Page 47 of Bound by Affliction
Green is pissed at me, and he has every right to be. While my intentions were good, it wasn’t the best decision I’ve ever made. I knew he’d be angry, but it was the hurt in his eyes that gutted me. That was not what I wanted. Neverwanted.
Nothing but the air around us, I try to force the relaxed feeling upon myself, but it doesn’tcome.
Driving straight through only making a couple of pit stops for gas and bathroom, we make it to Sumner, Georgia just as the sun begins to dip from the sky. The sunset is beautiful over the horizon. A new sense of hope emerges as the sun continues to fall. Hope that this is our new beginning. That whatever those assholes wanted with me is over and that Green and I can start living our lives. That I won’t allow the fear to hold me in its clutches so much that I can’t live mylife.
That’s what I hope. To just be normal, whatever in the hell thatis.
It doesn’t hide the anxiety though. I have no idea what a life with Green will be like. His club is his world and while I’ve met some of the brothers, not them all or their wives or girlfriends. Bristyl is the only person I’ll really know besides Green. I just hope beyond reason that all of this worksout.
The town is quiet as we enter, passing old buildings and lots of different houses. A grocery store and a salon are in a small strip mall that looks like it’s just been built. When the bike begins to slow, my heart rate picks up and my hands grip Greentightly.
Tall block walls line about a half a block with large barbed wire on the top, making it look like one of those prison compounds you see in movies. It even has a tower where a man stands looking down at us then waves us in. As he does, the steel gate creaks open, moving off to the left. The bike jolts us as we enter, the inside looking a lot more inviting than the outside. Green grass is off to the left with a huge jungle gym, and in front of it is a large building that looks almost like a warehouse. To the right is the automotive shop with a large sign that says Banner Automotive. This is where Greenworks.
In front of that is a large parking lot filled with bikes and cars. Green pulls into where all the bikes are and kills the engine. I still haven’t released my grip from around his body, but as I inhale the Georgia night, slowly my fingers release fromhim.
“Hop off,babe.”
Only then does my body become unstuck and I do as he asks, whipping my helmet off my head and the bandana that I have to wear to protect the parts of my head that are still a bit raw. Even with the hair growing in, different areas have different sensitivities. It’s just another stark reminder of my past. Hair shouldn’t be something you hate to look at because of the memories that come withit.
Green swings his leg over the bike then pulls me into his arms and kisses me hard on the lips. “That ride was exactly what I needed,Leah.”
My lips tip up. His body does seem much more relaxed than when we left Florida. I bet being home helps him too. He always talked about how his brothers were family, and it’s been a really long time since he’s seen some ofthem.
“But don’t think you’re gettin’ off shit, because we have a lot of talking to do. Beready.”
“Leah!” My name screamed in a voice I desperately recognize comes barreling toward me, and Green lets me go just as Bristyl wraps her arms around me tight. Closing my eyes and inhaling my best friend, the knot inside me gets even looser. Damn, I’ve missed her so damn much. “I’m so happy you’re here,” she says into myneck.
“Metoo.”
Bristyl jumps back a bit, startling me. “I’m sorry, did I hurtyou?”
This time my smile is full on because this is what I love about Bristyl. She’s so damn caring, and I’m lucky to call her my friend. A dark cloud settles around me and I pull her back into my arms, crashing her body to mine. Guilt rides me hard, and my eyes start to water. My actions brought Bristyl to me and while I don’t know everything that happened with her, Cooper, and her dad, Regg, I know bits andpieces.
“I’m so sorry, Bristyl. I never thought they’d let you come alone, but it’s on me. I should’ve never told you to come to me.” A sob erupts from deep in my soul, bleeding all over the place as her grip gets tighter aroundme.
How could I have done that to my best friend? Even getting my hair pulled out of my head, I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I shouldn’t have told her to come to me. That was one of the stupidest decisions I’ve made. I don’t know how she has forgiven me so easily, but she has and I’m grateful for it. I just don’t know how to forgivemyself.
She pulls away from me, her hands locked on my arms, demanding that I give her my full attention. “Those assholes were after me, Leah, not you. They knew who I was and were told they could have me. Those dickwads knew you and I were friends. My guess is they were tracking my computer and when you pulled up the dating site it was theirin.”
She shudders, still holding me inplace.
I start to talk, but she cuts me off, “No. No, no, no. I know what you are going to say, and no. They would have found some way to get me. This is my fault. Every cut and bruise on your body is my fault.” My heart breaks that she is blaming herself for this. She couldn’t control those men and their actions. I hate that she’s feeling thisway.
Shaking my head, she still doesn’t let me talk and continues on. “I’m so sorry that you got the shit end of this mess. I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner to stop what they were doing to you. I’m so sorry that you were in a coma and I wasn’t there for you. By the way, Cooper is still paying for that one. But most of all, I’m so damn sorry that they had the opportunity to destroy your life in the blink of an eye. You deserve so much in this world and not this. I want youhappy.”
Destroy. But they didn’t. They don’t get that power from me. They don’t get to destroy my life. My life is new and building with Green. They don’t getthat.
On a hiccup with tears streaming down my face, I turn my head to Green who stands with several of his brothers, his focus solely on me. “I’m gettingthere.”
Bristyl kisses me on the cheek, and I’m put through a round of introductions. Several of them I met at the rally when I first met Green. Dagger, who hit on us, now has a very pretty woman wrapped around him. Rhys was pissed the entire time and still looks it with his arms crossed over his chest. Cruz was and still is overpowering. GT is a brand of hot that comes with age. There are the twins, Buzz and Breaker, who look exactly alike. Tug with a knockout of a woman next to him. Cooper has his eyes directly on his woman in front of me. All of themwelcoming.
“Leah?” A woman with black hair with red streaks comes up to me wearing black jeans, boots, and a top with a deep cut in the front. Her entire demeanor screamsFuck with me and I’ll end you.She’s not one of those people who sends out cookies for a newcomer. No, she’s assessing me from top to toe and little goose bumps stand on my skin. Not going to lie, she scares me abit.
“Princess, this is Leah,” Bristyl introduces. “Leah, this is Cooper’s mom,Princess.”
“Hi.” I give a soft wave, feeling like agoof.
“Hey. I’m your new trainingpartner.”
