Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Vault

I'VE BEEN ON the road for a week now. After dropping the house bunny off at her mom's house, I kept going. She tried so hard to get me to stay with her, just like she tried to get me to fuck her the two days she was with me. I told her to fuck off and if she didn't stop, I was going to leave her behind to find her own way to her mom's. I'm not playing games with the bitch. She's lucky I even decided to give her a ride out of Benton Falls considering I never thought I'd have anyone but Bell on the back of my bike. I saw her face fall when she saw the house bunny standing with me. It was plain as day what she thought was happening and I said nothing to take that thought from her. Just one more reason I'm a fucking asshole and hurting her.

When she heard I was leaving, the house bunny asked me for a ride. I told her I'd let her go with me, but not to expect anything from me. Not anymore. This whole trip away is about me finding myself and figuring out what I have to do to get past the loss of my dad. It's not about losing myself more in loose pussy or random women I find along the way. My plan is to get away from Benton Falls and see if there's anything else out in the world for me away from the town filled with so many memories and the ghosts of my past.

So, I dropped the bitch off without so much as a goodbye and kept heading for the coast. I let my mind drift as I ride while still managing to pay attention to my surroundings so I don't get caught off guard with a car who doesn't see me. After what feels like years, I see a sign for a gas station. Getting off the highway I've been coasting along, I come to a small town called Cedar Bay. Everything along my way to the gas station looks so rundown. I see a few girls standing on the corners, looking for some fun for a few hours or so. Something about this place sets me on edge and I know this wasn't how it used to be. I've never been here before, but the feeling in my gut tells me something horrible is sucking the life from this small town.

Pulling into the gas station, litter fills the parking lot and it almost looks abandoned. If it weren't for the lights on inside illuminating the worker behind the counter, I'd keep riding until I find a different one. Or get back on the highway and head to the next town over. Instead, I pull up to a pump and use my card to fill my tank. Once I'm done, I walk my bike the short distance to the building and put the kickstand down so I'm next to the curb and can get to it in a hurry if someone tries to fuck with my things.

Walking in the building, I nod at the cashier and grab some drinks and snacks before heading to the counter. I set my purchases down and look around as the young teen rings me up and places my things in a bag. A decision is made before I can even fully think it through.

"Is there a hotel here?" I ask him, continuing to look around the small store that's definitely seen better days.

"Yeah. About a mile down the road. You might be able to find a room available," he answers, his voice telling me I'd be better off finding a room somewhere else.

"There somethin' goin' on in town?" I ask, trying to find out information about what's going on around here.

"Nope. Just the drug dealers and pimps book it up on a daily basis. They don't take kindly to strangers poking their noses in their business either," the kid answers, giving me more information than I'm sure he intended to as he looks around like someone's going to come after him for what he's just said.

"I see. And how long has this been goin' on?" I question him, handing over the money for my purchase.

"A few months now. We used to be a great little tourist town, but the dealers and pimps have ruined that for us. Now, you see what the town looks like—a ghost town," he tells me, handing me my change and sliding the bag closer to me.

"So, what if someone could come in and help clean it up for you?" I ask, an idea forming in my mind.

"We'd all appreciate it," he tells me, hope filling his eyes before he quickly blinks it away.

"Okay. Well, you just hang tight and I'll see what I can do," I tell him, thanking him for my stuff and leaving the little store behind.

I shove the bag into my saddle bag and straddle my bike again. After looking around for a minute, I start the engine and make my way down the road for the motel the kid told me about. If I'm going to bring this plan to Slim, I'm gonna have to have more information about what's going on here. The only way to do that is to ensure I'm right in the middle of the shitstorm. Slim and the club will need to know everything before they make a decision to help this small town or leave them to fend for themselves. I just hope they agree to let me help remove the trash and let them move on as they used to be. For the first time in so long, I have a purpose and peace fills me. I'm doing something good and there's a sense of calm filling me as if my dad is telling me to follow through with this.

It doesn't take me long to find the motel. I can see at one point in time, it was a grand place with a valet stand still sitting on the front of the large overhang in case it's raining out. The outside of the motel is a tan color with faded red and green flags hanging from in front of the door. Now, it just looks rundown like the rest of Cedar Bay. I don't like it one bit. Especially knowing the people of this small coastal town want to have it cleaned back up and restored to its former glory. And that's without talking to anyone other than a teenager. If he says the town's residents want it cleaned up, then I know everyone feels the same.

Parking my bike, I head in the door and ask for a room. I manage to snag the last one and let the woman at the counter know I'll be staying for at least a week. That should give me more than enough time to find out what I need to know and compile it all to take back to Slim.

My hope is Slim lets me come back here and start a new chapter of the Phantom Bastards. If not right in Cedar Bay then in one of the surrounding towns where I can still keep an eye on the small town to make sure this shit doesn't happen again. I can accomplish a few goals if he grants my wish. The first one is getting Cedar Bay cleaned up and making it a tourist location again. And, I'll be away from Annabell so I can't hurt her anymore. I'll also be away from Benton Falls where all of my memories are waiting to creep back up and haunt me until I completely lose my mind.

After getting my key and paying for the week, I head out and move my bike so it's right outside of my door. I grab my bag of snacks, the bag of clothes, and make sure my keys are in my pocket before heading into the room and leaving my bike outside. I'll be able to keep an eye on it from my room and not let anyone fuck with it. Someone touches my bike, they'll find out really fucking quick that you don't mess with me. No one touches what belongs to me or they feel my wrath and right now, no one wants that shit. I held back the day I got into a fight with Valor and would never hit him as hard as I can because that's my brother. I've hurt him more than enough and refuse to do more damage to our already strenuous relationship.

I throw my stuff down on the bed and take in the room before me. It's dingy with paint peeling from the walls. There's an old box TV on the dresser and both have seen better days. Walking into the bathroom, I see residue on the countertop and the window has been smashed out and patched up with a piece of plywood. This is not what I was expecting at all, but if I have my way, it will go back to the way it was once before. At least I hope it will. Regardless of if every business and building can be fixed to its original glory, I'll make sure the dealers and pimps are removed from the town so the residents can figure out how to move forward with their freedom once again.

Taking a shower to wash the road dust off me, I walk out of the room in nothing more than a small, hard towel wrapped around my hips. I can hear a couple having sex next door. When the woman yells, I know it's a prostitute and not a couple on vacation. Her porn star moans and yells give her away. It's the same thing the fucking house bunnies do thinking it makes us want them more. It doesn't make us want them more. If anything, it turns us the fuck off and we don't go back for seconds. No one is that loud with a man unless they're really enjoying themselves or they're faking it. She is doing the latter as I listen to the little grunts coming from the man. Considering I wasn't in the shower five minutes and the man is almost done fucking the bitch tells me all I need to know.

Pulling out my phone, I check for messages and don't see any. It bothers me to know my brother and Annabell haven't checked in with me, but I guess I got what I wanted—solitude. The last straw for my Bell, I'm sure, was watching me ride away with a bitch on the back of my bike. I told her that spot was reserved for her and look what I did—I put another bitch in her place as I was leaving the clubhouse for who knows how long. Annabell is crushed and I know it. She doesn't need to tell me anything because I saw her face in the mirror before I turned the corner. Yes, I looked back as my brother pulled her into his arms and held her close like I should've been doing.

After dropping the towel, I pull on a pair of jeans and leave the button open, I wait for the door to open next door. If I'm right, I'll be able to pay for some time with this woman and find out more information. I just hope she wants to talk and doesn't lie to me about what's going on and why she's pimping herself out here now. My end game is to help these people for some reason I can't even begin to explain to myself or anyone else. It's just something I feel strongly about deep in my gut and I'm going to follow through. To prove to myself that I'm getting better and not only thinking of myself and what I need right now. I've done that for way too long and it's time for me to get back to putting others before myself.

I finally hear the door open and open my own as I see a tall woman close the door behind her and stuff some money into the small bag she has with her. She looks up at me and I can see the make-up plastered to her face. Hell, she hasn't even broken a sweat with the man next door. Her long blonde hair is teased higher than I've ever seen and a fake smile is plastered on her face as she turns and heads toward me. She reminds me so much of the house bunnies and I want to cringe because I'm sure this woman was once very beautiful and life has chewed her up and spit her back out to continue on living in this new hell.

"Hey, sugar. I haven't seen you around here before," she says, her voice high pitched and whiny, making me want to slam the door shut in her face and figure out a different way to approach this situation.

"Just got to town. Lookin' for some company if you know anyone . . .," I trail off, waiting to see what she'll say or do.

"I'd be willing to help you out with that," she answers, looking me up and down while licking her lips.

"How much?" I ask.

"Hundred for the hour," she answers immediately and I know she won't get more than a few dollars, if that, from the amount she just told me. It's how pimps work.

I nod my head to come in the room and slam the door shut behind her. After making sure to lock it, I sit in the chair while the woman sits on the bed. She continues her perusal of me and it creeps me the fuck out. There's no one other than Annabell who should be looking at me like that. This bitch has nothing on my angel and never will. Still, I let her get a good look because I need to make this shit look legit if someone's watching her and can somehow see in my room through the split in the curtains I've purposely left so I'll be able to see my bike.

"What's your name?" I ask as I look at her more thoroughly.

I can see bruises on her arms and one around her neck. There're needle marks up and down her arms and I'm disgusted by her appearance. Not only is she an addict, she's being beat on too. I wouldn't be surprised if her pimp got her hooked on the drugs to make her comply with him easier. It wouldn't be the first time I've seen it happen. The club always steps in and gets these women out of the situation. It doesn't seem if anyone near Cedar Bay has realized what's been going on. Or they simply don't give a fuck and have left them to deal with the mess themselves. That's not how the Phantom Bastards work. We will always step in and help those in need.

"It's Nora," she says, her voice going back to what I'm assuming is her normal pitch—a soft and gentle tone I've only heard from Annabell. "You're not looking for a good time are you?"

"Nope."

"You a cop?" she asks, looking around the room.

"Nope. Someone who wants to help. I did just get to town and I don't like what I see here. My club usually steps in if the place is closer to home so we can put a stop to this shit. It's just me here now," I tell her, sitting back in the chair and letting my body relax to keep Nora as relaxed as possible.

Nora starts crying. Sobs wrack her small frame and it reminds me so much of Annabell and seeing her cry the day I left her behind. Her entire body was shaking as tears fell from her eyes. Tears that I once again caused her to shed. I remain in my seat because I don't know if Nora's trying to play me or not. It wouldn't be the first time someone's played me like this. Or anyone else in the club. We've gotten into some shitty situations because of this very reason. Since I'm alone and back-up is nowhere near me, I need to tread lightly and take precautions moving forward and not just jump head first into the situation. Handing her a tissue from the box on the table next to me, I give her a minute to compose herself before I continue talking.

"What can you tell me about what's goin' on here?" I ask her, needing to know what happened with her and as many of the girls as possible.

"Well, when we got hit last year with a tornado, some unsavory guys moved in and decided to take the town over. They chased the tourists away and now we have to do what we can to make it through each day. If you came through town, you've seen the state of things. How are you gonna help?" she asks, wiping the tears away as she begins to scratch absentmindedly at her arms letting me know she's gonna need a fix soon.

"How many pimps are here? What drugs are bein' pushed?" I question her, making mental notes of everything for now.

"There's two main guys. They serve as the pimp and dealer. I don't even know their names because they won't use them when anyone else is around. I've heard mention of the name Antonio, but I'm not sure if that's one of them or not. As far as the drugs go, it's mainly heroin and crack. At least that's all I've seen. They got me hooked on heroin when I wouldn't join their ‘stable' as they call it. They've been grabbing women they think will make them the most money and bringing them in," Nora tells me, pain and guilt filling her eyes.

"Okay. Thank you for the information. If I wanted to score somethin', where could I go to do that?" I ask her, wanting to get a look at the men for myself.

"They won't deal with you. These men know everyone in town and they don't talk to outsiders. They'll spot you before you spot them," Nora answers me, sounding more alert as she continues to absently scratch at her arms.

I nod my head and hand over a hundred dollars for her time. I tell her to take a load off and sleep for the next half hour. Nora looks at me as if I'm her savior, but I'm not. I'm just a man trying to do the right thing for the first time in a very long time. I'll wake her in plenty of time for her to get out of here so she doesn't get beat on again. There's no way I'll let her get hurt because of me.

Nora lays down on the bed and doesn't even bother to cover herself as she almost immediately falls asleep. I turn the TV on quietly and try to find something to occupy myself as I think of how I'm going to get an in with these guys. It's important I at least get a look at them so I know who I'm looking for. Plus, I want to size them up and make sure I can take them out on my own if the need arises.

I've been in Cedar Bay for two days now and I've already gathered a lot of information. The one pimp is named Antonio. He's part of a mafia family I've never heard of before. I don't want a mafia on my ass, but I'm not going to let this town continue to fall into disrepair either.

The first day I was in town, I went riding through the vacant streets. There are no kids out playing or people walking their pets down the streets. The shops on the main street are mainly boarded up and no one goes in them. I did manage to find a small diner that was open and I ate lunch there. The waitress looked blitzed out of her mind and I'm sure she was high as a kite on something the dealers are pushing, but I got my first glimpse of Antonio and the other dealer in town.

They were sitting at a booth in the back and talking quietly amongst themselves. When I walked in the diner, they checked me out from head to toe as I took a seat on the opposite side of the building from them. I want them to know I'm here, but not what I'm doing. Not yet. I can't let on about anything until I have Slim's approval to move here and start a new chapter of the club. Or at least make a move against the men who thought they'd take advantage of a small town that just went through a horrible time. Once Slim gives me the approval, I'll be able to start making moves.

"You in town for a while or just passing through?" one of the men asks, finally walking up to me after the waitress takes my order and I lean back in the booth.

"I'll be here about a week. Why are you askin'?" I question him, trying to contain my anger.

"Just make sure you don't hang around longer than that," the man threatens.

"And if I do extend my stay?" I ask, not being able to resist the threat.

"You'll find you're not welcome here. Cedar Bay is a small town and I've already heard you've been asking questions you don't need to. In fact, I think you'll be moving along before the week is up. I give you two days tops before you leave here," he tells me.

Yeah, I haven't worn my cut here. It's on my bike in my saddle bags. I don't want to bring attention to the entire club, so I'm acting as if I'm just riding my bike around the states. It's not something I want to do—I feel naked without my cut on—but when I got to the gas station, I took it off before the attendant could see it and haven't put it back on since. No one's seen me wearing it in Cedar Bay and I don't plan on it happening until I come back here to lay claim to the small town.

"We'll see. Darlin', can I get my order to go, please?" I ask the waitress, raising my voice so more than just her hears me. "I want to keep my appetite and I won't if I stay here."

The man retakes his seat and the two men begin talking again. They're both involved with the mafia if their suits and the way they handle themselves are anything to go by. I can tell they aren't high ranking members of the family. They're trying to prove something to their boss and are taking advantage of this town and the people in it to accomplish that. I'm going to make sure it doesn't happen more than it already has.

Grabbing my takeout container, I head out to my bike and stash it in the saddle bag before heading back to the motel. Once I'm in my room, I pull out my phone and debate calling Slim now. I'm not sure if I should call him or go home and talk to him in person, but I think this needs to be handled sooner rather than later. So, maybe a call is in order for now. Then, I can go home to get my things and talk to Slim and the guys further about the situation. Plus, it gives me time to find out more information.