Raging Barons MC – Book One – Truth and Lies

Sitting on the window sill, my stomach is starting to growl, but I just want out of this damn place. The men in the yard keep looking up at me, but I don’t give them any sign that I see them.

How the hell am I going to get out of here? I don’t understand why these people care about what happened to me. It makes no sense at all.

The window is bolted shut, and apart from trying to break the glass and fall to the ground, there’s no way out of here.

Entering the bathroom, I turn on the shower to warm up and take out a clean set of clothes. Jeans, a t-shirt and a sweater will do.

I don’t see anything to dry my hair, and with the length, it’s going to take a long time to dry on its own. I rub with a towel to get as much water out as I can, then brush it over and over to try and get air to it. Maybe it’s time to have it cut shorter. I don’t know.

Sitting on the window sill brushing my hair to try and help it dry faster, my arms are starting to ache. I carry on for a few more minutes, then braid it to keep it out of the way.

My stomach gives another large growl, and I’m starting to feel a little sickly with hunger, but fuck it, I’m not getting anything from this lot. They drugged me once; they’re not drugging me again.

Walking into the bathroom, I run the cold water at the hand basin and scoop my hands together, holding as much water as I can, then drink until I feel my stomach is sloshing around, but it’s stopped that hungry feeling for the time being.

Making sure my dirty clothes are back in my backpack, I leave it near the door. I want it handy to grab when I leave this place.

Sitting back on the window sill, I let a sigh slip out but rest my head against the glass and close my eyes for a little while.

Memories of being inside play through my mind. One woman was determined to make my life miserable and as hard as possible. She stopped after I cornered her in the shower, she didn’t dare tell anyone what had happened either, in case I went back for more, but her broken arm told a story.

I’m not the same person anymore. I loved helping people, worked hard to get the job at the bank, now I’ll never be able to do that again. All this happened because I loved Gunner and Zara, but never again, the bitterness is ripe now, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get rid of it.

I’m sad because it’s not who I am. I fought through foster care and came out still optimistic of a promising future, worked hard to build that for myself, then I was stupid enough to allow a man and his daughter into my heart.

Rubbing my back with my hands, I shake the memories and thoughts. I don’t want to linger on all that happened. I want to leave it behind me and move on. I have to get out of here first.

Hearing voices outside the door, I keep my face toward the window, blowing out a calming breath, ready for whoever may enter the room.

I hear the lock turn, and someone enters. The smell of food enters with them, but I don’t look.

‘Hi, my name is Candy, and I brought you a meal and some coffee.’ she squeaks out. That is the only way you can describe it, squeaky and high-pitched.

Looking at her reflection in the window, I have to stop myself from smirking. She has on a crop top that hardly covers her tits and a pair of shorts that are no wider than a belt, fucking club whore is my guess.

Dyed blonde, cut in a bob, fake as shit tits, and so thin she needs a god-damn healthy meal. She can’t be more than five-one if she’s an inch.

‘Are you not going to speak to me?’ she says, stepping nearer to me.

I remain silent and don’t turn to her to acknowledge her in any way, she’s still stepping closer, and I’m watching carefully in the window as to what she has planned.

The door opens again, and Candy whirls around to see who has entered when a deep voice firmly says, ‘Candy, get outta here, you’ve delivered the food, now move.’

I presume it’s the man who’s on guard, but I don’t speak or turn towards them. I keep my vigilance on their reflections until they’ve left the room and the door is locked again.

I’m not sure if I should eat the food or not. Do I risk being drugged again? Fucking hell, I’m in a bad position as I don’t know how long they intend to keep me here, and I can’t afford to get weak in case I have to fight.

Walking over and taking the dome cover off the plate, the meal of chicken and side vegetables looks reasonably safe, well I hope it is. I decide to take the risk and eat quickly, then drink the can of soda rather than the hot drink, which looks like weak coffee.

Sitting on the window sill once more, I rest my head on the glass and watch the people below, but it’s not long before tiredness overtakes me, and I fall asleep.

Crack

Walking through the town, we ask as many people as we can if they have seen a thirteen-year-old girl who may be asking where to find a friend. A couple of times, I think someone knows something, but they won’t tell.

Meeting up at the drive-thru, we get enough food to feed ourselves twice, then sit on a bench to eat and drink soda. As I’m eating, I’m scanning around to see if anything may give me a clue as to which way Zara would have walked, but nothing jumps out at me.

‘What do ya all think? Are we on the right track?’ I ask, and I have to admit I don’t know what will be the best way to find her now.

‘We can keep asking, maybe look for some street kids; they know more than you think. We could throw em a few bucks that may loosen lips.’ Runner suggests.

‘Okay, let’s get moving again before it gets too late,’ I state and throw my garbage in the barrel next to the bench.

We walk quite a ways, asking everyone we meet, then I notice a young kid leaning against fencing before a park entrance. I walk over and give him a nod, ‘Have you seen a man with a kid, she’s about thirteen, my niece and his daughter,’ pointing to Gunner, who is walking towards us, ‘I can throw you a few bucks if you can get us on the right road, we’ve been looking in town all day and need to find her before something happens to her.

‘We were told she has a man with her who was a Green Beret, but we don’t know him, and neither did she.’

‘If you can help at all, we would appreciate it.’

The kid stands and holds his hand out, and I get forty dollars out of my wallet. I hold it out but don’t let him take it.

‘Peter was with her. He’ll keep her safe. They were going towards the diner, from what I heard. They were asking about a woman who may have worked for them.’ he wriggles his fingers for me to give him the money, ‘That’s all I know. The diner is that way, the last diner before you leave town. But they’ll be closed now.’

I hand over the money, and he runs off. Turning to Gunner and the others, they are looking as tired as I am.

‘Let’s head back to our bikes, then find a motel, get some rest. First thing in the morning, we’ll go to this diner and find out what they know,’ I state and start walking back through the town.

It’s probably going to take us forty minutes to walk back to our damn bikes. Gunner is moaning and cursing as we go, but no one is taking any notice. We’re all too tired to argue with him.

‘Do ya think he was tellin’ the truth, Crack?’ Tin asks.

‘Well, he had no reason to lie, and it sounded plausible, but who is this Peter? I don’t know. I just hope he’s keeping her safe,’ I respond and slow my walk as my legs are damn tired. We must have covered over ten miles today.

‘I’ll fuckin’ kill him if he hurts her,’ Gunner growls, ‘I’m gonna kill her for disappearing and causing all this shit.’

‘You’ll not touch her. You need to learn to listen to her, and she would never run to find Miriam if Miriam had ever hurt her; think on that, Gunner. She running to Miriam and away from Cara and you, what does that tell you?’ and after dropping that on him, I pick up my speed and leave him stewing it over behind me.