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I push up from the chair hurriedly, effectively knocking Ringer’s hand from my lap, and I hurry out of Dad’s kitchen. Eyes blurred with angry tears, I take off for my apartment.
I run up the stairs and into my own tiny kitchen before I start to pace back and forth. I’m surprised I don’t wear a hole in the ground as I shuffle from one side of the room to the other.
Raped?How could this happen? I’ve lived my entire life within this club, and I’ve always known there was a certain danger that came with being involved in it, but never in my life did I imagine something likethathappening.
I remember Dad saying that it had nothing to do with the club, which could be true, but why the hell would someone kidnap Pebbles thinking she was Bunny? Something isn’t adding up here. There must be a hole in this story that I’m not privy to.
The door leading into my apartment opens behind me, startling me so much I nearly jump out of my skin. I whip my body towards it, clearly still on edge from hearing about Pebbles attack.
“Calm down, babe. It’s just me,” Ringer says, holding his hands up.
When he steps up to me and lifts his hands to my face, using his thumb to wipe the wetness away, it’s then that I realize I’ve been crying since my dad uttered the words.
“Are you okay?” he asks gently.
“Am I okay?” I yell. “Of course I’m not okay! I was just told that someone I’ve known since before I was even born was attacked and raped. Of course I’m notokay!”
I realize I’m hyperventilating when Ringer pulls me into his chest, telling me to breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth. “I’ve got you,” he says calmly, lips nestled on the top of my head.
After a few minutes, my breathing regulates and I’m able to pull away from him. “I’m okay,” I whisper.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, furrowing his brows at me.
I pull out of his arms, turning to my dark red couch and plop down on it. Ringer lowers himself next to me before putting his hand back on my knee.
“I’ve always known that bad stuff happens, but I guess I always thought the club would be there to protect me. I’ve lived my whole life not really worrying about my safety because I thought the club would protect me.” I pause for a moment, then scoff. “Hearing what happened to Pebbles just proves that the club doesn’t matter. Bad shit can still happen. I guess I’m just a little spooked.”
Ringer reaches out, taking my chin in his hand and forcing me to face him. I’m stunned speechless with the fierceness I find in his eyes. “Listen to me right now, because I am only going to say this once.” I force myself to swallow at the harshness in his tone. “I willneverlet a fucking thing happen to you.” His scorching gaze volleys between my eyes. “Do you hear me? There is not a fucking thing in this world that I would let harm you. I would set the entire fucking world on fire to protect you.”
A shiver racks up my spine at his words.
“Do you understand me, Princess?”
Every ounce of bravery I have ever possessed vanishes from my body as his words surround me. A weight lifts off my shoulders as if my body knows that the words he speaks are true. Wide eyed, I slowly nod.
“Good,” he says, letting go of my chin and dropping his hand back to my knee.
“Is she okay?” I ask timidly. My voice is so small, I hardly recognize it.
Ringer slowly nods. “The hospital checked her out and gave her the okay to be discharged. She’s going to stay with Tank and Maria for a while. I was locked up when Triton passed, but Reaper filled me in on how she was afterwards.”
I nod, remembering back to five years ago and how I feared that Pebbles would never recover from her father’s death. “She went mute for weeks. She would only talk to certain people, and even then, she was a shell of herself.” After this, I fear she may never return to her normal self.
He nods. “She’s in shock, but Maria and Tank will take care of her.”
I don’t respond, too busy waging a mental war as I try to process everything that has happened. Ringer seems unbothered by my lack of response and remains next to me, lightly tracing his fingertips along my knee cap.
I realize after a few moments that his touch soothes something inside of me. My breathing returns to normal as I zone out, staring at an imperfection in the coffee table in front of me.
“You good?”
I nod, rolling my head on the couch cushion towards him. “Thank you.”
“For?” he asks, his face a mask of confusion.
“Calming me down.”
He smirks, letting out a soft chuckle. “Princess, I’ve been calming you down since you were 6 years-old.”
