Thunder (Hell's Handlers MC #10) - Lilly Atlas Page 0,57

clubhouse regardless of the cash. No amount of money was worth a repeat of fielding the disgusting comments and unwelcome groping that had been lobbed at her all night. She’d just beg Toni for extra shifts at the diner. Or maybe it was time to find a steadier second job.

As Makenna rested with her back against the wall and eyes closed, the sound of approaching male voices made her insides clench. One of them sounded like Crank, who she’d been unlucky enough to catch the eye of. If he found her alone on break, who knew what the hell he’d demand of her.

No, no, no. Her blood pressure spiked, making her dizzy as the need to flee pushed her into action.

“Shit,” she whispered before darting across the hallway into the restroom. Hopefully, she’d made it before he realized who had been hanging in the hall. With the low lighting and her forgettable outfit, she might have pulled it off.

Heart racing and head spinning, Mak pressed her palms against the closed door of the bathroom and breathed. She closed her eyes and focused on evening out her choppy breaths.

Memories of being locked in the small shed and hearing her abuser approach assaulted her. The knowledge of what would happen and the anticipation of pain had her entire body trembling. She was supposed to have gotten away.

Beneath her feet, the floor began to undulate as though an earthquake ripped through the city.

How did she end up back here, at Roger’s mercy?

She wasn’t ever supposed to endure a beating again.

She’d escaped.

No! She bit her lower lip to keep from screaming.

Never let them see your fear.

The voices grew louder, snapping her back to her reality.

It wasn’t Roger. It wasn’t her father.

I’m not at the compound. I’m in Tennessee. I’m working in the CDMC clubhouse.

She trembled, breathing as quietly as possible. She had to get control of herself in case she was discovered. If she passed out, she’d be doomed.

The men seemed to stop moving directly outside the door. Her eyes flew open to find the knob jiggling as though one of the men placed their hand on it. She jammed a fist against her open mouth to hold back the screams.

Hide!

The room spun as she turned to scramble into a stall.

On a loud gasp, her heart leaped into her throat.

Holy shit, she wasn’t in a bathroom.

“No, no, no,” she whispered so low the words barely made a sound. With her heart lodged deep in her throat, she whipped her head around in frantic jerks of her head. How the hell could she have been so stupid as to end up in some kind of office? There wasn’t anywhere to hide in the tiny room except under the desk, and she’d seen that movie. The psychotic killer discovered the girl every time.

Think. Think!

With silent steps, she backed up toward the desk, eyes glued to the door.

“You sure this is the right time to act? We finally got the cops out of our asses.” A voice she didn’t recognize had her freezing.

Mak held her breath.

Don’t open the door. Don’t open the door.

“Since when do you give a fuck about the cops, Blade?” That was Crank.

“Since I haven’t been able to take a shit without one of them joining me in the can.”

Crank snorted. “We’d be fucking stupid to launch an all-out attack right now, but roughing up a Handlers ol’ lady is perfect. Those pussies ain’t gonna run to the pigs. We need to send a message. We ain’t gone, and they better not fucking forget it.”

Oh, my God. Mak’s stomach roiled. She was going to be sick.

“Makes sense. So what’re you thinking? You’re the one who told me all their bitches are guarded now.”

Mak could picture the evil grin curling the lips on Crank’s craggily face. “Yeah, but I’ve had eyes on them. Every afternoon at around two, that slut fucking two Handlers takes the trash out back behind the diner.”

Mak squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. She didn’t want to hear this. Didn’t want to be privy to a plan to hurt Jazmine. The urge to stick her fingers in her ears became near impossible to ignore, but she dug her fingernails into her palms and forced herself to keep listening. She might very well be the only person who could keep Jazz from being attacked, so she needed to memorize every detail spoken.

“Okay,” Blade said, full of skepticism. Blade was the president if she recalled the quick rundown Kristy had given her