Using my unbound feet as leverage, I shift to my side gently to avoid injuring my aching ribs any more than necessary. I feel around the dark compartment with my feet, hoping to find the string attached to the trunk release. Minutes pass by before I finally feel a piece of corded material in the corner by the trunk lid. Holy shit, I think to myself, I might actually be able to pull this off. Maneuvering the string between my toes on my left foot, I clench it tightly and start to pull. I can feel the cord trying to release the latch, but I need more pressure. Sliding my other foot on top of the string, I clamp down harder on the string and pull with all the energy I can muster. The string yanks back hard with my pulling force and I hear the latch click. Pushing up on the lid with the side of my right knee, the trunk slowly begins to open.
I scoot as fast as I can to the edge of the trunk and peer out only to find that it’s pitch black outside, which is to my advantage because there will be fewer people on the streets to alert the kidnapping bastards inside of my escape. Seeing no one in my line of sight, I push the trunk lid higher and slip my legs over the edge of the trunk and onto the pavement. Gingerly lifting my upper body out of the trunk’s carpeted floor, I sit upright and slide out of the trunk. Closing the lid again with my bound hands, I jog away, trying to ignore the pain radiating from my stomach with every step. Broken glass and rocks dig into my bare feet as I make my way around a corner a few blocks away from the diner that the car was parked in front of. Crouching down behind what has to be the smelliest dumpster I’ve ever encountered, I lie in wait for my captors to drive off.
Ten minutes later, my former prison roars to life and speeds past my hiding spot. While I lie in wait to make sure they don’t double back looking for me, I use a rusty and jagged edge of the old dumpster to cut the duct tape wrapped around my hands. I know from watching forensic shows with my step-dad that they can pull fingerprints from the sticky side of the tape so I stow the evidence into the waistband of my pajama shorts for safekeeping. Maybe I could use that to identify the bastards later.
After fifteen minutes, I decide that they aren’t coming back so I push myself off of the dirty ground and make my way back to the street. Keeping to the shadows, I check out my surroundings. Fuck, this isn’t someplace I recognize, so I’m obviously not close to home. Just thinking about home sends a thick layer of fear settling over me. All my money is at home. Fuck! I can’t go back there since they are probably watching the place for Ricca, and I can’t exactly go to the police for help without shining a bright beacon on me screaming, “Here I am!” for my Cleveland demons. I am so fucking screwed right now. I don’t even know Kellen or Bobby’s number to help me get out of wherever I am.
I wander the streets until I finally spot an abandoned house next to a salon. Looking through the boarded-up windows, I get the idea that no one has lived here in ages. Sliding between the wooden slats, I step into a dust-covered room. Just my luck, the place is unfurnished, but at least it’s off the street and secluded enough that no one will see me hiding in here.
The rising sun illuminates the room just enough that I can maneuver the space without falling into a deep pit of doom, further expanding my exciting adventures tonight. Just as I determine that I will have to sleep on a dirty floor, I spot a cot propped up in the corner of the room. Looks like someone else used this old place as a sleeping place before me. Hopefully they don’t come back and find me poaching their territory.
Sliding the cot from the wall, I set it up and use my foot to test its strength. It seems surprisingly sturdy. Scooting myself onto the rough canvas, I get as comfortable as I can. You have to rest, Dani, I coach myself. Just get some rest, then we’ll see how big of a fucking mess Ricca has gotten us into. The thought of my roommate has me seething with anger. She brought this on me. I was finally settling into life here as best as I could and yet again, someone rips it away from me thanks to Ricca. I’m so tired of running from the evil in this world. My life of hiding in the shadows has finally caused me to hit rock bottom now that I am homeless and broke. It’s at this moment I’ve truly realized how far from grace I’ve fallen. My mother would be so ashamed at what I have become. It’s probably a good thing she’s six feet under or she would realize how much of a colossal fuck up her daughter has become, just like she did. I guess the saying is right. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
The thunderous sounds of explosions shake me awake. My body is frozen in place while I watch my brothers’ bodies erupt into flames, their hands outstretched toward me as they cry for help. Their scorched bodies pop and crackle from the intense heat as I try to escape the invisible bonds that bind me in place. The bright flash of another bomb blinds me as louder screams pour out of the fire-bombed area surrounding me. More inflamed bodies crawl toward me; their burning flesh burns my nostrils the closer they get. The smoke finally clears, and the faces of my brothers have changed to hers. Her beautiful, dark body is marred by slashes and holes while blood pours from her wounds. “Help me,” she cries as a man follows closely behind her as she runs toward me. She stretches out her hand to me. Just before she can grip it, the man jerks her back. His maniacal smile beams as he runs a knife across her throat, sending blood spurting everywhere. She falls to her knees, staring at me while the blood pours out of her body like a fountain. “You didn’t save me, Hero. You failed me,” she whispers as he pumps a bullet into her head.
“No!” I wail, rushing out of bed to fight for her. I make it halfway to the door before I realize I’m in my room at the clubhouse, not Iraq. The smell of their burning flesh still lingers in my nostrils, and my body trembles from fear while my chest heaves with adrenaline. Fuck, the nightmares have never been this vivid before. Calm down, Tyler. Just fucking breathe before someone comes up here to check on you. Just like I predicted, they flooded back to me after Jagger’s funeral. I’ve dreamt for weeks after we laid Jagger to rest about that IED explosion that claimed my brothers’ lives and left me scarred. I’ve relived that day over and over again, but tonight is the first time she has been in my dreams.
I don’t know what to think about that. How can one woman that I literally don’t know at all affect me so much that she’s even invading my nightmares? My raven-haired beauty never spoke a word, but I wanted to fuck her like the world was ending as soon as her ass connected with my dick. Her pull was addicting, and I still want a taste of what I can only assume is an even prettier pussy that was hiding beneath that short skirt. There’s no hiding the fact I want a taste of her, but she’s off-limits. She’s a civilian and potentially in bed with our enemy. The club would have my ass if I tried to bring her back here, even if it was for a fuck ’em and dump ’em session. I can’t have her and it’s only made me want her more.
Does that mean I’ve sworn off pussy because I desperately want to feel her wet folds tightly wrapped around my dick? Fuck no. There’s no reason to deprive my cock of a little dirty fun. The club girls take care of all of those needs, but my heart hasn’t been in it since that dance with her. It pisses me off that as soon as one of the pretty little club mamas puts my dick in their wanting mouth, I can’t get off unless I think of her and those delicious fucking curves she teased me with. Even if she wasn’t associated with Twisted Tribe, I don’t even know her name or where she lives to track her down. Fuck, that makes my ass sound like a stalker.
Shaking off the dream and my silent raven angel, I jump into the shower to wash off the sweat that drenched me during my nightmare. It doesn’t take me long to get clean and dressed in my favorite black Harley shirt and jeans. Leaving my room, I head downstairs for breakfast where Ruby walks over, handing a plate of food to me as I make my way to the couches.