“W-W-Will y-y-you g-g-go into detail,” she stammers, her sweet voice breaking again as she looks up at me with tears filling her eyes.
“Not great detail, Pixie.Just enough to ensure they understand what’s goin’ on.The main thing you have to realize is that no one in the room with me will judge you for what’s been done to you.You were the victim in the situation and deserve to be given the peace so you can recover however you need to.If that means counseling, in-patient treatment, or anythin’ else you need.I only want you to be protected when I’m not around to be there for you,” I answer her as she starts to tremble in front of me.I’m dying to pull her into my arms, but until I get some sign from her, I don’t move an inch.
Annistyn looks up at me with fear filled eyes but there’s a determination behind the fear I rarely see in her.She’s trying so hard to be strong and get past every single defense mechanism she’s put in place.Not being able to hold back any longer, I take a step forward and pull her into my arms.Annistyn drapes her small ones over my shoulders and holds me close to her body.I keep my arms locked around her and don’t let go until I feel her arms loosening around me.Annistyn doesn’t take steps away from me though.She continues to look up at me and nods her head once.If I weren’t looking at her, I never would have seen her allow me to share parts of her story with the members of the club.This is a huge step for her whether she realizes it or not.
“Thank you, Pixie.I’m gonna go to church now.Cali won’t leave until Reckless is done.I have a feelin’ they’ll be eatin’ dinner here tonight.Why don’t you go sit with her again?”I ask her as I lace our fingers together again and lead her from the room.
“Okay,” she whispers as we make our way down the hallway and toward the common room once more.
Once Annistyn is settled in her seat with Cali, I reluctantly release our hands and head for church.Evan stands outside and takes the gun I carry at all times and my phone.Without a word to the Prospect, I head inside and take my seat next to Caleb.Manic sits on my other side while Force sits on the other side of Caleb.Everyone else takes their seats while Master finishes setting up his laptop and pulling down the screen so we can all see whatever he has to pull up.
“Church in session!”Reckless says, slamming the gavel on the table in front of him.“First order of business is Carly.She crossed a fuckin’ line the other day and the only one payin’ the price for it is Annistyn.Her drinkin’ and bein’ drunk is no excuse for her puttin’ Annistyn in a position to relive somethin’ terrible.All in favor of kickin’ her out of the clubhouse say ‘Aye’.”
Everyone agrees to get rid of her as we go around the table with Reckless casting the final vote to remove her from the club.Honestly, I wasn’t going to bring her up until the end of our meeting.I didn’t realize Reckless was going to get her kicked out first thing.Though, I really shouldn’t be surprised because he is my best friend and the only one here who truly knows how I feel about Annistyn.
“She’ll be informed of the decision once church is over.I’ll be the one to tell her she’s no longer allowed in the clubhouse, on the property, or at any of our businesses.I’d prefer to run her out of town, but we won’t take that step just yet.She’ll get one more chance to leave us alone and find her own path in life.Movin’ on.You all know the circumstances which brought Annistyn to the clubhouse.She was one of the girls Link and the team rescued from the auction at the warehouse.I was just informed yesterday everyone has been arrested and will be charged with multiple crimes.Anyway, Annistyn has a story that is dark and twisted.Link will share a little bit with us, but no questions will be answered and details will be the bare minimum.This is her story to tell and she’s taken a huge step in allowin’ us to know anythin’ about her past,” Reckless says, looking around the table and pausing when his eyes find Viper who bows his head.
“Essentially what happened is Annistyn’s parents were killed in a car accident when she was very little.She was in the car with them and the only survivor.Annistyn was moved in with her aunt and uncle who have treated her as a slave and punchin’ bag from the day she arrived.They rarely let her eat or have anythin’ to drink and monitored her at all times.They’re the reason she was in that warehouse to begin with.I don’t believe the accident that killed her parents was a simple accident.I believe someone made this happen for some kind of gain.I just don’t know what it is at this point.Master has been helpin’ me dig into it.
“Also, Annistyn has met someone and I believe they’re related.His name is Roger Vance and he’s a photographer.He’s also the owner of the Vance ranch about two hours from here.It’s not your typical ranch though.Roger has turned the place into a place for therapy, animal therapy, and a way for those in need of mental health help to get away from everythin’ and focus on healin’ and workin’ on themselves.It’s almost completely off the grid and thrives.Roger works there daily and I am plannin’ on invitin’ him to the clubhouse to talk about Annistyn so he can see her in an environment she’s used to.I will doanythin’to help her recover and become the strong woman she’s meant to be.Master, what have you found?”I ask, turning my attention to our resident computer guy.
“I am convinced Roger is the cousin of Annistyn.I believe his mom was Annistyn’s dad’s sister.There was a rift in the family shortly before the accident that killed her parents.While his mom knows about the accident and did show up at the funeral, she never did anythin’ to check on Annistyn once she was in the custody of her mom’s relatives.They aren’t even blood relatives from what I can find.The aunt is the sister of the woman who adopted Annistyn’s mom when she was a newborn.Her own parents left her on the street and someone took her to the hospital.The woman who adopted Annistyn’s mom was a very sweet woman and nothin’ like her sister.
“There were several reports of child abuse from the school until they made them believe they were homeschoolin’ her.I’ve looked into the reports and everythin’ was forged.Annistyn was never given an education.From what Cali has mentioned to me in passin’ when I asked about this, she said Annistyn admitted to teachin’ herself how to read and work the camera she always has with her.Everythin’ she knows is because she taught herself how to do it.They never allowed her anythin’.No friends, school, work, or anythin’ else.The girl was a slave who was locked on a farm two towns over.
“I don’t believe Roger has any ulterior motives for talkin’ to Annistyn that day in the park.She was someone he happened to see takin’ pictures and it’s somethin’ he does for a livin’.So, he struck up a conversation with her and gave her some advice.I’ve pulled up the security footage in the park and watched it from every angle.Their conversation was innocent and it’s one of the first times she’s talked to anyone outside of this clubhouse.Let their relationship develop naturally and don’t get in the way of anythin’.If you’re not sure about what to do, refer to Kreed.This is a situation he will be in control of as much as possible,” Master says as everyone turns to face me while I keep my attention locked on Viper.I can see the question in his face before he ever opens his mouth.
“Are you gonna claim Annistyn as yours?”he finally asks, speaking up for the first time in church.
“When she’s ready for me to claim her I will.Right now, she’s nowhere ready for me to claim her or put any kind of label on what we are.I will take this at her pace and only move forward when she’s ready to take the next step.I’m sure you’ve all realized she’s gone back to how she was months ago when she first got brought in.It’s because of Carly and the fact that most of you witnessed her in one of her most vulnerable moments.She’s embarrassed and can’t control anythin’ about it.The only thing she can control is how she acts and what she eats.At least that’s what I’m thinkin’ this is since it didn’t happen until she had that attack in the common room,” I answer Viper as he nods his head in response.“I promise each of you right now, Iwillpersonally deal with anyone who hurts Annistyn in any way.I will always protect her and do what is best for her recovery.”
“I will stand behind you no matter what and do what I can to help,” Viper says as he looks around the table.“Her story is worse than mine and only a few of you know what I went through.I don’t need to know a single detail to realize how awful she was treated and the things she’s been forced to endure over the years.Please don’t anyone push her to do somethin’ she’s not ready to do.If you do, she’ll get even worse and will hesitate to continue with her recovery.Everythin’ she does is viewed as earnin’ a punishment because that’s all she knows.And she’s scared of all of you.You’re so much bigger than she is and it not only intimidates her, but scares the hell out of her in ways she’s never experienced before.”
“We’ll all continue to give her space and do what she needs from us.Link will take point on the Roger situation and let us know what’s goin’ on.If you feel the need to bring him here to help her, we’ll all be on board with it.Master has already given me Roger’s background check and there’s nothin’ in it to warrant him bein’ a threat to the club or a risk bein’ around the kids and women here,” Reckless says before looking around the table.“Master, keep diggin’ and inform Link of any new information you find.The two of you can decide what to share in church after talkin’ with Annistyn.”
Reckless calls church to a close and we all get up to leave the room.I’m the first one out of the room because Annistyn is waiting for me.I want to have dinner with her so I can try to get her to eat a little bit more than what she’s been eating.She was gaining a little bit of weight and I’ve noticed it’s already gone away again.Something needs to change before Annistyn ends up in the hospital and gets admitted.It’s the last thing she wants to happen and I’ll do everything in my power to ensure it doesn’t happen.
