A/N:
*** EDITED 17/08/2013***
Okay. Wow. You guys have blown me completely away. Being honest here, I really thought DC was going to be a little controversial or was at least going to be something that no one really got into. But from the feedback I've gotten so far from on only 10 chapters is absolutely astounding. And the actual amount of views and reviews?!
CRAZY! Absolutely NUTS!
Just wow. I'm so happy right now. Thank you; all of you!
Spread the word of DEADWOOD COVENANT!
Love you guys and this one is for you, as always! Sorry it took so bloody long. Work eats up your free time.
Chapter Inspiration Song: "Evil Angel" by Breaking Benjamin
-B
Hell's Fury Territiory, A warehouse somewhere on the outskirts of Rose Hill…
As he rose from his seat, Domenic Di Santis reached across the table in the middle of the warehouse to shake one of his many long-time business associate's hands, as his gathering came to a close. He had men scattered throughout the large open room often during such meetings he ran, even if it was just a visual reminder to others of just how much control he really had. Security and protection seemed to be the ploy since it was always the first thing people assumed, but for Dom? Well, he was a proud man of power and status.
Because everyone knew regardless that the President of Hell's Fury could otherwise handle himself if he were to whatsoever feel threatened.
"As always, it was a pleasure doing business, Mr. Holden." Dom's political tone rasped; his grip on the other man's hand tight and affirming.
"Yes, well. The pleasure is all ours it seems. After all, you are the ones doing the dirty work and running our shipments while we just stand as the suppliers."
Mr. Holden showed a mischievous grin to Dom while his fellow counterparts let out a chortle at the leer. They all moved to stand from their seats, the business meeting between Hell's Fury and their firearms supplier wrapping up. The guns dealers always dressed so smart, as they are usually extremely wealthy men with their fingers in many different bowls, if you would.
Once all of their suits were fixed from being ruffled, they began to walk to Dom's side of the table, towards the exit. Mr. Holden was appraising Dom with that quizzical look as they walked side by side, squaring their shoulders.
"But I do have to ask Mr. Di Santis, merely to satisfy my curiosity. Why is it that you're requesting larger shipments than your usual for this time of year? I'm not complaining obviously, but do humour me." Mr. Holden smirked at Dom, his bright white teeth contrasting greatly with his dark African skin. "It isn't due to something stirring your need for more protection, is it?"
Domenic smiled his reassuring smile, cracking his stuff knuckles all the while. He knew how much Holden liked to tease and taunt him about his on-going bad blood between his club and Deadwood Covenant, always trying to see how far he could push him on the tender subject. But he wouldn't let the man get a rise out of him. Not this time at least.
He approached the question with poise. "My need for protection is a constant when you deal with the workings of our world." He began, meanwhile escorting the party of men outside of the warehouse towards their waiting SUVs. "But the sense of something 'stirring' isn't always necessarily a bad thing that requires protection, but more so the power to prevent other's ability to do so."
Mr. Holden held an all-knowing look followed by an ever teasing grin. "Ah, I understand. Well, so long as you keep your end of our deals as you have for years now, then consider us allies in your future endeavors." He was the last of his men to finally file into the large black truck. As he was about to close the door on Dom who was standing a foot away, sending his guests off like the all-pleasing civilized leader he portrayed himself as, he turned to look at Dom in the eye again, the curve of his mouth never ceasing. It really sickened Dom sometimes.
"Whatever they may be, Domenic…" The door was then closed with a loud shut, their truck sandwiched between two similar ones all in a line leaving the warehouse grounds.
The middle-aged Dom was pondering the progress of his meeting and Holden's lingering words when he heard the familiar sound of rubber on gravel. He turned to see men ride in and park along with all the other bikes and vehicles in the dirty unkempt lot. He noticed his son's bike was among them.
Dom's son Marco dismounted and pulled off his bulky helmet as he approached his father with an amused smile.
"Marco. You're back early." Dom pointed out, slightly disapproved. He shouldn't be back this quickly. As he clapped a hand to his son's shoulder, the rest of Marco's riding party made their way into the warehouse, only nodding in recognition to their president as they passed.
"Only because I have good news." He said sinisterly as he pulled off his riding gloves. "But before I get to it, how did the meeting with the Tycoons go?"
Dom crossed his arms tightly, his leather jacket squeaking as it rubbed together. "It went well, actually. Holden was surprisingly generous at my request and I manage to nail out the extra orders to supply our large influx of prospects without fifty questions. But I think the better question here is why you're back so soon?"
Marco ran a dirty hand through his sweaty helmet hair, his unruly dark strands in disarray. He smirked at his father. "I got the information you wanted; wasn't that difficult obviously so executing things shouldn't be either. I can move tonight, at your word." Marco said cockily.
Domenic watched his son's confident expression engulf his face and narrowed his eyes. He may be his son but he had a tendency to be overly smug with himself. And now was definitely not the time to do so, not when things were so fragile between the territories. Marco's arrogance was his downfall and his father was very aware of it. Putting Marco on the correct track was a daily task.
"That's what you said about setting up Austin Moon and look where he is now; not in jail, very much alive, and still in my way." Dom's voice was beginning to raise, a growl erupting from within him. Austin Moon was a touchy subject that has been an annoying roadblock in his plans for years. "With him fucking around, nothing will be fully ours. Ever. "
Marco eyes dimmed a bit at his father's impatience but soon brushed it off like it wasn't an issue. Or at least, one he didn't want to acknowledge in his presence. "That was a fluke, dad. Covenant's got many eyes in the system so it's difficult to pinpoint the accuracy of some shit. And what the fuck is locking him up going to do anyway? He'd find a way out of it, he always does." Marco suddenly got a very serious look about him that surprised Dom, more so when he reached out and gripped his shoulder, holding a steady gaze. Marco was rarely so forthwith.
"I have other plans in mind. We already know where they like to make their transactions: down by the pier, where there's minimal surveillance." Dom nodded, remaining quiet for him to continue.
"Well, if we infiltrate properly this time, we can be more effective." Something darkened in Marco's eyes that his father couldn't help but notice. "So help me, dad…as god as my witness, Austin Moon is going to be nothing more than a name people once knew and feared. No one wants to destroy him more than me and that's exactly what I plan on fucking doing."
Dom was silent for a moment, his face staying impassive at Marco's gauging gaze.
Until he finally spoke up:
"How soon can you grab your men and get started?"
Ally's POV:
"Allyson! This needs to stop!"
I snapped—or more like jumped—out of my panicky and spiralling daydream yet again today and looked up at a my disgruntled English teacher, Mrs. Birch. She looked the most angry she had all week towards me and my recently adapted 'space case' personality. I tried to look as inexpressive as I could but behind my glassy eyes, all I could see were dark surrounding figures with reapers on their chests.
I blinked back tears of frustration and slight fear.
It was Wednesday, four whole days back to reality since my escapades at the party and I wasn't coping well, to say the least. It was a miracle I even allowed myself to leave the confines of my house to go to school but I owed it to myself to at least contain some of the normalcy I still had in my life unless I wanted to go insane.
That, and my father would've become more suspicious than he already is and the last thing I want is him involved.
I was in last period and I managed to become trapped in my mind-completely checked out-like I have been for the last three days in my classes. It was like I was almost on auto-pilot, travelling from class to class robotically, absorbing the most that I could, and all the while trying my best to get by without having a nervous breakdown.
"Oh—uh, sorry, Miss." My raspy voice shook slightly. "What did you say again?"
I had the sense to look bashful and red as the rest of the students in the class, including a very skeptical and pissed Trish, had all their eyes glued to me. I could hear snickers at my incoherence. My dopiness in class was not a new thing as of recently and it was now starting to become a constant joke among my classmates.
"I said—who is your partner for the Hamlet assignment, but once again, you are otherwise distracted." She said sternly, standing at the front of the room where I assume she had been avidly waiting for me to finally answer her question. Her hands were firmly planted on her two wide hips. "Really Miss Dawson, this is at least the 10th time I've had to fiercely call on your attention this week! Now whatever it is that has you so distracted, I advised you find a way to somehow make it scarce or else I won't hesitate to ensure you fail my course! Am I understood?!"
"Oh. Uh—um…"
"I think she gets it, Mrs. Birch. And I'm her partner so we can continue on to the next student I think." Trish interrupted from her seat across the way, my eyes flicking quickly on her in surprise as well as every other astonished pair located in the room. She was already watching me quizzically like she had been ever since she first spoke to me since my run in with Covenant, right away detecting something was very off about me. Since then, she's kept her calculating gaze on my weirdness constantly. "Ally's just been a little out of it obviously, so excuse her." Her gaze burned me accusingly, like she was almost trying to force out whatever I was hiding from her with her eyes.
"Whatever you say, Ms. Della Rosa." Mrs. Birch said harshly in her authoritative voice, and turned her squinty little eyes back towards me. "So long as you understand the consequences for falling behind in your studies, Allyson." She scolded. "This is not how you should be behaving in your final year, god forbid your final year in a school you just transferred to."
I slouched in my seat embarrassed, feeling like I was two inches tall. But then again, Mrs. Birch hasn't been the first teacher to reem me out in front of everyone this week, and probably won't be the last at the rate I'm going.
It was very silent as I felt everyone's eyes make holes in my skin and Mrs. Birch huffed, giving me one last look of frustration. She soon continued to call out for partners from the other students in my class, leaving me to wallow in my bullshit and only then did I feel people start to look away.
"Ally." Someone whispered roughly.
I looked up from my position, fully ready to tell whoever it was to leave me alone, to only see Trish leaning in beside me.
"This is absolutely ridiculous. We need to talk." She stated quietly but firmly. She didn't look pissed as I thought she would, but more like confused. Like she was wondering what was so interesting that had me gone from earth.
Either way, I could tell that me ducking her questions, calls, and conversation for the last few days had final added up to the last straw.
I looked at her furrowing brow once again since the beginning of the week, and once again I was completely at a loss for what to say. It was true, I had been avoiding her interaction but only because I wasn't sure if I could talk to anyone, let alone Trish, without completely singing like a canary about what happened to me. I was afraid and paranoid and Trish could clearly see it.
I was freaking out inside and it was insane how in tune I made myself out of pure fear. I was jumpy and flinchy. I was unnaturally and suddenly aware of so many possibilities around me in this one small town.
And I blamed him completely.
After he finally left me abruptly like he did, I literally locked myself away from civilization for a day and a half, unplugged the phone, and just ran endless circles in my mind around the world I glimpsed into, hoping I would just be able to move on like nothing happened. So yes, I was afraid, but I wasn't sure of what anymore. I could only manage to speak to my father, and even that was only when absolutely necessary.
It took hours of convincing but I finally decided to attend school that Monday morning but it wasn't much use since at home or at school, I was still a walking robot.
Because no matter how hard I tried—a certain blonde haired boy and the confusing, frightening feelings he invoked in me starred in my dreams every night since Friday...
A quick flash of him grabbing me and taking control of my mouth passed my vision.
A small shiver racked me and I tried to shake it from my subconscious.
I had to get a grip.
But as I sat wide-eyed and silent, staring at a really fed up Trish who I've completely ignored since Friday night, I tried to think again of a good enough excuse to placate her with. She wasn't the type of person to be duped and I was starting to realize why she didn't open up to a lot of people she like she took the chance to do with me.
But the truth is, I've been so absorbed in my own shit that I had no idea what to tell her or how to approach her about it without showing my involvement. How could I tell her anything?
Would she believe me? I know I wouldn't believe me-
BRINNNNG!
The sound of the bell sounded, everyone around us standing up quickly and chattering, trying to file out of the room as fast as they could. I remained seated.
"Alright! Remember: your assignments are due next week, no extensions!" Mrs. Birch belted over the loud clamber of students' voices.
Before I could make a move out of my seat, Trish's firm grasp on my forearm was already dragging me out of it and down the hall with a strong purpose.
"I can put up with a lot but being left in the dark is not one of them. Let's go." She scolded me as she continued to shove me down the hall, my book bag barely staying on my shoulder.
When we reached my locker, she pushed me against it and I grunted, catching myself. The hallways were quickly vacant at the end of the day but there was still a few on lookers who didn't dare to interfere with Trish when she was heated like this.
"What the hell, Trish?!" I spoke with loud emotion for the first time in days.
Trish crossed her arms in front of me, her eyes appraising me accusingly. "Oh, so you do still speak. I was wondering if you got you're tongue cut out or something."
I brushed my shoulders off and fixed my now ruffled jacket. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt my anger start to boil again, like a machine coming back to life after a millennia of sleep.
"Now you're going to start talking because frankly, this little charade you're trying to pull with me isn't working. Now I tried to be nice and allowed you to have your space but really, Ally, this is getting fucking ridiculous." Her hands lifted in the arm as the look on her face was an odd mixture of annoyance and concern. "You're zoning out in class, you're dead-panning every conversation I try to have with you, you jump whenever you hear something loud-"
She was cut off by the loud chirping of her cell phone coming from her pant pocket.
She mumbled something sarcastic about 'perfect timing', me fully thinking she was going to ignore the call and continue to yell at me till I cracked, when all of sudden the expression on her face turned uncharacteristically nervous as she looked at the called ID. Her eyes quickly flashed to meet mine, and I could tell what was coming next. My heavy breathing was still filling my ears.
She sighed dramatically. "This isn't finished. You're going to tell me what's wrong with you, whether you like it or not." The phone stopped ringing but she still made her way down the hallway. "Meet me at your car." She called back and then turned the corner.
I let out a long needed sigh and rubbed a fist into my tired eyes, slouching my body weight against my locker. I didn't know if things were always this bad or if I was just now more coherent of the odd things going on around me. Either way, paranoia was becoming my new best friend and I wasn't fully sure if it was a good thing.
What the hell was I going to tell Trish? She wasn't going to drop it till I provided her with a satisfying answer.
I was in deep shit.
Once my bag was packed with my other school books, I made my way to my car; the empty hallways making it easy to travel the large distance efficiently. My body ached as I made my way, it feeling the consequences of not having a good night's sleep since Thursday night.
And as the wheels in my head began to do what they'd been doing best and furiously turn over stupid scenarios once again, I couldn't help but feel that tingly sense on my spine that eyes were watching me. I slammed my locker door shut and swivelled where I stood suddenly, scanning the vacant corridors like a hawk.
I was alone. No one was around.
"Jesus, Ally. Get a hold of yourself..." I muttered, throwing my raincoat on and heading towards the parking lot a lot faster than necessary.
I stepped out into the cloudy overcast weather. It was drizzling outside, the warm beach breeze I associated with Bay Beach not making an appearance the entire day. I almost wanted to laugh at how ironic it was, but couldn't seem to get the emotion to be genuine.
I crossed the distance to my car in no hurry, enjoying the feeling of not being rushed or pressured. The wetness caused the usually jammed lot to be almost clear of people and cars which was such a weird sight to see. It was slightly eerie and was just another situation that made me feel more anxious, like something was about to happen, but I tried my hardest not to think about it too much.
I hurried towards my car parked over behind a row of trees on the edge of the lot, finding the privacy slightly comforting this morning when I found the spot. But now as I go to it alone, I think it might have been a seriously dumb idea. And just to prove the point, I suddenly hear a voice.
Frozen, I hear an exuberant female voice speaking on the other side of the hedge. Suspicious and cautious of everything now it seems, I approached it slower and quieter, trying to make out whom it was. My heart began to pound like mad as I began to register it as a possible threat.
"I can't believe you haven't called me back, you ass! It's been FIVE DAYS! What the hell has been so important that-"
The voice suddenly cut off abruptly. And for a good 10 minutes too.
"No," the voice breathed finally, the word sounded slightly muffled like a hand was placed to there mouth in surprise. "That can't be. Are you a hundred percent sure about all of this?"
It was then I realized it was Trish's lowered voice, and only her voice. She must be on the phone still. Curious to who it could be that made Trish feel the need for privacy from me, I have a small debate on eavesdropping when I give out and choose to lean in closer and continue to listen.
Who is she talking about?
"But are you positive you have the name right? The one you mentioned is correct? Because the chances of this are far too creepy..."
She pauses, and then-
"It all makes so much sense now!" She bellowed. "Shit, I should have known!" It sounded like she was ranting to herself now, like she usually does when she's overwhelmed. "I mean, I knew something was up, but I just never imagined it be this! Oh my god, what are the odds!"
Who—who is the 'she' she's talking about? Could it be…No, it couldn't, right?
I listen on begrudgingly.
"Yes, I know her, you moron! Why else would I be freaking out like this?!" She sucked her teeth. "Fuck, the poor girl. No wonder she's been out of her mind these past couple of days, she's probably scared shitless!" She sighed as I tried to peer through the shrubbery and make her figure out.
She suddenly spluttered, angry at what was relayed to her on the other line. "Excuse me, but I was friends with the girl before you told me all this crap that went down at the clubhouse this weekend, so don't start telling me how to watch out for her! I could have done just that if you didn't pull me away at the party! I could have prevented all this! You have some balls calling me up and telling me what to do."
I gasp harshly, my eyes wide with complete disbelief. My hands cover my mouth as what I hear Trish say to whoever is on the receiving end finally answer my fearful assumption.
Trish is talking about me; this can't possibly be a really freaky coincidence! It's too exact! She's referring to me, holy crap!
I choke down a fearful sob, barely straining to continue to eavesdrop. "Yeah, yeah, she won't say anything, I'll make sure of it." Trish spoke with attitude as I slowly rose from my crouching position as silently as I could.
"She's isn't an idiot with a death wish, D; she can hold her own! She'll keep her mouth shut. Yeah, I'll be with her tonight. Talk to you later." She ends the call and curses silently to herself.
What the fuck is going on. Who the bloody hell is D? How is Trish involved!?
My mind is whirling at the situation. Things just get worse and worse, don't they?
In a split second, before I fully make my presence known and finally let everything I've been feeling unleash and boil over, something is entertained in my mind that strikes me with even more fear. What if Trish is a part of Deadwood Covenant? If so, can I trust anyone anymore? Would she try and kill me too?
Maybe that's how she knew so much before…
And like I really did have a death wish, I find myself rapidly moving into plain sight with the sudden urge to confront her, my lungs feeling like they were about to give out.
Trish's ears perk up, causing her to turn around abruptly; a look of fright and astonishing nervousness overtaking her stance. With her mouth popped open like she was caught with her hand in the cookie jar, she suddenly narrows her eyes at me and becomes awfully rigid.
"Were you listening to my conversation?" She accuses, her voice rising.
I stare at her for a second, dumbfounded. But soon, my fists clenched and my breathing deepens. Was she serious? I let out a small unamused and accusing laugh.
"Are you kidding me? I can't believe you! That's all you have to say to me right now?" My voice cracked as I felt my buried emotions starting to rise within me, this new discovery finally being the threatening last straw.
"Oh my god. I can't believe this. Oh my god." I begin to mutter to myself. "You too, out of all god damn people. Is anywhere safe?" I drop my bag to the floor and began to furiously pull at my hair, the stress and unknown of it all crashing down on me.
Suddenly, Trish is beside me and I flinch away from her touch.
"Ally! Stop, stop it!" She grabs me as I try to move away from her.
"Jesus Christ, Ally. I'm not going to hurt you! You're completely safe! Just stop, I can help." She shakes me a bit.
I look at her, not believing her for a second. Hot tears threaten to fall but I blink them back. "How the hell can you say that? How can you expect me to trust what you say? I heard you. You're one of them!"
"Ally, I'm not one of them!" She barks at me. "My family is tied up with them somewhat, but it's not at all what you think! If you just let me explain…"
I was taken off guard at what she said. Her family was tied up with them? What the hell does that mean?
We must have looked like quite the pair, her clutching at my shoulders like a madwoman while I tried to get a reign on my emotions. I glared at her, really getting tired of being manhandled. I shove her hands off me and stepped back from her to pick up my bag.
"Fine, explain. Now." I hissed venomously at her. I couldn't help but feel like I was betrayed for some reason. How could this be? Trish?!
She sighed heavily and ran her hands up and down her face. "I can't, not here in the open like this." She stepped towards my passenger door and gestured at my car.
"Come on, open up. I'll tell you everything you need to know when we get to the privacy of your house. I promise."
I threw the door to my bedroom open and slammed it shut once Trish stepped in behind me, my father's usual complaint of this action not audible since he was still on his shift at the hospital. I threw my bag haphazardly onto the floor and spun to face her, not wasting any time with niceties towards her. It seems all my hospitality flies out the window the second I lose my cool.
"Alright, explain. Right now." I spat. "How is your family involved? How are you involved? And what do you know about what happened to me Friday night? I want to know everything you know about these people, and this time, don't leave anything out."
"Okay, easy, easy, Ally. One at a time." She instructs as she takes a seat on my bed, looking suddenly very tired. "And drop the 'tude, would ya? I'm not the bad guy here."
"Yeah, we'll see about that…" I mumble rudely, her eyes flashing a warning at me. I could care less at this point about playing nice with her; she needed to cut the crap because this was all too creepy to be a coincidence.
"Start talking." I pushed, crossing my arms and staring her down.
"Okay! Christ!" She exclaimed. She then seemed to take a moment more of my running patience to collect her thoughts, a fleeting look of concentration crossing her face. She then looked up at me. "Well, damn. At least take a seat or something, you're making me nervous."
"I rather stand." I said stubbornly.
She sighed. "Whatever, suit yourself." She lifted her legs on to my bed so that she was sitting fully cross-legged in the middle of my comforter. It seemed like she was getting comfortable.
Her eyes soon leveled with mine as I tapped my foot, my anxiety seizing tightly in my chest the longer she took to speak up. Her eyes looked solemn, so different from the Trish I was use to.
"My father's a lawyer. A really good one, actually; the best in the county."
I looked at her, puzzled. "That's nice, but what the hell does that have to do with anything?"
She made an irritated noise. "You know, this will go a lot quicker if you just let me explain everything first and keep your questions to a bare minimum."
My silence was her cue to know I understood and wanted her to keep going.
"Anyway—my dad's always been good at what he does, administrating the law. And as a result, it makes his services very desirable." She continued in that serious tone. "So in other words, a big rep means big clients…" Trish trailed on, bugging her eyes out at me like she was hoping I'd put two and two together.
"So let me get this straight; are you saying to me that your dad is Covenant's lawyer? As in Covenant: the biker gang, the criminals?! " I suggested incredulously.
"Well, one of their lawyers, yeah. You can't possibly expect an organization as dangerous and protected as theirs to have anything less than a SWAT team of professionals dealing with their communal matters." She said that like it was something I should have already known.
I stared at her, my mouth hanging open in awe and confusion.
But in my head, things still didn't add up.
"Okay, okay. I'll bite." I follow up. "If that's so, I still don't see why that has anything to do with you. Why would you be talking to someone on the phone about my run in with the club? It's not like you're the one directly doing business with them or whatever…"
"Ally, it's not that hard to grasp. My family's been involved since I was a baby. It's natural that I made my own friends and relationships along the way too, being surrounded by that life all the time, you know." In other words, she danced around my real question. She wasn't going to say who this 'D' was.
I guess I still looked as extremely skeptical as I felt because she sighed again and addressed me further, now her patience seeming to wear thin. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in. I get it, I heard what happened to you and you're beyond scared straight. I understand. At one point I was too. Hell, I still am sometimes." She said more to herself.
"And the only reason why I know any of this is because your name happened to come up when a member I'm particularly close with rang me and was just shooting the shit about the massive blow up at the clubhouse this past weekend." I gulped; my throat insanely parched suddenly. Her eyes watched my reaction to her words take over my whole body. I froze in my place.
"So if my friend never even brought it up, none of this would have surfaced and I wouldn't of had to get the 4-1-1 on you, Ally. It's coincidence but for god's sake, you could have been killed! You should have told me, god dammit!"
"You don't think I wanted to?!" I finally blew up, all the pent up crap being unleashed. "How was I supposed to know you were in good with them or whatever?! I still don't know if this is okay, me talking about it with you!" I growled, rounding on her.
"You can talk to me; nothing is going to happen to you if you do. But really, Ally." She spoke in a lower voice, as if to not spook me. "What the hell happened? A witness problem has never blown to these proportions before."
That was it. I couldn't take it anymore. A round of sobs racked my chest and violently escaped my mouth as I tried to find a way to breath properly again. This was all too much; I didn't know what to do.
Damn him. God damn him straight to hell for putting me in this position.
"Trish, I—I…Oh my god, I don't even know where to begin!" I cried out, tear rimming my eyes as I thought about how much of a messed up situation this all is. My legs begin to quiver and finally collapse under all the pressure.
"Hey, hey." She soothed, catching me in her arms quickly, lowering us both to the ground. The gesture was so foreign from someone as particularly brash as her. "It's alright, they won't hurt you now. Once their top leader vetoes something, it has to be abided by no matter what. Although I'm not why it's become such a big stink." She said calmly as she could. "But whatever, just trust me. I understand that this all seems pretty fucked up but you'd be surprised when I say that it could have been a lot worse."
Trish 's soothing is oddly exactly what I needed in that moment and I accept graciously, the feeling of having someone finally know all about this is very relieving. We hold each other for what feels like hours, my meltdown subsiding into a wave of acceptance, until I feel Trish's stout frame go absolutely stiff in my arms and my heart rate picks up in alarm again.
All of sudden, she pushes me at arm's length but her very wide and weirdly fearful eyes are glued on something on my desk. I scrunch my tired face up in confusion at her immediate change, and try to catch her gaze.
"Trish, what's—"
"Where the fuck did you get that?" She darkly seethed towards whatever it was, the fear I detected before in her eyes now very evident in her voice.
I turned in my seat to look at whatever she seemed to be terrified by. It took a second but my eyes locked on the thick leather jacket that I had completely forgotten to stash away before Trish walked in, just lying there for anyone to see. Its patches on full display, especially the one threaded with the name Austin on the left breast pocket.
Not just any jacket, Austin Moon's club jacket.
"Fuck."
"Damn right, 'fuck'!" Trish bellowed as she scrambled up and violently pointed at it like it was the devil himself. "Do you know who's this is?! How are you alive right now?! How did you—what are—I…" She began to pace frantically, causing me to become even more nervous than ever before.
I bit my lip viciously, only then fully realizing that Trish must have not known about Austin's part in my little adventure at all. I guess her source kept all of that out of it.
Because if she did, this freak out would have occurred much, much sooner.
Oh my god, she would have a conniption if she knew he kissed me. And better yet, she'd pass out stone cold dead if she knew how much I thoroughly enjoyed its sinfulness.
As Trish became delirious and frenzied over the sight of the jacket, I became a bumbling fool over my jumbled emotions, mixed on two different stances on the problem.
"I…I—" What was I suppose to say? He intrigued me? He terrified me? I can see some good in him?
She stopped in the middle in my room, her hands tangled deep in her curly dark hair.
"Holy fucking Jesus, Ally! That's Austin Moon's jacket! Why do you have it?!" She shrilled.
Never in my life did I ever think I'd see Trish act this way—so out of control. It made me feel like coming clean about everything that happened between me and Austin would cause her to go into cardiac arrest.
A small part of me felt so guilty. Because that same part was the one that couldn't stop thinking about him.
Trish began to mumble to herself as she paced my floor again, forgetting my presence or anything for that matter other than the jacket. There was only the jacket. I sat there, silent and doe-eyed, and astonishingly terrified.
"Trish, I—"
"Holy shit, this whole situation is worse than I thought. I mean I knew you ran into trouble with the heads of Covenant, but this…this is a whole other story!" He voice was making me shake in my seat. "Why didn't he tell me Austin Moon was involved?! I would've—I just— I can't believe—ugh!"
Trish threw her arms in the air and turned to look at me, fire alight in her eyes. But when she finally took in my frozen position and vacant eyes, something in hers slightly softened. Slightly.
"You know what, I don't even wanna know. The less I do about this particularly, the better." She smoothed out her shirt in an attempt to otherwise occupy herself from losing control again.
"Just tell me this; does he know you have it?" Her voice sounded off, like she was trying to contain her distress for me.
"Y-yes. I mean, yeah he gave it to me. I-I was cold." I barely whispered.
Trish appraised me with a bewildered look, like what I was saying made no sense.
"You were cold." She repeated like she couldn't possibly understand. "How is this even possible? He's not some normal guy, he would never give—" She then shook her head, cutting herself off. "No, I'm not reading into this. Less is more." She sighed for the thousandth time this afternoon. "Forget this; you're obviously already in too deep. You're just going to have to give it back, Ally. ASAP."
"You don't think I want to?! I do, but I don't know how." I lamented. "One thing's for sure; there's absolutely no way in hell I'm going back to that clubhouse."
Selfishly, I didn't want to admit to myself that the jacket wasn't the only reason why I wanted to see him again. There were so many questions running through my mind, each one mulling reasons why he ran from me after we shared an intimate moment that he initiated.
But Trish didn't need to know that.
"Okay, okay. Just give me a second to still process this shit." She grabbed her face and moaned out in frustration.
Suddenly Trish gasped again and mumbled a muffled word into her hands that sounded like the answer to all our problems.
"Juyeys."
"Um, excuse me?" I inquired.
She removed her hands and looked me dead in the eye. "Joey's." She said, and then began to pour words out so fast that it took me a moment to absorb it all. "It's a pool hall down on Wicker Pier. I know Covenant members who go and supposedly Austin's an avid customer; likes to do business there or whatever. I can take you during early daylight hours when I find out a day when I know for a fact Austin isn't there and we can just leave it with Joey, the owner. He's a close bud with Austin apparently. This way, we can avoid direct contact and keep you as safe as possible." She went to finally sit back down on my bed, satisfied with her plan. "You survived him once somehow; I don't think many can count themselves as lucky as you."
Joey's? Everything else Trish was saying after she mentioned this place was going in through one ear and out the other.
Joeys. I could find Austin there…
Trish left in a hurry right after her epiphany, saying something about how she needed to talk to her significant friend right away about all of this, saying how there was no way in hell anyone of this was possible. She was going to find out answers.
For me or for her, I wasn't sure.
Right up until she left my car as I dropped her off at her house, she kept repeating how this secret world that Deadwood County truly holds was somewhere the likes of me should never be involved in and that she was truly sorry I got mixed up in it, something about me being too innocent and too vulnerable. She even made me stuff Austin's jacket into the boot of my car, just so it was as far away from me as possible.
"Don't even think about going to the pier without me. I mean it Ally, if something happens …" She warned as we stood on her front porch.
"I'm fine, Trish. I can handle myself."
This new side of Trish—the protective side that came with her unveiling of this secret life she has—was starting to bother me a lot. Not to get me wrong, I like that she cares about me enough to do so but after everything I went through this weekend, after all the things I saw, I was still standing. Mind you, it was barely, but nonetheless, I was still stable. I wasn't this fragile little doll everyone thinks I am and the word innocent was really beginning to irritate me. In all honestly, Trish still didn't even know the half of what occurred between me and Austin since the night of the party. Hell,she didn't even know it lasted longer than one night.
His aggressiveness, his playfulness, the way he refused the man in the cave's dare to kill me. Threats, teases, caress's…
The way he kissed me and then ran like his life depended on it.
I was stopped at a red light on the strip; the left hand turn leading back towards my house, the right towards the pier.
"Joey's. It's a pool hall down on Wicker Pier. I know Covenant members who go and supposedly Austin's an avid customer; likes to do business there or whatever."
Trish's voice echoed through my head, the mention of Joey's pool hall becoming a fixation in my brain. I knew if I did anything drastic and she found out, she would chew my ass out. In a way, I was glad to finally have some one else hold the burden of this situation with me and I was happy it was coincidentally Trish.
But there was some things I needed to handle on my own.
Like for one, I needed answers. And I wasn't truly going to get those with Trish around.
Not from who I wanted them from, at least.
I needed them regardless, not only because I was afraid.
Because I was.
Not only because I was curious.
Because I was.
But more importantly, because he saved my life and kissed the living daylights out of me, then left without so much as a goodbye.
And it was only then I realized I had turned right towards Wicker Pier.
A/N: Meh. I don't know how I feel about this one. Kind of a filler.
But I love the next chapter!
Let me know what you think :)