A Flicker of Redemption

Chapter 6

After her second game, she decided she'd had enough. Tig was quick to take her place. Happy quickly leaned over and told her to follow him. She refused until he yanked her up by her wrist and dragged her to his room. Angelika protested the entire time until he locked the door and motioned for her to sit at the desk in his room. She watched as he sat at the edge of his bed before she moved to sit down as well. Whatever this was, she hoped it would be quick.

"Little girl, you have to tell me what happened the night your mother was killed." Happy's rough voice exclaimed making her eyes widen.

'How the hell did he know about that?' she thought as she stared at him.

"I've had Juice do some research on you. Now get to talking." He stated as if he read her mind.

"What happened that night is no one's business." She looked away from him.

"This isn't up for debate. Tell me. NOW." He got forceful.

She swallowed not wanting to talk about it. 'Show no fear!' she thought as she sat there.

"Little girl, I'm losing my patience." Happy growled.

"Ok." She huffed with a roll of her eyes, "It was the usual. They were fighting. Things were being thrown around. Accusations of cheating. My standard evening. (She shrugged) I was standing in the hallway just as you entered the kitchen. We had a perfect view of the living room from there. As they were arguing, my dad threatened to kill her. She spouted off something and then he rushed into the kitchen.

I watched as he grabbed a knife out of the block and run back into the living room. He stabbed her once and she fell. Then he sat on her legs and just kept stabbing her. Over and over and over. Blood went everywhere. On the ceiling. On the walls. All over him. All over the furniture. I was shaking as he got up. I raced to my room hoping he hadn't seen me watching. I packed a bag and snuck out my window.

If he could kill my mother, what was stopping him from killing me too? (She was fighting tears as she spoke) I mean, I knew I wasn't wanted from the way they treated me but I never thought they were actually capable of killing one another." She stated catching Happy's attention.

"What do you mean the way they treated you?" He asked.

She sighed hating talking about this. Especially with someone she didn't know. A biker on top of that. They were even less trustworthy than normal society.

"They never treated me right. If my grades weren't good enough or I didn't all my chores done the way they wanted them done, I'd get a severe beating. They've broken arms, legs, ribs. Fractured my nose once. CPS was finally called and I was put into foster care for two months. Those creeps were even worse than my parents. They always talked down to me. Sometimes they'd keep me from eating for a whole day if I threw an attitude or didn't do something they wanted me to." She explained.

"Oh, little girl." His raspy voice called out, "You ran away from an abusive home and a murderer. How have you been surviving all these years?"

"Panhandling. I sometimes pick-pocket if I have to but I try to not go that route. If I get enough money, I'll get a cheap motel room for the night. Nice bed, get a shower. Most of the I'm using my duffle bag as a pillow."

"You're here now with us. You have a dorm to stay in a job in the office. You don't have to do those things anymore." He told her.

"I'm not staying here permanently. This is just a pit stop so I can gather some funds to last me a while." She exclaimed.

"Why can't you just stay here?" He asked, "You're far enough away from your home that no one knows who you are. No one will come looking for you."

"I...I can't." She stuttered.

"Can't or won't?" He asked, "Stop keeping everyone at arms' length. You have to let someone in. Someone you can talk to."

"You can't trust people. They'll just hurt you!" She suddenly blurted out taking him aback.

"I agree with you that most people aren't trustworthy. But you can trust us. You can trust me." He stated, "Talk to me about what else is going on."

"I've been on my own surviving by myself for the last four years. I don't need some biker to come in and rescue me like I'm a little child!" She angrily retorted, nostrils flaring, face turning red.

"I didn't say I was trying to rescue you. I just want you to talk to me. To tell me everything." He urged.

"There's nothing more to tell. You know my dirty little secret." She rolled her eyes.

"Do you know what happened to your father?" Happy asked.

"No. It's partly..." She trailed.

"Partly what?"

"Partly why I keep moving. In case he's searching for me." She whispered.

"Little girl, we can keep you safe here." Happy told her.

"Why do you want me to stay here so badly?" She questioned him, staring into his dark eyes.

He just stared back as he tried to keep himself calm and not blurt out the real reason.

"You need protection and we can provide it. You want to earn legit money instead of begging for it so you're doing that here. It makes sense for you to stay." He replied.

"You're talking long-term. I am not." She stated.

"I'll have Juice look up whether or not your father is in prison or not. Would that make you feel better?" He inquired.

"No." She sighed as she ran her hand over her face.

"You're tired of running. I can sense it. Stay here with us. We're all one big family here. We look out for one another." Happy expressed.

"I don't know. I don't really trust bikers all that much. Less than I do normal society." She confessed.

"Why is that?"

"One of my last run-ins with some bikers. I thought they were going to sexually assault me on the side of the road. I fought back as much as I could so they beat me pretty good until someone stopped behind us. I was let go and ran for the town since we were on the city limits." She told him, "There's other stories like that about bikers I've run across."

"We're not like that. Give us a chance." He stated, "Please."

"I don't know." She looked down.

"Get to know us while you're here instead of staying by yourself." He offered.

"I should get to bed. I have work in the morning." She stood to her feet.

"Angelika, please think about what I said. We'll keep you safe. I promise." He told her as he moved to the door to unlock it.

She just nodded before slipping past him to head to her own room. She was emotionally drained just from that lengthy conversation. It was not something she wanted to tell everyone else although she was sure it would have to come out at some point. Stripping down for bed, she couldn't help but wonder the real reason the bald headed one wanted her to stay there with them so badly. It wasn't for protection reasons, she was sure of that. She did like his voice and found his tattoos interesting. Her thoughts were on Happy and what he'd told her. So much so, she didn't have a nightmare like she usually did.

Nightmares had plagued her since the night she watched her father kill her mother. She'd never told anyone what she'd witnessed. Not until tonight. He forced her to talk and it both annoyed her and relieved her all at the same time. She hated feeling vulnerable. That meant you were weak. She couldn't afford to be weak. Not a woman being homeless. Even if she were still staying at the clubhouse, she was still homeless. She had no real residence of her own therefore she was homeless. All she owned fit into her duffle bag. Easily carried wherever she went. She did need to do a load of laundry soon. Most of her clothes were dirty.

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