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***
Startled, I awake when I hear a knock on the door. “Claire, open up, it’s me,” Astera calls.
Lying on the couch, I curl into myself, not wanting any more company today because Rowan was enough for today. He must have left when I fell asleep.
Astera remains on the other side of the door. “I’ll leave this casserole here that Becca sent over. And right then, my stomach rumbled.
After waiting a good ten minutes, when I no longer hear her, I open my door to pick up the hot dish. It smells heavenly.
Grabbing a fork from the drawer and a plate from the cabinet, I spoon some of the goodness onto it and sit at the table with one leg tucked under me. I know eventually I will have to merge back into normal daily life, today is not that day. The world outside these walls is cruel and punishing. Just when I think the past is behind me, I get kidnapped and have to suffer the aftereffects, and I’m pretty sure I have PTSD from everything that has happened.
Once I finish eating, I strip out of my clothes to take a hot shower. Every day I have been back, I have taken two to three showers a day because I don’t want to imagine or feel those grimy hands on me. With the hot water stinging my body, it’s giving a better sensation. And while I thought it would help, the random fuck at the sex club did nothing to cure the nightmares or the memories of that MC.
Stepping out of the shower, I wrap the towel around my body and look into the mirror. The girl staring back at me, she looks like me, yet, somehow, she is also unrecognizable. Coming to the realization, it causes me to choke while my tears begin to flow.
Strong arms pull me in as my back presses into his chest. “I got you,” Hayden whispers.
My legs almost give out on me as Hayden uses his strength to hold me up, and I cry out in rage, frustration, and anger because I don’t want to feel like this anymore. Wiping my eyes, I try to collect myself as I pull away from Hayden.
“I should get dressed.” I can’t meet his eyes.
“Put something on you can wear out. I have an idea.”
“I really don’t feel like going out.”
“Trust me.”
He steps out of the room, and I search my closet for a pair of black jeans and a white crop top sweater. Lastly, I pull on a pair of high boots. In the bathroom, I quickly run the blow dryer over my hair to get the dampness out of it, then pull it into a sleek ponytail.
“Okay, I’m ready.” I enter the living room.
“All right, let’s go.”
The cool, brisk air slams against me when we exit my apartment.
“You brought the SUV,” I mention.
“Yeah. No one needed it, and with winters approaching, the bike doesn’t seem feasible.”
I like that he’s taking responsibility for his safety. Hayden opens the door for me. I slide in and watch him get into the driver’s side, he flashes a smile at me, and all of a sudden, butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“Where are we going?”
“Somewhere you can take out all your frustrations.”
Now I’m really confused. It isn’t long before he pulls into the parking lot of a place I have never heard of, called Rager.
“Come on,” Hayden holds his hand out for me to take it, and the butterflies continue to flutter in my stomach.
Pulling the door open, he places his hand on the small of my back as we enter. He immediately greets the people behind the counter.
“We would like a room for the two of us.” Pulling out his wallet, he pays, and we are ushered into a room.
There is a TV on a stand, a table, some plates, and anything else you can imagine. We are given safety glasses and hard hats.
“What are we doing here?”
He hands me a bat. “Start smashing shit.”
