Page 7 of Facing the Pain

“I’m going to go and pack a few things and put them in Jake’s truck. Does Dad have a tracker on it?” Quinton looked at his feet. I knew it. “Can you take it off for me and make sure there are no others? I’m leaving my cell phone in my room and cutting all ties with social media. I have some cash stashed in my room and I will drive and stay somewhere close tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll withdraw everything from my savings except the money I’ll leave for my house to be built. Dad will take care of that,” I rambled off.

“What are you talking about?” Quinton asked.

“Brother, tonight I disappear for a year or two. I want Duke to go to the next club and try to conquer it. You know if they can’t get what they want here, they’ll try it somewhere else. Once he claims someone else, I’ll come back. This will also give all of you time to dig and find answers on all the strange things going on. It’s not forever, just for now. I’m taking one of Dad’s still packaged prepaids. I’ll put all your numbers in it and some numbers I don’t want to lose. I’ll keep in touch from a distance but not for a while. At first, it will be mail correspondence, nothing traceable. This can work. After I get the truck loaded and ready to go, then I’ll go to the clubhouse and let this thing play out. After the big show, I’ll sneak out and hit the road. You and Dad need to find out who is helping Duke and his family in the mother chapter. They couldn’t do this all alone. Find out why. I love you and all our family. I am trusting only you with this.” I hoped Quinton wouldn’t argue.

“If you promise to be careful and take your gun then I think this could work. It’s not the perfect solution but it will give us time and you’ll be safe and away from here.” Quinton thinks about it for a minute. “Don’t use any plastic and no checks. What about your medical and your disability? Go to Pittsburg and get in touch with Louie. He owes the family favors and can get fake identifications. One is not enough, but only buy two at a time. If you get caught with them, it can be jail time. He will be the go between. Charles Cants is in San Antonio and Darrell Bests is in Oklahoma. They are the best and fastest at taking care of fake identifications and that gives you a few names to remember. I’ll put the numbers in your phone. I’ll activate the phone after I take care of the trackers. I think this is a good plan for now. You know Dad would never ask this of you.” Quinton hung his head.

“It’s alright, Quinton. I can take care of myself. When I come back, my house will be complete. I’ll worry about seeing doctors when I cross that bridge. My check will still go to the bank. I know the club life is what you all live for. I won’t make any of you pay for my stupid decisions. I was living in a fairy tale and everyone knows at midnight, everything changes back. Let’s stop thinking about this and making ourselves miserable. Just let the rest of them know that I’m fine, and this was my decision. No one takes my decisions away.”

Chapter Eight

CHARLIE

The Big Day

My tasks at home are done. I packed what I could in a couple of duffle bags. It’s not like I will be able to wear my clothes in a few months. I will need to get a job. Quinton helped as much as he could. Nothing about packing up your life is easily done in thirty minutes. I took the things that are most important. I couldn’t leave my memories of Jake at home this time.

I walk in the back door of the clubhouse and the ol’ ladies are all in the kitchen gossiping. No one would come right out and say Duke was cheating on me but there were a lot of clues dropped. Sheila is the front and center clue. Everyone is taking bets on who the baby belongs to and the top name is Duke. I act surprised but heartbroken, then more things keep coming up—like the way Duke was busy today moving her out of his room. I knew this and it hurt, but I shut it down and out of my mind so I could get through tonight. If the ol’ ladies only knew that I was pregnant by the same man. I didn’t tell Quinton that part either. I know they would try to stop me from leaving if they knew. The code is if a man gets a woman knocked up then he can claim her. I’m not giving Duke that in.

I leave the kitchen with the intention of finding Sheila or Duke, but I don’t have to go far because she is standing in front of him looking up at him. The room is quiet. Dad walks up next to me.

“You don’t need to see this. I’ll explain later.” My dad is in ‘protect Charlie’ mode. I’m not having it and I don’t need it. I walk away from Dad and up beside Duke.

“Duke, is Sheila’s baby yours? Don’t even try lying. Is there a possibility?” Duke sizes me up and tries to figure out what mood I’m in. I have my mask in place, and he would never be able to emotionally touch me again. That’s over with.

“There’s that possibility. It also could be any brothers here. Who has been feeding you information? Your damn brothers or Dad will lose their cuts if it’s them.” Sheila intakes a breath loudly. “Besides that, she’s a club whore, and I wanted to get all my side-fucking out of the way before we were married. No ring on this finger and no cunt owns my cock until I claim you.” That makes me see red. I look at Sheila.

“Honey, you deserve better.” I first look at Sheila and then I look at Duke. “We are done. I will not accept your claim and if you want to press the issue, we can go to ring tomorrow. My brothers and Dad never said a word. They chose the club over me.” In this chapter of the club, the woman has the option of calling ring if she doesn’t want the claiming of a man. It’s a genuine thing but any man that takes it that far loses face in the club. He would never be voted in as an officer because the club takes pride in the ol’ ladies of this club and all club ol’ ladies are here because they want to be, not because they were forced. I look at Dad and he is feeling what I said.

“You already accepted, bitch. I will take what is mine.” Duke gets in my face and all the brothers of the club stand up. Duke backs away.

“I believe you remember that conversation we had. The one where we said that we belonged to each other from that day on. We were in a monogamous relationship. Were those not your exact words?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Words are just words. I know my rights as a brother. I’ll accept the ring. I’ve been needing to knock some damn sense into you, anyway.” I raise a brow at him.

“There’s never been a brother that accepted ring from a woman that was voted in as an officer or kept a seat as an officer.” Duke looks at me and he knows I have figured his plan out. I almost want to laugh. He wants to tell me off, but he knows better than to let his hand be shown to everyone.

“Fine, no ring, but you will be mine and every brother here better hear this. Anyone touches Charlie, and I will cut your throat.” Duke is showing his true colors.

“Claim not accepted. You can move Sheila back to your room now, but, Sheila, you deserve better.” I turn to leave but Duke catches my arm and squeezes hard. Yance steps up and pries his hand off and pushes Duke away.

“This discussion is not finished.” If Duke only knew how finished it was. I hug my dad and tell him I love him and then do the same for each of my brothers. I hug my special aunts and uncles that I will miss. I slip out in the middle of Duke and Sheila’s argument. I make it home down the same path I had walked earlier with the flashlight of my phone. I go upstairs and take a quick shower and put on fresh clothes. I leave my phone on my nightstand and hook it up to the charger. I leave a note for each of my siblings and Dad. I make sure the kitchen is clean and the coffee machine is ready for the next morning and turn the lights out. I lock up and get in Jake’s truck. Now, I am driving away from my past and finding my future with my child.

I lost Jake while he was trying to find our future. I lost Duke, or I never had him, but I think I was saved another heartache or less of a heartache. Tonight, I need to start facing the pain so I can start life over.

Chapter Nine

CHARLIE

Fresh Starts

Iput the miles between me and home and then stop off at a hole-in-the-wall motel that has seen better days to stay the night. I’ve slept in better places, but I’ve slept in a hell of a lot worse too. I know I need to clear my head and rethink my whole plan. I know when I came up with this whole idea, I was running on raw emotion. I was feeling cornered, and I needed to get away. I used to be such a levelheaded person, but the decisions I have been making haven’t been my best.

I can’t let Quinton take the heat for me from not only Dad but the mother chapter of the Rivals Sins MC. I know they’ll take his cut and then my dad and other brothers will quit too. I can’t let that happen. The one thing all of us learned growing up is protect the family, and the club is our family.

I take the phone that Quinton gave me out of my pocket, and I write down the numbers that he has put in it for me. I should eat something, but I am way too sleepy and there is no way I am in getting in that nasty shower. I put my bag on the bed beside me and take my boots off. I put my gun close and I lie down to get a little sleep. I’ll be back in Pittsburg by the time the bank opens and then meet Louie for a meeting before lunch. I just hope Quinton reads my letter I left him before he sees Dad. That’s the last thought I have before I nod off.

Chapter Ten

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