Three days pass and my father doesn’t come to the clubhouse again. Daisy and I exist in our little bubble, pretending the threat has gone and I’m safe now. Only neither of us truly believes that I am.
I’m starting to feel like I exchanged one prison for another. It’s been eight days since I fled from my parents’ home and ended up here at the Doomsday Sinners clubhouse. In eight days I’ve only been outside once, on the day my father came to try to retrieve me.
I’m not unhappy, quite the contrary. I love Daisy and I love being with him, but I want to be free to come and go as I please. I watch with envy as Grits and Daisy leave the compound while I stay here, hiding, protected in a gilded cage.
I hear the shower switch off and sit up in bed holding the sheet around my chest to cover my naked breasts. Daisy emerges from the bathroom with a towel hanging low around his hips, his skin flushed and glistening with water. Gulping, my eyes roam his body and even though we only had sex a few hours ago I start to feel the stirrings of want again.
Daisy’s eyes land on me and instantly darken with lust. He pauses at the end of the bed and heatedly looks me over. Only his eyes are taking me in, but I feel caressed and my skin tingles. His knee hits the bed and I know unless I say something I’ll be beneath him and coming in a couple of minutes. “I want to go out today,” I blurt.
He stills, then pushes back upright until he’s standing by the side of the mattress. “What?”
“I want to go out. It’s been eight days, Daisy. I can’t stay hidden in here forever.”
Shaking his head, he starts to speak, but I interrupt him. “I just want to go out with Grits for lunch, just for an hour, and then we’ll come straight back.”
“We don’t know if your dad paid Carduccio, baby. It’s not safe.”
“I don’t want to live like a prisoner,” I say, my tone pleading.
He flinches, and I instantly wish I could take the words back. Rolling onto my knees I take the sheet with me, wrapping it around me until I’m knelt on the bed in front of him. “I love you,” I say. “You make me the happiest I’ve ever been, but I don’t want to hide anymore. I want to start living this new, wonderful life you’ve given me and the first step to doing that is leaving the compound.”
I watch Daisy consider my words. “I just want you to be safe. We don’t know what your asshole of a dad is planning; he isn’t gonna just accept you being here and move on. I’d lose my mind if anything happened to you, baby.”
Shuffling forward to the edge of the bed I reach out and grab his wrist, pulling him closer to me. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. Someone can drop us off and pick us up if that will set your mind at ease. I just need to get out and start living again.”
Daisy’s hands reach out to cup my face. “I’ll take you. We can have a nice lunch and then you can see Grits later.”
Smiling, I roll my eyes at him. “I haven’t had a friend in a really long time, Daisy. I’ve never been invited out on a lunch date with a girlfriend ever. I would love for you to take me on a date, but not today, okay? You need to work, and I want to act like a normal person, at least for an hour or so.”
His arms wrap around me and he pulls me into his chest, his lips dipping to reach mine. Kissing me thoroughly he pulls back. “Okay. You take a cell phone with you. One of the guys drops you off at the restaurant and picks you up an hour later. Neither you nor Grits leaves the building until someone comes to get you. No risks. You get your girl time and I get to keep my damn mind.”
Dropping the sheet, I jump into his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” he whispers.
Three hours later, Grits and I are seated at a beautiful table on the patio of Portofino’s, a gorgeous Italian restaurant that has a pretty outdoor seating area filled with scented flowers. Slow, the creepy guy who manhandled me when I first arrived at the Sinners and now the only remaining prospect since Daisy was made a full member, drove us into town with strict instructions from both Daisy and Anders to collect us in exactly one hour’s time.
Both men had looked nervous when Grits and I had waved them goodbye. Anders had pulled me in for a gentle hug and kissed me on the top of my head, before he passed me over to Daisy who handed me a brand new iPhone and kissed me senseless. A little dazed, Daisy had whispered in my ear. “Don’t go out, baby. I want to lick that pretty of pussy of yours until you’re shaking and screaming my name. I want you so bad, I want to feed my cock to your greedy cunt. I know you love it when I fill you up and fuck you nice and slow. Then I’ll put you on your stomach and fuck you hard from behind until you’ve come so many times you won’t ever want to leave our bed.”
His words had made me tremble, my nipples had hardened, and I’d been on the verge of letting him take my hand and guide me back to bed. Grits’ hand on my arm had shook me from my lust filled haze. “You ready, baby girl?”
Now sitting with her on the patio, drinking a cocktail Grits had ordered for me, I’m glad I hadn’t let Daisy persuade me to stay at the compound. The warm sun is beating down from overhead and even though the patio is quiet, a couple of patrons are seated on the opposite corner quietly eating.
“Cheers,” Grits says, holding up her glass for me to clink mine against.
“Cheers,” I say and take a quick sip of the drink. “Ummm, what is this?” I ask.
“It’s a Strawberry Daiquiri. Do you like it? I can order you something else…”
“It’s delicious,” I say taking another long sip.
Grits laughs. “So how did you convince that man of yours to let you out?”
“It was time. I can’t keep hiding in his room forever.”
Nodding, she sets down her drink and picks up the menu. “The food here is amazing, but I can never choose what to have. They do a taster platter with little plates of a selection of dishes, do you feel like sharing that?”
I glance at the huge menu and quickly agree. “Yes, that sounds great. My mama makes great pasta, but I’ve never even heard of most of the stuff on this menu.”
The waiter appears, and we give him our order and ask for another round of drinks. “Grits, you do know I’m not actually old enough to drink alcohol, right?”
She laughs. “I know, honey, but we’re celebrating.”
“Oh, okay. What exactly are we celebrating?”
“Our first girls lunch, your first time out of the compound, your daddy slinking away and leaving you alone. Lots of things, Dove, and the best way to celebrate is with a cocktail,” she says raising her glass to me again.
I think about her words for a minute and she’s right, I do have a lot to celebrate. “This is a pretty special occasion isn’t it?”
We clink glasses again just as the waiter arrives with our drinks and the food quickly follows. Several small dishes are placed in front of us, all filled with different pastas. A bowl full of olives and a plate of buttery garlic bread fills our table and I slowly start to spoon out a little of each onto my plate to try.
“So, you and Daisy…” Grits says a few minutes later.
“Huh?” I grunt, my mouth full of delicious creamy pasta.
“You all good? Have you talked about the future, how you’re gonna work once you don’t have to be on lockdown anymore?”
I finish chewing and place my fork onto my plate. “I love him, and he told me he loves me too. We’ve been so focused on all this stuff with my father that we haven’t really gotten any further than that. I know I want to be with him. He makes me happy, happier than I ever thought I’d be and he makes me hope that I can move on with my life. I don’t want to be scared anymore and Daisy makes me feel brave.”
Leaning forward she places her hand over mine and squeezes. “You are brave, honey, and I’m real happy for you and Daisy. You’re good for each other.”
She squeezes my hand again, then releases me to pick up her fork and carry on eating. We chat about this and that while we finish our lunch and then Grits insists that we need dessert when the waiter appears to clear our plates.
We laugh and joke, and I smile so much I know my cheeks will be hurting later on. Grits is so warm and caring and I’m thoroughly enjoying this time together. I order a rich crème brûlée for dessert and I’m scraping the last dregs from the dish when I hear her.
“Angelique.”
I spin around to find my mama standing on the far side of the patio. “Mama?” I say, unsure that it’s actually her. I rake my eyes over her and take in her disheveled appearance: her hair is pulled back into a messy bun, she’s not wearing any makeup and the skin around her eyes is dark and haggard. She looks like she hasn’t slept in days. Her plain cotton skirt and blouse are wrinkled and seem to be hanging off her petite frame. She looks awful.
Standing, I start to move toward her, but Grits’ hand on my wrist stops me. “Dove, baby, I don’t think you should go over there.”
“It’s my mama,” I say my voice cracking.
“I know it is, honey, but you need to be smart about this. Your dad could be here too.”
I shake my head. “No, my mama helped me get away from him, she knew what he’d planned, and she helped me escape. She wouldn’t hurt me, she’s my mama.”
Grits nods briefly and releases me. She doesn’t look happy when I start to move away from our table and towards where Mama is standing. “Mama, are you okay?” I say once I’m in front of her.
Close up she looks even worse. The dark circles around her eyes are actually the fading bruises of two black eyes. “Oh my God,” I cry. “Oh, Mama, did he do that to you?”
She shakes her head. “No, sweetie. You know how clumsy I am. I took a fall down the stairs; it looks much worse than it is.”
I flinch at the lie that falls from her lips. If I didn’t know what an evil twisted person my father was, I might believe her story.
“Are you okay?” She asks.
“Yes, Mama, I’m fine. I’m more than okay, I’m real good and happy.”
Her eyes scan my face and I smile, trying to reassure her that I’m safe and content. Her fingers twist together in the fabric of her skirt and I’m struck by how nervous she looks. “What’s going on? Why are you here? How did you know where I was?”
She tries to smile but her lips barely move. “Could we, could we go somewhere and talk?”
Glancing over my shoulder, Grits is watching us intently, a phone held to her ear. “Why don’t we sit at a table and I’ll order us some drinks,” I say pointing to a table a few feet from where we’re standing.
“No,” Mama snaps. “Not here. Can we go somewhere more private?”
Shaking my head, I fidget with the soft leather of the property cut Daisy insisted I wear. “I can’t, I’m sorry. Did my father tell you that I have a boyfriend now? His name’s Daisy, and he’s waiting on me. Why don’t you come with me, you could meet him? You’d like him, Mama, he’s real good to me. I’m happy. He’s from a real big family, that’s what the Sinners are, Mama, they’re a family and they all look out for each other. You could come with me and they’d look after you too. They protect me. They protected me from my father when he came for me. Did you know he came? He brought Senator Carduccio with him and father planned to sell me to him. I know he’s your husband and my father, but he’s not a good person. Come with me, we can go right now, and we can both be safe.”
Tears fill her eyes and she reaches out and grabs my wrist. “This was all a mistake, sweetie. I miss you. Your daddy’s real sorry, and he wants you to come home; we both just really want you to come home where you belong.”
Pulling at her, I try to free myself from her grip, but she holds me firmly. “Mama, let me go.” I say.
The restaurant’s patio overlooks a dirt road that all of the store owners use to access the backs of their properties. A low ornate metal fence and an archway covered in trailing vines and flowers divides the patio from the road. I hear the vehicle before I see it. Mama’s grip on my arm tightens as she walks backwards, pulling me along with her.
My father’s fancy SUV screeches to a halt right outside the exit to the patio and he throws open the door and runs in my direction. “Grits,” I cry, thrashing my arm around frantically, trying to release myself from my mama’s grip.
“Get her over here now,” my father shouts and Mama drags me toward him.
“Mama, what are you doing? Let go of me. I’m not going with him,” I shout.
“Shut up, you little cunt,” my father screams, only a step away from me now.
Fear flows through me and I see my life flash before my eyes. If I let him get close to me I’ll never see Daisy again and my father will kill me or sell me to someone. Doubling my efforts, I rip my arm from my mama’s grip and stumble backwards. “Why are you doing this?” I shout.
“He’s your father and my husband. We need to do as we’re told,” she answers.
Right here in this moment, I realize that Mama’s so far gone I can’t save her anymore.
“Dove, get over here behind me.” Grits shouts, her heels clacking on the tiles as she rushes toward me. I turn, ready to run, just as my father grabs for me wrapping one arm around my chest and the other across my mouth.
Grits is standing a foot away from us, her legs spread wide and her arms held out in front of her. The gun in her hands is pointed directly at my father’s head and the gleam in her angry eyes tells me, she’d be more than happy to shoot him. “I suggest you let her go right now,” Grits snarls.
“I’m the mayor, you won’t shoot me. This is my daughter, my property. She’s coming with me and there’s nothing you can do about it,” he screams.
“Think again, jackass, there’s a whole lot of pissed off bikers heading this way right now. I reckon they’ll be here in a minute or so, and they won’t take kindly to you manhandling Daisy’s old lady.”
Captive in his arms, I’m frozen with terror. Grits is in front of me, fearless and fighting and I’m just motionless allowing this to happen to me. NO, I won’t let this happen. He’s not taking me. I won’t be his victim anymore. I’m not alone, I have a new family who will do whatever they can to keep me safe. I have a wonderful friend who even now is facing down my father with a gun in her hands.
Allowing all the anger, hurt and fear to bubble to the surface, I buck and thrash against his grip. I scratch at his skin and try to kick at his legs. Twisting in his arms I turn so my chest is against his and forcing my hands between us I try to pry my way out of his grip. His hold loosens, and I kick at his leg, but he raises his fist and punches me in the face. I stumble back but he fists my shirt and pulls me back to him. His hands wrap around my throat and tighten in a choke hold. Gasping for air, I claw at his arms. I can hear my mama’s anguished cries as she pulls at his shoulders, frantically trying to get him to release me.
The sound of the gunshot cracks around us and my father’s hands fall from my neck. Gulping air, I scramble backwards away from him, jumping when a hand touches my shoulder and Grits pulls me next to her, the gun still pointed at my father.
The howl of pain that escapes him is one of the most gratifying sounds I’ve ever heard as he clutches at his arm, blood pooling around the bullet wound. Grits helps me to my feet, dizziness whooshes through me and I tighten my grip on her arm. Breathing in and out through my nose I lift my hand to my neck and gently touch the tender skin. I stare at my parents and an overwhelming sense of fury consumes me. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I shout at them. “You’re my parents, you’re supposed to love me and protect me. Mama, why did you do this? Do you know what he wants to do to me? He wants to sell me to the highest bidder. He doesn’t care what happens to me, or what they do to me, he just wants the money they might give him for me.”
My father steps forward.
“I suggest you stay right there, Mr. Mayor. I’m a fucking good shot and I’d like nothing more right now than to put a bullet hole right between your eyes.” Grits growls in warning.
“Mama,” I shout, needing her to answer me. “Do you know what he plans to do with me, if I get in that car with you?”
Her eyes fall to the ground. “They’ll kill him if he doesn’t get them the money.”
Her words make me stumble backwards. “So you’re prepared to sacrifice me, to save him?”
“They’ll kill him,” Mama says again.
A single tear falls from my eyes, right before I close them. I can’t look at her.
“Back the fuck up,” Grits shouts as my father tries to take another step closer. “How did you know where we were?”
Opening my eyes, I glance around the patio expecting to see staff or the other patrons, but we’re completely alone. I’m thankful that there’s no-one here to witness the abomination that are my parents, but there’s also no-one here to help.
Another gunshot cracks out and I jump, swinging my eyes to where Grits just fired a warning shot at my father’s feet. “Let’s try this again, shall we? How did you know where we were?” She demands, her gun pointed back at my father’s head.
“One of your disgusting bikers told me. He asked me how much a chance to get Angelique alone was worth,” he sneers.
“Who was it?” Grits asks.
“I don’t know. They’re all trash and look the same to me,” he says with a smirk.
“Try again, asshat, or I’ll remove one of your balls and shove it down your throat,” Grits says with a smile, as she moves the gun to aim between my father’s legs.
“Slow. He told me his name was Slow,” he blurts out, turning to the side, his hands dropping to his groin.
“Stupid, little rat,” Grits seethes.
A roar of motorcycle engines fills the air. They’re here. Moments later the door from the restaurant to the patio bursts open, the glass smashing loudly as it crashes against the wall of the building. I spin around to see Daisy, Anders, Blade, Echo, and Smoke, stomp onto the patio. Daisy’s eyes frantically scan until he sees me. A pained cry of relief escapes me, and I rush across the tiles and throw myself into his arms.
Mama’s scream pierces the air as my father drags her across the patio. Blade pulls out a gun and shoots at my father while Daisy and Echo run to the SUV. The bullet misses by an inch, hitting the car door just as my father pulls it closed. Mama climbs into the rear seat and her eyes find mine just as she pulls the door shut. Daisy’s hand grips the door handle, trying to yank it open as the tires spin and the car careens away.
“Echo, Smoke, go.” Anders barks and the two men rush from the restaurant, their bikes roaring to life a moment later.
“Fuck,” Daisy roars.
Grits hand lands on my shoulder and I jump. “I should have shot him in the leg,” she snaps.
I laugh “I wish you had.”
Daisy pulls me into his arms and I melt into his safe embrace.
“It was Slow.” Grits says.
Anders’ head turns slowly between me and Grits “What?”
“Jefferies said that Slow had contacted him and asked how much a chance to pick Dove up was worth. That’s why they knew where we were. Dove’s mom came straight up to the patio and tried to get Dove to go with her.” Grits explains.
Daisy’s hands run across my shoulders and down my arms, his eyes rake over me. His thumb runs over my cheek and around my neck. “I’m fine,” I assure him. “Grits shot him, and I had a chance to get away.”
Daisy growls. “He hit you. I can see the finger marks on your neck, Angel. He tried to fucking kill you.”
He looks up and something passes between him, Anders and Blade. It’s like they silently discuss and agree on something. “Come on, let’s get you back to the compound. We need to see if Echo and Smoke caught up with your dad, and then I need to hunt down Slow and kick his ass,” Daisy says, his arm wrapped around me as he leads me from the patio.
“Slow’s the club’s problem now, Daisy. We don’t accept betrayal. You’ll get your chance, but the club needs to deal with this,” Ander’s says, his tone lethal.