Chapter 2
Pulling into a scrapyard, I start looking around as we head to the back gate. The gate opens and we all file through. When Hank stops the bike, I see that it's just Hank and the Prospect that came back with us. The prospect takes my bag off his bike and Hank says "Show her to my dorm." EZ nods and heads to the top of the steps of what Hank said was the clubhouse. Turning to me, still on his bike, I get off of the bike and hand him his helmet. Taking my hand, he pulls me close so that I can hear him without EZ hearing. "I know this is new to you but you'll be safe here. Prospect is going to show you where we're staying. Let him make you something to eat and then get a shower and lay down. I'll be back soon." he tells me. "Yeah. Okay. Thank you Hank." I say and he nods. Taking a chance, I kiss his cheek and say "Be safe." He nods before taking off. I walk up the steps and we head inside. I see a guy with fake hands cleaning the bar and a teenage girl sitting there talking to him. "Chucky, can you make her a plate?" EZ asks and the man he called Chucky nods and does as he's asked. EZ leads me to the bar and I sit down, he puts my duffle on the floor next to us and the girl looks at EZ and then me. Holding out her hand she says "I'm Letti. Coco's kid." I smile softly and say "Charley. I'm…" I stop, not really knowing what I am and EZ speaks up. "She's Hank's Old Lady." Letti looks at me shocked and then sees my face. "I have some cream that will help with those bruises. Eat. I'll get it for you." she tells me and heads for the hallway. A couple of minutes later, she tells me "Put this on after your shower and then every few hours and that should be gone in the next day or two." she tells me. "Thanks." I say. Chucky puts the plate in front of me and I start eating. This is so much better than dumpster food. After I eat, Letti shows me where everything is and then to Hank's dorm. I get a shower like he said and then get into bed and it's not long before I am sound asleep.
Back at the dress factory, Hank and the rest of the guys are looking at my attacker tied to the pew. They are standing to the side with Gilly standing watch over him. "We were keeping him comfortable for you." Bishop tells Hank. Hank walks over and says "You think it's okay to rape a woman? Well, I don't. But that woman? She's my Old Lady now so we're gonna have a little fun." he says before spending the next little bit torturing him before they dispose of his body in the middle of the desert.
Hank walks into the clubhouse with the rest of the guys and says "I'm heading to bed." They nod and he walks into the dorm. Seeing me in bed sleeping, he heads to the shower and then comes to bed in nothing but his boxers. When I feel the bed dip down, I start to panic and I hear his voice say "It's me Charley. It's okay." and I calm down, knowing he won't hurt me. I feel his arm wrap around my waist softly and he asks "This okay?" I snuggle back into him, actually giving this a shot, and say "Yeah. It's okay." before I feel his hold on me tighten a little and we both drift off to sleep.
Waking up the next morning, I am on my other side and snuggled into his chest and his arms are holding me close. I go to move, suddenly feeling self conscience and feel his hold tighten and he whispers "I got you bebita." and I relax a little. I still don't let my guard down but he's not given me any reason to think he would hurt me. I lay there awake and so does he. Neither of us saying anything for a few minutes. Then he kisses the top of my head. I look up at him and pull away. He releases me and just looks at me. "Are you okay?" he asks. "I think so. Are you sure you're okay with this? With me being here?" I ask. He sits up and I sit up with him. "Charley, I've been alone for a long time. I'm ready to settle down and start a family. You need a home. Someone to give a shit. It makes sense. We need each other." he tells me and I nod. "Okay." I say simply. "Why were you on the streets?" he asks. He moves against the headboard and I move up beside him. He takes my hand and laces his large fingers with my much smaller ones. "I moved here after college. I'm twenty-seven now. I got a degree in music on a scholarship and got a job offer in Oakland at the local high school. I'm from Georgia. I wanted to get away from my hometown because there was nothing left for me there. My parents are gone and I didn't have anyone. So, I took the job in Oakland and I loved my job. I loved the kids I taught. I was the chorus teacher. I was set up on a blind date by another teacher and we hit it off and started dating. After about a year, he proposed and we moved in together. Well, he started going out at night and coming home with hickies and smelling like perfume and I confronted him. That was the first time he beat me. Telling me that if I weren't so fat and worthless that he wouldn't have to cheat. I tried to leave and he beat me to the point I couldn't move and both of my eyes were swelled shut. He got off on beating me. It was to the point that I had missed so many days of work from the beatings that the school fired me. That pissed him off more. Then he comes in and tells me that I need to pack my shit and leave that his new girlfriend was moving in and I wasn't wanted there anymore. I packed what I could in my duffle and headed out the door. Took my engagement ring to the pawn shop to get some money to at least eat on and was told the ring was only worth about twenty dollars because the diamond was fake. Been on the streets about six months now." I tell him. He lets go of my hand and puts his arm around me, pulling me into his side and I let him. "Well, I won't treat you like that and you won't be made to leave. You're familia now." he tells me. I look up at him and say "Thank you Hank. Seriously." and he nods. Looking into his eyes, I take a chance. I lean up and press my lips to his softly and feel his hand tangle into my hair at the back of my head as he deepens the kiss and I feel it in my toes. When we come up for air, he says "Let's get some breakfast." I nod and we get up to get dressed and head out to the main room.