Page 51 of Sniper

I look down, trying to control the urge to cry, his betrayal hurting too much.

God, I wish I could speak to Emily.

I haven’t spoken to her in the two weeks I’ve been here. I’ve wanted to, especially being locked up again after a year in captivity, but how do you tell your counselor, your flipping therapist, that your husband has locked you up?

I sigh, wiping away a few tears that have fallen.

“Well, this explains why you haven’t answered my calls….”

I lift my head in shock, looking to my right, when Emily’s sad smile comes into view. She’s in her usual comfy sweater and black slacks, her dark blonde hair down instead of up in the twist she normally has it in, and her green eyes look at me with concern.

The only difference, she’s wearing a cut.

“You’re an old lady,” I murmur, and she nods. My tears fall again.

She’s the only one other than him who knows everything I’ve gone through, and here she is at a clubhouse.

This is her family, her home, and she must have known I would have never continued seeing her if I was aware of this.

She wipes away my tears and whispers, “My cut, my husband and children, they have nothing to do with my career, my job. Tats, the enforcer of the club, is my stepson, whom I adopted after his father and I got married. That doesn’t define me, though, Rory. I know your pain with MCs, and have I ever swayed you toward them?”

I shake my head because she hasn’t, only listened, and I ask, “Did you know Theo was going to do this?”

She furrows her brows and asks, “Your husband?” I nod, and she continues, “Going to do what? As far as I know, he’s been nothing but amazing, Theo….” She pauses, her brows furrowing before her eyes widen in shock, I only just realize she has no idea what’s happened before she confirms it, snapping, “Please tell me Theodore Taylor, my flipping godson, is not your husband!” I open my mouth but she puts her hand up and growls, “Please tell me my godson did not lie to you about being a club brother, a council one at that, and that you're not the woman he married and locked up because his wife was filing for divorce?”

I wince and admit, “If it helps, I haven’t had any flashbacks, only images of wanting to knee Theo really hard.”

She groans and drops her head, mumbling, “Well, that explains why Annie Rose keeps looking your way with concern.”

I clear my throat and rasp, “I’m guessing that’s his momma?”

She nods with a sigh. “I’m so sorry, Rory….”

I shrug. “I think if he knew my past, he wouldn’t have locked me up in his house. Would he still have someone watching me so I don’t leave him? Yeah, probably, but I don’t know….” My words trail off.

Emily furrows her brows and commands, “Talk to me, Rory. What are you thinking?”

More tears fall, and I whisper, “I’m thinking I can’t forgive him for this. I’m thinking he ensured I got pregnant just like he did, only in a different manner, and his voice is in my mind telling me to get rid of the baby. I’m thinking I can’t stay with Theo anymore because he’s lost my emotional trust. If I can’t trust him, how can I tell him about my past?” Emily grips my hand, not judging me, knowing my past, and I admit, “I’ve been looking into abortions. I-I can’t have another baby I may resent, may not love….”

Emily wraps her arm around my shoulder, placing her forehead against my head, whispering, “Right now, I think what’s best for you is to give it a few weeks before making any major decisions. You’re at the club now, so I’ll see you here every day for a session and help you figure out your mentality so you don’t make any rash decisions that you may regret in the long run. As for Theo, I see your love for him, sweetheart. Try and hold onto that before you throw it away out of hurt and anger.”

I nod, allowing her to hold me, my eyes going around the room. All I see is leather, and my breathing stutters. One moment, I’ll remember running around the club with Piston and Acid, laughing, but then suddenly, I’ll see him holding me down, tearing into me while pregnant because he’s caught me trying to run.

I tried five times before I couldn’t deal with the punishments. If it weren’t for Hannah, I never would have been able to escape.

God, I miss her, and I’m so worried for her safety.

Did she manage to escape?

Did he catch her?

My heart pounds, and I whisper, “I want to try and find Hannah….”

Emily nods. “We can look into it for you. Once you’re ready to explain everything to Tech, he can find her; he can find anyone, and, in the meantime, we’ll try to help you figure out how to open yourself up, because I think, once you do, it will set you free and stop you from being blinded by your past.”

I nod and close my eyes, happy to have someone here to turn to.

An hour later, I’m on my own again. Emily had to pick her daughter up from the airport because church was still underway. Autumn is in the kitchen enjoying herself, and I’m trying not to buckle under Theo’s mother’s stare.

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