Road from Ruin

Chapter Twelve

DELTA
Waking up with the sun in my mascara crusted eyes and the worlds worst taste in my mouth, I try to cover my head with the sheets and hide myself from the world — before realizing that once again I'm in Reds bed. This poor guy... I have to get out of his life. How did I even get here? Last I remember I was drunkenly filling Bea in on my life and now I'm fully clothed in a mans bed who I barely know, who told me he'd fix my life for an unknown favour in the future; god if my mother could see me now she might die on sight.

I pull myself from bed and quickly into the bathroom and see a horrifying sight looking back at me. Raccoon eyes, teased hair pointing in every direction and the makeshift outfit mama made me glued to my body. I strip out of the clothes and jump into the cold shower. Scrubbing my face, body and hair I try to keep my mind off of the fact that my life is in shambles. The cold water slowly brings me back to life so I get out, towel off and go back to the bedroom to attempt an outfit without having to go into the living room. I find my backpack that has my now clean pair of cutoff jean shorts and tight white crop top from the day I met Red, but of course there is no underwear in sight. "Damnit." They're all out in my suitcase by the couch. I quickly change, hang my towels, take a deep breath and open the bedroom door. I see Reds massive boots laying beside the couch but no Red in sight, I look around in the living room and kitchen but still can't find him. I call out his name a few times before heading downstairs to the shop...which I also find empty. Weird. This place always has at least one prospect manning the phones. Where the hell is everyone? I peak my head outside to look for any bikes but again come up empty.

I run upstairs quickly to grab my phone and wallet and head out the door to walk to the bar. It's only a 15 minute walk tops and I know there has to be someone from the club there. Putting my headphones in I start my workout playlist and hit the road, the sun is up but not as hot as the last couple of days. Today has turned out to be a beautiful day despite my hangover, and I find myself deep in a vivid daydream of spending the day by a lake with Red, swimming, barbecuing, having a couple of beers and listening to good music. The perfect day. Water running off of his beautiful body with his hair tied back in a low bun, before catching myself and realizing I'm fantasizing about a man in a motorcycle gang. I've seen his tattoos, his guns hidden all over the apartment, I know there's trouble in the club right now and I know he told me they handle drugs. This whole situation is crazy, not to mention the daunting 'favour' I have hanging over my head, and now he's missing and my car won't start. I'm stuck in this world that I know nothing about. With my thoughts turning from dreamy to dark I look up to see I'm already at the bar. I open the front door and get hit with a wall of smoke, good at least there are people here. I look around to see a few familiar faces including the bartender I met the first day cleaning glasses behind the bar. 

With confidence I walk up to him, "Hey, I'm looking for Red, could you help me out?" I saw while holding eye contact to try to come off as strong while in reality I'm still terrified of this place. "Angel, figured you'd come around eventually. He's in the back, club business. No little girls allowed. Can I get you a beer while you wait?" He says in a growling voice that suggests he's been smoking for longer than I've been alive. "First of all, I'm not a little girl, and second do you have all the necessary ingredients for a Bloody Mary? I could really use one right now." He responds with a gruff laugh and turns to make my drink. I'm lost in my thoughts again when I see a drink pushed in front of me, a drink I definitely did not ask for. He must see the confusion in my eyes because he quickly laughs and explains "Jameson shot, pickle juice chaser, also known as the clubs famous hangover cure. Two of those and you'll be right as rain darlin', good as new." I shrug my shoulders and toss back the contents of both shot glasses. At first my body is filled with pure disgust followed by a strange sense of relief. "Woah," I cough out. "Told ya." He says with a wink before returning to cleaning glasses. This whole world is so very strange, but I keep finding myself becoming more and more comfortable. With that thought he puts another round in front of me that I toss back easier than the first. Well, now I wait I guess.