Page 64 of Sniper

Juicy’s eyes widen, and she shakes her head vigorously., “Please, I-I have nowhere else to go.”

For a split second, I feel bad for her, because I know some clubwhores are here because they don’t have anywhere to go. Them screwing the brothers is entirely up to them, but then Pitbull chuckles and adds, “Really, so your boyfriend in town, or your lover in Parkerville, won’t put you up?” Her eyes widen, and I chuckle when he continues, “Or how about your cousin in town, or your mother?” He smirks. “Go pack your shit, because you're done here.”

Pitbull glares at her as he walks over to me, kissing my head, before walking away. Juicy scrambles to follow him, begging and pleading.

Shaking her head, Annie walks into the room, wrapping her arm around my shoulders and guiding me to the bed. I hesitate, and she chuckles. “Don’t worry, he changed the whole bed around the time you two got together. I didn’t understand at the time, but I did once I found out about you.”

I sigh in relief, and climb on, Annie following, before I lay my head on her shoulder, happy to have her in my life.

She whispers, “Talk to me, sweetheart….”

I sniffle. “I’m scared….” She plays with my hair, keeping quiet. “I don’t want him to think I’m dirty, like how I used to feel….”

She murmurs, “Used to?”

I smile a little as Sammy lays his head on my outstretched legs, and I whisper, “Every time I’m with him, I feel clean and…different. I feel like the old me, like I was before….”

Annie squeezes me tightly as Quinn leans against my door frame, her eyes sad for me.

She states firmly, “You’re a survivor, Aurora. I heard what you told Annie after Sniper stormed into the common room. You’re not dirty, you’re a survivor and fucking amazing, that little girl is proof of that.”

I nod, sniffling, the pain I’ve tried to bottle up coming out.

“I miss my dad,” I cry, my tears falling hard, and Quinn rushes into the room. Annie holds me tight, and Quinn grips my feet tight.

“Call him, Rory,” she whispers, and I shake my head, but she squeezes my feet and rasps, “He won’t hate you for protecting yourself. Call him….”

Annie hands me her phone and gently holds me close. I take it while keeping one hand on my rounded belly. I look at the numbers on the screen for a few seconds before slowly putting in his last known number.

I hover over the call button before pressing it, and placing it on speaker.

It rings, and I hold my breath.

What if he hates me….

What if he knew….

What if I can’t forgive him?

I squeeze my eyes shut, hating I’m thinking this badly, knowing the anger is coming from him leaving me.

“Hello?” he croaks as he answers the phone, and I sob.

“A-Aurora…Pumpkin, is that you?” he pleads, sorrow echoing through the receiver.

“Daddy,” I sob, and he cries. I hear Annie’s and Quinn sob along with him.

“Rory, my baby girl….” my dad cries, and my whole body shakes with my sobs, hearing his voice again, his anguish….

God, I should have called him sooner.

21

Sniper – Two Days Later

I slowly run my fingers through my girl's curly, red hair as she sleeps against my chest in our room at the clubhouse.

I’ve barely let her out of my sight. If I’m at the club, she’s here, if she wants to take Autumn to the park, I ensure she just goes outside to the backyard, and if I’ve gone to the garage, she’s been with me, hanging with Sarah, who’s happy for the break because business is booming. I’ve finally given in to my wife’s insistence to build on club property, as long as she’s with me.

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