Chapter 3

I awoke the next morning in my childhood bed, surrounded by high school memorabilia and old photos of my friends. As I stood and shrugged into my robe, the scent of bacon wafted into the room. I was surprised I could even smell it, with the rough shape my nose was in, but I followed it downstairs to the kitchen.

“Morning, sweetheart, how do you like your eggs? Fried or fertilized?” Talon glanced at me with a wink from where he stood at the stove, spatula in hand.

I stood in the doorway, mouth agape, surprised to even see Talon here so early in the morning and dumbfounded at his remark. Suddenly an empty beer can flew at him from across the kitchen. He ducked just in time to let it sail over his head and hit the wall behind him.

“Dude, what the fuck? She’s my baby sister! Keep it in your pants for once.” Jake said with a grimace from his seat at the table.

Talon turned to him and shrugged, looking back at me with a smirk on his face and not an ounce of remorse.

I felt my cheeks flush at Talon’s suggestive comment, a mix of embarrassment and something else I couldn’t quite place. Despite everything, I found myself suppressing a small smile. It had been a long time since anyone had flirted with me, even jokingly.

“Fried is fine, thanks,” I mumbled, taking a seat at the table across from Jake. He gave me a concerned look, his eyes darting to my purple nose.

“How are you feeling this morning?” He asked, sliding a cup of coffee to me.

“Simply wonderful, never better. Thanks for asking,” I said sarcastically with a smirk on my face.

Both men laughed. “Glad to hear your sense of humor isn’t bruised, angel.” Talon said with a grin.

Jake cleared his throat. “So, Laura, we need to talk about what happens next. You’re not going back to that bastard, that’s for damn sure.”

I nodded, staring down into my coffee. “I know. But I don’t have anything - no clothes, no money, no job. I don’t even have my phone or ID.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Jake said firmly. “You can stay here as long as you need to. And as for Craig…”

Talon interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t worry about him. He will be taken care of.”

I looked up, alarmed. “What do you mean, taken care of?”

Jake shot him a look, and Talon chuckled as he brought two heaping plates of bacon and eggs over to the table before turning back to grab a third. “Don’t worry your pretty little head, angel. It’ll all be fine.”

——————————————————

After breakfast, I went back upstairs to take a shower. Someone from Jake’s motorcycle club had dropped off a bag full of clothes and a pair of sneakers from one of their girlfriends who was about my size.

I stood under the hot spray, letting the water wash away the remnants of yesterday. As I lathered up, my fingers grazed over the fading bruises on my ribs and hips. Each mark was a reminder of what I’d endured, but also of my newfound freedom. I closed my eyes, allowing myself a moment of peace.

As the water cascaded down my naked body, I couldn’t help but think of Talon and the intense desire I had felt brewing in the pit of my stomach since last night. My hands moved up to cup my breasts, causing my nipples to harden at the thought of his touch. The memory of his comment in the kitchen earlier replayed in my mind, igniting a fire within me. Was it possible that he felt the same attraction toward me?

Imagining his strong arms wrapped around me from behind in this steamy shower, sent shivers down my spine. I could almost feel his skilled hands exploring every inch of my body, one teasing and tugging at my sensitive nipple while the other delved lower between my thighs. His lips pressed against my neck, eliciting a small moan from deep within me before reality crashed back in. I was alone in the shower, and there was no way Talon reciprocated my feelings. He was just teasing me earlier. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself as I tried to push away my undeniable yearning for him.

Stepping out of the shower, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The bruises under my eyes were even more vivid now. The deep purple melded into bright green and then turned dark blue in the center. The same blue as my eyes. Frankly, I looked like the walking dead. But despite the bruising, I looked different somehow. Lighter, maybe. Less afraid.

I dressed in the borrowed clothes - a green plaid flannel shirt and a pair of old low-rise jeans that fit surprisingly well - and made my way back downstairs. The house was quiet, and I found Jake sitting on the front porch, still in his pajamas, mousy blond hair disheveled, and a cigarette dangling precariously from his lips.

As I approached, my eyes caught sight of two men standing in the front yard. They were wearing combat gear with pistols holstered on their backs. Confusion washed over me and I turned to Jake, silently questioning their presence. With a somber expression, he gestured toward them and explained, “Bones and Ghost - clubhouse security. I decided to keep them on the farm for now, considering your present situation. They’re here for your protection.”

“Thanks,” I murmured, nodding. “Where’s Talon?” I settled into the chair next to him with my legs folded underneath me.

Jake took another drag of his cigarette before responding, “He had some important matters to attend to. He’ll be back later.” The tension in his voice made it clear that there was more to the story than he was letting on.

His words reassured me, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that lingered in the pit of my stomach. I knew I needed to be prepared for whatever was coming next.

“I’m sorry,” Jake mumbled suddenly, breaking the quiet.

I turned to look at him, confused. “For what?”

He took a long drag of his cigarette before answering. “For not being there. For not seeing what was happening to you. I should have known, should have done something sooner.”

“Jake, it’s not your fault,” I said softly. “Craig… he was very good at isolating me, at making sure no one knew what was really going on, at only leaving marks in areas that no one would see. And I was too ashamed to reach out for help.”

His jaw clenched. “Still. You’re my little sister. I should have protected you. With mom gone, you’re the only blood I have left in this world,” he said, disregarding the fact that our father was probably still out there somewhere.

With a small smile, I reached out and squeezed his hand, letting us fall back into a few more moments of comfortable silence.

“Jake,” I said hesitantly, “What exactly is Talon going to do?”

My brother sighed, stubbing out his cigarette on the arm of his chair. “The less you know, the better. Let’s just say Craig’s gonna think twice before he ever lays a hand on another woman.”

I felt a mixture of fear and relief wash over me. Part of me wanted Craig to suffer for what he’d done, but another part was terrified of the consequences. “You’re not… you’re not going to kill him, are you?”

Jake chuckled darkly. “Nah, we ain’t stupid enough to catch a murder charge. But he’ll wish we had, when Talon’s done with him.”

I frowned, not entirely satisfied with his answer. “I appreciate you both wanting to protect me, but I don’t want anyone getting into trouble on my account.”

Jake turned to me, his expression serious. “Listen, sis. What that bastard did to you… it’s unforgiveable. He needs to understand that there are consequences for his actions. And believe me, Talon knows how to deliver a message without leaving a trace.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I couldn’t deny the small thrill of satisfaction that came with them.