“You sure you don’t want me to walk you to your car?” he asked again.
My best friend might have been a tiny little thing, standing at five feet seven and a hundred and thirty pounds, but he could throw hands like a skilled boxer.
“I told you I’m fine. I have my mace. Now let this man take you home and blow your back out,” I said as I turned and walked away.
“Okay! But text me when you make it home!” he shouted.
I raised my hand and gave him a thumbs-up as I kept striding. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my keys. Just as I was about to step off the curb, I felt a presence behind me. I reached for my mace, but I never got to use it.
A powerful blow to the back of my head sent me crashing to the ground. My vision blurred as I tried to make out the many figures that stood over me. I groaned, placing my hand on my head.
“Tonight, you will pay for your sins. Jesus always prevails.”
Chills ran down my body at the coldness in his voice. He sounded like the devil himself.
“SOMEBODY HEL—” I got out just as another blow was given. This time it was a kick to the stomach, taking all the wind out of me.
That blow was followed by another and another until my consciousness left me. Something told me this was it. This was the way I was going to leave this world.
I couldn’t help but think about him and where it all started.
Chapter One
WILL
3 YEARS AGO
Iwas so excited today. I was officially going to start the new nannying gig I snagged. Although I was happy, I was nervous. The job consisted of working around a motorcycle club. I wasn’t the judgmental type at all, but I had never been around an MC. The only thing I could go off of were the few whispers around town about the club.
Some felt the club's members were good people. They were always giving back to the community, and as far as anyone knew, they weren’t into anything illegal. Then there were the people who felt the club wasn’t to be fucked with. While they might stay out of the way, crossing them wasn’t smart.
During my interview with two of the club’s Ol’ Ladies, Cara and Sara, I had never felt more welcomed by someone in my life. Those two were like a breath of fresh air. So were the men.
There were so many candidates applying for the position, and it was clear that a handful of the women there were not concerned about the children. They were more focused on the men of the club. Cara and Sara easily weeded out thosecandidates. It wasn’t hard either. They couldn’t take their eyes off the guys.
Today was my new beginning. For years, I had been trying to get away from my family. They didn’t understand me, and that made getting along hard. I was always a topic of discussion. Between my sexuality, career choice, how I dressed, and so on and so on, I was always nitpicked, while my stepsister, Tabitha, could do no wrong. My mother foolishly thought that because we were a year apart, we would get along just fine. That never happened. Tabitha was a complete bitch to me from the first time I met her.
I hated how my mother never stood up for me. Ever since she met her husband, Elliot, when I was eight, she had done anything and everything to make him happy, including turning a blind eye whenever he or his daughter belittled me. Deep down, I knew Tabitha and Elliot hated me. For many reasons that weren’t my fault, and I would never apologize for.
Recently, things had gotten really bad, and I moved out. Luckily for me, my best friend, Oscar, had a spare room. He told me the room was mine as long as I needed it until I got on my feet.
I’d always known that I wanted to work with kids. So, my taking this nanny gig wasn’t just a job to me. At twenty-three years old, I had my CDA (Child Development Associate) credentials, along with my CPR and first aid certificates. I had also taken a nutrition and cooking course.
Besides all the certificates I had, I was also great with children. I had patience and understanding. I loved watching them grow and learn. What many people failed to realize was that children were our future. They needed to be unconditionally loved, which I felt was lacking in many households, including mine.
“Will! Shouldn’t you be on your way to the clubhouse?” Oscar asked as he sauntered into my room.
Looking him over, I noticed he was still in his robe. “I’m on my way out now. Shouldn’t you be headed to the salon?”
Rolling his eyes, he propped himself on the doorframe. “Normally I would be, but my eight o’clock canceled at the last minute.”
“Oh, okay. Well, let me get out of here. I don’t want to be late on my first day, and the clubhouse is a forty-five-minute drive from here.”
Grabbing my keys and wallet off the dresser, I made my way out of my room.
“Make sure to tell me what every single one of those sexy devils looks like up close and personal when you get home tonight.”
Snatching the front door open, I snickered and looked over my shoulder. “You know I will.”
