Page 12 of Breaker

“I don’t know about that,” I murmured, my gaze skittering away from hers. “I’m just trying to survive, same as anyone else.”

Violeta stepped forward then, her voice soft but filled with a quiet intensity. “Survival is something we all understand here. You’re among friends now, even if it doesn’t feel that way yet.”

I met her gaze, saw the sincerity shining in her eyes, and felt something within me begin to uncoil. I leaned into Breaker, grateful for his steadying presence. He turned to Luciana and Violeta, his voice low and serious. “She’s been through a lot. I know the clubhouse takes some getting used to, but I wanted her to see she didn’t have anything to fear from anyone here.”

Luciana nodded, her expression sobering. “Of course. We understand better than most. Juniper, we know you’ve just met us, but we want you to know that you have a family here, if you choose to accept it. The men can seem a bit scary at first, but they’re all really good men. Even if they don’t look like the type, they’ve helped a lot of people.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly tight with emotion. Family. It was a word I hadn’t allowed myself to contemplate in years, a concept that seemed as foreign to me as the idea of a home. But as I looked at the faces around me, at Breaker’s unwavering support and the genuine warmth in Luciana and Violeta’s eyes, I felt a tiny spark of hope ignite within me.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.

Violeta reached out, her fingers brushing mine in a gentle, reassuring gesture. “You don’t have to say anything. We understand. Just know that you’re not alone anymore. We both live here at the compound, the same as you. Reach out anytime you need someone to talk to, or just want some girl time.”

I nodded, blinking back the sudden sting of tears. It was almost too much to process, this unexpected acceptance and support.

Luciana clapped her hands together, breaking the weighted silence that had settled over the room. “Well, now that introductions are out of the way, how about we show Juniper around the clubhouse? Give her a chance to get her bearings?”

Breaker glanced down at me, a question in his eyes, and I nodded, grateful for the chance to catch my breath and absorb everything that had happened. As we followed Luciana and Violeta out of the room, I couldn’t help but marvel at the twists and turns my life had taken. Not long ago, I had been alone and adrift, my future as uncertain as the streets I called home. But now, with Breaker by my side and the support of the Hades Abyss MC surrounding me, I dared to hope I had found a way out of the darkness and into the light.

Luciana led us through the dimly lit hallway, pointing out the bathroom, rooms that had once been used by men like Breaker, and even the President’s office. As we walked, she spoke, her voice steady yet tinged with emotion. “I know what it’s like to feel alone, to have nowhere to turn. Before I came to the Hades Abyss, before I met Spider, I was trapped in a nightmare.”

I watched her, my heart aching for the pain she must have endured. There was a strength in her posture, a resilience that spoke of battles fought and won, but beneath it all, I could sense the scars that lingered.

“Growing up in Colombia, my father…” Luciana swallowed hard, her fingers clenching into fists at her sides. “He was a monster. He forced me to do things, terrible things, from a young age. I thought I would never escape, that I was destined to live in that hell forever.”

Violeta reached out, her hand resting on Luciana’s shoulder in a gesture of silent support. The two women shared a look, a bond forged in shared trauma and survival.

“But then I met Spider,” Luciana continued, a faint smile softening her features. “He showed me there was another way, that I could be more than what my father had tried to make me. I fell in love with him. The club became my family, my safe haven.”

I listened intently, my own pain resonating with hers. I understood the desperation, the yearning for a place to belong, for people who would accept and protect you.

Violeta spoke then, her tone more defiant, a fire burning in her eyes. “We’ve all got our scars, our stories. Some of us more than others. Luciana is my older sister, and we share the same history. We had each other, but our sister was alone with a different club down in Alabama. Just know you aren’t the first to be saved by these men, and I doubt you’ll be the last.”

I felt a surge of emotion, a mix of empathy and admiration for these women who had endured so much and yet stood tall, unbroken. Their strength gave me hope, a glimmer of possibility that I, too, could rise above my past and forge a new future. I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible turn my life had taken. In the span of a few short hours, I had gone from a lost, lonely girl to a woman with a purpose, a family, and a chance at a future I had never dared to imagine.

Although, this marriage thing was something I needed to discuss with Breaker in more detail. What exactly would he expect of me? Was it like a real marriage, which would mean sharing a bed?

Breaker’s hand on my shoulder dragged me from my thoughts. I met his gaze, finding understanding and patience in his eyes. Luciana and Violeta had shared their story with me, or at least part of it. I felt like I owed them the same.

“I… I’m not ready to talk about my past,” I said. “Not yet. But I want you all to know how much it means to me to be accepted like this.”

Luciana and Violeta exchanged a knowing look, their eyes filled with compassion. Had they done this very thing before? They’d said I wasn’t the first woman to be saved by the club. How many had there been?

“We understand, Juniper,” Luciana said softly. “Take all the time you need. We’re here for you, whenever you’re ready.”

I nodded, grateful for their acceptance, for the space they gave me to heal at my own pace. I knew the road ahead would be challenging, that I had so much to learn and even more to overcome. But with Breaker by my side and the support of this incredible group of people, I felt like I could reclaim my life and build something beautiful from the ashes of my past.

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, I allowed myself to relax, to soak in the warmth and camaraderie that filled the clubhouse. As the evening wore on and the conversations began to wind down, Breaker caught my eye from across the room. With a slight tilt of his head, he motioned for me to follow him, and I found myself rising to my feet, my heart fluttering with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

We slipped away from the main room, the sounds of laughter and chatter fading behind us as Breaker led me down a quiet hallway. He stopped in front of a door and turned to face me, his gaze searching mine with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low and gentle.

I nodded, my fingers twisting together in front of me. “Y-yeah, I just… it’s a lot to take in, you know? But I feel better about everything than I did when we first walked in.”

Breaker’s lips curved into a soft smile, and he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingertips brushing against my skin and sending a shiver down my spine. “I know. You’re doing great.”

His words wrapped around me like a warm embrace, and I felt a sudden rush of emotion, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. Why was I so emotional lately? I felt like I was all over the place. Scared. Happy. Anxious. Grateful. And so much more… it all swirled inside me.

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