“They beat you?” she demanded. Despair and horror filled her.
“Don’t worry, Ma, we gave as good as we got,” Royal told her, no doubt sensing she was about to shatter. He’d always been more empathetic than his brother.
“That place was hell,” Baron told her. “It’s why we were staging a revolt when that Matthieu guy rescued us. He seemed like an okay guy, but we couldn’t trust what he was saying.”
Anger flooded her. “I’m going to fucking kill Forrest. That bastard sent you somewhere where you were abused? Oh God. Why didn’t I get you out earlier? I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She started to sob and Baron started swearing. “Royal, she’s crying! What do I do?”
“Hug her, bro.”
“Hug her?”
“Christ. Here.” Royal pulled off the road and then climbed over into the back, sitting on the other side of her. He gathered her close, patting her back. Baron patted the top of her head awkwardly.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was sending you away. I swear. It was a punishment for trying to run. I was devastated at first, but then I figured at least you were away from him. That you were safe. And all this time…” her voice broke.
Baron finally hugged her from the other side. “We’re okay, Ma.”
“We’re tough, Ma. It was going to take more than a couple of sadistic teachers to break us.”
“Yeah, if the old man couldn’t break us no one can.”
“That does not make me feel better,” she told them. “All I wanted was a better life for you guys and I’ve failed so many times.”
“You never failed us, Ma,” Royal told her. “You showed us how to care about other people. You protected us as best you could.”
“Not good enough.”
“Hey, I’m not in jail for murder so I figure we’re coming out on top,” Baron said.
Both Betsy and Royal turned to glare at him. “What?” he asked in confusion.
“Ma, why’d you never tell us that Forrest was holding you against your will?” Royal asked.
“We thought you wanted to be with that bastard,” Baron said bitterly.
“God, never! I hated him. But he was always listening in on our conversations. I hated that the two of you blamed me for being sent away, but I didn’t want you to worry about me.”
“Fuck, we were idiots,” Baron muttered.
“You don’t have to stress anymore, Ma. We’re here. We’ll protect you from him,” Royal told her fiercely.
“I wish you hadn’t run from Matthieu. Did he not tell you that I’m free of Forrest now?”
“Yeah, but now you’re mixed up with some gang. That big fucker by the crash site, he’s this Ink? He’s part of the gang?”
“What did Matthieu tell you?” she asked.
“Nothing much. Just that he owed a biker called Ink a favor, that he was taking us to you and him but we couldn’t talk to you.”
No wonder they’d freaked.
“Guys, Ink isn’t part of a gang. The Iron Shadows is an MC. And they’re good guys. He rescued me from Forrest, even though he didn’t have to. And he rescued the two of you. I, umm, I’m living with him. He’s my boyfriend.”
It didn’t encompass fully what he meant to her. But it was the best word she could come up with.
Royal and Baron were quiet.
“Really, he’s a good guy. Although, he’s not going to be too happy about this. I really think we need to turn around and go back before he loses his shit.”
Suddenly, light flooded the truck from behind. She hadn’t noticed the rumble of bikes until then.
“Shit,” Royal cursed, looking out the back window. “How many of those bastards are out there?”
She clasped both of their hands. “Brace yourselves, boys. We’re about to get the scolding of a lifetime.”
If only he’d be satisfied with just scolding her.
30
“You’re mad,” she whispered. She didn’t want to wake the boys. Which was silly, since they were sound asleep in the spare bedroom. Ink only had one spare bed, so they had to share. Not that they’d been worried.
Turned out it had been just three bikes with Reyes, Spike and Razor riding them. Ink had caught a lift on the back of Reyes’ bike. Apparently, they’d arrived at the crash scene shortly after Ink discovered her missing. After making certain the three of them were okay, he’d gotten in the driver’s seat. Only instead of taking them home, he’d returned to the accident.
The boys were in trouble for leaving the scene of an accident and for driving on