“I know that look, brother, and I just need to know if someone’s going to die,” Stray cautioned, dancing around the real question.Who was I going to bury alive?And if he didn’t leave my room, he would get his answer.
I shook my head. “Not now, but I’m only going to say this once. Stay out of my way.”
Stray knew, maybe more than others, but he knew that I was relentless. That’s what made me the perfect soldier, the perfect club member, the perfect partner. I would never give up and I’d go until my last dying breath for the person I loved, for the people that were my family.
Stray left without another word. And the silence that I’d become accustomed to welcomed me with my wandering thoughts.
Back to the same chaos, finding out what Amelia’s troubles had made me more hesitant. She was already in trouble thatshe shouldn’t be in, a true victim in this case. Darkness and disappointment consumed her, and the sane part of me said that I needed to stay away from her. She wasn’t looking for a white knight, she seemed to just need love and a partnership that wasn’t going to suck the life of her.
If I came into her life, she’d be stuck in the secrets of the club, away from a normal life.
But the possessive side of me knew that I wanted her, from that moment in the hospital to when I had her in my arms and she pressed a searing kiss on me. I could show her a true love, a true devoted man would do just to keep her happy, to keep her smile.
I was a sucker.
I’d chase after her, bring her out the side of her that she’d been hiding.
The final page was the nail in the coffin. Paycheck stubs and banking statements.
She had been paying off debt to someone. There was little information, but like clockwork every other week, there would be a withdrawal of nearly a thousand dollars. Her bank statements showed very little transactions, the bare necessities, nothing too extravagant. It looked like sometimes there was a take-out meal here or there or a trip to the bookstore and sometimes to a hair salon.
Modest and simple. But she deserved more, to be spoiled, to be doted on.
She was paying for something, and I needed to know more. Was that why she took this side job? She needed the money but was too proud to say anything or was it embarrassing?
I would wear her down eventually. But the timing was even better. She couldn’t walk away from me. Not that I would let her.
Chapter 10
Shooter
Maybe Stray wasn’t far off when he said that I looked like I was ready to go on a hunt.
Day after day, the more I was well-behaved for her, the more I’d see a slight smile. The sessions were getting better, at least for her, as much as I wanted to protest. But I wanted to give a reason to come back.
The more I listened and followed her instructions, the more I opened myself up, showing her that I could be trusted in return. The more I opened, the more she relaxed and started to let me in. I knew more about her addiction to energy drinks and candy corn than ever before. She let it slip how she missed riding her horse from back home. I could see the painful memory in her face. My hands itched to caress her cheek, to console her, but I quickly withdrew.
True obsession led to insanity. I wasn’t looking for permission or forgiveness. I listened to my little evil nurse and took the pain meds and just rested, taking my time to heal. That only lasted about two days before I was up and walking to my truck. After she would leave me for the day, I waited for a few minutes andfollowed her home. Then may or may not have installed some “security measures” while she was at work.
People should have better locks on their home doors.
I watched Amelia, from the second she left my sight to the point where she laid her head to sleep.
She had a mundane routine if anything. When she left me, she’d follow the winding path back to the main drag until she got on the highway heading toward downtown Memphis. When she merged off the highway to get toward small neighborhoods, she would stop by the gas station to pick up an energy drink for the next shift and a snack, usually a chocolate iced donut before heading in the direction toward her home.
I’d stay close, avoiding any indication that I was following her, where she would get spooked and throw off her routine. I’d park by the opposite street corner where I was able to see into the house, but when that wasn’t doing anything for me I went for a better option. Hopefully she would never have to water those plants that seem to just die or dust within her bedroom. My “eyes” were everywhere. I had to know everything, if anything to ensure that nothing would be following her that would end up in the hands of the club.
I’d watch her pull slowly into the driveway, glancing at the parked car on the street. Her shoulders moved slightly up and down, hanging her head a little before throwing her bag over her shoulder and mustering the courage to walk in.
Just leave him, peaches. Let me help you.I’d silently beg.
I pulled up the feed to see him. I was ready to skin him alive. I was so pissed that I nearly chipped my tooth while I was eating gummy bears that were stashed in my truck. Herex-husbandsat on the couch, nursing a beer in his hands. The mindless idiot just sat there and waited for her.
“You’re home late,”he said, chugging the rest of the beer.
With a sigh, Amelia responded,“Yes, Chris, we talked about this. But clearly, as usual, you didn’t fucking listen.”
Amelia moved past the living room, trying to ignore the lazy fuck and just sleep. It had only been a week and a half since she took the side job, but she was still working her normal shifts and then some. If it wasn’t for the fact that I made her eat before we started our “therapy session”, she’d fade away.
