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“Luna, do you think you should go to the cops?”
I turn around. “Hell no. People like these guys don’t go to the cops to deal with business.” I leave it at that and walk out of the room. I don’t pretend to be hardhearted and that no one can hurt me, I’m probably one of the softest people around, but I won’t be pushed around. I learnt that from a young age. Growing up with bikers gives you that luxury. But this, this might chip away at the hard exterior I’ve tried to surround myself with.
Plugging the bath, I turn on the hot tap and let it run, squirting some strawberry scented bubbles in there and let it fill up. I toss a clean towel from the shelf onto the floor and wait, sitting on the side of the tub mesmerized as the bubbles pop and more are created. The sound of a cell pinging comes from the living room, but I don’t rush to see who it is. I don’t want to talk to anyone anyway. As I forget about the cell and people, a soft knock raps the door. “Come in.” I call out softly. Neve enters with my cell in her hand.
“You have a message, babe.”
I turn my head and look at her, she has a soft smile on her face but her eyes tell me different, she’s a mixture of sad and angry but has no idea which one she should push forward with.
“Thanks.” I take it from her outstretched hand and leave it on the side of the sink and turn the tap off, before moving to the other tap to add some cold water to it.
“I’ll leave you to it.”
I don’t acknowledge her, instead I go back to staring at the bubbles as the bath is almost full. Dipping my fingers in the water to test the temperature, I swirl my hand around. Once I know it’s done, I strip out of my clothes, slinging everything into the corner of the bathroom to be thrown away. I don’t want to look at my jeans and pinpoint the last time I wore them. I throw my underwear with them also then lower myself into the hot water, it stings my skin as it covers me, but I suck it up. The hotter the better. I want to singe every touch and every memory of his hands from me. Resting my body back against the ceramic my eyes close. I let my mind take me to a better time, an easier time of my life. Funnily enough, that included Levi, too.
Everyone has gathered for Levi’s seventeenth birthday out on the yard of the compound. Dad asks Levi cover to his eyes and turn his back, but because he’s so stubborn he refuses. I jump on his back and cover his eyes. Dad shouts to not let him go so I hold on as tight as I possibly can. His fingers grip beneath my thighs, his hands hot on my skin as he inches them further up, he turns his head to the side and whispers, “I’ve always wanted to know what it feels like to have your legs wrapped around me.” A smirk lifts the side of his mouth, and feeling brave, I bring my feet up in front of his body and tighten my legs around him, crossing my ankles and clamp his hips between my thighs. His fingers lightly squeeze the top of my thighs. “One day, Lu, you’ll be mine.” He exclaims in a low breathy tone.
His words have me excited at the thought, I just wish I didn’t have to hide how I feel about him. Dad though, he won’t be happy.
The sound of an engine rumbling has me looking over the crowd of heads. I have the best view ever from here. He rolls in a shiny, new Harley Davidson, it’s similar to the one that Dad rides. Ever since we took Levi in, he’s said wanted to be like Dad. The bike comes to a stop and Dad nods for me to uncover his eyes. I move my hands and slip my arms down to circle his neck, tilting my head to the side so I can see the look on his face but from this angle it’s hard to see his full reaction. I jump from his back and stand off to the side.
“Come here, boy.” He pushes through the guys and Dad hooks his arm around his shoulder. “Happy birthday, kid. This is for you. Annnd…” I push through the crowd hoping to see more, and just as I pop my head through, Reaper and another member, along with Dad, present Levi with a cut. The ecstatic expression on his face has me smiling wide. I’m so proud of him and how far he’s come. He slips it on with Dad’s help and admires it before slapping hands with Reaper and the others before turning to me. I can’t stop myself throwing my arms around his neck, pushing to my tippy toes and hug him tightly, “I’m so happy for you. Happy birthday.”
“No one will ever hurt you while I’m around.” His lips connect with my cheek and although I’d love to stay like this, I break his hold and step back. He gives a knowing grin and goes to his bike, throwing his leg over it and sitting down. He looks so at home with his cut and his Harley.
Levi ‘Chains’ Brown, was meant for this life.
My eyes pop open at the memory of so long ago, and even though he caused me hurt in the past, tonight he did exactly what he said he would do and protected me. I’ve never had so many conflicted thoughts about anyone, but I guess it’s always the people you care about that hurt you the most.
With that thought, I quickly wash and drag my weary body from the water. It’s much cooler now, anyway. I wrap myself in the towel I threw on the floor, then wrap my hair in a smaller one, grab my cell and take myself to my room. I collapse on my bed, cell still in hand but it’s not long before my eyelids are dropping and rather than fight it, I let them close and drift into sleep.
CHAPTER 12
LUNA
Levi: Just checking in to make sure you’re ok. Try and get some rest tonight. See you tomorrow.
The first thing I did this morning was to find where my cell had dropped in the bed, and open the text that I suddenly remember had come through last night. Reading Levi’s text, telling me to rest, makes a small grin pull at my mouth. I should’ve known when Neve said I had a message it would be from him. I throw myself onto my back, stretch my arms out to the side and spread my legs out, lying starfish in my white sheets. I’m trying not to think of what happened with Mac last night, but like any bad experience, it’s there, threatening to break through, wanting to dominate my every thought.
The sun peeks through my blinds, lighting the room with rays and reflecting off the light-colored walls. My eyes squinting as I turn my head toward the window, it looks like it’s going to be a nice day. At that, I decide I’m not going to wallow in self-pity about what happened last night, I have to think positively that Levi turned up when he did and I thank my lucky stars that he decided to come back to the bar.
I pull myself to sit up, not realizing that I fell asleep in the towel wrapped around myself when I got out of the bath. My hand moves into my hair, that’s still damp too. I need to get my ass out of bed and get coffee. But just as the thought passes through my mind the door knocks. I tighten the towel back around me and cover up before calling out, “Come in.” The door opens slowly, as Neve pops her head around with a smile. It’s not the usual bright smile that greets me but that would be that asshole’s fault.
She holds up a cup to me, I smile back and call her in. She sits on the edge of the bed and passes my coffee over. “Thank you.” I take a sip and swallow. I needed that after I slept like shit. That first sip of coffee is like the first ray of sunshine after rain. It brightens my soul.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“I know, but I wanted to. I wanted to check on you.”
Twisting to place my cup on the nightstand, I turn back to her and reach for her hand. “I’m good.” I haven’t had a look at my neck, it’s why I haven’t gotten out of bed yet and found a mirror but as her gaze drops to it, I know it must be pretty bad. “I promise. I won’t let Mac scare me. And I’m guessing Levi has already told Reaper what happened. Mac’s the one that needs to be scared.” I say, as a matter of fact.
Neve nods then finds my eyes. “As long as you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” I smile, “but thanks for being here and listening to me.” She leans forward and pulls me into a hug, I know she needs this more than me today. “Okay, I need to dress. Levi will be here soon, wanting to get his bike back.”
With a comforting tap to my thigh, she stands, but pauses before going any further and turns back, “I know a lot of stuff happened between you and Levi, but maybe you should hear him out.” I nod, I’d been thinking the same thing. No one stays the same in the space of seven years, maybe it’s time to listen.
Quickly drinking my coffee, I go to the bathroom to quickly wash up and clean my teeth. My hand stops its movement as I lift my head up, and I come face to face with my reflection for the first time since the attack happened. I zoom in on the purple marks, the shape of his fingerprints, that ring my throat. A shuddering breath rattles through my chest but I refuse to cry. I will not cry over that bastard. My fingertips flutter softly over the bruises, and with a renewed determination I take the brush from my mouth and spit the toothpaste into the sink and rinse my mouth with water. Dropping my brush into the glass on the shelf, I go back to my room to find something to wear. Pulling out some ripped jeans and a tank, I quickly dress.
