CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
——
ERIKA
THE WEEK HAS gone by too fast. I’m not ready to join my mother in collecting Amberlee’s ashes. Holding the urn makes it real, makes her truly gone, and I’ve been refusing to accept it. There are moments I’ve had where I’ve daydreamed of going over to Dori’s and seeing Amberlee there, putting her makeup on, curling her hair, getting ready to go out for the night. I remember the day she did my hair and makeup for Dominic. She wasn’t always great at expressing her affection verbally, but she had her ways of showing how much she cared like she did that day.
Dominic thinks I would’ve gotten through her loss without him. He has more confidence in me than I do. Each day, his love and affection has snuffed out the pain. If not for him, I’d still be living in the house she was attacked in. I know I would’ve been taken and raped too. It’s something we haven’t spoken about, but I know he’s aware of it, just as I am. By moving me in with him, he saved my life.
Sitting next to him on the couch, I put on my heels while watching him put his gun back together after being cleaned.
“I want to come with you,” I insist.
“No.” His attention doesn’t leave the gun. “I told you, this is the exact kind of business I don’t want you involved in.”
“Is it illegal?”
He doesn’t reply. Shoulders tense, he puts the magazine in and thumbs the safety switch. Putting it in his overnight bag, he zips it closed.
“I don’t like this,” I admit. I can hear the worry etched in my own voice.
Christian has him prepping for an out-of-state run. It’s the first time Dominic is leaving me alone. Admittedly, I’m nervous about it, but he tried to soothe those fears by taking me to the range for shooting practice. He doesn’t like the trip either and we already got into one heated discussion about me joining him. He was adamant I can’t come. That’s how I know it’s likely something illegal.
I don’t want him to go and that’s been hard on him. I sense he feels torn between his duties with the Serpents and staying with me. His duties are also keeping him from being with me today when I pick up Amberlee’s ashes and he doesn’t like that either.
Sitting back against the couch, he rubs his forehead. The stress is written on his face.
“Are you mad at me that I keep pushing the issue?”
“It’s irritating me, but no I’m not mad at you. I know today will be rough for you and I can’t be there for you. That’s bothering me.”
Scooting closer, I lay my legs over his, and he sets his hand on my thigh and rubs it.
“I don’t want to keep pushing the issue. I get I can’t go. I’m just…having a hard time letting you go.”
“I know, baby. I feel the same. This run is shitty timing, but it needs done, and I need to be there.”
“You don’t think you’ll get held up, do you? I can handle you being back tomorrow night, but any longer and I’m going to get antsy.”
“No, business will be in and out. We won’t stick around.”
“Mmm,” I whine, laying my head on his shoulder.
His strong hand touches my face, caressing it before he lifts my chin to his gaze.
“I’m going to miss you, a lot. Keep the gun with you at all times. And be ready for me to pound the fuck out of your pussy when I get home.”
Reaching between my legs, he slips his hand beneath my skirt and moves my underwear to the side. Circling my clit, I moan just before his lips lock to mine in a passionate display of need.
“Do we have time before you have to leave?” he asks, his tone seductive.
“I’ll make time.”
Laying me on my back, he glides my skirt up my thighs, exposing my black silk panties. My eyes lower from his lascivious green ones to the bulge in his jeans he sets free. Keeping my underwear held to the side, he slides between my legs, filling me, gratifying my insatiable desire for him.
***
Driving up to the house, I sit in the driveway taking several slow, calming breaths. Placing my hand on the door handle of the Camaro, I stiffen. My hand drops and instead I reach for my cell phone to text Dominic.
I can’t do this.
Yes, you can. Don’t go in the house. Have Dori come out. I’m sorry I can’t be there.
Dori walking in front of the vehicle pulls my thoughts back to the present.
It’s ok. Be careful. I love you.
She opens the passenger door and gets in, the door closing loudly. “Figured you didn’t want to come in,” she says casually, not looking at me.
“It’s hard. I don’t want to accept that she’s not in there. Picking up her ashes makes it real.”
“Try walking in there every day.” There’s sorrow in her voice.
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“I’m moving out. I can’t keep doing it.”
Surprised, I stare over at her long, jet black hair and the face I look nothing like.
“When?”
“I need to finish packing tonight and tomorrow. I want to be gone by the end of this weekend.”
“You need help packing?”
Dori’s attention is finally drawn to me. Rather than the bloodshot eyes, I’m used to seeing, they’re clear blue with tears welling up in them.
“You’d be willing to do that?”
“Yes. I don’t want you staying here either.”
Her head drops, a tear rolls down her cheek.
“Do you hate me?”
Seeing the hurt, feeling it emanating from her, it tightens my throat and chest.
“No, I don’t hate you.”
Wiping her stray tears, she collects herself and looks out the window, her thoughts becoming distant.
“We should get going.”
Putting the car in reverse, I back out and take the long, dreaded ride to the funeral home.
***
Rubbing my finger over the smooth exterior of the urn, I do my best to process that Amberlee’s ashes are in there. Having her close to me like this gives me strange comfort. Sitting on her bed, I hold it tight against my chest and let the grieving tears flow.
Thinking of what she’d say to me, I close my eyes and imagine her stroking my hair. She’d tell me life is too short to spend it being sad. She’d tell me to live life to the fullest, no regrets. She’d tell me to cry for her today, then smile when I remember her every day after.
“I promise I will,” I tell her.
Knot in my throat, I stand from her bed and let out a breath, wiping the tears from my cheeks. Carrying the urn to the living room, I leave it sitting on the shelf against the wall and gather an empty cardboard box. While Dori packs her room, I told her I’d pack up Amberlee’s. Dori set aside what she wanted which was some clothes, jewelry, pictures, and a couple keepsake items that were special to Amberlee. She told me to take what I wanted out of the rest and anything after that was going to be donated or sold.
Looking through her closet, I laugh to myself at Amberlee’s bold style. The majority of the clothes show more ass or boob than I’d like, but I still find a few pieces I’d like to have of hers. It’ll be nice to think of her when I wear them. After placing them in the box, I sit on the bed to answer Dom’s call.
“We’re heading out soon. You doing ok?”
“Yeah, having her urn gave me more closure than I expected. Dori wants to move out. I’m at the house packing up Amberlee’s things.”
“Baby, I don’t want you there. You should head home.”
“I won’t be long. Dori needs the help. She doesn’t have anyone.”
There’s a pause and a long sigh.
“You got your gun with you?”
“Yeah, I brought it in with me.”
“You got me worried now. I don’t like you being there. Text or call as soon as you leave.”
“I will. I want you to be careful too. I’m nervous about your trip.”
“I know. Don’t worry about me though. This is usual business for me.”
“Ok.”
“I love you. Remember to call or text. Don’t stay long.”
“Love you too.”
Disconnecting is difficult. We’re both just as worried about the other, and I don’t need to give him added stress when he probably already has a lot going on, so I’ll stay another hour, then help her pack more in the morning.
The sound of movement in the doorway draws my attention. Dori is standing there looking around Amberlee’s room. Her blue eyes are red and puffy, her expression filled with sorrow.
“I’m gonna pick up a pizza for us. You hungry?”
“I am, but you don’t have to pick it up. I can call for delivery.”
“I need to get cigarettes too, so I’ll pick up the pizza while out.”
“All right,” I say, frowning.
“Don’t be long though. I can’t stay late.”
“Ok, I’ll see ya in a bit.”
Dori disappears out the door and I wonder if I’ll see her again tonight or not. I’ll put in the hour of packing and after that if she’s still not back, she can eat alone whenever she does make it home.
I hear the front door close and get back to sorting through Amberlee’s closet. It doesn’t take me long to pick out a few things, so I move onto her drawers. Sitting on her nightstand is her phone. Picking it up, I turn it on.
The usual logo pops up and then her artsy screensaver appears. There are notifications, and I figure I might as well clear them and respond to any friends before calling the cell phone company and having it turned off.
There are several texts requesting drug deals which I ignore, then below, there’s a text from Ditch. I notice she’s already read it. Clicking on it, I see several pictures have been sent. As soon as I look at the photos, I drop the phone and bring my hand to my mouth as I inhale a horror-filled breath.
He was taunting her with pictures of her assault. Photos of her abuse that they’d taken while she was unconscious. No wonder she was being distant. Even after her assault, they were making her relive it again and again. The fucking bastards.
Rumbling of motorcycles in the distance startle me to my feet. Pulling the curtain of her window back, I search outside. It’s clear. No one out there. I take a breath of relief. Picking her phone up from the bed, I move the box aside. It’s time to get the hell out of here. I’ll help Dori first thing in the morning.
Crossing the living room, I gather my purse and head to the door. Opening it, I step out and several hands instantly take hold of me, shoving me back inside. The door slams behind them.
“Hi, bitch. We’ve been waiting for your fucking mother to leave.”
Ditch and Drake tower over me, their expressions deadly. Backing up, I slowly reach inside my purse.
“No, you don’t.”
Drake draws a gun from his waistband and points it straight at my head. Fear seizes my body and I stop moving.
Tilting the gun toward my old room, he nods toward it. “Get in the fucking room.”
I can see the danger in his eyes. With the cut and marks on his face from Dominic’s brass knuckles, his scowl is even more terrifying. Glancing over their shoulders, I know they haven’t locked the front door. I need to distract them, to get to the door. Throwing my purse to the left, I bolt right, leaping over the couch in an effort to get away.
I’m just within reach of the door when Ditch slams his body against it, locking it in place. A deafening boom goes off in the room and I cower at the sound. Drake’s given me a warning shot. The bullet is in the chair next to me.
Ditch is on me before I have time to think. Gripping my hair, he rips out some as he drags me to my feet.
“We’re gonna have a lot of fun with you.”
My cheek instantly burns from his backhanded slap. A whimper escapes my mouth and he laughs at me.
“You’re a soft little bitch. Your sister could take a hell of a lot of pain without crying about it.” He smirks at Drake, “It’s not gonna take much to make her bleed.”
With his head turned, I claw at his face, going for his eyes. Overpowering me, he slams me into the wall, knocking my breath out of me.
“I’m gonna enjoy hurting you, then I’m gonna enjoy fucking your cunt.”
“You know Dom will kill you for this,” I spit back.
He clicks his tongue against the inside of his cheek. “Dom can’t find out we’re the ones who beat and raped you, so we’re gonna have to kill you when we’re done. We’ll make it look like the Jackals got a hold of you. Dom won’t have any reason to come after us.”
Trembling, my eyes widen.
“Aw look at that. The bitch thought we were going to let her live when we were done with her,” he says to Drake.
“That’s because she’s a dumb bitch. Bring her in the room. Let’s get her clothes off.”
Kicking at Ditch, I fight with everything I have to get out of his arms. Adrenaline pumps through me, giving me added strength. Ditch’s grip on me loosens, but it’s reinforced with Drake grabbing me.
Ditch pins my arms together and Drake grabs my legs, together they drag me into my old room, my heels falling off along the way. I’m thrown forcefully on the bed, my head knocking into the bed frame. It’s not hard enough to be an issue but leaves me temporarily dizzy.
Hands come at me quickly, trying to force my clothes off. I’m not giving up. If they’re going to kill me, then I have nothing to lose. My purse is still in the hallway. I just need to get to it. Scratching, clawing, swinging, and biting, I give it my all, trying to take out an eye or kick one of them in the nuts.
Shoved onto my belly, my face is forced into the pillow, and I struggle to breathe. One of them puts my hands together behind my back and I feel something being tied around them. Pulled tight, I recognize the sound of zip ties. Tears form in my eyes. Ditch is paying me back, tying me up like I did him.
I suck in a breath when I’m turned over. Backhanded, my cheek burns severely as tears descend down my cheek.
“Cut her shirt and bra off,” Drake tells Ditch.
Knife pulled from his jeans, Ditch’s tongue licks at his lip ring as he cuts into the front of my shirt, opening it wide and exposing my bra and chest.
“I’ll give you credit, little sis. You got real nice tits. Bet Dom likes fucking them.”
Bra pulled away from my skin, he slips the knife beneath it and with one quick forceful slice, the bra pops open.
“Sss, look at these,” he says to Drake, reaching for my chest. Scrambling back, I avoid his touch.
Ringing suddenly goes off. Drake and Ditch stiffen.
“It’s her phone.”
Drake keeps an eye on me while Ditch disappears into the hallway. He returns with my purse. Pulling the phone from it, he looks worried.
“It’s Dom.”
“Doesn’t matter. I told you he’s on a gun run. Won’t be back until tomorrow.”
“Look what else she’s got.” Ditch pulls the gun from my purse and I swallow down the tight knot in my throat.
“She was gonna shoot us, Drake. I think we need to teach her a lesson about manners.”
With a fast movement, Drake grabs my legs and drags me to the end of the bed. Forcing my skirt down my legs, he reaches for my underwear. I try to fight him and he slaps me hard across the face.
“Cut these off too,” he orders Ditch.
My adrenaline is starting to falter. My body is getting tired and fear is doing strange things to my mind. I try to shimmy away from him and Drake raises his arm to hit me again. I turn my head away and stop squirming.
“Good girl, you learn quick.”
His hand whips across my face and a cry breaks free.
“But I still enjoy it.”
The fabric of my underwear is cut and torn away, exposing me. Below, I’m completely bare and vulnerable. The hot sticky air on my naked flesh and their predatory gazes churn my stomach.
My torn shirt and bra are spread out on each side of me. Ditch quickly changes that by cutting the straps and tearing the rest of the fabric. Curling up, I try to get away. Drake fists my ankles, pulling my legs back down.
“No, bitch, we want to see it all.”
My legs are spread and they both look me over with disgusting grins.
“She’s got a nice cunt, doesn’t she?” Drake asks Ditch, his hands keeping my legs open.
“Yeah, quit wasting time looking. I’m ready to fuck it,” his words are cold as he adjusts his dick in his jeans.
Tears pour down my cheeks. I don’t know if I’ll make it out of this, but I’m not ready to accept defeat. The belt on Drake’s pants jingle and I take that opportunity to roll away. Laughter breaks out behind me. I’m pinned down by the weight of one of them, while I hear pants unzipping.
“Please don’t,” I beg.
“Crying and begging won’t stop us, little sis. You owe us this.”
Stroking his hand through my hair, Ditch makes a fist and pulls my head back.
“Ease up. I need to pull her back farther.”
Ditch’s weight lifts and I’m dragged down the bed, my ass on the edge.
“That’s it. Turn her over.”
Ditch rotates me, my shoulders aching. I can’t see what’s going on behind Ditch because his weight is on my stomach, his torso blocking my view of Drake. More tears stream down my cheeks as fear courses through my veins. I hear the sound of Drake licking something and Ditch stares down at me, his brown eyes evil as he laughs. Fingers penetrate me and I immediately scream.
Ditch swings his arm to hit me, then stops abruptly when he hears the pounding on the front door. They both freeze, looking at one another.
“Get the fucking door,” Ditch tells Drake.
Drake grumbles and comes into view. Tucking his dick into his pants, he zips up his jeans.
Ditch raises Dominic’s gun to my face, pushing the muzzle to my lips. “Ssh”
Raising my hips, I try to buck him off, and he snickers, “You’re a feisty bitch.”
The noise of the front door opens, followed by a piercing gunshot. Ditch and I both look toward the hall.
“Mom!” I scream.
Fear engulfs me. Between my tears, I fight under him. Heavy footsteps come down the hall and I’m terrified of Drake’s return.
Ditch inhales a sharp breath and I glance up. Gun pointed at Ditch’s chest, Dominic fires. Ditch falls backward off the bed, landing on the floor, blood pouring out of his open wound. One step forward, Dominic aims the gun again. Another boom echoes through the room. Ditch stops twitching, his body going slack.
Tucking the gun back into his waistband, Dominic turns to me, carefully helping me up. He turns me away from him and cuts the zip ties, freeing my arms. The ache in my shoulders eases, and I turn around, falling into his open arms, crying into his chest.
“I got you, baby. It’s over. They’re never gonna be able to hurt you again.”
My tears are hard to control. Rubbing my back, he tries to calm me.
“Did they rape you?”
I shake my head and his tense shoulders drop.
“Look at me.”
Raising my chin, he looks me in the eyes, his own filled with too many emotions to read.
“Are you able to look for clothes and drive home? I need to take care of this.”
“I’ll help you,” I mutter.
“No, baby. I want your hands clean. I know who to call. I just need you safe at home. Wait for me there.”
“What about Dori?”
“I’ll handle it.”
Glancing over my shoulder, Dominic pulls my attention back to him.
“Don’t look. It’s better you don’t.”
“Please,” I beg. “Please be careful. I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t. But you gotta get out of here, fast, baby. I don’t have a lot of time.”
“Ok.”
Leaving him right now is a struggle, but I understand what needs done. Rushing to Amberlee’s room, I grab a sweatshirt and a pair of shorts. I can hear Dominic talking on the phone in my room. I don’t linger. I do as he asked and get out fast.