Chapter 20
Harley
I had never had this before, or even if I did back in high school, I didn’t remember the feeling anymore. That comforting feeling of being surrounded by a group of women who respected and supported each other.
Lila, Jordan, Alexis and Kaya introduced themselves to me, each telling me about the men from the MC they were with. Amanda was kept busy with some candy and a sandwich while she watched cartoons on Lila’s cellphone.
We sat a little bit away. Alexis had made coffee for all of us and we were drinking it now and talking. I felt right at home with them, even though I’d never met them before. It was like a little sisterhood they’d formed and I could sense they looked out for each other.
I wasn’t sure if I belonged yet…technically, Dash and I hadn’t really spoken about what would happen to us long term. He’d promised to keep us safe and we had sex, but that could mean anything. It didn’t necessarily have to mean anything permanent.
I knew he was perfect for Amanda and me, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. But these women were treating me like I was a part of their group already.
They sat with me, concerned and wanting to know what happened. I started at the start because they were interested to know everything. I told them how I met Caesar and how I got trapped.
“You were only seventeen, hun, you shouldn’t blame yourself for this. You didn’t know any better. We all do a lot of crazy things at that age. You just got really unlucky,” Alexis said, squeezing my hand gently.
I nodded and looked down embarrassedly at my cup of coffee.
“And he blamed you for trapping him with a child? You’re the one who got trapped!” Kaya commented.
“What did he do to you?” Alexis asked.
“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, hun,” Jordan reassured me and I shook my head.
“No, I do. I haven’t told anyone about it other than Dash. But I should have been. I should have told everyone I knew. I shouldn’t have been so afraid and kept it all to myself. Maybe then I could have got out sooner,” I said in a weak voice.
Lila gave me a warm hug.
“But you weren’t afraid when it really mattered. You were brave. You were able to get Dash out of there, you had the courage to walk out on the MC with your kid. You were able to break free,” she said.
I knew she had a point, all of these women were right—but I just couldn’t see myself as someone brave. I had been under someone’s boot for so long that I saw myself as nothing more than a weakling.
“You’re here now, Harley. You have nothing more to worry about,” Jordan added and she passed me a delicious looking iced cupcake which I devoured.
***
“I was too young and I’d dropped out of school and had no money. With a baby to support now, I had nobody else to turn to other than Caesar and the MC,” I said to them. It felt good talking to them, getting it out of my system.
“And what about your family?” Kaya asked in a low voice and I breathed in deeply.
“They’d washed their hands of me when I ran away to live with Caesar. I spent a long time hating them, but now that Amanda is growing up, I see their point of view and I know what I’ll do differently,” I said.
“Parents!” Lila exclaimed, rolling her eyes. I knew she was Lewis’ daughter and she was only joking. So, the rest of us smiled.
“And once I started relying on him for money and a job, things just got worse and worse. He didn’t care about his daughter, all he cared about was having a girl in their clubhouse who would slave for them. Clean and cook and run errands. And he is violent and has a temper,” I said, shifting in my seat.
They weren’t blind. They could see the cuts and bruises on me, most of them were healing or healed up but the faint marks were still there.
“Dash and the others will never let that happen to you or Amanda again,” Jordan said and I nodded.
“I know. I trust him, I trust all of you. I’m so glad to be here,” I said.
Lila initiated a group hug and we all fell together. A wave of tears washed over me and I suppressed it.
It felt so good to be back in the real world, surrounded by supportive and kind people. Trusting Dash was the best decision I made.
“And I noticed the way he looks at you…at Amanda too. You guys would make a cute family,” Alexis remarked and I blushed even deeper.
“These guys look like they’re tough as nails,” Kaya began.
“And they are!” Lila corrected her.
“But they can be warm and fuzzy on the inside when they meet the right woman,” Kaya continued and I blushed more.
That was when Dash walked in. He saw us all sitting around and smiled.
“There he is! The man of the hour!” Alexis remarked and he came over to stand behind me.
“How are you guys doing?” he asked and I looked up at him and nodded.
“I’m doing great. Amanda’s doing even better!” I replied and he looked over at her in the corner, sitting on a big leather chair which I presumed belonged to Lewis.
“So, the guys and I have been talking. We need to hit the Hell’s Drifters now, while they’re still scrambling about trying to get a hold of me,” Dash began. I nodded. “Will you be able to lead us to the clubhouse?”
A smile was spreading on my face now.
“Any time you want,” I told him and the women exchanged victorious looks too.