Bouncer by Kim Jones Page 0,24
he had to leave. He’d woken me up early in the morning to tell me he was leaving. After reminding me to take my medicine and drink plenty of fluids, he’d kissed my forehead and left. He didn’t return until later that night. When he crawled in bed beside me, this unfamiliar feeling coursed through me. I can’t remember ever being in love, but I feel like it starts with that feeling.
And that scares the shit out of me.
Because here it is, day number seven and, once again, Bouncer is gone. I’m confined to this room. And I can’t find anything on T.V. to distract me from this his absence. I feel desperate for his return. I’m become too dependent on him. I have no idea how I’m going to get through the nights when he leaves for good.
Someone knocks at the door. Too lazy to get up, I yell out for them to come in. Talia peeks her head in, a smile stretched across her pretty face.
“Hey friend,” I greet, so damn thankful to see someone—anyone—who isn’t behind a T.V. screen.
“How you feeling?” She shuts the door before coming to sit on the edge of the bed. “Ooo, Sons of Anarchy. I love this show. Jinx doesn’t let me watch it. Says it’ll put shit in my head.”
I shrug. “Bouncer says that too. I think it’s because they’re not as badass as the SONS.”
She laughs. We watch a few minutes of the show in silence. When she starts fidgeting, I know she has something to say. I want to tell her to just say it, but I keep my curiosity in check. Talia has always been nice to me. I don’t want to pressure her to talk about something that might make her uncomfortable.
I make it another two minutes.
“Spit it out, Talia.” I pause the T.V. and turn to her.
“I’m not sure if you know this, but you and I have a lot in common.”
I lift a brow. “Do we?”
So help me God if Bouncer told her about him spanking me….
“I came from the streets. I remember what it was like to not have anything.” She blushes. “Shit. That came out wrong. Let me start over.”
I wait. Happy that she isn’t bringing up the fact that she’s a submissive.
“Like you, I was homeless for a long time.”
“Who told you I was homeless?” I ask, my voice a little harder than I mean for it to be.
“Bouncer. Well, technically, he didn’t tell me. But he mentioned it to Jinx who told me.” She shifts so she’s facing me. “Look, I just want you to know that if you need anything, I’m here. I’ll be happy to help you out with…whatever.”
That motherfucker.
I force a smile. “Thank you, Talia. I really appreciate that. But I’m good.”
“Oh.” Her face is a mixture of shock and hurt. “Um. Well okay.” She moves to leave and I grab her hand.
“Can I tell you something? In confidence?” I don’t want to, but she already knows. I might as well set the record straight before she calls those people from that “Move that bus!” show and has me a new house built.
She covers my hand with hers. “Of course.”
“I live where I live because I choose to live there. I like it. I don’t want anyone trying to interfere because they think they know what’s best for me. And these guys, they’re infamous for that shit. So if you could maybe encourage Jinx to leave this on the downlow, I’d really appreciate it.”
“I’ll do my best. You have my word.”
“Thanks. Also, if you know of a good place to dispose a body, I’m going to have one I need to get rid of real soon.”
Fifteen
BOUNCER
Most runs are the same. You go from point A to point B with a job to do when you get there. I’ve done it so many times that I don’t even think about it.
But something about this run felt different. Like there was a string pulling me back in the other direction.
And stranger still, as I pull down the driveway of the clubhouse in Uprising, the tension on that string releases.
It reminds me of my days in the military. Months spent overseas, trekking the deserts and mountain ranges of foreign lands, looking for intended targets. All the while, feeling like a fucking storm was brewing inside me. Yet, when I’d step foot on American soil, that storm would dissipate.
I haven’t felt that since. Until today.
I pull into the garage. Boots is there,