Tessa
“It’s gonna be killer tonight. The party is supposed to be off the hook,” Sienna says as we leave the mall. The sun is slowly setting in the west allowing the golden glow of the parking lot lights to illuminate the blacktop. The air is still warm even though it’s the beginning of fall, but that’s what we expect in New Mexico.
“Devin said he’ll cover for me, so I don’t have to have someone from the club following us.”
“You mean you.”
“Yeah.” She shrugs. “Whatever.”
“Is that why we don’t have a babysitter now?”
When we aren’t with her brothers, then someone from their MC is with us—except today. Protection, Devin Sr. says. It’s the only way he’ll allow his little girl to have somewhat of a life. Even at the age of twenty, she still has to have someone close by. I don’t pretend to know how it is to live as a daughter of an MC president. My mama has told me time and time again to keep my head down when I’m around the clubhouse or even the members. I’m surprised she’s allowed me to continue my friendship with Sienna all these years.
“Hey, chicas. Que pasa? What’s up?”
My eyes shoot up to a group of guys walking towards us. The lights shine above them, causing dark shadows to fall upon each of their faces. They’re all wearing black leather vests, which only means one thing in these parts—MC club. The hairs on the back of my neck raise, an uneasy feeling comes over me as they continue to get closer. From my peripheral vision, I see more guys surround us.
“Looks like they’re all by their lonesome,” the second guy says as he scans the area.
“Tsk, tsk tsk, where’s your Papi, little lady?” Another guy asks.
Sienna’s hand grabs my wrist. Her nails dig into my skin.
“You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t cha?” Another guy steps closer, taking her hair between his fingers, bringing it to his face before he inhales. “Hmmm… No wonder the Prez has a thing for the Sinclair ladies. They are some fine ass bitches.” He tilts his head back and hoots into the air, making me jump.
“What do you want?” Sienna snaps while I stand there, silent. My heart is pounding within my chest, my blood rushing through my ears.
“Well, that’s a damn good question.” The one who still has Sienna’s hair in his hands answers. He eyes her up and down, licking his lips. Without warning, he tugs on her hair, pulling her body to his. Her back hits his chest, making her yelp. “Now, now, little lady. Let’s keep this little exchange quiet, shall we?” he speaks in her ear, while he stares at me. Slowly I watch as his hand comes up and squeezes her breast. Tears instantly form in her eyes before they roll down her cheeks.
“You aren’t a Sinclair, are you?” The voice coming from the left asks me.
Turning my head, a man stands next to me. His eyes are crazed as he takes in my body. I start to shudder in fear as he runs his fingers up and down my arm. Sienna’s cries are muffled. I shake my head no.
“He only said he wanted the Sinclair bitch.” He takes a step closer to me, wrapping his hand around my waist, tugging me to his body. Dragging his nose up my neck, my body breaks out in chills. I close my eyes when I feel the wet of his tongue touch my skin.
“I say Prez can have the Sinclair bitch, and we’ll take this one.”
“Yeah,” another one sneers, “We can have our own little party.”
“Hell yeah, let’s fuck her.”
My eyes snap open as I sit up, gasping for air. My body is clammy from the sweat of my nightmare. It’s been years since I’ve had that dream. Since I felt the way, his breath snaked along my skin. The feel of his hands, no their hands as they slithered across my body, taking everything from me. Taking a deep breath, I calm myself. It doesn’t do me any good to dwell on the past. What’s done is done.
I’m stronger now.
I will not be broken.
Concentrate on the present, on my life, on my responsibilities.
On my future.
* * *
“Hey, Tessa,” Martha, the charge nurse, greets me as I enter through the swinging doors. My cart, full of cleaning supplies, barely moves beneath its weight.
“Hey, Martha,” I grit as I push.
Rolling her eyes, she shakes her head. “I don’t know why you insist on overloading that cart, honey. One of these days you’re gonna pull something and end up as a patient and not a housekeeper.”
I stop at the nurses’ station that she’s currently sitting behind and adjust the messy knot on the top of my head. “The faster I can make it through my rounds, the sooner I can get home.”
“Yeah, baby. I get it. But there’s only one of you, and you can’t afford to be laid up because you think you’re superwoman.”
“I know. Thanks for looking out for me.” I start the task of pushing the cart towards the rooms I need to clean.
“Oh, Tessa, wait a second.” Her words make me stop, pulling at my cart in the process. “We’ve got a new resident in room nine. Her name’s Rose Calhoon. She was just transferred from the county–severe acute alcohol poisoning and chronic alcohol abuse.”
My steps stutter with apprehension, turning towards Martha. “Is it all right if I go in? Is it safe?”
“Yeah, sweetie, she’s been sedated since she was transferred.”
I turn back around to carry on with my shift. Making my way down the hallway, I walk into the common room to grab a soda. Most of the patients here are capable of getting around on their own, and this is the place where they can get together and play games, watch television, or visit with family. It’s also that place that houses the best vending machines.
In the corner of the room, out of the way of everyone else, sits a woman and her daughter. Sandy has been here for a couple of years now. When she first arrived, she was in the beginning stages of dementia. Now, unable to move on her own, she’s towards the end of her life.
I take in the moment between Sandy and her daughter, Nora. Sandy sits in her wheelchair, mouth slightly open, staring out onto the grounds of the home while her daughter sits next to her, moving her hand, lovingly down the woman’s hair while she talks to her with a smile on her face. Nora is here, every day, without fail. I’ve seen her bring her kids with her, and sometimes her husband and every single one of them dote on Sandy even though most the time Sandy has no clue who they are. Not all of the days are pleasant like this. Some days the woman screams to leave her alone, and other days are spent with both of them in tears. But no matter how hard it gets, the daughter always comes back.
My chest clenches at the loving bond between this mother and daughter. I’m envious of it. I don’t have that bond with my mother. For the past seven years, I haven’t had a mother. Not because of death, but because she chose to turn her back on me when I needed her most. Mothers don’t do that. They don’t turn their backs on their children. They don’t tell them they’re no longer their child. They don’t make it so the child has no other option, but to run.
As a child, my mother taught me a lot of things, but most importantly, as an adult, she taught me to never be like her.