Page 16 of Banshee
The club girls here weren’t like they were back home. They didn’t compete for the brothers’ attention. If a man was taken, they backed off. They still talked and joked with them, but they didn’t try to seduce them. They were together with the old ladies. Helping out wherever they were asked.
The club girls back home had no morals. More than one of them had their ass handed to them by my mother. She didn’t play their bullshit games when they tried to seduce my dad.
My mother didn’t share.
Haizley reached over, covering my hand with hers. “Of course.”
“Okay.” I looked around the room, searching for Banshee. He was sitting at the bar with Brandy. He did that a lot. I couldn’t help wondering if he’d slept with her. If he’d slept with all of them.
They had their heads close together, sharing secrets. Suddenly, Banshee threw his head back and laughed. I’d never heard his laugh before. Every interaction I’d had with him had been gruff and angry.
I released a sigh and focused back on Haizley. I was only torturing myself with thoughts of what could have been. Thoughts of what never would be.
“He’s very handsome,” Haizley said.
“Yea,” I agreed. Shaking my head, I inhaled deeply and asked, “Do you need help with your bags?”
“No, I only have two. Would you like to have your sessions in the morning or the evening?”
I glanced back at the bar, knowing how often they sat together ignoring everyone else, and I answered, “I think mornings would be best.”
“Okay, let’s get to it then.”
I followed her to my room, and we closed ourselves inside. We talked about Greg and what had happened. How I felt about the things I couldn’t remember and the things I could.
Neither was easy to accept. But Haizley was so patient and kind. She held me when I cried, letting the unknown overtake me. I didn’t share much of my past with her.
It didn’t make sense to open up about a life that was so far away. The past was Irene’s life. Aspen’s life was the present.
The weather was slightly warmer this morning as Diesel and I quickly ate our breakfast and headed outside. We’d made our rounds around the backyard, and despite the warmer temperatures, I decided not to linger.
I was surprised to find Haizley sitting at the bar with Bane. She was earlier than usual. I made my way over to her, and one look at her face filled me with shock and concern.
“Oh my God, Haizley! What happened?”
“I’m okay. I promise.”
“But what happened?” I asked again. She looked like she’d gone five rounds with Mike Tyson. Her face was bruised, and she had a cut across her cheek.
“We’ll talk about it in your session, okay?” Reaching out, she placed a hand on my arm. “Are you okay having it a little earlier this morning?”
“Yes.” I nodded, my eyes focused on the black circles on either side of her nose.
“Okay, let’s go up to your room.”
Haizley paused, turning to Bane.
“I’ll let Gunner know where you are.”
“Thanks.”
Haizley and I walked upstairs to my room. My thoughts were going wild with all the scenarios that ran through my head. Yet, never once did I suspect Gunner or the other brothers.
Entering my room, she sat in the chair in the corner, and I climbed on the bed with Diesel by my side. He slept with me every night, and feeling his warm body snuggled up against me had kept the nightmares away.
“I have something to tell you,” she began. “You’re going to want to blame yourself, but I need you to understand this was not your fault. You bear no responsibility for what happened to me. Okay?”
My breathing became shallow. Diesel’s ears perked up, and Haizley moved to the bed, taking my hands in hers. I knew what she was about to say. There was only one reason she thought I would blame myself.
