“Whatever it is, we’ll be fine,” I assure her, knowing I don’t want to lose her. Whatever this is, I’ll make sure we get through it. I’m sure we’ve survived worse shit from both of our pasts.
She gnaws on her bottom lip. “I should start from the beginning. I got married when I was eighteen, to my high school sweetheart. I thought we were going to survive the world, that it would be awesome. I ended up getting pregnant pretty young, and so I was a junior in college with a toddler. My husband, Eric, had been . . . he’d been approached by an older man right after we graduated high school. Long story short, I was part of the cult the club’s been hunting the last few years. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, I’m so sorry, but they have my daughter and I couldn’t do anything that would put her life in jeopardy.”
I look between Venom, as she struggles to word vomit her truths, and Boss’ reaction to everything she’s learning. Surprisingly, Boss doesn’t seem upset. She’s simply listening to Venom as she continues to tell us her story.
“I’ve been hiring a private investigator to keep tabs on where my daughter’s been the last few years, knowing at some point I’d get her out of that hellhole, but I didn’t think I was strong enough. I wanted to prove myself to you guys, to the club, and then my plan was to come to you, Boss, and tell you everything. But things have changed and I found out this morning that they’re going after teenage girls, assaulting them sexually amongst other things and I . . .” Venom’s entire body begins to slightly shake and tears run down her cheeks.
“I was assaulted by the elders of the cult, even being a married woman to one of their most devout followers. I . . . I was pregnant as a result of it, and this was all before I found the club. I ended up adopting the child out to a good family, knowing I couldn’t keep it after . . . after how it was . . .”
I can’t listen to anymore of this. I break the distance between us and pull Venom into my arms, needin’ her to know she’s secure and she’s okay. Nothin’ bad will ever happen to her again, and now I’m startin’ to put the pieces together.
“Sorry.” Venom shakes her head and fights her tears through continuing her story, pulling herself away from me so she can look at our Prez. “Long story short, I thought I convinced my husband to leave one night, to grab our daughter and run for our lives, to run for our freedom. Only, when we finally got a good bit out into the field, I found out he set me up. My daughter was ripped from my arms and I was knocked out. I woke up in a room and watched as a homeless woman was killed in front of me, how her teeth were filed down, how they did everything they could to make her look like me. They burned her alive so she’d be hard to recognize. I . . . I have the address of their cult, because his present wife is trying to get out and she’s trying to take my daughter with her, but I can’t let that happen. I’ve been fighting for so long to get her back after she was taken from me . . .”
“We’re going to get her back,” I promise Venom, bringing her closer to me. I need to hold her right now, I need her to know she has my support and I’m not pissed at her. Not after hearing her story, not after knowin’ why I fuckin’ found her photos online and articles sayin’ she was dead. Everythin’ finally makes sense.
“Alright, this is what we’re gonna do. Every member of the club except Chuckles is gonna ride up with us to Boston, and we’re gonna go get your kid,” Boss declares, then looks over to me. “I need you to go in the armory and get everything we’ll need, now. There’s no time to waste.”
I give Boss a nod in understanding and kiss Venom lightly on the forehead. There aren’t words that can tell her what she means to me right now, but I hope she knows what type of impact she’s had on my life. I’ve known I’ve loved her for ages, but god damn, I know what it’s like to have the woman you’re supposed to be with.
Venom’s my fuckin’ ol’ lady and after all this is over, I’ll make sure everyone knows it.
Chapter Eighteen
Venom
I never thought they were going to rally in behind me without giving me some sort of shit, but instead they were fully supportive and didn’t even bat an eye when I said I had the cult’s address. At that point, Boss started laying down orders and we all got ready to make hell rain down upon these fascist bastards. Now my arms are wrapped around Ricochet’s waist and we’re only a couple miles away from the address Beretta gave me.
My palms are sweaty and my heart hasn’t beat this fast in years. The mere thought of being reconnected with Peyton again is making me so nervous, though I’m not sure why. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t seen her in years and I don’t know if she even knows about me. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s about to have her entire life turned upside down and I’m worried about the resentment she could possibly throw my way. There are so many things to be worried about, but I’ll try my best to breathe through each moment, knowing I can make it through anything because I’ve lived through hell already.
As the road captain Muffler heads the charge, motioning with his hand that we’re making a left. Most of the guys
