Page 5 of Big Red

“Hey! Get your hands off her, asshole!”

If I could talk, I would scream for them to get away.

As they get closer, I notice one is a blonde woman, and the other has what looks like gold eyes. Maybe the lack of oxygen is making me see things because I don’t think I’ve ever seen gold eyes before.

They round the car and try to pull Declan off me. He growls, shoves me away, and takes a swing at them. To my surprise, they dodge the attack and take a defensive stance.

“Take another shot at me, and I’m going to plant you on your ass,” the one with gold eyes growls.

Declan's fist clenches as he stares down at her. “You’re nothing but a biker whore! Mind your fuckin business!”

It's then I notice the vests they’re wearing. The local MC name is stitched on the front of them.

“A whore? That’s so original coming from the piece-of-shit coward who has to beat on a woman to feel like a real man!” Declan takes a step forward like he’s about to snap. “I warned you once. I won’t do it again. Take another shot, and I’ll show you just how much of a man you are.”

That’s all it takes for him to take another swing at the woman. She ducks and gives Declan an uppercut that has him staggering backward. I watch in horror as his hand goes to the gun tucked in his waistband. Everything happens so fast there’s no stopping it.

Once the woman realizes what he’s doing, she doesn’t run like a sane person would.

No, this woman charges forward, grabs hold of his wrist, and twists. I hear a snap, and Declan cries out. His gun falls to theground, but his attacker isn’t done. She extends his arm and brings her knee to his elbow.

Now, I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty sure that sickening crunch I heard was his arm being broken. With one last swing, she punches Declan hard enough to knock him out. I stare in disbelief when he slumps to the ground.

She just…. she…. I can’t even process what I just witnessed.

For years, this man has haunted my life, and she just knocked his ass out like it was time for a lullaby.

“Are you okay? What’s your name? I’m Sara and this is my sister Cara. We can get you out of here,” the blonde says.

Rubbing my neck, I shake my head. “I’m Alice and y-you should go. Please. When he gets up, there’s no telling what he’s going to do.”

“Well, the first will be going to the hospital.” Cara snickers.

“Cara!” Sara hisses.

“What? It’s the truth.” She shrugs and jogs back over to the truck. She comes back with a card in hand. She offers it to me, and I take it. “When you’re ready, give us a call. I’ve helped many women like you before. I know you think he’s so powerful, and you’ll never be able to escape, but I promise you can.”

I just nod. My gaze moves over to a laid-out Declan. The blonde places a hand on my shoulder. “Please believe us when we say we can help. No woman deserves to go through what you’re going through. You nearly passed out from him choking you before we intervened. One day, he will kill you. Don’t wait until it’s too late to get out.”

They both leave me as I sink to the ground, tears streaming down my face.

I know they’re right. One day, he will kill me. But escaping Declan will not be easy. He has the law on his side from all angles.

I wish it would be easy to just pack up and leave, but this is my life. A life stuck with a monster that I will never be free from.

Chapter Three

BIG RED

EARLIER THAT DAY

“Guys, I’m heading out early. I have to pick the kids up,” I say as I hang up my coveralls.

Bear pops his head up from under the hood of the car he’s working on. A smirk stretches across his lips, and Diablo and Chains bark out a laugh.

“Yeah, we heard about your laundry mishap at breakfast,” Diablo says with a snort.

Chains wipes his hands off with his rag and smiles over at me. “Colton was pretty vocal at the kids' table this morning. You really ticked little man off.”

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