Page 16 of Broken Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #7)

Chapter Fifteen

Elizabeth

J acob wraps his arm around me and ushers me inside. The two women who pulled me from the basement are standing in his kitchen, their heads bowed together. The one with long dark silver hair glares at Jacob.

“Where do you think you’re taking her?”

“Jesus, Jess, give me a break. I haven’t hurt her, nor am I going to. I’m taking her back down to talk to her, because goddammit that is where she feels safe, okay?”

“Well then, we’re all going.”

Neither Jacob nor I argue. I just want to go back to the room in the basement. Where it’s dark and quiet. I feel … I feel exposed out here in the light.

When we get outside his room, he tells them, “You two can wait out here.”

The long-haired woman opens her mouth, but the other lady stops her. “We’ll sit out here. You’ll keep the little door open, won’t you?” she asks Jacob.

He nods, ushering me inside. He gives me a moment to settle on the bed before he closes the door. Then, he cracks the little door open slightly. It lets in a sliver of light that cuts across the floor. It’s not as dark as I’d like, but I guess it’s all I’m going to get.

“I’m sorry,” he says quietly as he sits down beside me.

I don’t say anything, because I don’t know what to say.

“I was going to tell the club about you.”

He lies back, staring at the dark ceiling. “And about this room.” He sighs loudly before startling me with a loud chuckle. “God, I fucked up.”

“You sure did,” the woman on the other side of the wall chimes in.

“Why do you have this room, Jacob?” I ask quietly. “And why did it used to have a lock on it?”

I feel his eyes on me as I lie down beside him. His breath stirs the hair around my face when I turn toward him.

“You’re going to think I’m lame when I tell you.”

“Do you think I’m lame for hiding in a nursing home for several years?”

His fingertips trail down the length of my arm, making me shiver. “I’ve never seen you as lame, Elizabeth.”

For some reason, I smile when he says my name. It makes me feel human, special even, and I haven’t felt that way in a long time.

His hand pauses, resting on my hip before he speaks.

“My friend, Lily, locks me in here when I need her to.” He pauses, holding his breath.

“Okay.”

He laughs lightly, releasing the air in his lungs. “Just okay? You don’t want to know why?”

“I know why.”

He’s quiet for several minutes.

“The club isn’t going to let you stay here. At least not for now.” He pushes his fingers into my hair, pulling us close. “Jackson is the president of the club. He and his wife, Willow, live on a little farm.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I … I need you to promise me you won’t try jumping off any cliffs while you’re there.”

I can’t promise him that … I just can’t.

“They’ll hate me,” I whisper. “I want to stay here with you.”

His fingertips rub lightly over my scalp. “They won’t hate you if you show up as Elizabeth.”

“Jacob.”

He kisses my forehead. “And I’ll show them Jacob. Okay?”

It’s this moment I realize no one but me knows Jacob. Warmth spreads across my chest at the thought. Me. He trusted me. No one has trusted me with anything for so long I’d forgotten what that felt like. I guess I’ve forgotten a lot of things.

“Okay,” I agree hesitantly. “I’ll try.”

“Lizzie was a prisoner. Elizabeth isn’t,” he says, shaking my head lightly before placing his lips near mine. “So say it. Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.”

“I don’t know how to do this, Jacob.”

“All you have to do is keep breathing, and my friends and I will get you through the rest.”

“You’re so sure they’ll somehow accept me. I’m sure Tank has told them awful things about me, and most of it was probably true.”

“He hasn’t said anything to the club about you. Nothing. I doubt many of them even know who you are.”

I roll onto my back, dreading the thought of going back out into the world. Especially the thought of having to interact with people. Does Jacob remember I haven’t been speaking all that long?

“I don’t think I can do it.”

A soft knock interrupts us. “JD, Elizabeth? Can I come in?” a woman’s soft voice asks.

“It’s Willow,” he tells me as he pulls me to a sitting position.

She opens the door and steps inside the room with us. “I’m sorry. I overheard. I … I just wanted to let you know I was in a similar position when I first came here. It’s scary to trust new people. I understand.”

Willow moves to sit beside me. “I don’t know your story and I don’t need to. Please let our family take care of you. You don’t have to talk. There are no expectations of you here. Like JD said, all you have to do is breathe.”

I nod, allowing her to pull me to my feet.

Jacob follows us out. He rubs his hand over my back as everyone stands awkwardly outside of my safe room. “I guess I should formally introduce you to everyone,” he says, his voice steady and sure.

I’d like to say it relaxes me, but it doesn’t.

“This is Willow and Jackson.”

Neither of them try to shake my hand, but maybe it’s because my hands are strangling each other behind my back.

“And these two beautiful ladies,” he continues, pointing at the women who found me in the basement, “are Jesse and Lily.”

“I’m his best friend,” Lily tells me. She doesn’t say it in a jealous or possessive way, but I’m sure she’s not pleased that I’ve butted into her friend’s life. “I’m Kelsie’s mom,” she adds. Her gaze bounces over my neck as she says it.

I hide behind Jacob, knowing she’s looking for the necklace that her daughter gave me.

“I lost it,” I admit, knowing it will probably make her hate me even more than she most likely does.

She tries to mask the disappointment on her face. “Oh, hun, that’s okay. It’s just a necklace.”

Jackson snaps his fingers. “Let’s go. JD, I’ll see you at the warehouse, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Jacob pushes me gently in front of him. “Go with my friends. I’ll see you soon.”

I dig my heals in. “When?”

Jackson answers on his behalf. “When he convinces the club that he hasn’t gone and lost his damn mind.”

Jacob laughs as Willow wraps her arm around my shoulder and guides me away from him. He doesn’t seem worried.

“Elizabeth!” Jacob yells when we reach the top of the stairs.

I look back at him. Jackson leans his hand against the wall. “Jesus Christ, why did I want to be president?” he mumbles to himself.

“You didn’t promise me,” Jacob says, ignoring him.

Jackson and I exchange a brief look before I return my focus back to Jacob. “I promise.”

His shoulders fall in relief.