Chapter 9

 

My world’s a blur. I don’t know which way to turn. I’ve searched; I’ve put out as many calls as Dragon, and never come up with anything. The thought that I may have lost the one thing that made sense to me, hurts. It hurts that I pushed her away. It hurts that I am more than likely the cause of her being missing. Everyone has walked on eggshells around me. It drives me insane, too. This is the third ride that I’ve gone on today. It doesn’t help. It doesn’t ease anything I’m feeling. My stomach is in a constant spasm. I can’t eat, I can’t focus. I close my eyes, and its visions of her. I’ve thought about running. I’ve thought about hiding out, but what good would that do. Aria tries to stay close to me. It helps to a point. I like having her near; it gives me a sense of peace knowing she’s there. Pulling back into the clubhouse, my heart drops even lower in my chest. It doesn’t feel right without her here. Nothing feels right.

“You’re back. I made lunch,” Aria says as she smiles. I climb off my bike trying not to look at her.

“I’m not hungry.” Her smile fades. I hate seeing her like that. “I’m sorry. I just don’t feel like havin’ shit.” I say trying to sound nicer. Aria nods her head, as though she understands.

“I know, but you have to keep your strength up.” Her fingers intertwine with mine. We walk inside with our hands held tightly together when Roc walks up.His eyes flicker between the two of us before I let go of her hand.

“Thanks for tryin’,” I tell her. Aria smiles slightly up at me. I just give her a nod and watch her walk over to Roc.

“You good?” Roc asks. Nodding once, I walk past them toward my room. I don’t want to be around anyone right now. Least of all, those two. I’ve been doing every kind of exercise I can think of. Sweat pours from my body as I push myself harder. The guys have given me the space I need to breathe, while we look into things. Nothing else has come through, though. I’ve drank, I’ve smoked; I’ve done everything I can think of to try to keep my mind off things. Nothing is working.

“You ever gonna sleep?” Trick asks when he walks up near my head as I do more push-ups. I shove myself off the ground before sitting next to him.

“I can’t. I’ve fuckin’ tried, man. All I can hear is her cryin’ on that goddamn phone,”  I say breathlessly. Trick nods as if he understands.

“I can’t relate, brother. I see how it’s rippin’ you up, though.” Passing me water, I take it before I hear people screaming. More importantly, I hear Aria, screaming.

“What the fuck?” I grumble before I’m on my feet and running in seconds. It takes me no time at all to get around to the front of the clubhouse.

Aria’s on the ground, screaming and crying. There in her arms, is my broken and ruined girl.

“HELP ME!” Aria screams but she doesn’t see me behind her. I suppose it’s for the best, though. I can’t move. Ghost blows past me, and so does Trick. I stand there in a stunned silence. People are yelling but everything is silent in my mind.

“Goddamn it–Devil!” Roc shakes me hard before I snap back out of the daze I was in. I look over, just as Ghost lifts Angel up, in his arms.

“Give her to me.” Everyone looks over at Ghost as he carries her limp body to me. I take her small frame into my arms, my chest tightening. I swallow hard, turning to head inside. Blood coats her skin, her head’s bleeding.

“Doc’s on his way,” Ghost says. Nodding my head, I walk down the hallway straight to my room. This is my fault. I pushed her to this. Roc stands next to me with Aria in his arms. He reaches over grabbing my key, and unlocking the door. We all head inside as I lay Angel on the bed.

“She’s alive, Aria,”  I snap. Her hysterical crying is working my nerves and that’s not what anyone needs right now. I hear Roc whisper to her but I can’t hear what he said. I don’t care, either. 

 

 

***

Doc checked Angel out. She has a gash on her head that he had to stitch, and some bruising and cuts over her body. The worst part–she was raped repeatedly. I couldn’t hear it. All I saw was red when he said that. The thought of anyone hurting her eats away my insides. I made everyone leave us alone. Doc has her on some fluids for dehydration, and some pain meds. He said she’d be asleep for a while. I squeeze the water out of the rag in my hands, into the bucket that sits on the table next to me. I slowly wipe her face before making my way down her body. I wince every time I see a cut or a bruise on her soft skin. If my heart was still in my chest, it’d be breaking right now. I make my way down her body to clean her of all the dried blood, but when I touch her thighs, she loses it.

“Please! Don’t do this to me! Devil!” She cries out in her sleep. My name pierces the silent room. A tear settles in the corner of my eye as I reach for her. Of everyone she could have called out for–it was me. Her body flails around, trying to get away from me.

“It’s me, Angel. It’s Devil. Look at me, darlin’.” I talk to her in a calm tone. Trying to soothe her in any way I can, I move in closer to her. Her eyes snap open, taking in the room before coming to rest on me.

“Oh God, Devil.” Tears spring to her eyes. Angel leaps into my waiting arms. Stroking my hand down her hair, I rock her in my lap.

“It’s ok–I got you.” Holding her tighter, she cries harder. I want to question her. I want to know who the hell it was that had her, and why. Angel’s cries pull at everything in me.

“I want to go home, Devil. I want to go home.” Her words slam into my chest. She doesn’t want to be here with me. She wants to go home.

“I’ll take you.” Swallowing my own pain, I agree to take her home.

“Let the medicine work first. I’ll take you home, Angel.” Her cries don’t stop either. She cries until she falls asleep again.  I’m pacing the room when my door opens.

“Sorry I lost it,” Aria says. Shaking my head, she moves in closer to me.

“Wasn’t your fault. She uh… she wants to go home. I’m gonna take her home.” Aria looks up at me. A surprised look crosses her face.

“You know about her parents?”

“No. She asked me for a ride once. She showed me where she lived, didn’t say anything about them, though.” Aria’s hand comes out to reach for mine.

“They’ll take care of her, Devil.”