Taboo (Merle Dixon x OFC)

Chapter 29

Merle and I were eating leftovers from the night before when a random thought popped into my head. I wondered what was on that SD card, but I wasn't sure he'd tell me anything about it. I decided to ask anyway because the mere thought of it made me nervous. What if someone saw those pictures of Merle and I?

"Merle?" I muttered, setting my fork down with an anxious clink.

"Hmm?" His blue eyes probed mine curiously. He could tell I was about to say something serious.

"What was on the SD card?" I asked in a small voice.

Merle's eyebrows screwed together, his mouth turning down into a frown. "Huh?"

"Ya know...the one at the tavern that Mable picked up off the floor? The one I gave ta Daryl?"

"Oh! That SD card!" Merle's confusion cleared away immediately. "Nothin' fer ya ta be concerned 'bout. It was all shit I need ta worry 'bout. Me, the biker gang and the gangsters, no one else. It's okay."

"Hmph." I nodded, but I wasn't quite satisfied with his answer. "Well, what 'bout the pics of me? Were there any others? Or just the ones that asshole took at the tavern? Did he send 'em ta anyone?"

"Relax, sweet cheeks," he said gently, reaching across the kitchen table for my hand. Taking it in his, he squeezed it reassuringly. "There weren't no more than what he took at the tavern. My people went through the entire card and checked his phone for emails, texts and whatever else. The asshole didn't use backup apps or anythin' like that. It would've been dumb if he did. He knew that. It's okay. We destroyed any evidence of you and took what we needed fer ourselves. The card actually turned out to be a huge help. I'm glad ya saw Mable cleanin' that up. I would'a been pissed if she had swiped it or tossed it in the trash."

"Phew...okay. That was botherin' me. I wasn't sure ya'd tell me anythin'. Do ya think she would'a done that? Swiped or tossed it?"

"Swiped, no. Tossed, maybe, but only outta naivety. She wouldn't o' done it ta jeopardize any of us if that's what yer thinkin'," Merle assured. "Mable's annoyin', but she's okay. She's been workin' at the tavern fer a long time cuz she knows how ta keep her mouth shut. She was involved with one o' the bikers at one time, but it didn't work out. It was his fault it ended. They had a kid t'gether, so he kinda feels responsible fer her and keeps her around. Plus, he feels guilty cuz he cheated on her. He kinda ruined her life."

"Wow, that's fucked up," I commented, picking up my fork again. "Which biker?"

"Richie," he rasped with a shrug.

"I know him."

I remembered him from my teenage years. He wasn't too bad looking, but he was sort of an asshole. I remembered my Daddy constantly having to put him in his place.

"Yeah, he was one o' Jake's men." Merle shoveled food into his mouth. I giggled when a piece of rice fell from between his lips and landed on the table. He smirked in response, amused by my giggling. "Only you would think the way I inhale my food is fuckin' cute."

I giggled again. "I think everythin' ya do is cute."

His smirk grew wider. "Feelin's mutual."

"I dunno, Merle." I changed the conversation back to the SD card and surrounding activities. "My gut is tellin' me somethin' is still off. I know ya said everythin' is fine and there's nothin' ta worry 'bout, but I can't shake it. Somethin' don't feel right. I trust ya but..." I took a deep breath. "I dunno. It ain't sittin' right with me."

"Autumn, ya have PTSD. We don't need a doctor ta tell us that. Seein' what ya saw..." Merle was talking about my Daddy. He just didn't want to say that. I nodded to let him know I understood what he meant. "Yer traumatized and what happened at the tavern didn't help ya at all. That just made it worse. It's normal ta feel like that. Trust don't got nothin' ta do with it. Ya can't help it. It's gonna take time. I understand that."