Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC Series Book 5) (7 page)

CHAPTER 9

Bennett

I’m sitting on the deck watching the sunrise thinking about the first time I met Nancy and how it changed my life. From the time I was eight or nine, I can’t really remember, my parents moved us from pillar to post every couple of months. I don’t think we spent more than a year in the same place. We always stayed within Texas or Louisiana but moving around so much meant transferring to different schools all the time. I didn’t really mind, but making friends was difficult for me and by the third move, I gave up trying to make any. If any kids came to me then I’d happily be their friend but I wasn’t seeking friendship anymore, it only made it harder when we had to leave.

To this day, I still don’t know why we moved so much. I remember at one point my parents were really sad and weren’t taking an active part in the club lifestyle but I never knew why. What happened to cause them such grief? What made them move so much? Were they after someone or was someone after them?

I missed my friends from the Last Hangman and the kids from my original school. I could have kept in touch but back then we were too young to understand what moving away really meant and it’s not like we had all the means to do so like kids today do.

Our last move that brought us to Penhurst, Texas and I started to notice a difference in my parents. They were happier, friendlier and more loving. They bought a really luxurious house in a really fancy neighborhood which was not like us at all. We were used to the MC lifestyle but my parents wanted to take a step back and try to live a normal life. I don’t know what made them choose this neighborhood but I’ll be forever grateful that they did. If they had chosen anywhere else, even the next town over, then I would have never met Nancy. The person who changed my life the moment I saw her, whether that was for the better or not, I’m not too sure anymore.

The first time I met her was the day we moved into the house next door and I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was a warm sunny afternoon towards the end of the summer. We were just two kids back then; she was seventeen and I was eighteen. I was still living with my parents out of convenience and comfort; I didn’t see the point in having my own place. I was used to living in a large community staying with them made sense to me, even if a lot of kids back then found it lame. My parents might have left the MC lifestyle not long after our move, but I didn’t. I was just starting to embrace it in one of the chapters. I loved the big family and living life on the edge. I was a bit of a rebel so the MC helped fuel my desire to cause mayhem whenever the opportunity presented itself.

I was moving boxes from the moving truck into the house when I saw her. I could feel a pair of eyes on me and I looked up to see her watching me from her bedroom window. My first thought was that I hoped it was her bedroom because I had picked the room directly across from it. No more than three feet must be separating the two houses. If it was hers then it would be a great way to get to know each other and it didn’t take us long to start talking over the short distance between our windows. It might sound a bit old school but it was the only way we could communicate to begin with. Her parents were keeping tabs on her accounts and phone. They disapproved of my parents’ lifestyle and made it clear that we had no place in ‘their’ neighborhood. They were the most arrogant, up tight people I have ever met. I’m surprised Nancy didn’t turn out the same way and that she took a liking to me because usually the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. Instead, she was the complete opposite, she was the sweet, kind, innocent girl and I was the bad boy any seventeen year old girl would want.

We had our first chat after I had just finished moving boxes into my new room. I didn’t bother unpacking them, I had more important things to do. I wanted to meet my new neighbor, the special girl who seemed to have stolen my heart with just one glance. I made my way through the boxes to the window and opened it with a smile on my face because she was still standing there, watching my every move like she was in a trance. There was an awkward silence at first where we just stared at each other. She was breathtaking with the perfect amount of innocent and mischief in her eyes, soft pouty lips and long brown hair. I could feel myself falling for this girl and we hadn’t even spoken to each other. I felt that my first words to her should have been more than just a simple greeting but I got tongue tied and the only thing that came out was a lame ‘Hey’.

“Hey back.” She smiles and God her smile is dazzling. “You don’t look like you and your family belong here,” she tells me, sounding sad.

“I know. I have no idea why they wanted to move here to be honest.” I shrug and lean against the window frame with my eyes fixed solely on her.

“Well you won’t hear anything from me but I can’t say the same for my parents or the neighbors. They are all quite judgmental.” She frowns which makes her cute little nose scrunch up.

“I’m sure we’ll survive. We don’t take shit from anyone and people should know better than to mess with us.” I smirk playfully.

“Oh really? Are you
that
dangerous?” She taunts and mimics my smirk.

“Who knows, I could be a criminal.” I whisper loudly.

“Considering my parents have already warned me not to go anywhere near you, it wouldn’t surprise me, unless they’re just being their overprotective and judgmental selves.” She giggles and it’s music to my ears.

“I think they’re wrong for judging us without knowing us. On the other hand, they could be right and you
should
stay away from us.” I grin evilly but it soon breaks into a full on smile when she bursts out laughing.

“You might have the tattoos, the biker cuts and the bad boy attitude, but there’s something about you that tells me that deep down, you’re a total sweetheart and wear your heart on your sleeve…” she tells me and leaves the end of her sentence hanging for me to say my name.

“Bennett. You know, you might be onto something…”

“Nancy. I’m always right and I’m a good judge of character. I know you’re a good guy, Bennett.” She winks at me, not impressed by my attitude or demeanor, I like that. A lot.

“Aren’t you a smart little cookie?” I chuckle.

“Oh, I know I am.” She grins but it falters as soon as she hears someone scream her name. “I have to go, my mother is calling me. If you want to talk some more join me in the gazebo in the park at midnight. I’ll be waiting for you. Don’t disappoint me, Bennett.” She winks at me and rushes away from the window and out of her room.

I’ve just met this girl, but I know that she’s just stolen my heart and I don’t think I’ll ever get it back. In those few minutes, she changed my life, giving me the need for something more than the club life has and I know for sure that I’m going to meet her tonight.

To this day, I still don’t know what happened to her after that night she was taken from me. I hope it’s just a matter of hours or days before I know. A part of me wants to know, but the other part just wants to bury all those bad memories and act as if nothing happened and pick up where we left off.

I know Gabe will manage to get her to tell him what happened. I wish I could be there to support her and give her the comfort she needs but I’m not sure me being there would be best. Not so much for her, but for me. It’s very selfish but I would have gone mental if I had stayed with her. Not because I can’t handle the truth, but because I’m sure no one would let me talk to her or listen to her. I’d be seeing people walking in and out of the Chapel without knowing what was going on and I couldn’t cope with that. I feel helpless and useless being so far from her but I didn’t have the choice. There’s nothing I can do right now that would help and it’s killing me.

I love her; she’s my gorgeous girl. She has always been and always will be, even if she doesn’t want me. I’ll always be there for her, no matter what happens over the next few days. She will always be safe. I’ll make sure of that. I couldn’t do it the first time but I will this time. I won’t fail her again.

CHAPTER 10

Nancy

I wake up suddenly and find myself in the middle of a large bed. I look around, trying to figure out where I am and what happened last night but my memories of the last night are still a blur.
What the hell happened?

Bennett!

I gasp as I remember running into him in the middle of Bourbon Street and then having a long talk with four women, but the rest is still fuzzy. I remember being calm, but right now, I’m shitting myself. I have no idea where I am or whose bed I’m in.
Come one brain, help me out here!

I sit up and rub my eyes in the hope that the action will force my memory to the front of my brain but nothing happens. I wince as I shift towards the side of the bed, causing my apparently sore ass to painfully rub against the sheets. It feels like there’s a thousand tiny needles digging into my skin. I manage to get up without any more pain and look at myself in a full-length mirror that’s opposite the bed. I’m wearing clothes that aren’t mine and I look like I’m going to collapse any second now. I turn towards the door to make my escape from wherever I am, but I see a note pinned to a board on the back of the door.

Hey Nancy,

Viv here, I’m the one who brought you up last night. I’m not sure if you remember since your memory was fuzzy last night. I hope you feel better. I’m working at the bar that’s next door to the compound if you need me. Do NOT drink the coffee in the kitchen, it’s disgusting. Come over for a good cup of coffee and some breakfast. There are shoes and clean clothes in the wardrobe. Help yourself to anything. Gabe (the guy who brought you here last night) will be with me if you want to have a chat with him.

Hope you feel better.

Viv

Xoxo

I smile and sigh in relief as I read the note and a wave of recognition hits me after seeing Viv’s name. She seems like a genuinely nice person, she doesn’t know me from Adam but here she is, wanting to help a stranger. I didn’t have that many friends growing up and I didn’t really bond with anyone back
there
. It’s a nice but odd feeling to have friendly people around wanting to help you, I’m used to being told to fuck off if I asked for anything.

I slip into the bathroom that I remember using last night and take a quick shower. I see that Viv has left towels and shower essentials on the bathroom counter for me, which weren’t there last night. I take my time using everything that she had left out for me, wanting to feel human again. I wash and condition my hair, shave in all the right places more out of habit than anything else and rinse before stepping out. I pat myself dry and wrap my hair up in a different towel. I dare to look at my ass in the mirror and I’m horrified when I see rows of red dots marking my skin. I can’t remember why they are there and by the looks of my ass, I’m not sure I want to.

I sigh to myself, trying not to dwell on it and apply some body lotion. I walk back into the bedroom and look through the wardrobe. I feel like I’m invading someone’s personal space even though Viv’s given me her approval.

After a few minutes, I settle on a pair of jeans, a tank top and a pair of grey Vans. I hate going commando but there is no way I’m going to borrow someone else’s underwear. That’d just be wrong on so many levels.

As I get dressed numerous questions run through my mind: why are they being so nice to me? Do they expect anything in return? Do they want to hurt or use me for MC business? Should I make a run for it? They are people Bennett knows so they can’t be too bad.

I take a final glance at my reflection in the mirror and see that I look a bit more like myself, but my eyes are dead in comparison to how they used to look when I was a teenager. I walk out of the room and look around, trying to remember how I got here last night. There are quite a few rooms lining the corridor and I have no idea which way to go. I walk to my left and look through a few of the open doors, but most of them are spare rooms or more bedrooms. I retrace my steps and walk back past the room I slept in and finally find the staircase.

This place looks more like a big house instead of a compound. I understand now why Gabe made that comment about the women making it their own. It does look like women decorated this place; there are flowers and pictures hanging on all the walls. It smells fresh and is very neat, not at all what I’d expect from a bunch of bikers. As I walk down the stairs at the end of the hall I feel a few pairs of eyes on me. A few guys from last night and a few I’ve never met. They aren’t judging or looking at me as if I’m a piece of meat, there’s compassion in their eyes, it’s almost unsettling but also reassuring at the same time. I’m not used to men looking at me without expecting me to drop to my knees and suck them off.

“How are you feeling?” A big, muscular man asks me.

“Ah…um…I’m alright.” I look up at him.

“I don’t bite, don’t worry.” He chuckles. “I’m Ant.”

“Nancy.” I half smile at him. I’m not scared of men, but this guy is freaking huge, I feel like a munchkin next to him.

“I know. You heading to Viv’s? I’ll walk you there.” He places his hand between my shoulder blades and walks alongside with me.

“I’m alright, really. I can walk there on my own.” I try to reason with him, but if his expression is anything to go by, then I’m going to have an escort for a potentially two minute walk.

“I know you can walk on your own, but considering the state we found you in last night, it’s better to be safe than sorry and make sure you make the hundred yards that separates the two buildings in one piece.” He looks at me intently and I just nod in agreement. W
hat the hell am I supposed to say to that?
“Remember anything from last night?”

“No, not really. It’s all fuzzy.” I sigh.

“Do you think last night’s asshole spiked your drink?”

“Most likely. All I know is that my ass is sore.” I frown.

“Did he hit you?” He stops next to me and I turn around to look at him.

“I think so, I have rows of small bloodied holes on my ass.” I make a disgusted face.

“Motherfucker.” He mumbles under his breath and starts walking again. “Remember where he lives?”

“Not really. I don’t think I was running that long though so it must be near Bourbon Street. Wish I had grabbed my bag on my way out, I’d have been able to ask John.”

“Who’s John?”

“The guy who drives us to various houses when we have make home visits.”

“Home visits? What the fuck?”

“Uh…”

“You better speak up,” he tells me as we walk into the bar. Upon seeing my discomfort, Viv immediately rushes over to us.

“Stop scaring Nancy, Ant.” She chastises him as she wraps an arm around my shoulders and leads me over to a booth by the bar where Gabe and another guy, whose name I can’t remember, are sitting.

“I was just trying to get her to talk about what happened, that’s it,” Ant calls from behind us.

“Don’t you dare take that tone with me.” Viv warns as she turns around to glare at Ant. The scene in front of me is hilarious and I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips. Both sets of eyes quickly turn to me with Viv smirking at me and Ant glaring.

“What? You gotta admit this is hilarious. A big, badass biker getting his ass handed to him by a tiny woman.” I try to stop the smirk from spreading over my lips but I can’t.

“Fuck me drunk, not another one. I’m out of here. Fill me in later. We’ll take care of that asshole that hurt you last night.” He groans and swaggers out of the bar.

“Well, he’s a bit intense,” I say, sobering up as I scoot into the seat of the booth.

“You don’t say.” Gabe chuckles.

“I’m Aleck by the way.” The other guy introduces himself. He seems as friendly as the others and there’s an uncanny resemblance between him and Gabe.

“Are you two brothers?” I look between them, trying to spot the differences between them and struggling.

“Yes, and Nicole is our sister.” Gabe smiles proudly.

“Ah, I feel for the poor girl.” I shake my head whilst snickering.

“Oh fuck, she’s like our women alright. Didn’t take long for you lot to rub off on her,” Aleck says to Viv and I can hear the desperation in his tone.

“What do you mean?” I ask him confused.

“You’ll soon find out that none of us have any modicum of control over our women.” Aleck shrugs.

“Just how it’s supposed to be,” Viv and I say in unison.

“Fuck! That shit’s scary” Gabe exclaims.

“Here you go, Nance.” Viv sets a mug of coffee in front of me and a plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast in front of me.

“You didn’t have to.”

“I promised you coffee and breakfast in my note. I always keep my promises.” She grins, looking proud of herself. “Feeling any better?”

“Yes, thank you.” I smile and take a bite of the eggs, trying not to moan in delight. “My memory isstill blurry about last night, my ass is still sore and I’m worried that they might be after me.” I sigh but keep eating. I didn’t realize just how hungry I was and the food is amazing.

“Who could be after you?” Gabe asks.

“The people who kidnapped me and kept me captive all these years,” I state after swallowing a mouthful of food.

“Any names?”

“No. It’s not like we were on a first name basis.” I frown, faking being annoyed but in reality, I know damn well who’s behind it all.

“How long have you been kept there?” Gabe asks and looks at me with such intensity that I feel like I’m pinned to my seat.

“Don’t scare her, Love.” Viv pats his shoulder, snapping him out of his stare and coming to my rescue.

“I didn’t mean to scare her, just trying to figure shit out.” He winks at Viv.

“Since the day I was taken.” I blurt out.

“Fuck.” All three of them say together.

“Where’s Bennett?” I question after finishing the eggs.

“Away. He needed some time to cool off,” Gabe says eyeing me up.

“I need to see him.”

“Why?” Gabe asks, sounding a little bit protective. No doubt he’s looking after his friend’s best interests.

“Because I need to talk to him. I haven’t seen him in five years and things were left unfinished. I wanted to talk to him last night but he left. I was too shocked to say anything to him after running into him. I still can’t believe that all of you just happened to be looking for me on the same night that I escaped. He was my happy, he’s the reason I’m still alive today and didn’t blow my brains out. He’s what’s kept me going for so long. I don’t know what he’s been through for the past five years, if he looked for me, if he was worried about me or if he thought of me, but I was worried of how he’d react to me disappearing and thought of him, every damn day. So please, where is Bennett?” I internally congratulate myself for managing to get it all out whilst keeping my voice calm and levelled. I keep eye contact with Gabe and I see something in him shift.

“I’ll drive you there.” Is all he says.

“Thank you,” I voice before attacking the bacon on my plate.

“Looks like you got your ass handed to you by a teenie weenie one,” Aleck whispers dramatically, making Viv and I laugh.

“Sorry about that. I just feel very strongly where Bennett is concerned, always have and always will. I let my parents get in the way once, I’m not about to let you do the same.” I shrug as I pop the last piece of bacon in my mouth.

“I see that.” Gabe smirks.

“Ready when you are.” I smile and drink my coffee. “This is heaven. Thank you so much Viv.” I moan and take another delightful sip.

“Come here whenever you want and I’ll hook you up. Tomorrow is Pancake Day so be here early or these pigs will eat them all.” She winks at me whilst pointing at Gabe and Aleck before leaning over and hugging me. I return the hug and feel a sense of calm wash over me. It feels so good to have a friend, I’m not used to this.

“Don’t tempt me.” I smile and slip out of the booth. Gabe follows suit and walks over to Viv before kissing her the way any man should kiss a woman, with passion and desire. Just watching them leaves me all hot and bothered and desperate for someone to kiss me like that.

“All good?” Gabe asks me with a grin on his face.