everything.

  Chance told Rage of the abuse Phoe had suffered for five years, this time using her words, not the black and white of cop reports. How the five children she’d birthed got treated. The mental, emotional and physical abuse. How Micah had been working in secret to save money so he could get them away. Chance told Rage of how she’d taken such a severe beating one night, Micah thought she’d die. Then realised they had the winning lottery ticket.

  Chance told his raging cousin how Micah had got her, Jodie and the little three to Albert. How Albert and Sally had worked to protect the family. That Sally had insisted outside police be brought in, as Phoe’s ex-husband had been a powerful solicitor. That the police charged him with multiple counts and he went down for it.

  Big Al spoke to Rage of how Phoe’s ex-husband had escaped from jail and found her here, in the US. Asshole attacked her in a rented home in Sturgis. Phoe had got the girls to safety and then let him beat her. She hadn’t tried to protect herself instead concentrating on the two girls. Jodie had called Chance frantically, and they’d got there within minutes. But in that time, he’d beaten the hell out of her and was attempting to rape Phoe when they arrived.

  Chance confirmed the body was buried in a grave in the Black Hills. On the Montana side. Drake understood Phoe’s words that Hellfire had killed more recently than seven years. Drake wished he hadn’t asked but he had to know. It killed him to know the woman he was falling deeply in love with had such pain and horror in her past.

  Big Al spoke of the migraines, the panic attacks that faded over the last few years. Talked of the constant fear Phoe carried, that Hellfire might get found out. Chance sadly informed his cousin of how Phoe had flipped and regressed four times in his presence. How she physically relived what he had done to her. How Phoe battled that and tried to shine love around.

  When Chance and Big Al finished, the room was wired. Rage had a black past, Rage had a past dark with blood and bodies but Rage didn’t raise a hand to a woman. Club dealt with women if they needed it but they didn’t raise a hand to a woman.

  Rage fucked, drank and lived as they wanted, no one judged, they were brothers. Cut them and they bled Rage. Phoe’s story was horrific. How Phoe had escaped from her abusive ex, who hadn’t even been married to her. Fled to Sturgi
s, and he’d escaped from jail and found his way over to the States.

  The brothers listened intently as Phoe’s story was told to them. How by the time Chance crossed Phoe’s path, she’d just adopted Carmine, Tye, Serenity and Harley. Tasted Phoe’s fear, that her ex might harm her four adopted kids, as well as her birth children. Rage felt respect for a woman who’d sacrifice herself, to protect her kids. They harboured anger that a woman, they were fast becoming to respect and care for, suffered.

  In Rage if a woman caused trouble his brothers would resolve the issue, if the brother who claimed her didn’t. That didn’t mean harming a woman. Threats usually worked against women and knowing the history of Rage, threats were often effective. There was a code between them, an unspoken one but every brother in Rage knew it. Beat a woman, a weaker person than you, get beaten on.

  The room between Rage and Hellfire was electrified. Drake heard Chance say that Hellfire had dealt with Phoenix’s ex-husband. That the asshole was dead and buried, didn’t mean Rage didn’t want a piece of him. That Rage didn’t want his blood, they couldn’t have it but they wanted it.

  Brothers looked sickened. Fish, Apache, Texas, had once had an old lady and Fish still had Marsha, they’d loved/still loved their old ladies. For a vulnerable woman to undergo what Phoe had they were sickened.

  Others, Slick, Gunner, Ezra and Mac just looked pissed. Women are meant to be looked after, brothers had women in their families. Club would go balls to the wall to protect women linked to a brother. This anger they felt while red hot, was bonding the club tighter. Rage used pussy as it came available but good women, women like Marsha and Silvie were respected and cherished.

  Minor disagreements in the club faded. Fact was they wanted the blood of a man who’d terrorised and beaten Phoe. Scum who used the threat of beating and raping her daughters to control her. Rage had united under a woman’s pain and sacrifice.

  “Now I see why Phoe’s a sister. Didn’t get it but do now. Saw part of Phoe’s attraction at her family weekend.” Drake muttered at his cousin.