Page 30 of Flyboy's Nightingale
“Like I was saying, my father is the Prez of the Dazed Monkey MC in Texas. They haven’t always been a bad club. Before Momma died, when I was young, it was then that my father went off the rails. I went from the princess to the punching bag. When I turned seventeen, that’s when things got really bad. I went from a child in the club, to a woman of the club, and we all know what it means to become a woman of the club.” She stops talking and lets the rest of her unspoken statement hang in the air. Letting her words sink in causes a roar to rumble in my chest. We all know damn good and well what that means for a woman.
The rounds of “Fucks”, “You’ve got to be kidding me,” and “I’m going to fucking kill them” reverberate around the room.
The feeling surging in my soul is like a fire that I’ve never felt. One I’m not sure I’m capable of putting out. No, nix that. Fire isn’t a strong enough word to describe what I'm feeling at the thought of her being in any kind of pain. Doesn’t that make me one hell of a hypocrite? Seeing as I’ve been nothing more than a fucking dick to this fantastic woman since I woke up broken in that fucking hospital bed? I’ll stop at nothing to make sure she never has to worry about being hurt… ever again.
Riley doesn’t even try and make what she’s got to say easier for us to hear as she continues, opening up and telling us, “Bythis time, everyone was just high, drunk, or pissed off because money wasn't coming in like it should’ve been. Like they were used to. To make matters worse, they owed more money to the guys they were supposed to be selling products for, due to them using more than they sold. So, we all know thatNOmeant absolutely nothing but getting you an ass beating, and them getting what they want in the end. I wasn’t allowed outside the clubhouse, to the point that the only ol’ lady that was left helped sign me up to be homeschooled. At least at that point, I’d be able to get some kind of education so that I could be of some use to the club once I stopped being their favorite plaything. She did this at the request of my father, so I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on.”
I can’t stop the string of curse words that leave my mouth at the thought of anyone else touching this angel in any way than the way she wants. She is nothing but good and understanding. She does nothing but make sure that everyone around her is taken care of and okay!
“How did you get out? If they wouldn’t let you leave or talk to anyone?” Razor questions. My brother acts as though Riley is lying to us.
Riley chuckles humorlessly, saying, “One night, the brothers were having a party and invited the guys that they owed money to hoping to make a trade with them. They would turn over their three most valuable assets.”
“What the fuck do you mean, three most valuable assets?” Torch doesn’t pussyfoot around when he asks her this. But I have a feeling none of us are going to like what comes out of her mouth next.
“It’s exactly what you think it is. The President's daughter, the Sergeant at Arms’ daughter, and the Road Captain’s youngest, who was barely eighteen at the time. Lucky for us, all their friends got too fucked up and roughed me up bad enoughthat the next morning, when we rolled out, I had to be taken to the emergency room for treatment. Because of whom the men were, they couldn’t take us in to be evaluated and cared for. They sent two of us in, me to be treated, the other to make sure I didn’t say anything, and the third was kept with the assholes in the lobby for extra insurance.” She uses air quotes for the next part. “They figured holding her would keep us quiet, only they stayed at the hospital, so I did the scariest shit I’ve ever done and told a nurse we needed help. They called the cops who were looking for the men. They showed up and arrested everyone. The girls and I snuck away in the chaos. The three of us split ways, vowing to never look back.'' When she is done talking, I watch her swallow hard, almost like she’s trying to keep herself from throwing up.
“So, what happened to the others, and how the hell have you gotten where you’ve been without being found? Until now, that is?” I wonder, still trying to wrap my head around everything she’s explained to us.
Riley turns so she’s looking at me. I try, in a split second, to mask the rolling emotions going on inside me. Yet when I see the utter disappointment and sadness fill her eyes, I know I haven’t done a good job at it. Riley wraps her arms around her middle, folding forward for only a moment before nodding slightly. After that nod, Riley sits tall, readying herself to take whatever we have to say to her and tuck it away into a vault.
“Now you understand why I need to be going. I don’t want anyone to be hurt by this. My brother and the Vice President are already in town. If you just let me go, I’ll leave and they’ll leave with me.'' The desperation in her voice slides over me like ice in my veins.
“You didn’t answer my fucking question, Riley. How the fuck have you made it this far and where the hell did the other women go?” Razor demands, his tone so low and dangerous sounding that the anger emanating off him is like a sonic boom.
Riley starts to shake before speaking, “I changed my name to my mother’s and have been using it as my identification to get by.”
A sarcastic chuckle leaves her lips as she shrugs. “I guess that’s the only good thing I can be thankful to my dad for. He never filed her death certificate, so I’ve just been using her information and name. Along the way, I found a friend who adjusted the birthdate for a fee.”
“Fuck, I swear you men have a magnet for the fucking smart and crazy,” Steel says, whistling, while propping his chin up on his hands that are propped on the desk in front of him.
“As for the other two. One of the girls started a new life as far from Texas as you can get, and still be a citizen of the United States. The second.” Riley trembles, rubbing her temples as if fighting off a headache. “Took her own life not long after we escaped, in her desperation, she was unable to cope with it all. After that, we decided no more contact. That way if anyone was found then they couldn’t tell them anything about where the others were located.”
Riley stops talking yet doesn’t look at anyone but Steel. We all sit there taking in her words, letting it sink in what she has truly been through for her to still be this kind and understanding. It leaves me truly in awe of her. Riley not wanting to be in a room full of brothers starts to make sense. Her unbelievable fear of being in any crowded space and avoiding any kind of party. How could’ve I been so self-absorbed, not seeing the tell signs that were flashing before me? I reach a hand out, placing it on her shoulder, trying to bring her some comfort. Riley doesn’t say anything in response, she barely even moves as if she doesn’t realize my hand is laying there.
“Razor, can you confirm any of what she is telling us?” Torch questions, not at all hiding the fact that there are parts of thisstory that just sound too crazy and as if there are gaps missing, things she’s not ready to tell us.
To believe a club would take someone who is believed to be untouchable, and not only turn her over to someone else, but allow the people in the club to harm her, just doesn’t sit well.
“Now that you have the information, I’ll go and wait out front for you to make a decision on what you’re going to do. I know by the look on your faces that you’re not going to listen to anything else I’ve got to say.” The destroyed tone of her voice doesn’t sit well with me.
“I appreciate that, Riley. Please, do me a favor and don’t leave the club grounds. I’ve had the pathway from here to the front door cleared so you don’t have to worry about running into anyone. Just stay put, deal?” Steel questions her.
The nod that Riley gives is so minute that I’d have missed it had I not been sitting this close to her. No one says anything for a long, few moments before Riley stands and leaves the room. With every step she takes, you can see her tremble but I have to be proud that other than that, she is as cool and collected like it’s just a normal, ordinary day.
Fuck, that woman is stronger than anyone I’ve ever meet. The door closes behind her and I turn my eyes back to the man in front of me.
“Before you say anything. We have to call church and lay it out on the table. I will not say no, but the Dazed Monkeys aren’t people I want sniffing around our town. They bring nothing but death and destruction in their wake,” Steel reveals as he eyes me, waiting for me to react.
“Yeah, I hear you, Prez! Just know though if the club says no, then I’ll be leaving with her,” I state, leaving no room for argument.
“Is this you finally getting your head out of your ass?” Duck laughs as the question escapes his lips.
“She’s mine!” I shout, no other response is necessary when it comes to the club’s bylaws and rules. Once a woman is claimed, she’s protected by the club no matter what.
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
