Page 20 of Bart (Hades Rejects MC)
“Holland he talked about some other guy, did he...did he say who it was?” I don’t know if I want the answer to this question, but whoever the other guy was had to still be out there, and I needed to know who it was.
“I wasn’t there Bliss, once I got you out...you’ll have to talk to Bart, he knows more than I do. Don’t worry though I’ll keep you safe, my place has a great security system in it, and it’s in my dad’s name still so it can’t be traced to me. You’ll be safe out there, and it’s very peaceful, hopefully it can help you heal faster.” I remember going out to Holland’s place when we were teenagers, or I should say his dad’s place. It was out in the woods, surrounded by nothing but trees and nature. Kind of funny now thinking about it, I was about to call a cabin my sanctuary when I just left a cabin that was my hell. If that isn’t some fucked up shit I don’t know what is, Holland must have realized it because he put the brakes on his truck and pulled over to the side of the road.
“Shit, Bliss are you gonna be alright out there, I mean...fuck...this is a bad idea, a bad, bad idea, I should just take you home.” He’s running his fingers through his hair with his elbows on the steering wheel.
“Holland, I knew where I was going when I asked, now stop being a pussy and drive. Like you said, I need to deal with shit and not hide so let’s go.” Looking over at me, Holland let’s out a laugh.
“I see you haven’t lost yourself completely, that’s a good sign, maybe there’s hope for you yet. Now that you’ve busted my balls, I guess I have no choice but to take you.”
For some reason when we got to the cabin I felt no fear, no apprehension, Holland was right, it was peaceful. It brought back nothing but good memories of laughter and fun. Remembering all the good times brought a smile to my face, gave me a sense of rightness. Even Holland’s old fixer upper Road Glide was still in the shed, where he was still working on it. Big surprise there.
“Are you ever going to get that piece of shit fix? I mean come on, it’s only been sitting there collecting dust for past what ten years.” Holland gives me the death glare, like I’ve offended his ride.
“I’ll have you know it’s only been eight years, thank you very much.” Laughing at him I can only think, really it’s only been eight years, I think he’s stretching the truth. No, he’s lying his ass of, he knows damn well it’s been sitting there for the last ten years.
“Hey, there’s that beautiful smile we’ve been missing.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever asshole, show me to my room already.” He was smirking like he’d won some kind of damn prize at the fair.
“As you wish.”
“Really, asshole did you have to pull the Princess Bride line on me?” We’d only watched that movie a million times together over the years. See, told you, completely gay.
“Hey you love that movie princess, if I recall, and I just happen to have it in my DVD collection. We can watch it once you get settled in, deal.” He knew just what I needed.
“Tell me you have chocolate and ice cream, and we got a deal.”
“Move your ass woman; of course I have the essentials. I have to keep them on hand for every time my sisters come over for one of their bitch fests.” Yeah sure it’s for his sisters, gay much.
“You, my friend, are the best, seriously, thank you Holland for letting me stay with you. As soon as I get a job I’ll be out of your hair, I promise. Which reminds me you think we can go pick up my car from Pops? He said it was over at his place.” Walking inside the cabin, I noticed right away that Holland has changed the place around since he took over. Instead of the old hunting cabin it used to be with all the dead animals on the wall, he’d gone with something simpler. There were pictures of him and his family all over the place, well except for his mom. He hadn’t seen her since she ditched his dad when his twin sisters were still babies. I never knew all the details, just that his dad was deployed and she’d dropped the kids off with their grandparents. She was never seen or heard from again. He never talked about her. Now his dad he bragged about all the time.
The kitchen looked like it was completely overhauled with shiny appliances everywhere, including a dishwasher. There were only two rooms, mine was all the way at the end of the hallway, furthest from the door, I couldn’t be happier. It had a huge queen size bed that took up most of the room, it was carved wood, completely rustic looking, guess he didn’t go entirely modern. I realized then that I had zero shit with me. Fuck, everything I had was in the truck that the guys loaded up.
“What’s that look for? You don’t like it, what’s wrong with it?” He looks forlorn, like I just kicked his dog or something. I better save him before he has a meltdown and starts redecorating.
“No it’s beautiful, I just realized I have nothing here, all my clothes and shit is at Pops’ house too. Shit, guess I’m going to have to go home sooner rather than later.”
“Why don’t we worry about that tomorrow, right now you need to put that antibiotic cream on and then take your meds. If you really don’t want to go over there I’ll run by and pick up at least some clothes for you. Hell I could probably get my sisters to stop by and grab some stuff if you want, they are better at clothes than I am.”
“No, please Holland I’m not ready to see anyone just yet. I’ll go with you, I can deal with that, but tomorrow would be better, we just got here, and you said Princess Bride.”
“Yes I did, so get your shit done, and come out for some ice cream, chocolate, and Princess Bride. I’ll grab one of my shirts and some boxers for you to sleep in so you can be comfy.”
“That would be heaven my friend, sweats are kind of hot inside, thanks.” I waited while he grabbed the change of clothes, then headed in the bathroom to change and put my cream on. Staring at myself in the mirror naked, I finally got a good look at the extent of my wounds. My cuts went from tiny little scabs to gashes, thankfully none of them needed stitches. The bruises were worse, my ribs looked like boot prints, in varying shades of purple, black, green, and blue. My face was better at least, I couldn’t see my back, which meant I couldn’t reach those cuts either. Wrapping the shirt around my tits, I hollered for Holland.
“Shit Bliss, put that shirt on, Bart will kill me.”
“Very funny asshole, I can’t reach the cuts on my back.” As soon as his finger touches me with the cream I want to move away, but I force myself to hold still. I look at him through the mirror and never take my eyes off of him. I will beat this shit; I won’t let it beat me.
He’s done before we know it and we are ready to start vegging out and watching our favorite stupid movies. Tomorrow things were going to be hard, but tonight we were going to pretend nothing had changed.
