AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hush Doc. I’m in the middle of a business meeting, can’t you see. It’s rude to interrupt.” He takes a second, building my anxiety with every silent second that passes. My mind is running rampant with the possibilities of what he might want from me but I’ll pay whatever debt he asks to save someone else’s life over mine. “Little Bird, you have such a big heart inside that little body of yours. So, I’ve decided to make my request an easy one.” He pauses again but this time I know it’s for a dramatic effect or maybe to increase the fear trying to suffocate me.
“My request is simple. You stay here with us until you are fully healed and you must give us a chance to show you, we are not the big bad monsters that go bump in the night as you think we are.”
I can’t breathe. He can’t be serious. My head is spinning, making me sick from how dizzy I feel. Everything around me goes fuzzy. I can hear muffled talking but I can’t make out any of the words with my heart trying to beat out of my chest. They want me to stay with them until I’m healed. To give them a chance to do what? kill me easier? No. I can’t let that happen but I also can’t let them hurt Doc.
“Wh-what do you want from me?” I question because if they think I’m just going to be some fuck toy to play with then trash, they have another thing coming. My fear slowly starts to shift to anger. I’m so stupid, of course that's what they want. Someone defenseless and easy to get rid of once they get bored. My hands fist into the sheets I’m sitting on. How dare they even think-
“Little Bird, we have been watching you for the last month. We are all fascinated by you.” A snort comes from the other side of the room and then something sounding like “speak for yourself” is mumbled. “We simply wish to show you we aren’t the bad guys you think we are from that night.”
This time it’s my turn to snort. “You kill people.” I snap out then snap my mouth shut because speaking out of turn gets me punishments around men like these. A moment of silence passes before three dark masculine laughs sound out around the room, echoing off the walls and making me cringe.
“Angel, the man you overheard us having a conversation with deserved everything he got. Probably deserved worse than a bullet to the head.” I wince at that. “We don’t go around just killing anyone. The guy that night was abusing his woman and the working women around town. He put his wife in the hospital twice before he laid a hand on one of the women who was just trying to make a living. We don’t take kindly to men who abuse women. Especially the women who work in our town. He was a dead man walking. He got off easy.” The man who I now know for sure is Maverick says.
I try to remember that night, if I missed anything but the only thing the memory brings us is the gunshot ringing in my head. The smell of trash and questionable things around the alleyway. The cold metal trash can and starchy brick wall against my skin and the warmth of their bodies as they corner me and Xander calling me good girl and little bird.
“You didn’t answer my question. What do you want with me? Are you going to kill me in the end?” I hear two deep chuckles and a scoff again. I’m starting to think Maverick doesn’t like me.
“No, Princess. We aren’t going to hurt you. Ever.” I feel a finger slide down my arm making me quickly turn towards Jax. “And what we want from you is you giving us a chance. I know you think we are monsters; you ran from us last night but we aren’t as scary as you think. Just give us a chance to show you. Please.” His fingers trace down my arm and to my hand that is sitting in my lap making my skin break out in goosebumps.
I didn’t recognize Jax in the coffee shop yesterday morning. At least I couldn’t place him, because I remember for half a second, I thought he smelt familiar but the commotion in the shop sidetracked me. Then being nervous that a guy was actually talking to me made me forget everything else that my mind was screaming. He stayed on my mind the rest of the day and I was bummed that I didn’t just get his number in my haste to leave. I thought my own chance at a date would be if I ran into him again at the coffee shop but I was far off. I just had to wait for him to break into my house and scare me half to death.
“So, all you want is for me to stay here until I’m healed and then I can leave.” I ask for clarification. I feel like everyone else has a dirty little secret and I’m on the outs of the cool kids.
“Something like that.” Xander says but I hear it in his tone. He doesn’t plan on letting me go. I feel it in my soul. If I agree to stay, I won’t be leaving this place alive. “What will it be, little bird? Stay till you’re healed or-“ He leaves the rest of what he was going to say for me to interrupt but I know what he means. Or Doc may have an accident.
“I won’t sleep with any of you. If that is what you want from me, kill me now.”
“Wre-“ Doc starts.
“Shut it old man. Wren has a decision to make.” Xander sneers out, making me flinch at his harsh tone. “You're wasting time Little Bird. What will it be?” His tone softens when he speaks to me. Maybe they won't hurt me and I really will be able to leave.
“What about my shop? I have a business to run. That’s my life, I can't just leave it.” I try one last time to reason with these men but I already know it’s no use. Men see me as a toy, an object to control, a doll and these men will be no different. I thought I was finally free. That I could finally breathe. That I wouldn’t have to wear another damn collar but I’m back where I was years ago. This time I don’t think I’ll make it out alive.
“We can work something out but Doc already said no pressure on your foot for a few weeks.” Xander explains all matter of fact and I hate him for it. I hate all three of these guys.
I bring my knees to my chest carefully and avoid adding pressure to my injured ankle but this is my own protection. I wrap my arms around my knees tight, curling into a ball. Fresh tears leak from under my eyes but I whip them away quickly. I can’t show them any weakness. My lack of eyesight is already my biggest downfall. After a minute or two I’ve made my decision.
“Doc is not to be harmed and in return I will stay with you until I’m healed.” My voice comes out shaky and weak but I don’t have it in me to fight anymore. Every man I’ve ever come across takes what he wants regardless of my say, so this will be no different. I stay and Doc will be safe. But the real question is how long will I be safe for?
“Deal. We will go get your room ready. Doc, finish your exam and get home. Leave any medicine she might need on the counter.” I heard Xander command and three sets of footsteps lead away from the bed.
A second later Doc has his arms wrapped around me tight rocking me and telling me I will be okay and that I am a brave girl. I finally let go of the waterfall I’ve been holding back. I’m saving a man who was kind to me when not many have been and for that I will die by these men's hands.
Chapter twenty-three
Wren
I must have fallen asleep crying in Doc's arms because when I come to, I’m being carried somewhere. I should be freaking out or kicking and screaming but I’m just so exhausted. Mentally, physically, everything over the last few years has been exhausting. If these men plan to kill me, I will just accept it because I’m tired of fighting and getting absolutely nowhere.
Arms suddenly tighten under my legs and upper back and press me closer to a warm firm chest. The smell of gunpowder and a sharp scent of aftershave drifts to my nose making me come a bit more awake but not enough to fight off Jax. “You can put me down now. I’m too heavy for you to carry me wherever we are going.” I mumble but sort of hope he doesn’t put me down right now. My ankle is throbbing and if I remember right Doc said I shouldn’t put pressure on it for a while.
I feel Jax’s chest rumble out a chuckle. “No. I like carrying you. Plus, you don’t weigh anything and Doc’s orders were to keep you off your feet.” It’s my turn to snort. Like they care if I’m hurt or not. I’m hurt because of them. I get a bit more jostled in his arms as I feel him start to walk upstairs. Great stairs. I really don’t have a good track record with them and now I’m in an unknown place that has stairs.
“Where are you taking me? Aren’t graves usually dug outside? Less mess and all.” I cringe once the words leave my mouth. I’m usually better at holding my tongue but I think knowing that these guys will kill me soon makes me not give a fuck anymore. Which in the long run is either really, really brave or really, really stupid and will probably get me killed sooner.
Jax exhales deeply almost like he is frustrated. “I’m taking you to your new room. Xander should be running you a warm bath so you can get cleaned up and then you can rest properly. I’ll also bring up some food so you can eat as well.”
I don’t know if it’s my new sense of stupidity or I’ve finally accepted that there is no way out of this but I ask the one question that has been on my mind since waking up. “Jax?” He hmmm’s in response and I continue. “Can you be honest with me? When do you guys’ plan to kill me? And can you make it quick, I would rather not suffer this time.”
