Page 38 of Bart (Hades Rejects MC)
Walking inside, I notice Holland and Bart talking in whispers in the living room while Matt and Jessie try to distract me in the kitchen. Whatever was going on I was going to get to the bottom of it eventually, but for now I was going to soak up my friend’s attention and let Bart handle whatever was going on with Holland. Jessie and Matt were hilarious to watch, each trying not look at the other one too long while talking to me, definitely something going on between them. He better not hurt her, or he’d find his balls in a jar up on my mantle for decoration.
BART
Holland stopped me before I walked into the dining room, and pulled me into the living room. He was looking down at his shoes, almost like he was ashamed about whatever it is he needed to talk to me about. We’d known each other since we were kids, there was nothing we didn’t know about each other, so whatever had him hesitant to talk about was bad. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know, but Holland had been there for me, the least I could do was be there if he needed me.
“What’s up man?” He ran his hand along his neck, looking like he had swallowed a frog, or worse was about to puke one up.
“I need to talk to you about...shit man...something happened at the warehouse after you left. No scratch that someone happened after you left...she...fuck I can’t say it.” He paced around the living room, like he was afraid, Holland hadn’t been afraid of anything except...no it couldn’t be her. “She was there man...my...” He collapsed on the couch, head in his hands, shaking. “My fucking mom, she was there, she was helping Jack. This whole fucking time, she was there with him. While my dad was working his ass off to support me and my sisters, she was there.” I had only seen Holland cry one time, that was the day she left, seeing him fall apart now was killing me. I dropped down beside him, pulling him into a rough hug, Bliss came running into the room looking lost. She didn’t ask any questions merely sat on the other side of Holland hugging him.
“What did you do? Did she recognize you at all? Fuck man, I’m sorry.” Jessie and Matt came into the living room, sitting across from us, as we waited for Holland to pull himself together. They looked concerned, but not shocked by the revelation, clearly Holland had spoken to them already.
“We were rounding up all the women, I didn’t see her at first, I just saw this girl. She had dark red hair, she was hugging herself, like she was afraid, not pissed like most of the hookers were. I went to her to find out what was wrong, that’s when my mom shoved herself in front of me...she looked me dead in the eyes and didn’t even recognize me. She didn’t even know her own son!” Holland seemed to calm a little as he continued to tell us what happened next. “She was screaming at me about how was she supposed to make money now, I was too shocked to say anything, I just kept looking at the girl. When she noticed, she asked me if I wanted to try the girl out, that she could make it happen, the girl started crying rocking back and forth. I ignored my mother and walked over to the girl...I...I don’t know what happened to my mother after that.”
Fuck, that meant the bitch was still out there, close by; she could fuck with Holland again. That woman had done enough to my best friend; she deserved to be six feet under as far as I was concerned. I knew Holland held out hope all these years that she would come back. That the only thing that could keep her from coming home to them was that she was dead, now that he knew she wasn’t, I hoped like hell he didn’t try to get her back. I’d just went through some shit with my own mother, no way I would let him go down that path. He deserved better than what that woman dished out.
“Holland, what can we do? Tell us what you need man, we’ll give it to you.” He looked up at all of us as we nodded in agreement, we were brothers no way was I going to let him go through this shit alone, and neither was Matt by the look in his eyes.
“I don’t know man, she’s out there somewhere, but I don’t even know where to start looking. She didn’t even recognize me, what if she doesn’t want to be found.” I had a feeling she didn’t want to be found, but if Holland wanted to find her then I’d do everything in my power to help him.
“We’ll find her man, and you will get your answers, one way or another, you deserve to know the truth. We’re here for you, whatever you need.” He pulled me in for another rough hug before hugging Bliss tight. I could almost get jealous, but I knew they were like brother and sister.
“Thanks man, I appreciate it, I’m going to ask the other girls that were there, maybe some of them know where she might be. I haven’t told my father yet, but I know I’m going to need to tell him and my sisters, eventually. I’m hoping to have answers before I do. I need to know why she left us, what we did to drive her away, and why she hasn’t ever come back to us.” I wanted to say she was just a selfish bitch that’s why, but I wouldn’t crush him like that. I overheard enough stories that his dad told mine to know that she was never mother material.
“Now tell us about this redheaded beauty you were ogling.” Bliss, bless her, changed the subject to something less serious, causing all of us to take in a collective sigh of relief. Holland instantly turned seven shades of red.
“Nothing to tell, she was one of Jack's whores, end of discussion see.” Jumping up from the couch, Holland made a beeline for the front door. “I need to get going, my late night shift starts tonight. Welcome home Bliss, do us all a favor and behave yourself, at least for a little while.” It was Bliss’s turn to blush, but it doesn’t stop her from running to the door to yell at him.
“Don’t think this is the end of this conversation mister, I want to know about this woman that captivated your attention!” The tension in the room burst like a bubble allowing us free reign of our laughter as Bliss came back to the couch, plopping down in a huff before joining in the fun. I loved this woman sitting beside me, she wasn’t perfect, but she was mine and that was all that mattered to me. I wasn’t perfect either, but somehow two imperfect people made for a pretty damn perfect couple. One day soon I’d make her mine for good, show the world she belonged to me, flaws and all.
