Page 34 of Bound by Vengeance
“I’m happy you found the Ravage MC to give you the family you need.” Her words come out a little choked, but she pulls it together.
I don’t want her crying for this. It’s in the past, and there’s no reason for it.
“Exactly, Austyn. I have a family. One I can depend on that depends on me. That’s all that matters.”
“Right.”
An hour away from our destination, according to the GPS, my cell rings again with the same number as before.
“Samantha?”
She gives me a soft, “Yeah.”
“We’re about an hour out.”
“Turn around,” she demands, shocking me. “I’m not leaving. Please don’t come here.”
“What happened between these two phone calls?” So many scenarios run through my head, all compressing together in a heap. Is she hurt? Did he find out she was leaving? Did he threaten her?
There is movement on the other end of the phone, like she’s switching ears or something. “I’m just not leaving my husband.
Sorry I called you.”
“What does that mean?”
“Please don’t come. I won’t let you in, and you’ll make my neighbors curious. Rob will find out, and he can’t. You’ll make it worse.”
“Is he going to hurt you?” The thought kills me, but it’s something common in this culture and forces me to ask. It reinforces the fear and makes everyone do what they are told.
“No. Just don’t come, Matthew. I’m not leaving.” The phone line goes dead.
I toss it into the cup holder then bang my hands on the wheel. “Fucking hell!”
Rage boils in my blood. My grip on the wheel is so tight I’m pretty sure it’s going to crack.
Taking the ramp off the highway, I see a McDonalds lit up and pull the truck in there. With my hands in my hair, I lean into the steering wheel, resting my forehead on it and trying to calm the anger.
Austyn’s hand comes to my shoulder, and my body jolts at first, then relaxes at the touch.
“What’s going on?”
I don’t move, just talk through my arms. “She’s not leaving. Doesn’t want to leave her husband and is sorry she called me.”
“Do you think her husband found out?”
“Fuck if I know.”
“I’m so sorry.” She moves her hand around in small circles, a comforting caress. It’s exactly what I need right now.
“Can’t make her come. I mean, I could drag her out, but it’ll do no good. She’ll just go back. She has to want to leave.
Same thing with my mother.” I’ll be damned if Breanna goes through this shit.
“True.”
“Will you grab my laptop and pull up the address.” I almost hate the request, because her hand leaves my back, but this needs to be done. Plus, I need to get my anger in check before I do it.
“What do you want me to do?”
