“Bull’s dong. That’s a good one,” Ryder chuckles. I hadn’t even realized he’d moved from his end of the bar. “Dee, you wanna let go of Tiny’s arm.” The stern tone in his voice holds no barrier for argument and Dee, I guess that’s her name, lets go of my arm.
“Ryder, I was just telling this bitch she couldn’t talk to me or the other girls like she just spoke to me,” Dee whines.
“I don’t want to hear it. Honestly, I don’t want to hear your voice so listen up. Tiny isn’t the help here. She’s a guest from another club where you are a stray. You’re at the bottom of the totem pole here. I suggest you treat Tiny here with some respect because next time I’ll send you out to take care of Bart,” Ryder states.
“Please don’t,” she whimpers before darting off like a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.
“Who’s Bart?” I ask in confusion when he takes a seat.
“My gator,” Ryder shrugs.
“Ohhh. . . Do you really send people out there to take care of him?” I hope I never get tasked with that job.
“Someone’s gotta make sure Bart gets fed,” Ryder grins and I know there’s a joke in that statement somewhere. I just don’t know if I want to know what it is.
“What’s going on over here?” I jump at the commanding tone in Chains’ voice.
“Nothin’, son, sit down and have a beer with me,” Ryder says, patting the stool next to him.
Glancing between the two of us, Chains takes the offered seat and I grab him his beer of choice before he can ask.
“Thank you, Tiny,” he murmurs, the tips of his fingers touch mine as he takes the cold bottle from my hands.
Nodding at Chains, I go back to filling orders, restocking the bar, and cleaning glasses. Dee was right about one thing; Chains wouldn’t want someone like me. Not because of my height though, but rather by the fact I’m damaged.
No matter how many times I’ve showered I can still feel Jackal’s hands on me. Smell his breath as he shoved his tongue in my mouth. Worse than the smell of his breath, I still have the marks on my skin he left. The ones with his teeth and blade.
Feeling uneasy, I excuse myself to go to my room. It’s close to time for me to finish up and I need to be away from everyone right now. I’m sure they’d understand. I haven’t had a day off since I started working behind the bar.
Once in my room and I have the door locked, I get in the shower. After washing my hair, scrubbing my skin raw, repeating this twice, I shut the water off and get out. I grab my towel, that I keep hung up next to the shower, as I step out.
Soon as I’m dry, I dress in a pair of sweatpants and a tank top. This is the only time I’ll allow myself to wear anything that shows more skin than a normal t-shirt. If it comes up over my stomach when I lift my arms over my head, I throw it out. I’m not about to let anyone see my scars.
Pulling my bedding off the bed, I move everything to what I’ve started calling my corner in the room. No one can see me from here. The bed blocks the view of me. The moment my head hits my pillow, my eyes begin to droop. I’m definitely more exhausted than I’ve been letting on. Which is a really bad thing, because it means only one thing.
My nightmares are going to take over.
I just hope no one hears me scream.
Chapter Five
Chains
I knew something was wrong the moment Tiny excused herself.
“What the fuck happened?” I demand as I turn to face my uncle. Ryder raised me from the moment my parents died; refusing to allow my vindictive aunts to have me after what they did to my sister.
Ryder did his best to get Victoria back, but the best he could do was gain rights to see her. The adoption was iron clad and unable to be voided all thanks to the fact it was the governor of Louisiana and his wife who not only adopted her but bought her off my aunts.
“Whatcha mean, Chains?” Ryder asks in return as he lifts his beer to his mouth.
“I’m talking about what happened with Dee and Tiny and why the hell she just walked off like she did,” I growl.
“Dee was trying to stake her territory here, put her hands on Tiny when she spoke up to defend herself,” Ryder shrugs
“The fuck you mean that stray put her hands on Tiny?” I snarl.
Fuck I never get this pissed over a bitch and not toward my uncle either.
“Don’t worry, son, your girl took care of herself. Tiny told the little bitch that she was probably stretched out enough to take a bull’s dong. Never heard anything like it, but damn if it wasn’t funny. I stepped in before Dee could cause any more trouble,” Ryder chuckles shaking his head.
“She’s not my girl. But gotta admit that shit’s funny,” I state shaking my own head. Dee wants to be my ol’ lady. Her and Tar. That shit won’t ever happen. I don’t need an ol’ lady but a part of me wants to claim Tiny as mine.
Something about the woman speaks to me and I can’t help it.
“Say what you want, Chains, but remember I raised you from the time your parents died. I was there when shit happened with Deanna.” I can’t stop myself from flinching at the mention of my childhood best friend’s name. The girl I thought I’d give my heart
