Page 13 of Hyde

What the hell that bitch is doing here is anyone’s guess, but she’s been on my shit-list for years. The difference is, now I’m old enough to do something about it.

“Shut the fuck up, the both of you!” Dad bellows over their squawking and when he throws the man in the general direction of the SUV, I vaguely recognize him as one of the older prospects.

There’s immediate silence.

“Is there anyone else inside the house?” Dad asks and the guy immediately says it’s just the two of them.

“We’re staying here so if you have a problem with that you can just talk to Royce,” Trinity interjects and I almost burst out laughing—the man she’s with visibly swallows and holds up his hands, looking between her crazy ass and my dad.

“I’m sorry, Gunner. I didn’t think anyone was using it and since she’s not allowed at the clubhouse... I’m really sorry, we just wanted to party a little, you know?” The guy sounds like he’s about to cry and the contemptuous glare Trinity gives him clearly says she’s lost interest in him.

“I’d much rather party with you, Gunner,” she purrs, walking down the steps and tilting her head in what she must think is a sexy manner.

“If you touch me, Trinity, I will break every bone in your hand. Do you understand me? And I suspect, Royce would hold you down while I do it.”

This is the man that the others whisper about. I’ve seen hints of him at different times in my life, but right now, there’s no trace of the big teddy-bear who spoils the hell out of Mom and me.

And I love him even more for it.

“Mungo, right?” Dad confirms the prospect’s name before continuing. “Since you do realize that she’s been banned from the clubhouse, you must know it doesn’t end there. Trinity is not permitted on MC property, andthisis MC property. You aren’t even patched, so your rights to use the place are exactlyzero.”

“She told me…”

“I don’t give a shit. Now I’m going to follow you inside, you’re going to get her clothes and yours, then you’re off the property.”

Trinity turns to head inside, but my dad’s voice stops her. “Sit your ass on that bench and do not fucking move.”

“What! No, I have personal items inside,” she responds, and in a second of stupidity tries to rush inside, shutting the door behind her.

At least she tried to. Like everything else about my dad, his feet are huge and one of them easily blocks the door. Trinity abandons her attempt to hold it shut and the door swings back open.

“I don’t want any trouble from you.” Dad gives Mungo a warning look before he continues in after her.

Me? I’ve been coming to this cabin since I was a baby, so keeping to the foliage I know I can stay out of sight while I circle around to the back of it. Standing next to the supports for the upstairsdeck, I pause trying to figure out what I was expecting, and that’s when I nearly get hit by a falling object.

A duffle bag was tossed out of the upstairs window, hitting the ground near my feet and I immediately reach for it. If she doesn’t want Dad to have it, that’s a good enough reason for me to take it.

Looking around, I quickly stuff it behind the air conditioning unit before I step back under the deck.

Next, Trinity exits through the sliding door above me and runs to the stairs yelling, “Okay, I’m sorry! I’ll leave. I’ll leave.”

Glancing around, there are some garden tools under the deck and I grab a rake. When I turn back, she’s frantically looking for her bag and I swing the handle of the rake close to her as I emerge from the darkness.

“I thought you were leaving?” I taunt her, looking up and down at her emaciated figure. I used to envy her curves and looks, but the jean skirt she pulled on looks too big on her and the daylight seems to highlight the circles under her eyes.

She squints her eyes as the sun hits her face and I can see she’s trying to place me, but it’s been a few years since she’s seen me and I’m no longer the mousey little girl I had been.

As she studies me, I assess how the years have treated her. The short answer is, not kind. If you just cast a quick glance at Trinity, she hasn’t changed much since I was a kid, but if you stop to study her, it’s glaringly obvious that the road she’s been on has been particularly rough.

“You!” She practically snarls when she puts together who I am. “Did you steal my bag?”

“Time to leave, skank,” I reply, trying to shoo her away without hitting her, no matter how much I’m tempted to knock her upside the head.

“Come on, Trinity. We’ve got to fucking leave,” Mungo pleads with her as he comes around the side of the cabin.

“No! Not without…” her words are cut off as he quickly bends over and places her in a fireman’s carry.

I’m sure her screams can be heard by anyone inhabiting the surrounding properties, but he isn’t stopping for anything. Dad has exited through the same door Trinity used and we follow them around the cabin. I can’t help my smirk as I watch Mungo shove her in their vehicle.

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