Chapter 6

Nora

I sat with Alice at her parents’ house and listened as they explained to me what their community did. It was a motorcycle club that stood up for people like me who were being mistreated. The house I lived in was a safe house where many had already lived and were protected by them.

J.J. was Alice’s father, and King, Duke, and Ace were her brothers who had cared for the victims for several generations. The older gentleman spoke to me very gently and answered all my questions with much understanding.

Standing in that room with all those screens, I was confused and didn’t understand anything. As soon as they connected with this Tom, my fear was so great that I would have fainted. I don’t trust the damn police. And Tom was obviously from the FBI.

My first thought was that he was working with Ted, and I was sure that this was just a Ted game like all the previous ones.

Obviously, I was wrong, and Evelyn and John explained to me this when they showed me in a photo album all the people they have already helped.

“What the hell happened?” I heard Ivy ask as she walked through the door to Evelyn and John’s house.

“The lockdown will be lifted. We know enough now. Nora is not allowed to leave the community until everything is sorted out. Precautions remain in place,” Duke replied, walking in with King behind her.

I was sorry that an entire community was locked up for weeks because of me. I also understood why Ace was watching outside the house. It wasn’t about me, it was about the safety of the club. John and Evelyn explained everything to me, but the feeling of disappointment was still huge.

Ace also came into the house but didn’t say anything to me, and I avoided eye contact with him.

I was traumatized and had major trust issues, and none of this helped me feel better.

If they’re telling the truth, I have a better chance of survival if I stay here... but if not, Ted will come get me and take me back to Hell.

“Do you have any questions?” I heard John ask quietly, and I just shook my head.

“I know it’s a lot all at once, Nora... but you can’t tell anyone where you are or what we’re doing. Not just for your safety, but for everyone else we can help,” King said, and I looked at him.

“Sure,” I replied.

Who could I tell, I have no one.

While they were all talking and Ivy was making plans to visit her family, I just wanted out. I excused myself and went back to the safe house...not my house, a house for damaged, abused victims.

As I walked up the stairs to my room, I heard someone walk through the front door behind me. “Nora, wait,” I heard Ace say, but I just walked into the room and closed the door. He knocked on the door I had locked and leaned against it.

“Nora...please let me in,” he said.

My eyes were full of tears from fear... from disappointment. I understood everything I was told and it all made perfect sense...why was it so hard for me?

“Leave me alone, Ace,” I said, my voice shaking.

“Are you crying?” He asked me, and I shook my head as if he could see me. “Please let me in,” he said again.

“No! You can go Ace, I won’t cause you any problems.” I answered him.

“I don’t want to fucking leave,” he told me.

“What the hell do you want from me?” I shouted as I threw the door open. “Do you want me to tell you that my stepfather raped me? Do you want me to tell you about all the torment I had to go through, or the women that were there - Maggie, Sarah, Lucy, Dana, Janet, Olivia, Jane?

Or do you want me to explain to you the reason for Ted’s behavior and tell you about my messed up childhood and my mother who died in front of me...I’m not a threat to your club, Ace. I’m not a threat,” I screamed in his face.

He just looked at me with those eyes and the same compassion I used to see.

“I just want to be there for you,” I heard him say quietly.

“Why Ace? Why do you want that?” I asked him angrily as I stepped in front of the door and pushed him away. ” Why?” I asked again, pushing him again with my hands until he was against the wall.

He caught my hand as I was about to hit him again and just looked at me.

“I didn’t lie, Nora. I told you I got you..and I do got you,” he said as he pulled me into a hug.

I tensed at the touch of his body and held my breath. His arms were gently around me, and he didn’t hold me tight. I could have easily freed myself from the embrace... but I didn’t want to.

I breathed in his scent and felt him rest his chin on my head.

“I got you, doll,” I heard him say and I started to cry.

Just as he was about to let me go I grabbed his cut and pulled him to me. I held on to him and cried, and all he did was hold me.

“I don’t want to hurt you, doll...All I want is your safety. I won’t let anyone fucking hurt you again. I promise,” he said quietly.

My crying became less and less, and after a while of us just standing there, he took me back to my room. He sat in the chair while I sat in bed, and he just looked at me.

” How old are you?” He asked me, and I looked up at him.

“I’m 25... and you?” I asked .

“I’m 31, just like Duke... Alice is younger than us. King is the oldest of us,” he replied.

My face was probably easy to read, and the confusion made him smile.

“I’m adopted,” he said. “I don’t know my parents...they passed away when I was little. My father was John’s best friend. So they adopted me,” he explained.

“You were lucky,” I said quietly.

“I was... John and Evelyn raised and treated me like their own son,” he replied.

“I don’t have any siblings...” I said quietly.

“Family?” He asked, and I shook my head.

“I’m sorry, doll... Many of us here don’t have family... the club has become family. We take care of each other. Ever since we were little... Duke beat everyone in school who said something against me. I was a skinny little guy who was shy. But the brothers were always there for me... I’m sorry you were alone,” he said to me, and I looked at him.

I couldn’t imagine that this muscular man was once a scrawny boy that others bullied. But the pictures he showed me of himself were obvious. I laughed, and he looked at me “It’s not funny. I was ugly as shit,” he said laughing.

“Well, not anymore,” I replied as I looked at the pictures. He just looked at me and said nothing as he watched me laugh at the pictures. I saw nothing in his face other than honesty, no pity, just courage.

“Tell me about yourself,” I said quietly.

And that’s what he did for hours... he talked about his siblings’ community and showed me pictures of him and the members of the club.

“This is Storm... he had a hard time at school just like me. King and Duke took him in. He’s been a brother for over 15 years,” Ace told me as he showed me a picture of him and a blonde man. “He’s...” I started and he looked at me questioningly ” A big handsome guy,” I said laughing. “Sure...we’re definitely not going to the tattoo shop,” he said with a laugh.

“I want you to feel safe here. Every one of my brothers lives for this club. We are here to protect... not to hurt. You are safe,” he said as he looked at me.

I watched his face, searching for signs of a lie... but I found nothing. He seemed to mean what he said, and I was a little calmer. His eyes slid from my eyes all over my face, and he cleared his throat as he stood up.

“I should go... You can rest,” he said as he walked to the door.

“Ace,” I called, and he turned to me. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

“Always, doll,” he replied and smiled at me.

I barely slept and waited for Ted to show up... but he didn’t come. I was afraid that he would be notified and come to get me. My fear of the police was great, but these people promised to help me. He could have come here a long time ago... I’ve been here for weeks, but this didn’t happen. So it could be that they told the truth and I’m really safe.

The next morning, Alice woke me up and took me to Evelyn and John for breakfast. I felt much more relaxed and wasn’t so tense.

“Ivy and King are going to see Ivy’s father,” Alice explained to me when I asked about Ivy. “And I’m going to Laguna Beach today and shopping for you. You need clothes, girl,” she said laughing.

“You should come to us later. In the evening, we will have a barbecue, and you can meet my husband and my daughter,” Alice added. I nodded and promised to come.

“Good morning, losers,” I heard as Duke came to the door.

He always seemed to be in a good mood and laughing. “Nora, you should hang out with the cool kids and not Alice,” he said laughing, and Alice rolled her eyes.

“Do you want to see the community?” Duke asked me.

“Ace showed me a little,” I replied.

“The orphan only showed you at night. You should see it during the day too. It’s actually really nice here,” he said, and I looked from him to Ace who was coming to the door.

“Don’t worry, the trash boy doesn’t mean anything bad,” said Ace, and Alice laughed.

I was confused until she explained to me that this seemed to be their way of teasing each other. As they all sat at the table and talked over breakfast, I just watched them. Looked like such a normal family... something I never had. I wasn’t afraid anymore, I even laughed with them. Ace often looked at me, his eyes watching me to make sure I’m okay. And I was... I was okay.