AbbyHe's back.The man I thought was changing and becoming someone I can confide in and trust, is now reunited with the man he's always been towards me. Cold."You're off today right?" He asks in the same cold tone he has been using with me for the past several days now."Yes." I answer not wanting to give him much."Good. Ghost will be watching over, I'll be at the clubhouse." He states then walks off and heads out slamming the door behind him. I wait the few moments until I hear his bike start up and pull out.It's been eight days since I've moved in here with Chance. He was sweet at first, attentive and caring, but a few days ago, he came home a different person. Isolated, non-talkative. He's curt with me, one word answers and never stays long. Dad has been obsolete as well. He calls every day, checks on me, but says no more than a few words to me, then says he has to go. I feel alone, lonelier than I did when the stranger held me in his clutches down in that dark damp baseme
Chance Ten years agoPacing back and forth I play what the police captain said to me earlier today over and over again in my head. "We're sorry Mr. Malone, but we still don't have a suspect."It has been months since the shooting, and they aren't even close to identifying anyone. I have tried telling them over and over again who it is, but the same words they repeat haunt me.Alibi.Those fuckers that had the audacity to end lives that dreadful day, have a fucking alibi.Anger boils in my belly knowing those assholes are out there, free to do whatever they choose, while parents of those kids have to suffer nearly every day.I squeeze my phone in my palm tighter and bring it up to my forehead trembling as I do so. I have tried calling Sean over 40 times since I have been home and still no answer. Only one with the power to bring all of this to a conclusion, a simple phone call separates the truth from all the lies that were given to those who lost their children that day. I fe
AbbyThe cool sheet hangs around my body as I watch Chance thrash back and forth. His arms have banged against the nightstand and headboard enough that I know he will have some bruises. I have tried calling out his name but he's not answering. It's like he's in some kind of trance, trapped in his own nightmare.It's been several minutes of the same thing. I thought he would tire himself out, or wake himself up, but nothing. I tried waking him myself, tried shaking his body, but I was thrown off, causing my back to hit the floor hard.Panic sets in when I see him thrash so hard he nearly leaps off the bed.This is getting dangerous.I decide then and there that one more time of trying to wake him is better than impatiently waiting. Running over to the side of the bed, I call out Chance's name once more, getting no answer in return other than the same name he continues to cry out for.Who is Ava?I shake my head, jealousy can come later, right now Chance needs me. Leaning over the
Chance I watch as Abby disappears into Max's room. My heart burns to go to her, hold her in my arms and beg and plead for her forgiveness but I don't deserve that. I deserve to wallow in self-pity feeling like my world is standing still, but in actuality everything around me is moving at the speed of light. When Austin came out and told us what happened and that Abby and Ghost were on their way here, my heart stopped. Knowing I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most, knowing I was here getting shitfaced all while she was fending off an attack that almost ended her life, kills me. If it weren't for Ghost and Swatch, she would have been dead, and it would have been all my fault. I am no better than her father, the same man that not too long ago, I fought for putting her in this same situation."Church in five." Austin shouts walking over to our newest guest. Leaving this morning after saying horrible things to Abby, I realized I had nowhere to go. No place I called home, n
Abby"I killed my own daughter."The words flow through my mind as I watch as once again Austin paces the floor before me. Pulling my legs up under me and getting into a more comfortable position, I close my eyes as Shawna pulls my hair tighter."I take it Austin hasn't gotten a hold of them yet?" I shake my head pushing the impending tears back. I've been worried since Chance left; my body language has been stiff and non-pliant from the moment he told me he was going on this run with the rest of the brothers."Not yet. I think he's getting worried." I whisper, not wanting Austin to over hear me.I watch as Bone walks into the room for the tenth time. He spots me in the same spot I've been in since Shawna pulled me out of Max's room a couple of hours ago then walks away.I'm not sure why Bone looks suddenly so sheepish with me, but I know I need to speak with him."He's not the only one." I feel her tap my shoulder, letting me know she is done with my hair. A mirror comes in fro
Chance Ten years agoI can still see the blood. Still see their bodies lying around. Still see the look in my wife's eyes as she tells me what happened to eleven of my students. Still recall the faces of every parent as they pass me at the funerals. I can still see it all, and I deserve every single ounce of it.I sit cross legged on the cold cement floor, trash and debris flow around me as a small gust of wind circles them around a few seconds and reluctantly lets go. Movement behind me causes me to stand up and walk towards the very person that could have saved them all."Mr. Malone?""Tell me what you know Sean.""What's going on?" He asks looking around then turns into a panic. "Why did you bring me here?"I look around with him and take in the condemned place that destroyed everything. The students desks and chairs still lie scattered and pushed over. There is trash and paperwork from my class all over the place, and the small broken air conditioner portable still sits in
Abby"Mommy, I'm scared." I watch as my mother and father shift on their bed, rolling over to opposite sides to turn on their own lamps.They slept in the middle, holding each other as if there were nothing else in the world."Abigail?" My mother's sweet voice called out to me."What's going on?" My father's rough voice booms shortly after.I adjust my stance, hugging their doorway closer to my body."There's a monster under my bed." I can hear my mother whispering softly to my father, followed by a soft deep chuckle.Dad stands his entire height and walks right over to me. He stops just before my bunny slippered feet and bends down enough to be eye level with me."Know what I do when I'm afraid of the dark darlin'?" I shake my head, clutching the wood of the door frame tighter. "I fight the monsters head on."I narrow my eyes at him, causing another deep chuckle. I'm lifted up in his arms and turn to see my mother blow me a kiss goodnight. Daddy takes me back to my room, sett
ChanceNine Years Ago"Need another?" I look up from my empty glass and nod at the bartender. The liquid pours into the tumbler and I quickly down it, signaling him for another. I could have made a dangerous mistake tonight. That's all I can think of as the next shot of bourbon fills the glass. I recall the night of mistakes I had as I down this one.The gun in my handWatching the minivan appear, lurking in the shadows directly across the streetWatching as Detective Alberts family got out of their car, happy and care free without worryI was going to do it. I was going to end the lives of every single one of them. Alberts was not there, but I didn't need him to be, I was going to seek the revenge I was due. An eye for an eye, family for family.But as I neared the house, gun ready in my hand while my face was covered by a scarf, I stopped.AvaShe was what crossed my mind the moment I crossed the threshold. She wouldn't want me to do this. I couldn't do this in honor of
GhostThe music pours out through the speakers as I lift the glass up to my mouth downing half the bourbon immediately enjoying the burn that follows up from my stomach to my throat. I signal the bartender for another as he zooms past me to help another patron. Seconds later, I down the second half and give the man a chin lift when he pours my second glass instantly.I've been here no longer than ten minutes, but I knew right away I would be drinking tonight.Christmas.Fuckin' Christmas.And here I was trying to escape it all.Candice and the other old ladies wanted to do something nice for the brothers, something nice for Bone. It's something I respected, but knew it wasn't something I could stand being around for too long. Christmas was about family. And I didn't have one outside the Nightmare Warriors."You look like you could use some alcohol." I look up and find a different bartender starring down a me from her spot behind the bar. Looking down I see my glass is once again
AbbyPlacing the last dish into the dishwasher, I shut it with my foot then run over to the laundry room to deposit the load of laundry I currently have in my hands. Throwing those in the machine and pressing the start button, I run over to the living room and clean up all the baby toys that are scattered around it.Cursing when I check the time noticing that Chance should be here any minute I grumble my father's name when I think of why I am cleaning last minute. I had spent the entire morning over at his house, because he said there were some things he wanted to talk to me about. Turns out, he just wanted to tell me that he wasn't sure about going to the Christmas party that we practically created for him. It took me almost three hours to talk him into going and another forty minutes yelling at him for being so stubborn."Damn stubborn biker." Another grumble comes out of me as I make a bee line towards the kitchen to put away another random dish left out on the sofa. Normally C
Lyla"But they're a bunch of bikers." Rolling my eyes, I pause as my hand grips the handle to the oven."Yes mom, and they've invited you to come to their Christmas party." Pulling open the oven door, I turn and grab the two sheets of cookies with both hands as I maneuver the phone between my shoulder and ear. "Mom, look I know this is a little different, but this was the first year the club had no drama and they wanted to celebrate as a family." I won't tell her some of that drama included myself, mom already has a hard enough time with the fact that Adrianna hangs around the clubhouse after what happened to her."I don't know, maybe just you and your family can go, and I'll stay with Lisa and her wife.""Mom, Lisa is going and she's bringing Lizzy." Shutting the oven door, I lean back against the counter placing one hand on my hip while the other now cradles the phone.I have been trying to get mom to accept the fact that she is apart of our family, but she still gives us the dist
ShawnaMy body moves through the rhythm of the song as Believer by Imagine Dragons booms loudly through the speakers aligning each wall. My head swings around as my body bends down to the level I need it to go, all while keeping my posture tight. I end it hard stomping on the ground, keeping my face down and hat titled to the side when the song ends on a hard beat.Smiling up at my class I relish in their applause as April, my assistant walks over to me with a towel and my water bottle.Taking them both with gratitude, I remove the hat, damping my face with the towel then swing it around my shoulder, just before draining half the bottle of cold water. Handing the hat over to April I look around and watch as everyone begins grouping together and working on the moves I've just shown them."That was great.""Thanks" I smile up at her, pleased with myself that I kept the routine exactly the way I had envisioned it. I had debated whether or not I was even going to make a routine to t
VOLUME FOUR: A WARRIOR'S CHRISTMASCandiceStepping onto my tip toes, I reach up higher, cursing when I feel my shirt pull free from my black slacks. Looking down I count the steps of the ladder, only to realize I'm on the last one.Damn my short legs.Eyeing the top cap, I wonder for a brief moment if I could balance on it, just long enough to hang up this last bundle of lights that I have bunched tightly in my hands."Come on Candy, it's just like another step." I whisper, attempting to motivate myself. Shutting my eyes and counting to three, I jump up placing one foot on the top then startle when I feel two hands wrap around my ass, pulling me down the ladder and onto the ground."Babe, what the hell are you doing?" Austin grunts and I smile up at him while balancing my hands on his chest. My heart is still pounding from my near death sudden decision so I catch my breath, counting once again before I could speak."Trying to hang up this last strand. I was able to do all the o
AbbyI clutch onto Chance's waistline as he speeds up, passing all the familiar surroundings. It's been over a year since we have been home, and it's been the most amazing year of my life.Chance and I have been traveling all over the country and have recently decided to make a permanent home back here in New York, surrounded by everyone we love. My web design business grew even larger when I was able to travel and meet new clients. I don't regret my decision to leave nursing and the money is just as great.I lay my head on his back once again, smiling with excitement as I see the same long street that leads up to the compound. Going nomad has been the best thing to ever happen to Chance. He is not only happier, but lighter. Darkness and guilt no longer lead him, he takes everyday as its own and always appreciates each day as it is. We've seen much, lived a lot and met a lot of new friends. Chance was even able to track down his parents after they moved to Florida to retire. The r
Chance"Know you're all pissed. Put the club in danger, but I had to keep the intel to myself." I stare down at the small seashell, twiddling it back and forth as I listen to Austin speak.It's been two days since everything went down at the clubhouse and everything feels completely different.Bone is no longer in the ICU. He's still bound to the hospital, but Abby and Julia have gone to see him each day to keep him calm and in the loop. Abby is going strong, I think being close to death has given her voice a push. She and Bone have a much better relationship now and he respects us being together.The FBI told us that we were in the clear, they found all the information to prove our innocence, including six cops coming forward with facts about what Alberts had either promised them, or threatened them with. We were simply in the way of the drug trade. We no longer deal, that much everyone knew, but he knew enough about the clubs that if he was able to get rid of Snake and the King
AbbyMy knees bounce, sobs wrecking my body. I rock back and forth, worry borrowing its way deep down inside my mind. The doctors words as they rushed my father into surgery repeat in my head over and over again."We think one of the bullets is lodged in his lungs."I woke on the way to the hospital, my head on Chance's lap as Shane drove us behind the ambulance. I was worried for my father, but my following questions were about everyone else. Chance explained that the FBI of all people helped us, and that the Alberts brothers were the only causalities. I was so worried about everyone, but it looks like Austin saw them coming from the back of the clubhouse on one of the monitors Torque had set up.They were desperate. That's the only way this all made sense. We were close to getting to them, and with Domingo after them as well, they took their last opportunity.I spot Chance walking towards me; his long strides quicken when he sees my state. I have not stopped to calm down since t
ChanceNine Years Ago"Need another?" I look up from my empty glass and nod at the bartender. The liquid pours into the tumbler and I quickly down it, signaling him for another. I could have made a dangerous mistake tonight. That's all I can think of as the next shot of bourbon fills the glass. I recall the night of mistakes I had as I down this one.The gun in my handWatching the minivan appear, lurking in the shadows directly across the streetWatching as Detective Alberts family got out of their car, happy and care free without worryI was going to do it. I was going to end the lives of every single one of them. Alberts was not there, but I didn't need him to be, I was going to seek the revenge I was due. An eye for an eye, family for family.But as I neared the house, gun ready in my hand while my face was covered by a scarf, I stopped.AvaShe was what crossed my mind the moment I crossed the threshold. She wouldn't want me to do this. I couldn't do this in honor of