29. ‘Raven’

TWENTY-NINE

I scream when someone kicks me in the back. I flip over immediately and see it isn’t Cliff but some other asshole.

“Get your ass up, this ain’t no spa, sleepin’ beauty. Dress and go help the women with breakfast. NOW!”

Slowly I try to get up, as my body has gotten really tight overnight from all of the physical abuse from yesterday. The kick in my back isn’t going to help but I refuse to let this dickwad know that. When I’m on my feet it hits me; I’m in Cliff’s T-shirt and no undies. Have no idea where my clothes are, though they are probably gone when I remember them being ripped from my body. Not wanting to remember last night and knowing I’m not going to ask for any assistance from this one, I head for the door. He grabs my arm and points to the small table in the far corner. Piled on one of the chairs are clothes, including socks and gym shoes. No wait, they look to be Chucks. I’m not going to be fussy since I love me some Chucks.

I walk over and grab the clothes. When I go to take the T-shirt off, the asshole leans against the other chair and stares.

“Do you mind?”

“Nope, not at all, go ahead, get dressed. Want to see what I’m gonna be sticking my dick in later on. Quit wasting time and do as I say or I’ll dress you myself.”

Not wanting his hands on me, I give him my back, pull on the undies first, then the jeans up. I thank God they have some stretch. Then I put the tank top over my head and manipulate it on with Cliff’s T-shirt still covering me. Once the tank is in place, I take the T-shirt off and fold it, putting it on the table then grab the long-sleeve flannel, pulling it on. Next, I sit and pull off Cliff’s wool socks and pull on the socks and Chucks, then stand and look at the asshole.

“Now you can come and thank me for those clothes.”

“Like hell I will.”

“Then, bitch, take them off and walk around camp naked. See how that works for ya.”

Shit, what do I do? How the hell did Bray get through this for how long she was trapped with this group of sick as fuck degenerates? I picture Ash’s face and know he would lose his mind if I was walking around naked because I think that would give these men the wrong idea. And I’m pretty sure if one of them grabbed me and started to rape me, no one would come to my aid. Swallowing my pride, I tentatively walk toward the big ape.

“How do I show my appreciation? What do you have in mind?”

As soon as I say it, I want to take it back. If this man thinks I’m performing any type of sexual act, he’s nuts. I’ll fight ’til someone kills me. He’s watching me with the dirtiest smirk on his face as his eyes take me in. Then he gives me the come-here motion with his hand. I walk closer and when I’m within reach, he grabs me by the upper arms and pulls me right up to him. It takes everything in me not to fight or try to pull away. When his mouth hits mine, I can’t hold it in any longer. I open my mouth, which I’m sure he thinks is an invitation, but instead I bite his bottom lip so hard I taste blood. When he pulls back, he rips his lip and I can feel skin in my mouth. I turn and spit it on the ground just as the door opens and Cliff walks in.

He looks at me then at the big ape. His eyes take in the situation and before I can blink, he whips an automatic out and shoots the asshole between the eyes. I scream and jump back, but not before brain matter hits me clear in the chest. Son of a bitch.

“What did he do to you, Brenna?”

“Um, nothing really. He tried to kiss me but I bit him. Think he was trying to intimidate me; see how far he could push me.”

I feel my body starting to tremble and I refuse to look at the body off to the side of me. Cliff walks to the door and screams. When two women and three of the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood hurry into the tiny cabin, everyone comes to a complete stop when they see the body on the floor missing part of the back of his head. They look at me and see the front of my shirts though no one says a word. Cliff does though.

“Clean this shit up. Take him to the empty grave in the woods, throw him in, and burn his body. Do it now. I’m gonna take her over to the mess tent. Want this done before I come back. Better not find anything or you’ll be next.”

He reaches over, grabbing my arm, and pulling me to the door. Once outside, I take a few deep breaths and try to keep up with him. Looking ahead, I see a tent with a ton of people standing around. I jump when Cliff yells.

“Donna, get me another shirt for this bitch. This one has brain matter on it.”

A woman probably a little older than me turns and looks my way first, then Cliff’s before she nods and walks away. He lets my arm go and pushes me at a picnic table.

“Sit the fuck down, don’t say a single word. I’ll be back. Don’t get any funny ideas, Brenna, about running because if you try, you’ll end up like that jagoff who’s burning in the woods. Hear me?”

I look up at him and nod but say nothing. He turns and walks away and I fold my hands on the picnic table. My mind is trying not to flip out. With all that is going on, I look around and it looks like they are getting ready to break camp. Shit, if they take me from here, I’m never going to get back home to my club, family, and Ash. Last night, before I fell asleep, after thinking over it; I’ve been such a twit. It wasn’t his fault what happened all those years ago and I can be a mean-ass grudge holder. Ash was trying to honor his mom and me at the same time. I don’t know what Cliff held over their heads, but shit, it had to be something huge.

A tray hits the table shocking me. I almost pee myself. Yeah, got to take care of that soon before my bladder explodes. Not wanting to piss Cliff off though, I need to go to the bathroom.

“Um, Mr. Sterling, I need to go to the bathroom, if that’s okay.”

His head shoots up at the sound of my voice and he looks confused for a split second. My words must have penetrated his brain because again he yells for Donna, who is making her way back with some clothes in her hands.

“Donna, take her to the outhouse. Brenna, change your clothes. Give those bloody brainy ones to Donna, she’ll get rid of them. You have five minutes then I’ll come lookin’. You need to eat, we got lots and drink too today, don’t need you passing the fuck out again.”

Donna pulls my hair though not hard, almost like it’s for show. I get up and follow her to a small building way back by the woods. She turns to see if anyone is around then she pushes the clothes into my arms. Her eyes never leave my face.

“Do what ya gotta fast. Change out of those tops, put these on. Be careful, there’s a cell in the pocket of the top shirt. Make a call to whomever you need to, then shut the phone off and throw it in the toilet. Wrap it in the toilet paper. You better not say a word to Cliff or I’ll deny it while I’m ripping your throat out. Tell them Delta said better get moving, they are breaking this camp today. Now go, he’s not lying, he’ll come looking for you. And that won’t be good for you, take my word on that.”

With my mouth wide open I rush into the outhouse, close the wooden door though no lock, and push my jeans down. Holy shit, does it hurt when I finally pee. As I’m taking care of business, I’m pulling the two shirts off and replacing them with the clean ones after I pull the phone out of the pocket. My mind is racing, not sure who to call, then like a light bulb I know who to call so I dial the number.

“Yeah.”

Just to hear his voice I almost start bawling but have no time.

“Ollie, it’s Brenna. No time, first Delta said to tell whoever to move your asses they are breaking camp this morning. We’re on the mountain off of the Sterling ranch. There’s a lot of them, probably close to fifty if not seventy-five. Innocents, at least fifteen or twenty. Not sure where they are keeping all the children though. That’s how they control and manage the women, by threatening their children. I got to go, Ollie. Tell Ash, the family, my club sisters I’m fine. Fuck, how’s Tink?”

“Brenna, she’s gonna have a rough road but she’ll make it. We’re on our way, little sister, just hang on.”

I don’t say goodbye because don’t want that to be the last thing I say to my older brother.

“I love you, Ollie. See you soon.”

I don’t wait for a reply, just turn the phone off, wrap it in the toilet paper, and fling it into the mess of shit and piss. I finish up and get dressed. I roll the shirts up and open the door to see Donna looking toward the camp. My eyes go in that direction and what the fuck, is that farm machinery coming up to the camp? Shit.

“Let’s go, girly, shit’s about to go south real fucking fast. If this turns into a gunfight try and find me. If not, see that trail behind that huge tent to the left? Run down, it’ll take you to Cliff’s western pasture. Just be careful, lots of roots and shit along the way.”

Again, no words, I just nod. She starts walking toward the picnic table, turns, and grabs the shirts out of my hands. Cliff is stuffing his mouth with food off of his plate. I sit back down and look what’s on mine. Some eggs, bacon, fruit, and toast. In a cup is some black coffee. I’ll take it all, need to keep my strength up. I start to shove the food in my mouth because I’m starving and I think Delta is right. Today this ground will be covered in blood. I pray it’s not mine or any of these innocent, abused women because they’ve been through enough. I hear a whistle, look up, and see Mr. Johansen pointing my way, waving his arms above his head.

“Brenna O’Brien, that you? Child, for fuck’s sake, whatcha doin’ way up this way?”

I look to Cliff to see he’s glaring at me. Then he turns his head to look at Mr. Johansen. My eyes look down to see he’s reaching for his gun. Oh hell no, not on my watch. Everything happens in slow motion. I fake cough and stand up like I’m trying to get something out of my throat. Just as Cliff pulls his gun out and starts to aim it at Mr. Johansen, I scream for the old guy to take cover as I jump over the table, grab Cliff’s gun hand, and tackle him to the ground. We are both fighting for our lives as I hear more and more machinery moving in. Just when I think I have the gun in my control, Cliff uses his boot and kicks up, knocking me off of him, giving him the advantage. I continue to roll away from him, then jump to my feet just as he gets to his gun and aims directly at me. I stop because there’s not a damn thing I can do, he’s too far away to fight and I have no weapon. My hands go to my sides. I lift my head and give him the most badass stink eye I can. Not going to beg a total jagoff for my life when I know this man has no heart.

I feel something whiz past the side of my head and with huge eyes watch something hit Cliff center mass. His eyes show shock for a split second before he starts to fall backward. I’ll never forget the look that comes into his eyes when he glares my way. Pure unadulterated evil. Then he pulls the trigger as he’s falling backward. The next thing I know is, for some reason I’m also tumbling backward, and it takes me a second or two to realize he did it. Before he died that son of a bitch shot me. That’s the last thought I have before I hit the dirt.