Road from Ruin

Chapter Thirty Four

DELTA

"He waited outside, behind my car delts. He left at least two hours before I did. I couldn't even look at him. I know you don't want to bring mom and dad into it until everything is figured out so I had to force my mouth shut. But god him even being that close to me made me want to vomit. I left ready to call you immediately and tell you he's still going over to mom and dads all the time. Then everything when black. A cloth covered my face." Bea explains.

I feel my nails puncture the skin of my palms. I'm so tense that if I unclench my hands I might rip my hair out.

"I came to in a dark room. No clue where I was. I swear Delta I tried. I tried so hard not to tell them anything. But this man with a face tattoo and long black hair he was so..." she gulps. "Cruel. He was cruel. They said they'd kill you if I didn't tell them. Said that everything they were doing to me they would only do worse to you. Delta the things they said... the threats. I couldn't let them do that to you. I knew you had Red and his friends... I thought they could protect you. I'm so sorry I told them Delta you have no idea." Bea rambles on.

"Bea stop. Just stop. You're here and safe that is the only thing in the world that matters to me. I just wish you would have given me up sooner, so you didn't go through what you did." I explain softly. Choking on my tears tastes like I'm choking on blood. I need to be strong for her.

"I'm just glad I'm here too. It was so scary Delts but honestly. It could have been so much worse. Sure they kidnapped me, knocked me around a little but that's it. The things I heard them saying, I just can't believe I'm here right now."

"They're bad people. And this is my fault. I don't know how Dean has gotten himself involved with these men but they're the enemy. Killing teens with bad drugs, illegally selling firearms all across the country. They shot up the clubhouse yesterday. They want something and we have no clue what it is." I say at a whisper.

I look to see that Red and Decker are still taking quietly in the kitchen. They don't need to hear what I'm about to say.

"It's my fault Bea. This whole thing. I don't know how I don't know why but I do know it's on me. So I will fix this. I need you safe. I need them safe. They've... they've become my family. You will never be replaced babe I swear. If anything this has made me want you in my life every single day instead of once a month. But Bea these people. They're incredibly kind. They're strong and caring and stand up for what the believe in. All things I've never considered myself. But I will. I'll finish this, I promise you right now." I state with full confidence.

"I get what you're saying. And I've missed you too. But Delta you're talking crazy. Like this weight is yours alone to carry. The way that man looks at you, tells me that you'll never have to fight alone ever again. This isn't your fault, you're a victim of domestic abuse, of emotional manipulation and ultimately physical abuse. Dean clearly has something wrong with him, so whatever he chooses to do is not your fault. You can't think that singularly, please." She says, through tears once again.

And don't get me wrong, I completely understand what she's saying. Unfortunately it doesn't stick. This is my fault. These men wouldn't even know the name Dean Thompson if it wasn't for me.

Falling in love with Red completely changed my life. Opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed. I truly believed I loved Dean, but I was just numb. Red has made me feel free, beautiful, powerful and cared for. With just a look he can make my knees weak. My belief in soulmates comes to mind. I knew Dean wasn't mine, but being with him only diminished the idea of them at all. Red may not be mine, hell they may not even exist; but I do know one thing for sure. This man and these people have deep rooted themselves inside of me, they have affected me in a way I will never recover from. Maybe this town is where my soul belongs. Where my heart will learn how to fully love.

I haven't even admitted my feelings for him. We've only known eachother for a short time and have only been intimate here and there. But the intimacy in his eyes, his hands, even his stature when he stands near me is more than I've ever felt.

I've found my family. I'm just glad Bea is here to experience the real world. Out from under our parents thumbs.

"You're right. I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you, we've got this. We'll figure this all out." I say to soothe my baby sister.

A knock at the door pulls my attention from her. In walks doc, and my face immediately flushes. I remember how embarrassed I was the last time I saw him, while he stitched Reds gunshot wound.

He gets right to work on Bea. Injecting her with a numbing agent that Decker insists he uses.

Decker is an anomaly to me. He acts completely suspicious of my sister, yet has been unable to keep his eyes off of her since she walked in. Interesting.

When I'm assured she is being taken care of, Red pulls me into his bedroom.

"Angel, you okay?" He asks quietly.

"Yes. Yeah. She's here. We've got this." I say attempting to sound more sure than I am.

"There was a note. In her purse. I didn't want to alarm you. You needed to spend time with her. But it's not good baby." He says without taking his eyes off mine, reaching behind him and pulling a note from his back pocket.

I grab it carefully and read aloud, 'Delta and the woman you call Mama. We need them at 748 Atlantic Ave. Alone. If they're followed we will kill them and anyone else on site. We gave you the girl, don't make this messy.'

"Why do they want me and Mama? What did I do?" I ask, fear and anger bubbling in my blood.

"Doesn't fucking matter angel. You're never going to be alone again. If you think I'm letting you go there alone you're dead fucking wrong. We'll figure this out okay? I'll call the guys. We'll have backup." He punctuates each word to make sure that I understand.

I understand alright. I have no clue what Mama has to do with this but what I do know, is that no one else is getting hurt because of me.