Page 46 of His Flawed Ride

Opening the door, I’m met with him sat behind his desk scattered with empty beer bottles and an overflowing ashtray, and a club whore on her knees with his dick in her mouth.

She goes to stop but he fists his hand in her hair and forces her to continue while he sets his death glare on me.

“What the fuck do you want?” he barks.

“I need to go to the store.”

“What for?”

The last thing I want to do is stutter, and give him the satisfaction of knowing he affects me so.

“Ladies products.”

He snorts. “You ain’t no fuckin’ lady.”

Inhaling deeply, I keep my retort safely in the back of my throat. He sighs and jerks his chin toward his wallet on his desk. The whore gags and Hopper bites his lower lip in pleasure.

“Take what you need, but don’t take liberties. I want you back within the hour. If you make me come lookin’ for ya, you’ll regret it.”

“I won’t be long.”

I go to turn when the whore’s eyes meet mine and she smirks at me before going back down on Hopper.

“I don’t know why you’re smirking. You’re sucking the dick that was up my ass a few hours ago. Enjoy the taste of me, sweetheart.”

There’s just enough time to see her face redden with anger before I close the door and pick up the pace until I’m outside. The brother on the gate would usually jump up and open the gate for me but now, he arches his brow and remains on his ass.

“Turn your ass around, you know Hopper has forbidden you from leaving.”

“I have his permission.” I hold up the cash. “I’ve got an hour.”

Still disbelieving me, he pulls out his phone. The conversation is brief but when he hangs up, he stands and opens the gate.

“Hop says that if you’re not back in an hour, it’ll be me who comes finds you. Please, make it so I get the chance to chase your ass.”

His smirk is vile with his broken tooth, no doubt from a fight, and his straggly beard.

Out on the street, I blend into the people milling around and head straight for the store. I’ll make it back before the hour is up and bide my time. If I give it enough patience, Hopper will relax with me.

I never thought I’d bask in the fresh air, not that the city’s air is that fresh. But for the next fifty-seven minutes, I’m free and it’s as fresh as fresh can be.

I take the first corner, eyes everywhere, taking in the buildings and people like I haven’t bothered to take notice of before. I’m too distracted with the clouds rolling above me I don’t see who slams a hand over my mouth and shoves me into the alley. In the brief seconds of unknown, it occurs to me I should still try to scream for help, but there’s nothing in me to care. Who could be worse than Hopper.

I’m spun around and enveloped in my brother’s arms. I don’t need to see his face, I’d recognise his scent anywhere. My instinct is to fall into his hug, but I shove at him and demand, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Behind Slade stands my nephew and Myles, and behind him is Shane. He offers a small smile but then I focus on Slade.

“We’ve been waiting for you to leave their compound.”

“Hopper hasn’t let me leave on my own till now. Seriously, what are you doing here?”

My last memories of Willow’s Peak were Leo making it clear the Lost Souls were not going to help me. Hell, Slade made it clear he was done with me.

“What the fuck do you think we’re here for?” Myles snaps. “We’re here for you, to take you home.”

I shake my head. “If I go back with you now, Hopper will only come after me again and this time he won’t play fair.”

“Your lack of faith in us is insulting,” Zachery grunts.