Chapter 2
WREN
It was a particularly rainy evening when I made my way to my car after my last final three days later. Summer was upon us, but you’d never know it based on the weather. Despite the gloomy evening, I felt as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders with finishing finals. No more studying—at least until the fall.
My boots clomped noisily on the ground as I spotted my car, one of the few left in the parking lot. I had my keys out ready to unlock it when I was slammed into from behind. The force of it sent my head crashing into the side of my car, my backpack flying off my shoulder as my knees gave out beneath me.
I sat dazed for a second before my assailant yanked me to my feet by my hair. It was then I got my first real look at him. He was a huge, bald-headed man with beady eyes and a grim smile that sent a chill racing down my spine. “Damn, you’re cute. Looks like I’ll have to take another type of reward,” he leered.
I recoiled from him. “You’re disgusting,” I spat, bringing a knee up and missing my goal by a few crucial inches, hitting his upper thigh instead.
His expression darkened with fury before an even more unsettling look resembling glee had a smile ghosting across his lips. “You want to play rough, little mama? Fine, we’ll play rough.” He growled as he pulled my head back even farther.
His fist flew to my face, its force delivering a painful blow that nearly knocked me unconscious. He released his grip, and I staggered, trying to keep my balance.
“Just take my wallet.” I panted, feeling like I might faint or pass out.
“Wren!” The vaguely familiar voice calling from across the lot sent a shot of relief through me.
My assailant grumbled to himself before hesitantly letting me go and loping off in the opposite direction.
“Wren, oh my God! Are you okay?”
I looked up through one eye, the other having swelled shut, to find Jared peering over me with concern.
“I think so.” I reached out to grasp his arm for balance.
“I’m going to call the cops,” he said, pulling out his phone as he wrapped an arm around me to steady me.
“Can you also call Liv? Ask her to come?” I asked in a small voice.
“Sure,” he agreed gently.
The next hour was chaotic as the police arrived almost at the same time as a frantic Olivia who rushed to my side, grasping my hand in hers where it stayed the entire time I gave my statement.
Even after the police excused him, Jared stayed, saying he wanted to make sure I was okay. Even in my foggy state of mind, I thought that was considerate of him.
“You’d never seen him before?” the police officer asked. I’d already answered that question, and after an hour of describing my ordeal, I was more than ready to be done.
I shook my head in frustration. “No. Like I said, I thought maybe he wanted to steal my wallet, but he didn’t even take it. He said something about taking another type of reward, like another one had been offered to him, but I have no idea what that meant,” I explained, feeling exhausted.
“Are we all done?” Olivia spoke up assertively. “We’ve been over all the details. I’d like to get my friend home.”
The officer looked me over and nodded, slapping his notebook shut. “We’ll be in touch if we have any more questions.”
Liv put an arm around me, guiding me toward her car.
“I can drive you girls home,” Jared offered.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “That’s okay, I’ve got it. Thanks so much, Jared. I’m so grateful you were here.”
“Me too,” he replied, his gaze trained on me. “Maybe she should go get checked out. That eye looks bad.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Liv replied firmly, obviously eager to get me out of there. She guided me into the passenger side of her car before running around to the other side.
Jared was still standing there watching us worriedly as we drove out of the lot.
“I don’t need a hospital,” I told her. I just wanted to get home, put some ice on my eye, and curl up in a protective ball.
“I’ll take you home, and then I’ll call Laurie, see what she recommends,” she told me, referring to the head nurse at Hawthorne Community Hospital and wife of Tag, who’d been a member of the Knights for as long as I’d been alive.
“Okay,” I agreed as I sat with my eyes closed, pain radiating through me.
“We need to call home, Wren.” Her voice was quiet but firm. “I know you’ve put it off, but between the weird packages at the house and now this, I think we need help.”
I hadn’t thought about the two things being related, but even still, the last thing I wanted was to put my friend in danger, and it was with that thought that I agreed. “I’ll do it,” I mumbled.
She sighed in obvious relief as we neared home, pulling to the curb. She helped me inside and onto my bed as she rushed about getting ice.
After she had me situated, she left the room to call Laurie while I lifted my phone to my ear. I didn’t even think as I hit his name. Ruled by instinct and vulnerability, I just did what came as naturally as breathing.
“Wren.” Max’s voice washed over me when he answered, surprise clear in his tone. His voice alone had the tears I’d fought all evening filling my eyes and clogging my throat. “Wren?” he demanded, worried now.
“I…” I had to clear my throat and swallow hard to continue. “I’m okay,” I managed. “But this man… he attacked me when I was walking to my car,” I shared.
“What?” Max’s reply was a thunderous bellow. “Where are you now?”
“Liv drove me home.”
“Are you hurt?” he demanded as I heard other male voices in the background.
“I’m banged up but nothing serious. Liv is going to call Laurie.” My voice wobbled as I tried to control the desire to sob openly.
He must have caught on since his tone was much softer when he spoke again. “All right, Wren, listen to me. The minute we hang up, I’m on my bike headed for you. In the meantime, there’s a club we trust nearby, the Blue Devils. I’m gonna ask them to ride out to you and stay until I can get there. Wren, you get me?” he pressed when I’d remained silent.
“Okay,” I agreed hoarsely.
“It’s gonna be okay. I’m gonna take care of this.”
I believed him. “Okay,” I repeated. “Drive safe.”
“See you soon.” His tone was clipped as he disconnected.
I sighed in exhaustion, sitting on the edge of my bed holding my phone in my hand. I couldn’t believe I’d called him. Why had I called him?
Olivia poked her head in, eyeing me with concern.
“Max is coming,” I mumbled.
To her credit, she didn’t even look surprised. “Sounds about right,” she agreed instead.
Whatever the hell that meant.