Shrugging, I turned away and rode towards the Montreal Chapter. I’d not told Teller I was coming, and I couldn’t tell you why I had. I pulled up in front of their clubhouse and took a few moments. The prospect on door duty eyed me suspiciously.
Finally, I climbed off and approached the entrance.
“Members only,” he said.
“Fuck off, prospect.” I went to pass, and he stopped me.
“Lady, I don’t know who you are, but this is for members only.”
I pointed at my patch, and he shrugged. “Women ain’t allowed to wear a patch. Take it off now, before I beat your ass.”
My fist shot out, and I knocked him senseless and entered the clubhouse. I glanced around looking for Teller, and a guy got up.
“Dynamo?” he asked, sounding shocked. Vicious, the Veep.
“I need to see Teller,” I replied. “And your prospect is outside, unconscious. Not a bright spark, that one.”
“That’s my family,” a huge brother said.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t brag about that. Claims women ain’t welcome in the Royal Bastards. He’s learned a lesson. Threatened to beat my ass, a real fuckin’ charmer.”
Vicious snorted. “Teller’s this way.”
“Thanks.” I felt eyes on me, but none were threatening or sympathetic. More respectful. Vicious knocked and let me inside Teller’s office. He looked surprised as I entered.
“Dynamo. This is a surprise,” he said, getting up and offering his arm. I clasped elbows with him and sat down. “What can I do for you?”
“Do you think I’m a victim?”
Teller blinked, and he was trying to figure out why I was asking. “In what way?”
“You found me.”
“You wanna know what I thought?”
“Yes.”
“I saw a fuckin’ courageous woman who’d survived hell. It was obvious what those fuckers had done, but you’d broken free and taken revenge. None of us had any idea what was going on, but you were alive and fighting. You scared the hell out of us, and I nearly pissed myself.” Teller chuckled, and I smiled grimly.
“Dynamo, you defended yourself and refused to bow. Pinned us to the wall to prevent anyone from harming you again. Damn brave, fuckin’ special, and someone I’m proud to call sister,” Teller said bluntly.
“You didn’t see a rape victim?”
“Yeah, I did. But that isn’t you. Rape is something that happened to you, but it’s not you. You ain’t a victim. You’re a fighter, a survivor, and a strong woman. Dynamo, you don’t need my validation; you don’t require anyone’s. You got raped. So fuckin’ what? Sure, it’s traumatising, but it doesn’t change how we or your chapter see you. I can’t emphasise: I’ve not been raped, and I get it had to be soul-destroying, especially with your abilities.
“I hurt for you, as do most of us, but not a single brother believes you’re weak or anything else. Strong as fuck—yeah. Rape isn’t about sex, but is about control and fear. Those assholes wanted to break you and failed. Rape is not a part of your personality; it was something done to you. You choose what you do with that,” Teller said firmly.
“I don’t want to be the victim.”
“Then don’t. Simple as that, Dynamo. Pick a pathand head down it. Don’t matter what happens, I’ll support you, as will Warden and your family.”
“I failed them,” I whispered.
Teller frowned. It was a frightening look on him. “How?”
“I got taken. They didn’t know where I was. Shit hit the fan,” I replied.
“Yeah, it did. But you fought and escaped. Broke free. Nobody looks at you like that. It’s your mind telling you that crap, Dynamo,” Teller said firmly.
