“I can’t sit here and do nothin’ anymore,” I finally say after almost a half hour passes and Annistyn still hasn’t walked in the door of the clubhouse.“I’m goin’ to find her.Cali, you wanna head out with me?I’m not sure Annistyn’s ready for a ride on my bike just yet.”
“Of course I’m going.Caleb can stay with the kids.Babe, you can either keep Dakota out here with you or put her in our room upstairs.Don’t let her sleep for too long though.If you do, you’ll be up all night with her,” Cali answers standing from her seat as Caleb adjusts Kylan in his arms to accept his daughter when I hand her over to him.Kylan puts a hand on Dakota’s back when she stirs and gives the smallest whimper at being disturbed.
Master, Viper, Manic, and Force follow us outside and head for their bikes without me saying a word to them.Cali climbs in her SUV and waits for us to pull out before she follows behind us.Force pulls off to ride behind her and make sure nothing happens on the short ride to the park.That’s our first stop and I’m hoping with every breath I take Annistyn is still there.
When we pull in, my eyes immediately land on Annistyn toward the back of the park.She’s talking to a guy who stands and hands her something as I shut my bike off and remove my helmet.I can’t help but smile because for the first time, I’m getting to see Annistyn completely relaxed without the slightest hint of tension filling her body.The only thing I don’t like is the red tint to her skin.I’ll have to keep an eye on her so she doesn’t burn and hurt from being outside all day long with no sunscreen on.
“You okay, Pixie?”I ask while keeping my attention on the guy walking away from her because I have no clue who this man is or what he was doing with my girl.
“I’m okay.That’s Roger.He was teaching me about the camera and pictures,” Annistyn informs me as I look down at her, noticing she’s not as relaxed as she was a few minutes ago “I’m really sorry if I upset you.”
“I’m not upset, Pixie.I was worried when you didn’t come back and it started gettin’ dark.You can do whatever you want.There is one thing we’re gonna change though.I’m gettin’ you a phone of your own so this doesn’t happen again.I want you to be able to call if somethin’ happens.If you weren’t here, I don’t know what I would’ve done, Annistyn,” I tell her as she looks up at me and a fraction of the tension leaves her body once again.
Annistyn doesn’t ever want to upset anyone.Part of it’s because she has such a pure, gentle heart and only wants to see everyone around her happy.The other part is it’s been beaten into her that if she does one wrong thing, she’ll receive some kind of punishment.It doesn’t even matter what was done or if it’s wrong.Annistyn sees any wrong move she makes as one that will get her hurt from words or in a physical way.Talking to some guy about something she’s passionate about doesn’t upset me at all.Honestly, I’m glad he was there to give her pointers when no one ever has before.
“Can we go back to the compound now?I’m really tired,” Annistyn asks me and I can see how exhausted she truly is.Today has taken a lot out of her and she’s just now realizing it.
“Yeah, Pixie.Cali’s got the SUV here.I’ll walk you over and we’ll follow the two of you back.Dinner’s ready and waitin’ for us when we get back to the clubhouse.I’d like you to eat before showerin’ or anythin’ else.I doubt you’ve eaten anythin’ today and you need somethin’ before goin’ to sleep,” I say as I lead her to the SUV and help her inside before heading back over to my bike.
We all pull out from the park and head back to the compound.I keep my eyes locked on the SUV in front of me and don’t let it out of my sight.While I’m glad Annistyn took today for herself and got away from the compound, I couldn’t stop the fear from overwhelming me most of the day.It’s something I’m going to have to get used to because I refuse to treat Annistyn as if she’s a prisoner because I don’t want her wandering off too far from me.Everyone else has kept her as a prisoner in her own life and I won’t be a name on that list.I will help her embrace her freedom and figuring out what she can and can’t handle as she recovers and grows into the woman she’s meant to be.
Chapter Five
Annistyn
I’VE STAYED AT thecompound for the last week.Kreed said he wasn’t mad at me when I stayed gone longer than I anticipated and he had to come find me only to discover I was talking to someone he doesn’t know.Not just anyone, but a guy at that.I’m not sure I can trust him though.If I had done anything similar when I was with my aunt and uncle, it would have resulted in a beating and being starved for at least a week.Kreed hasn’t done anything to me and has acted as if everything is normal, but I still don’t trust that something won’t be done to punish me when I least expect it.I’m trying to force those thoughts aside, but it’s not easy when that’s all I’ve ever known.In fact, everyone has acted the same as they always do and it’s truly confusing because I’m not used to it.
Cali is sitting in the common room with me while Kreed and Reckless are outside with the kids.The girls wanted to play on the small playground out back while Bryce wanted to ride his dirt bike.I’ve gotten pictures of him riding around the compound for his parents and I hope I managed to capture the pure freedom and excitement lighting up his face as he zoomed past me every single time.I don’t know that I’ve ever felt as free and excited to do something so simple a day in my life.If I did, it was when my parents were alive and I can’t remember it happening.As soon as I can, I want to find a library or somewhere I can print the pictures out and give them to Cali and Reckless.I just hope they enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them.
Bryce isn’t the only one I’ve taken pictures of, though.When the kids are outside playing, I’ve taken pictures of them running around, swinging, going down the slide.Each and every time, they have large smiles on their faces and are enjoying the time spent with their parents and Kreed.It’s not just the kids who are truly enjoying making those memories though.Reckless, Cali, and Kreed are having as much fun as the kids.They’re existing in that moment and letting the rest of the world fade into nothing.Each adult is relaxed and not thinking of anything other than the children they’re with.This is how I imagine I lived when my parents were alive—living my best life with no worries or fear clouding every single day I woke up.
I can tell Cali wants to say something to me as we sit at the table they usually occupy in the back of the common room.She hasn’t spoken up yet and I’m just waiting for her to say whatever is on her mind.I just hope it’s something I can talk about and not anything to do with my past because I’d rather keep those memories locked in the vault in my mind.
“You really enjoy taking pictures, don’t you?”she finally asks me as I stare at the table in front of me.
“I do,” I respond, my voice still hardly above a whisper.“I found the camera I use in a trunk of my mom’s things and have enjoyed learning how to use it ever since.”
