Everything around me spins, but I kneel down and grab the last forty dollars I have hidden in the crack of the floorboard and stuff it into my pocket. Standing back up on quivering legs, I reach for Drake’s hand.
It’s now or never. If we don’t do this today I never will, and I may end up dead before my son has his tenth birthday.
“Let’s go.”
Heading out of the room I’m cautious even though I heard his truck leave. He’s done this once before. He walked back down to the house knowing I had planned to escape. I don’t know how he knew, but that was almost a year ago. I haven’t tried again until today. I know what will happen to me if I stay. The same thing that happened tonight, only so much worse.
Drake and I make it out the front door and down the steps. Every noise, every little crunch of a leaf under my tattered shoes, has me on edge and makes me cringe. Drake holds tightly to my hand. We don’t live far off of the main road, so it’s only minutes before we reach it and I can flag a taxi, rambling off the address while praying to God he’s still there. I wasn’t stupid. I had done my research when I was able to get my hands on Thomas’s phone. I found out everything I could about him. Where he lives, what he’s been doing and even about all the arrests he’s had.
At first it didn’t make sense. That wasn’t the man I’d known, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he could provide something better for Drake. The taxi slows to a stop and the driver looks over his shoulder at my bloody and mangled face.
“You sure this is where you want me to drop you?”
I drag my gaze to the building in front of us and read the sign aloud, “Soulless Bastards MC.” I pull my eyes back to the driver and nod while pulling the cash out of my pocket.
“Come on Drake.” I climb out of the cab and pull my son out behind me. After closing the door, it takes him no time at all to speed off and get the hell out of here. Loud music blasts from behind the closed door. I swallow hard while trying to fight the pain in my chest and stomach.
“Are you okay?” Drake asks. I glance down at him and shake my head. I’m losing it. I’m going to pass out. I swallow hard and try to ignore the pain in my chest and stomach. I can feel it. It’s happening and I can’t stop it.
“Roland Sanders. Ask for him,” I mumble shoving Drake in the direction of the door.
“Mom?” he asks through teary eyes.
The world sways as my stomach tumbles.
“Go. Now!” I snap. Drake turns and hurries up the steps to open the front door.
As soon as I see him step inside I let myself fall apart. The overwhelming need to sleep takes over and I close my eyes. I don’t know what happens after that.
Chapter 3
Reaper
Grabbing another rope I toss it into the pile of shit that I’m unloading out of the shed behind the clubhouse. This run is one I’m ready for. I’ve been ready to try out all of my new experiments for a while now. Staying ahead of the game is always on the top of my to do list. What isn’t on it? Sirens. I can hear them off in the distance.
“Reaper, get the fuck in here,” Viking yells out the back door.
Goddamn it. This is not the time for a shake down from those bastards. I have too much going on. I blow out a breath and leave the pile of rope where it lies. Heading through the back door everyone seems to be in a panic. I run my hand through my hair as I head into the main room and stop in my tracks. That’s where the world slowly stops spinning and all of the air is sucked from my lungs.
I stand there staring into the same green eyes I see in my fucking reflection every day. The same dark hair that hangs wildly around my shoulders; hangs in that little boy’s eyes.
“We have a little situation,” Viking says nodding toward the kid. My eyes stay there lingering on something that can’t be. “He says he’s lookin’ for Roland Sanders.” The room grows silent. “His dad.” I swallow hard,