Redemption

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Waking up the next morning, he's on his side and I am still on my back, his arm across my stomach. I slip out of bed and into the main room in search of coffee. Walking into the kitchen, Venus and Gemma are sitting there at the table. I pour a cup of coffee and sit next to Venus. "Morning sister." Venus says. "Morning V. Morning Gemma." I say before taking a drink. "Morning baby. How are you feeling?" she asks. "Okay I think. Woke up last night from a nightmare but I was able to get back to sleep." I tell them and they nod. "I better head to the garage." Gemma says. Kissing the top of my head, she says "You need anything, let me know." I nod and say "Thank you." before she leaves the kitchen. Pouring another cup, Venus says "I better wake Alexander up." before kissing my cheek and leaving the kitchen.

I am sitting there looking into my coffee cup just thinking when I hear someone walk in. Looking up, I see Jax walk in fully dressed. He walks over and kisses my temple before asking "How'd you sleep?" as he pours his own cup of coffee. Taking the seat next to me, he takes a drink and waits on me to answer. "Better after we talked. How about you?" I ask. "Better." he tells me and I nod. "Thank you." He says and I look at him. "For talking me down last night." He tells me. "Jax, I literally owe you my life. You need anything, just say the word." I tell him and he nods. Kissing my temple again, he says "I better get some hours in." I nod and he heads out of the room.

Gemma walks in asks "What did he mean talk him down?" she asks. "I woke up last night and he was still up. He was thinking about what my momma said about being a monster. I just told him what a person does doesn't make them a monster but their reasoning does." I tell her. "He's been struggling a lot lately." she says. "Gemma, I owe him my life. Anything I can do to make things easier on him, I will." I tell her. "You're a good woman honey. Been through hell yourself and you still have enough of a heart to help my son." she tells me and I just nod.

After talking to Gemma, I head out to the picnic table and sit at the table with my second cup of coffee and just watch Jax and the guys work. Lyla sits beside me. "How are you feeling?" she asks. "Better thanks." I say. She sees me looking at Jax. "He's a good man you know." Lyla says. "I know. I told him so." I tell her. She looks at me and says "He's been lonely for a while. He lost his wife about six months ago." she tells me. I look at her shocked and she says "They're still looking for who did it. It's made him rethink this life for his boys." she tells me. I look back at him and say "He slept in my dorm last night." I tell her and she looks at me concerned. "I woke up from a nightmare and he was still up. After we talked, I took him to my dorm and we helped each other sleep. No sex or anything, just helped each other." I tell her. "That's good. He needs someone and so do you. Nothing wrong with depending on each other." she tells me as she pats me on the shoulder and leaves me to my thoughts.

That night, I'm laying in the bed in my dorm sleeping when I start dreaming. I'm on my bed in my old room when the door opens and I freeze. Next thing I know, I'm being rolled onto my back and a man is holding me down. I start to panic when he punches me. He moves my panties to the side and enters me. "Please don't." I beg. Next think I know, I hear a familiar voice whispering to me. "Ryan, come back to me Darlin. I got you. They can't hurt you anymore. Come back to me." and I realize it's Jax. I start to wake up and I start to sob and he holds me closer. "There you are. I got you Darlin." I hear him whisper against my temple. "Jax." I sob. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere babe." he whispers. He looks at the open door and sees Venus and Gemma standing there. They both nod before closing the door and leaving us alone. Jax goes to pull away a little and I pull him closer and start to panic again. "Hey, I'm not going anywhere Ryan. I got you." he says softly as he holds me close. I start to get myself together and pull away from him. "Sorry." I say softly. Cupping my face, he makes me look at him and he says "I'm not going anywhere babe." I nod slightly and he stands up and starts to strip down to his boxers. Climbing into bed with me, he lays on his side, facing me, he pulls me into his chest and holds me close.

We lay there in silence and asks "Where were you?" I sigh and say "I was dreaming about the first time momma pimped me out. I was eight. I was sleeping when my door opened and he pinned me to the bed. When I started to panic, he punched me and raped me." I tell him. "I won't let that happen to you again." he says. I look up at him and ask "Why did you help me tonight?" I feel him kiss the top of my head and he says "You needed me." I pull him closer and whisper "What are we doing?" He tilts my head up and says "I don't know." After a couple of minutes, he says "Try to get some sleep." He tightens his hold him me and we both drift off to sleep.