Page 17 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Fifteen

Lily

I t’s been two days since I saw Hopper at the diner and the few times I’ve turned my phone on, there have been a barrel of voicemails and texts. This time, I listen and read them all. I light my last cigarette and replay the last voicemail.

“I’m being real fuckin’ patient with you, baby, but I don’t have an unlimited supply. If I don’t hear from you within the hour, I’m going to war and I’m gonna go for your brother first, then your nephew and then your son-in-law.”

The message ends and I suck on the white stick until my lungs burn. I can’t let Slade pay for my mistakes. Not anymore.

My hand trembles as I scroll through my contacts and hit Hopper’s number. Before I can change my mind, I hit call and press the damn phone to my ear.

I can already hear his laughter before he answers. “Hey, baby.”

“Hey.”

“You’ve kept me waiting. Tell me where you and my money are and then I’ll take you home.”

“Promise me you’ll leave town and won’t cause trouble for my brother or his club and I will.”

“All will be well, you have my word.”

I give him the address and a coldness washes over me. Tossing my phone on the couch, I run for the bathroom and hurl my guts up. There wasn’t much in my stomach and the retching hurts my chest and throat.

Brushing my teeth, I find myself anxiety cleaning the bathroom and then proceed to pace the small apartment.

The roar of motorcycles used to excite me. Now, they fill me with dread. I listen to Hopper and his club arrive and when the engines fall silent, a fear I’ve rarely felt before engulfs me.

Their boots in the communal hall echo like heavy drums beating. Hopper banging at my door pulsing through me like an earthquake, fracturing me from the inside out.

“Baby, open up!”

I don’t know how I manage it, but I make it to the front door and unlatch the locks. He knows where I am now, there is no going back and hiding.

I step back as I open the door and I’m not quick enough as he steps over the threshold and grips me by the chin.

“Where’s my money?”

“In the bathroom cupboard, under a fake shelf.”

Over his shoulder, he instructs Ryan, his VP, to go retrieve it, leaving us alone. His hand slides from the front of my face around to the back of my head, gripping hard onto my hair.

“You’ve had me running all over for you,” he sneers.

Ryan returns with the bag I stole and Hopper grunts, “Go wait outside and count what’s left.”

“Yes, Prez.”

There’s no point hoping he’d stay, Hopper does what he likes whether we’re alone or in a crowded room.

The moment the front door closes, Hopper slams his lips onto mine and sucks my bottom lip until his teeth bite into my soft flesh.

I try not to let my pain show but my whimper urges him on.

His tongue invades my mouth, and I listen as he works his belt.

Wrapping his hand around the front of my neck, he applies enough pressure that begins to worry me and pushes me backward into the living area.

My back hits the couch and I watch on as he undoes his jeans and shoves them, along with his boxer briefs, down his thighs.

“Knees. Now.”

There have been a few occasions men have taken what they want from me without my permission.

I know better than to fight, I block out the pain and fear, the humiliation, and go to my happy place.

My bare feet tread the warm, fine, sand and I tip my head back to bask in the sunshine.

Walking down to the shore, I walk into the water, my hand skimming the surface the deeper I go.

I listen hard to the crash of waves around me.

I inhale the sea air. Nothing can hurt me while I’m here.

As far as I am concerned, I’m the only one who exists in my happy place. Until, it’s safe to leave…

He wipes his tip on my sweatshirt and puts himself away.

I’m starting to think this won’t be as bad as I had anticipated, and it’s my downfall.

I don’t see his hand pull back and fly through the air, landing a handprint across my cheek.

The impact knocks me back onto my ass and then he’s straddling me.

One hand latches into my hair and the other backhands me.

The distinct taste of copper fills my mouth and not for the first time.

Hopper’s not even the first guy to raise a hand to me, but I have a feeling this time that he’s going to be the last. I thought I had gotten away with facing his anger, but he just wanted to blow his load before splitting my lip open.

“You fuckin’ bitch. How long did you think you’d be able to hide from me, huh?”

“I-I’m sorry… I wasn’t thinking…”

He yanks me up like a rag doll and shoves me into the wall. My head bounces off of it and searing hot pain shoots around my neck and down into my back.

“Why? Why did you leave me? I give you everything!”

“I missed my family,” I whine.

“I told you I’d bring you to visit.”

This hurt persona he plays is just that, a play and I haven’t fallen for it for months. But arguing with him won’t get me anywhere, not without broken bones and blood.

I opt for keeping my mouth shut and I cry. He doesn’t like tears.

“You’re coming home, and if you try to leave me again, I’ll fuckin’ kill you.”

I cringe as he leans in close and runs his tongue over the blood trickling from my lip.

“You are mine.”

I nod and sigh with relief when he pulls away and walks into the kitchen.

“Get your shit, we’re leaving.” He walks out empty handed and goes for my phone on the table. “I see it’s still working. I wasn’t sure when you didn’t answer my calls or return a single fuckin’ text.”

I still keep my mouth shut. I pack my bags, not that I’ve unpacked much, and freeze when he thrusts the phone in my face.

“Made new friends, baby. Shane, huh? He’s the asshole who started the fight at the diner.”

“He helped me out one time when my car broke down. That’s all.”

“I believe ya.”

No he doesn’t and this won’t be the last time I hear about him.

“Call him.”

“Why?”

“Tell him to arrange a meet between me and Leo Jackson.”

“Why do you wanna meet with Leo?”

His laughter is cold. “How is that any of your fuckin’ business?”

The call is ringing when he puts it on speaker. I pray Shane doesn’t say anything that will get me in trouble.

“Lily?”

“Hey, I’m with Hopper,” I say, getting it in quick, and add, “He wants you to set up a meet with Leo.”

“Give me a minute.”

The line goes dead quiet, I gather he’s put me on mute. Hopper watches me closely.

“Strange how you only have his number stored in your phone.”

“Like I told you, he helped me out with my car. He gave me his number in case it broke down again.”

Background noise from the club fills the line and I look at the phone as if it’s a lifeline.

“This is Leo. What the fuck do you wanna meet for? I don’t know why you’re still in my town.”

“Now I have my woman back, there’s one last piece of unfinished business to conclude then I’m gone.”

“And what’s that?”

“One of yours started that fight at the diner, my guy wants a one-on-one with him to settle the score. Fair’s fair.”

“There’s an unused farm off the sixth turning. Lily will know the place. One hour.”

The call ends and Hopper smirks. “Let’s go.”

“Is that all that’s gonna happen? A one-on-one with Shane? My brother and nephew will be safe?”

“As long as they keep the peace, they’ll see another day. If you leave my side, if you give me any reason to think you’re up to something, I’ll give the signal to end them all. So keep your fuckin’ mouth shut and do as you’re told.”

Slade has given up on me, but I’ll do as I’m told not to cause him further reason to hate me.