Page 37 of Through The Woods

Rooster answered. “Nope. You didn’t take off anything. Way I see it, me and J will just stay like this until you do. Oh, and we get to pick what you remove.”

I lifted my head with wide eyes. “Oh…so, I can’t choose to take off a sock?”

The three of them shook their heads and looked me over. Joker held both of his hands just under his waist before curling them upward. My eyes followed his hands down, earning me yet another eyeful.

When Rooster and Doc looked to me for interpretation, I sighed, “He votes pants.”

They nodded and replied at the same time. “Same.”

I stood up and quickly shimmied out of my sweatpants. The room immediately fell silent and I realized they weren’t all taken aback by my beauty.

No, they were seeing the burns and scars from the skin grafting for the first time. I’d gotten so caught up in the game that the truth of my past had slipped my mind. For the first time in a year, I forgot that I bore the marks of my sins for all the world to see.

“Jesus Christ.” Rooster’s hand came up, pushing the long hair back off of his forehead.

Joker looked away and Doc stood frozen, his eyes laser-focused on my thighs. “Who did this to you, Neve?”

I blinked rapidly and looked up at the ceiling before answering softly, “Can we be done now?”

The men were in various stages of dressing when I worked up the courage to look down. Doc handed me my pants and I wordlessly slid them back on.

“Neve.” Rooster leaned down into my line of vision. “You tell us who did this and he’s dead. Simple as that. You’re under the club’s protection now.”

Joker took his right index finger and ran it under the palm of his left hand.

Kill.

I was speechless.

The two of them embraced me before leaving and I turned to Doc. “I think I know of a way you could help me.”

“Anything you need; it’s yours.” Doc leaned in and I told him my plan. He gave me several puzzled looks. “You’re sure? And that’ll help you?”

I nodded confidently before sending him out. Then I shut off the lights and lay down. The clock illuminated the room, reminding me that I was going to have to be up in just a few short hours.

My mind was restless though. I tried counting sheep, but they kept turning into bikers jumping over fences. I wanted to shut my brain off, if only for an hour or two, but it was futile.

I didn’t even know these men and they were willing to risk their lives for me. It was disconcerting. The last time someone had vowed to protect me, I just ended up hurting them.

I was no good to anyone.

I rolled over to my good side and tried to relax. Twenty minutes later, I knew that I was up for the day, and rolled out of bed. I put on my sweatshirt and headed downstairs, suddenly in need of some fresh air.

I grabbed the flashlight sitting on the porch near the back door with a smile. Twitch had left it the day after my run-in with him. Poor guy was trying to avoid a fright-induced heart attack no doubt.

I clicked the light on and headed down the path toward the ledge. I found that I knew exactly where to go this time and breathed a small sigh of relief when I saw that the spot was empty. I needed to be alone with my thoughts for a while.

Twitch wanted me to confront my past...

Doc, Rooster, and Joker wanted me to name my abuser...

This.

All of it was why I’d avoided sobriety; because, when I was sober, terrible things happened. It was too much for one person to work through. So, I’d remained blissfully numb in a cocoon of coke.

I knew the men were right; it was time to deal with it—I was well overdue.

I closed my eyes and willed myself to go back to that night.

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