Tara
Walking through the door to my apartment, I quickly lock it behind me.
Two weeks have passed. Two weeks since Jeffries tore my world apart. Two weeks since I became a victim. But I’ve decided that from today, I don’t want to be someone’s victim. I’ve accepted what happened to my body, now I just need to focus on repairing my mind. Because all I’ve felt since that day is numb. I need to start feeling again.
Dropping my purse on the table beside the door, I race over to the huge living room window that overlooks the parking lot. I wave to Mom who is waiting in the car below. She nods, waves, and makes her way out of the lot. It’s been great spending time with Mom. We don’t always see eye to eye but getting the time to rebuild our relationship is something I’m grateful for.
Moving back from the window, I drop onto the couch, sighing heavily as I glance around my apartment.
It’s good to be home.
Really good.
Resting my head back against the couch, I allow my eyes to close momentarily. The unexpected sound of my cell phone buzzing in my purse snaps me from my moment of silence. I jump up from my seated position, grabbing my purse and pulling out my phone.
“Hey,” I say, answering the call.
“Hey,” he replies sweetly. “How are you?” I recognize the nervousness in his voice.
“I’m good, Nate,” I reply, trying to reassure him. “But I’ve missed you,” I add meekly.
“Fuck, I’ve missed you so much, Tara. When you plan on coming home, huh? I really want to see you.”
“I’m… uh… I’m home.”
“Baby, why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, and I can tell he’s annoyed.
“I just got home. My mom dropped me off.”
“I’m coming to see you tonight.”
My body starts to shake. I want to see him so much, but how do I explain it if I freak out when he touches me? Or if I can’t be intimate with him? How do I even begin to explain that shit? I start to walk around my apartment, my body trembling at the thought of seeing him.
“Can’t wait,” I say, pushing aside my reservations. Because when it comes down to it, my love for Nate is what got me in trouble in the first place.
“I, uh, I have to bring Emily. It’s the only way I can get out of the clubhouse without being followed.”
“Shit…” I exhale heavily. “They’re still following you?”
“Can’t take any chances, babe. The whole club is at war because a deal that my father pushed for went south. We lost a brother. He’s losing his power. His men are starting to turn on him,” he explains in a hushed voice. “It won’t be like this forever. I promise. You and me, we'll be together.”
I swallow down the sting of sick in my throat. Can we really survive what happened? Can we really be together after he realizes what his father has done, and he finds out what a liar I am?
“Babe,” he says a little louder, snapping me from my thoughts.
“Sorry, yeah, that’s fine. I guess I owe her thanks for helping out.”
“I think you’ll really like her,” he says, and I can tell he’s smiling.
“I’m sure I will,” I reply sweetly. “See you later.”
Ending the call, I drop my phone on the couch and head into the bedroom. I strip off my clothes, dropping them in the laundry basket. Heading into the bathroom, turning on the shower, I wait a few seconds for the water to run warm before stepping under the stream. I welcome the warm water as I rub over my face. Grabbing a washcloth, I work over my body, my eyes scanning for any bruises. I have to be sure there are none on show. Faint marks still appear around my inner thigh. Luckily, those are covered quite easily. Quickly washing my hair, I rinse out the suds before finally cutting off the stream. Stepping from the shower, I grab a towel, wrapping it around my body. I grab a second towel, rubbing it over my dripping hair. The sound of my cell phone ringing catches my attention and I race back into the living room, grabbing it from where it rests on the couch.
“Hello?” I answer breathlessly.
“Tara.” His voice reverberates down the receiver. I hold the phone from my ear, my hands shaking uncontrollably. “Don’t hang up,” I hear him shouting down the phone.
“Just leave me alone,” I choke out, barely placing the phone to my ear.
“Listen, baby,” he drawls. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. Let me make it up to you.”
“You… you… raped me,” I spit back. “You fucking monster.”
He hums down the phone. “I think you’ve got me all wrong.”
“Why are you doing this to me?” I ask, trying to get some clarity on what is happening here.
“Because I can. You flaunted yourself in front of me, and I decided that I wanted you there and then. When I made a deal with your cousin, that shit was for real. I’m just claiming my part of the deal. I have to say, if you keep making this hard I will have to start hurting your family. Don’t think for a second I didn’t know you were with your mom for the past few weeks.”
“Fuck you!” I scream, ending the call and throwing the cell phone against the couch, like the damn thing is on fire. Sinking to the floor, I bawl like a baby, rocking back and forth as I clutch the wet strands that have fallen over my face.
Will this nightmare ever end?