“I remember watchin’ the sunset with you,” Rex says as he takes the seat next to me but I don’t look in his direction.
“We’re not gonna reminisce about our past, Master. We have nothing to say to one another if I’m being honest. I’m not ready to talk to you about anything yet,” I state as I look across the property toward the barn.
“You don’t call me Master, Doll. That name is for members of the club, their ol’ ladies, and people I don’t know. I’llalwaysbe Rex to you,” he says with a cold voice so I turn and look at him.
“I’m not special to you, Master. Never have been. Yes, I realize we have to have a conversation so we can both finally move on from our past. However, now is not the time. I’m exhausted, sore, and ready to just sit here alone and breathe in the fresh air,” I tell him, looking away once again because it honestly hurts to be this close to the man I love and know he’ll never be mine.
“You are special to me, Doll. Always have been. We don’t have to talk about our shit right now, but it will be happening. Sooner rather than later. You can guarantee that. I’m not leavin’ you out here alone because I know you’ve had a long day. I know you're independent and stubborn as hell. Let me have this. Iwant to help you if you can’t make it back to your room on your own,” he says without getting out of his chair and allowing the silence to fall around us.
I don’t move until the sun disappears completely and only the moon lights up the world around me. Looking up at the sky here I can see all of the stars filling the sky and it always amazes me to see them. When I was little, I tried to count them numerous times and failed. The innocence of a child thinking they can count high enough or simply reach out and touch the stars despite how far away they truly are. Rex also doesn’t move. He sits next to me and doesn’t say a word. No one else comes outside and I have a feeling they’re getting ready for bed.
It’s not long before I start yawning and know it’s time for me to head inside for the night. I might have taken a nap earlier, but I’m still ready for bed. I don’t even have the energy for a bath tonight. I can take one in the morning because I don’t have physical therapy and I don’t meet with Debbie until late morning. Ivy already said she might not go out to meditate in the morning because Charlotte isn’t feeling the best. Standing up, I head inside with Rex following close behind me. My legs are wobbly as I take careful steps. When we get to my door, I don’t turn around or say anything. I simply walk inside and close the door behind me. Heading for bed, I only slide my sneakers off and once again slide under the blankets. My eyes slide closed slowly and I don’t have nightmares as I dream of Rex and the life we could have had if things had been different.
Chapter Fifteen
Master
OVER THE LAST two weeks, Taleah has made a lot of progress. Not just at the ranch with her therapy, but physically as well. She no longer has to use the walker unless it’s been a really long day and her body is tired. She’s doing more yoga poses with Ivy every morning, and has even ridden Storm a few times. I don’t ride horses, but Ivy and Manic went with her and they were gone for hours. During that time, I did more research on TJ and his family. Viper has been helping me with a few of his contacts that he’s made in town since gaining the confidence to get out and do more things. Plus, we’ve been riding through town more because there’s rumors of a drug ring making their way toward us. That’s one thing we won’t tolerate in Glendale. We’ll do whatever it takes to protect everyone, especially the kids. They don’t need to be exposed to drugs more than they already are. We understand we can’t stop the drug problem in Glendale, but we can do our part to ensure drug rings don’t infiltrate our town.
I have a feeling I know why the drug trade is coming to Glendale. TJ’s parents are involved in a ton of shady shit. Including drugs. They might appear as a businessman and his meek stay-at-home wife, but that’s not the full scope of them. TJ’s parents have more money than his father’s salary and their investments should allow them to have. They’re definitely living beyond their means and TJ has benefited from that until recently when he was cut off financially. His father was anticipating him obtaining a large sign on bonus when he was drafted to play pro football. Since that didn’t happen, hisusefulness to them declined rapidly. Now, they only show up for public appearances to appear as a happy family and when they want a favor from TJ. He’s run drugs for them, gotten money from those who owe them, and anything else his father demands of him. It’s no wonder he’s started turning violent because there’s definitely evidence of him using drugs now. We found a ton in Taleah’s house when we cleaned it out for her. Some of those holes he created in the walls were storing large quantities of product. I wanted to beat the fuck out of him for that alone.
I’ve been building a file on the Bond family and Reckless knows a little bit of what I’ve discovered. We’ll go over it more when we have church because the only time I talk to Reckless, or anyone else from the club, is if they call to check in on things at the ranch. We don’t talk about business over the phone because we never know who might be listening. I check our phones, other electronics, and the clubhouse regularly, but you never know what someone is willing to do to gain information on us and what we’re doing. Especially with the enemies we’ve already made by breaking up sex trafficking rings and keeping Glendale as clean as possible.
Mr. Winslow has called me a few times over the last few weeks to check on Taleah. He knows his daughter doesn’t always give him all of the information and is going through me to ensure she’s not hiding shit from them. This is something they started doing after losing their son. I rarely say or think his name because it’s too damn hard and hurts too much. Anyway, I’ve done my best to reassure Mr. Winslow his daughter is doing as well as she says she is. I’m not sure if he believes me, but they haven’t rushed home from their business trip so that’s a promising sign from them.
I’m walking across the yard toward the barn to see Bear. That’s what I’ve decided to name him because I have a feelinghe’s going to be a big boy when he becomes an adult. He’s started coming to me the second he sees me and follows me around the ranch when I let him out of the stall. I spend a lot of time with Bear when Taleah is busy. She doesn’t know it, but I’ve taken one of her shirts so he can get used to her smell. One way or another Taleah will be in my life and Bear will be around her daily. If she doesn’t agree to give me a second chance, then I’ll just give Bear to her once he’s fully trained as a guard dog. Anything I can do to protect her. However, since I’m a stubborn bastard, I have no problem playing the long game and ensuring Taleah is mine once again.
By the time I get closer to the building where therapy sessions are held, I see Taleah walking out the door with tears still falling and I know she’s had another exhausting session and heard things she probably didn’t want to. I’ve overheard her talking to my sister about her sessions and learned she was truly in denial about her situation with TJ and hasn’t fully dealt with the loss of her brother. Right now, she’s not paying attention to anything around her as she heads for the house at a slow walk. There’s a slight limp to her steps as I quicken my pace in case she falls or stumbles. I won’t allow her to hit the ground if I can help it.
Bear alerts her to our presence when he brushes up against her leg. Taleah immediately stops walking and looks down to see the puppy at her feet.
“What are you doing out here?” she asks, bending down so she can pet him as he laps up the attention from her.
“He’s goin’ for a walk with me,” I answer from behind her and watch as her body stiffens slightly before she forces herself to relax.
“I didn’t see you out here,” she says, her voice breaking because she’s just come from therapy.
There are still days it bothers her to talk and she goes quiet. When she does talk, her voice breaks and she has to pause more often than not. I hate those days because I can see the frustration on her face. Taleah is used to talking a lot and doesn’t see this as part of her recovery, she views it as a weakness. One caused by someone else, but a weakness, nonetheless.
“You doin’ okay, Doll? I’ve always hated to see you cry,” I ask her, not sure if she’ll actually answer me or not. Taleah has been trying to give me the silent treatment but it doesn’t always work.
“Don’t, Master,” she says, still petting Bear and keeping her back to me. I really hate her using my road name instead of my given one. “Everything from our past belongs there and not here with us in the present. There’s a ton of pain between the two of us and things we both have to say. Today is not the day for it. I don’t know when we’ll have that conversation, but I promise you it won’t be after I’ve had a really intense therapy session where I learned more about myself and the things I used to tolerate that I won’t any longer.”
“You know I’m proud of you, yeah?” I return, stepping up closer behind her and letting memories of our shared past fill my mind.
“I’m proud of myself. Don’t need you to say you’re proud of me when it’s just another line you use to get your way. You’re a master at getting your way and always have been,” she says before standing up and starting to walk away again. “Just so you know, I’m leaving the ranch today. I’m going to pack my stuff now. Keep your shifts here and don’t follow me around anymore, Master.”
Shock floods me because it’s only been a few weeks and I’m not sure if Taleah’s truly ready to leave the ranch. Her parents still aren’t home and she’ll be in that house all alone.I wish Bear were already trained because I’d send him to the house with her today. Instead, I’ll have to get Prospects to cover the house and follow her to work. So far there hasn’t been any attempt to get to her, but I have a feeling TJ is just biding his time and setting plans in motion. He’s not patient or smart, but if he’s in contact with his father, he’ll force him to watch and take his time so he doesn’t end up getting more charges added on to his laundry list of crimes. I might have had a hand in ensuring he was charged with a few more things with the dirt I’ve managed to dig up.
“That’s good news, Doll,” I say loud enough for her to hear as Bear makes his way back to my side but continues looking at Taleah. If dogs could pout, I have a feeling that’s what he’d be doing right now.
“Just overheard your girl say she’s leavin’,” Manic says, walking up to me without Ivy and Charlotte. “You think she’s ready for that?”
“I do. She came here to get help and has been meetin’ with Debbie three times a week for almost a month now. She can still have appointments here in person or on the phone like Annistyn does sometimes. Just because she’s leavin’ doesn’t mean she’s givin’ up on continuin’ to get help,” I remind him as we stare toward the house. “Where’s Ivy and Charlotte?”
“Charlotte is takin’ a nap and Ivy was gonna lay down with her. She’s not feelin’ good today and needs the rest. I was just helpin’ Roger in the barn because we’re gonna have a nasty storm come through tonight and a few things needed to be taken care of before he brings the horses inside. Never thought I’d be workin’ on a ranch after gettin’ out of the service, but I’m really likin’ my time spent here,” Manic informs me as he looks toward the house because it’s about time for dinner to start being prepared and I know he’s wondering if Ivy will cook tonight.
“I like it here, too. It’s peaceful in ways I haven’t experienced in years. We were always on the go when we were enlisted and could never rest if we were deployed. Then we formed the club when we got out and that took a ton of work. After that there was the situation with Darren and Cali and the sex trafficking ring. I thought we were finally gonna be able to settle down and have some peace, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Not with all the rumors flyin’ and tryin’ to help Taleah,” I say as I take in nature and just the quiet surrounding us. The only noises are from the animals as they move from the fields to the barn led by Roger.
