“Fine. We’ll wake her up then,” my mother says and I feel the first slap against my cheek.
My mother is weak, but she still manages to hit me hard enough to force my head to the side. Blood fills my mouth from biting the inside of my cheek and I can’t spit it out. I want to see what else these twatwaffles have to say. Maybe it will be something the club can use. Yes, I know Axel and the club will come save me. There isn’t a single doubt in my mind they’ll be here for me.
“Wake the fuck up!” Jess screams, her voice hitting a pitch that almost shatters my ears from how loud it is.
Jess hits me in the stomach and I can’t hold in the groan because of the cesarean section to deliver Leo. While I’m essentially healed, getting hit in that area causes me more pain than normal. It doesn’t take long for another person to slap me. This time I know it’s Foxy. Her long nails scratch my face deep enough to immediately draw blood as it drips down my face and onto my lap.
“Wake the fuck up you spoiled little bitch!” my mother screams and I know it’s time for me to let them know I’m awake and their plans won’t succeed.
“I’m awake you stupid bitch,” I grind out, my voice a graveled mess from lack of talking or anything to wet my mouth and throat. “I always knew you were going to resort to kidnapping me. All to get your way when it won’t ever happen.My money is mine and you won’t ever see a single penny of it. I suggest you figure out what the hell you’re doing to cover your debts.”
“The fuck I’m not. That money is rightfully mine and never belonged to you,” she shrieks, a cold edge lacing her voice that reminds me of the coldest winter day during a storm. It’s positively glacial.
“You think you’re hot shit when you’re nothing,” Jess says, getting in my face and gripping the sides with her nails digging into my skin. “Tease won’t ever want you once we’re done with you. You’ll be covered in scars and ruined. He doesn’t really want you now. It’s always been me he wants. In high school, he wanted me and since I started at the strip club, he’s been in my bed more times than I can count.”
“Yeah, don’t make me laugh.Axelhas already told me more than once that he’s never touched you. I believe his exact words were that he wouldn’t touch you with a hundred foot pole and someone else’s cock. You’ve always been desperate as fuck when it comes to Axel and he’s never once wanted anything to do with you. That hasn’t changed now that we’re older. Foxy is the same. You’re both nothing more than skanks who want someone you won’t ever have. The three of you are so damn delusional and it makes me laugh because you all belong behind bars of some kind,” I say, making sure to emphasize Axel’s name since I’m the only one who calls him that.
“He would never say that about me,” Jess screams, launching herself at me in an attack I can’t defend myself against. “Tease loves me and he always will. You gave him a baby so I don’t have to. I’ll be that baby’s mom and you can’t stop me.”
“You’ll never be the mother of my son. He won’t ever call youmommy. My son belongs to Axel and me alone. You say one more word about him and I’ll ensure you don’t see the light ofday as a free woman again. Not to mention whatever Axel and the club do to you. Foxy learned the hard way not to threaten my son and me. It’s why she was kicked out of the club. Your lives are the way they are because you’re all monsters who don’t deserve to have anything good. None of you deserve love or a man like Axel,” I promise them while glaring and feeling the sting of the wounds they’ve left behind so far. I’m not stupid enough to believe this is the end of the abuse by them. If anything, they’re just getting started.
“One of you grab those papers. Let’s get her to sign them now,” my mother says, a cruel smile on her face as she looks down at me.
“I’m. Not. Signing. Anything,” I grind out and try to hide my smile because if they’re so desperate for me to sign the papers, they’ll have to release my arms and give me a few minutes to get the feeling back in them before I can do anything.
“Yes you fucking are! I’ve had more than enough of your bullshit and won’t tolerate your disrespect any longer,” my mother says as if she’s ever done anything to earn an ounce of respect from anyone in her life. The greedy bitch doesn’t know the meaning of respecting anyone or anything.
I watch as Jess grabs the papers with a smirk on her face as if she’s already won. I’m about to rip the carpet out from under all of them.
“You realize you’ll have to untie me if you plan on forcing me to sign those papers, right?” I begin as the three of them stop moving and look between one another. “And, the two of you are stupid as fuck if you truly believe she’ll give you the money you were promised. My mother is a greedy bitch and won’t ever give a penny to another person. Her promises are empty and you’re going to lose out on your cut. The second she leaves the bank, you won’t ever see her again.”
“Stop lying!” my mother screams, hitting me several times in a row faster than I’ve ever seen her move before. “Don’t listen to anything she says. This bitch is trying to come between the three of us and we have to be stronger than she is. She’s fucking stupid thinking she knows everything.”
“You think I’m lying? This is coming from a woman who intentionally got into a car accident just to try to kill me so she could get her hands on my inheritance. She owes so many people money there won’t be any left for her to spend once she pays everyone off. That’s if she really pays everyone off. I’ve never known her to pay a single debt. My dad has been the one to cover her until she left him. Now, no one covers her ass and she’s gonna end up dead because she crosses the wrong person. From what I heard, she owes a few clubs money and the mafia. Maybe it was the cartel. I really can’t be sure at this point. All I know is she doesn’t have money to pay you for helping her. If you really stay by her side, you’ll end up dead right alongside her and you won’t have anyone to blame but yourself,” I inform Jess and Foxy even though I truly don’t give a fuck what happens to either one of them.
“Shut up!” my mother screams before she starts beating me once again.
This time, Jess and Foxy join her. The three of them are hitting me wherever they can. With the way they’re moving around, I can’t get a good kick on any of them. However, I don’t take my eyes off them because I can see them slowing down from exhaustion. None of them have any stamina and won’t last long even if I don’t fight back against them. It’s just a matter of time and I can’t outlast all of them. My body is already numb and I barely feel their hits. That’s not to say I won’t at some point very soon, but for now, I can resist the pain. I’m not sure how much time passes, but the last thing I see is my mother pick up one ofthe book ends from the library. I don’t know when she brought it into the dining room, but she lifts it over her head and slams it against the side of mine. Once again, I’m knocked the fuck out and I know this isn’t good to have this happen more than once in a short period of time.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tease
THREE FUCKING DAYS. Sheridan has been away from Leo and me for three days now and we have no clue where the hell she’s being held. Brick has been going through all of the footage from security cameras, we’ve talked to Eric more than once, and everyone has been out riding through town and the surrounding areas in search of Sheridan or her mother. The guys have even tried contacting Jess and Foxy because there isn’t a doubt in my mind they’re involved in this shit. Omen contacted Kat yesterday to get her here so she’s ready for the women. My mom and Janessa have already said they plan on getting their hands dirty because no one is going to hurt Sheridan and get away with it. They want to get revenge on her behalf because we’re almost positive she won’t be able to do much of anything once we bring her home.
Mr. Russell hasn’t left the compound since Leo was discharged from the hospital. He’s staying at our house and has been out searching and calling everyone he knows for any information on Sheridan or her mother. I’ve watched on as he’s broken down, blaming himself for his daughter being taken by her atrocious mother. My dad has spent most of his time here with Sheridan’s dad because we’re all concerned about him. If anything happens to him, my girl will never forgive us. That man is her entire world and she will burn it to the ground if he’s hurt or sick because we didn’t keep a close eye on him during herabsence. Mr. Russell believes it’s because he fell in love with a fake version of her mother that it means he’s the one to blame for her being taken from us. Yesterday I caught him crying as he held Leo, promising to bring his mama home to him even if it meant he gave his life for her. That won’t be happening. It’s a promise I’ve made to myself. My family will be safe and whole by the time we bring my Little Fairy back home where she belongs.
So far, I’ve managed to contain the rage and pain filling me. I haven’t destroyed anything despite my parents, Janessa, and Knuckles when he’s here keeping a very close eye on me. The only reason I haven’t exploded and gone off the rails is because of our son. I have to be strong for him right now and be the dad he needs me to be. I’m not going to allow my mom and Janessa to take care of him when I’m his dad. Sheridan would want me to be the one taking care of him so that’s what I’ll do. I need to be just as strong as she would be in the moment no matter what’s being thrown our way. She makes me want to be the best version of myself and be a man she can be proud of. Someone she wants to have at her side no matter what stage of life we’re in because I’m sure as fuck not gonna let her go.
I’m thinking of all the possibilities of where Sheridan could be as I sit in the nursery with Leo in my arms. I can’t stop looking down at him and seeing how much he already resembles the perfect combination of Sheridan and myself. He’s got my nose and her violet eyes. His chubby little cheeks are so much like my girl’s when she was younger. Yes, I’ve seen the pictures of her as a baby and toddler.
“Little Man, I might not be able to guarantee a lot of things in this life, but I will always ensure I keep our family safe. I didn’t do that when your mama was taken from us and I’ll make it up to her for the rest of her life. Your mom is the best woman in the world, Leo. She’s sweet, kind, determined,strong, genuine, and a ray of light on the darkest of days. She instinctually knows when to simply sit with someone and wait for them to talk or listen to them as they rant and bitch about everythin’ under the sun. She’ll be your best friend and also the person who protects you at all costs. I’ll always be the bad cop because your mama doesn’t have the heart to play that role and ground you when it’s needed.
“I can’t wait until you’re old enough to see your mom in action, Little Man. She can do anythin’. She’ll teach you how to change your oil, change a tire, work on any vehicle there is, and be your biggest supporter no matter what you wanna do. Your grandpa made sure she’s an independent woman and taught her everythin’ she knows. I can’t tell you how many hours she spent in the garage helpin’ me work on my bike over the years. She would sing while workin’ or watchin’ me work on somethin’ while handin’ me tools. Your mom was content to sit there and be with me no matter what I was doin’. While I didn’t take her for granted, I didn’t make a move on her when we were younger because I was scared of fuckin’ up and losin’ her for good. I’m a dumbass for that.
“And she’s so damn smart. Your mama is goin’ to school to become a vet. I’ve never seen anyone have a way with animals the way she does. She’s rescued and saved more animals than I can remember. I always knew she’d do somethin’ with them from the first time I saw her save a puppy regardless of how hurt she was because of it. Your mom is the kind of woman who will put everyone else before herself and not hesitate to help anyone in need. Hopefully you get that from her because I can be a selfish man when it comes to certain things.
“The only time you ever have to worry is when your aunt Shelly is here. When your mama and her get together, things become wild really quick. Though you won’t have a biggerdefender than your aunt. She always stood up for your mom and I know she’ll do the same for you. Right now, she’s in college but she can’t wait to come meet you. Prepare to be loved on and spoiled more than you could ever dream. Your aunt will be the one who will cover for you when you’re in trouble and make sure you always have a wingman. I don’t know if she’ll keep you out of trouble or help you get in it when you’re older. Just remember everythin’ she does comes from her heart and she’ll love you like no other,” I tell my son while keeping my eyes locked on him as he sleeps in my arms.
