Page 30 of Reckless
Chapter Sixteen
Carly
Walking home, I suddenly realize which way my feet have carried me.
If I turn down the road to my left, I'll end up at the clubhouse. There were multiple routes I could have taken home from the restaurant and I subconsciously just started on this one. I think about walking down there and telling Jax how I feel. The way my chest aches when I think about not being around him again.
A black SUV pulls up near me, and for a minute, I think it might be someone from the club. When the driver door opens, and I see Tony walk around the car, the smile on my face dies.
“What? Not happy to see me?” He leans against the car. “Imagine my luck when I saw your pathetic ass walking down the street like a homeless beggar. Biker trash throw you out already? Can’t say I am surprised.” He shrugs his shoulders as he smiles at me.
I hate him so much. All he has ever done to me is put me down. Now even after he's done with me, he gets joy out of trying to hurt me. "Fuck you." My voice is low but I know he hears it because his fists clench at his side.
"What the fuck did you just say to me, whore?" He takes a step closer, but I don't care.
I am done being scared of him, letting him control me when we aren’t even together anymore. “I said fuck. You.” Words have never felt better leaving my lips.
The hit to my face comes before I can even react. I fall to the ground, cutting my knee on the gravel. His foot connects with my side, and I scream hoping someone hears me. It feels like lightning bolts are shooting through my whole body. No one is around though.
"You're not even worth me scuffing up my damn sneakers." He spits at me, and it lands on my arm cradling my ribs.
The car starts, and I don't move for a few minutes after it pulls away. When I get up, I wince and look back down the road to my left. Screw this.
I start to walk and pull out my phone to text Jax.
I’m coming to see you. I ran into Tony it got bad. I need you.
Tears stream down my face from the ache in my side, the cut on my lip burns and I'm starting to feel nauseous from the pain. I hate feeling so weak and needing him, I haven't needed anyone in a while. At the same time, I want him to be there for me, and I want to be able to lean on him.
The gate comes into view, and I see Mikey at the gate. "I…need…to…see…Wrench." I have to take a breath between each word, but it's like I'm never actually able to fill my lungs with air.
"Shit, we're on lockdown." He looks around, but no one is outside. "Let me call." He turns his back on me, and with the wind, I can't hear anything that's being said. When he faces me again, I already know what he's going to say. "I can't let you in right now. Want me to call a cab or something for you?"
"No." I want to be pissed, but I don't even have the energy for anger right now. I start to walk away and pull out my phone to call for a ride. There's no way I can walk like this. I dial a few numbers before it dies, the screen going black. I start to laugh, but it hurts. "I swear to God if it starts to rain I'm done."
I see the bar I passed on the way and decide to stop in and ask to use their phone. Bikes and pickup trucks fill the lot as music blares from the open windows and smoke billows out of the screens. The door creaks as I open it and all eyes turn to me.
Walking up to the bar, I ask the bartender to use their phone and call a cab. The dispatcher says it will be around twenty minutes to half hour. “Thank you,” I say to the older man.
He gives me a kind smile and a nod before walking away.
"You look like you could never belong in a place like this even if you tried. But I gotta say I'm damn glad you walked through that door, doll." I look over and see a guy who has to be over six feet, he has a long beard and tattoos cover every inch of skin I see except for his face. His eyes study me, and I instantly want to cover myself. Looking around, I think I might have almost been better off trying to walk home or hitchhiking.
“Sorry, I have a boyfriend.” I look away hoping that would be enough to get him to back off.
“Yeah, well if he’s lettin’ you in a place like this without him, he’s a fool. Besides what he don’t know won’t hurt him.” He places his hand on my lower back and my stomach rolls.
"You know, I think my ride is here." I stand up and try to walk out of the door instead of running like everything inside of me is screaming to do. I hear some guys laughing as I walk toward the door, but I don't look back.
Walking toward the road, I can hear heavy footsteps behind me. I say a silent prayer that it's just a coincidence and someone is walking to their car. Leaning against a short wall that surrounds the parking lot I refuse to look back as I shake from the cold air, and uneasiness I feel.
“Where you runnin’ to so quick?” The voice from the bar sounds from behind me.
Shit.
I turn to see him standing less than a foot behind me. The stench of cigarettes and whiskey is so strong that I feel like I’m choking on it.
“Just need to get home.” I look away from him, begging for my luck to take a turn for the better tonight.
"Well, let me take you there then." His voice is hard, and it doesn't sound like he's asking.
My eyes close as I hope for some kind of divine intervention.
