“Not sure if he’s alright. Papa ain’t answering his phone at home and the hospital just gives me the run around when I call.”
That wasn’t good.
“Colter was with Murder’s daughter. I’m thinkin’ some bad shit went down before their accident.”
I tried to sit up and nearly passed out. This was the worst time to be injured.
“Easy. You’re gonna have to take it slow.” He shook his head. “Don’t want to lose another brother. It’s been fucked-up the last few days. Not gonna lie.”
He had no idea. Wait until I landed my own bombshell in church.
“Where did the fuckin’ bear come from? You got a guardian angel or some shit?”
My chest ached when I sort of laughed and choked at the same time.
“Don’t answer that. Rest. We’ve got you.”
For the second time in twenty-four hours I drifted off and hoped I would stay alive long enough to fulfill every promise I made in the last few days.
The Grim Reaper had been unleashed and I was out for blood.
Present time ––
“You finished yet?”
I ignored Moby and kept cleaning the kitchen, wiping down the food stains and grime from the appliances and countertops. Even the damn cabinets looked like someone splattered them with food every single chance they got. It was disgusting but I wasn’t letting my dad live in squalor no matter how fucked-up our relationship had been in the past or continued to be. My father was a drunk and a swindler. A pathetic excuse for a man and I couldn’t blame my mother for leaving his ass over a decade ago. Some people were just beyond help. Not because they weren’t worthy of it but because they chose not to accept it.
“I’m talking to you, Tricia.” My name was enunciated with spite.
Moby wasn’t going to make me lose my temper. Not this time. I’d wasted far too much energy on his insults and abusive behavior in the past. It was better to pacify him and keep busy until the moment I could escape his presence.
“I’m busy, Moby. Don’t you want a clean house?” The sweet tone of my voice was an act. Catching flies with honey and all that. If I wanted to leave without a confrontation, this was the only way.
“Fuck the house. I came here for your sexy ass and a little alone time.” He ticked his head toward the back room and darkened hall. “Give me fifteen minutes. I’ll have you begging for my dick.”
Eww. No way.
First, he was my damn stepbrother. Two, he was a piece of shit low life with no desire to do anything with his life but drink up my father’s booze, buy and sell drugs, and play like he was someone important. He ran up debts and stole money. If he wasn’t out whoring around, he was trying to bother me for it. Disgusted, I couldn’t even acknowledge the fact that he’d once again offered sex.
A new leather vest covered his body and I saw the patches on the front that read Prospect and Trigger. It was pretty obvious he gave himself the nickname or road name, whatever those bikers called themselves. It wasn’t the name that caused my ire but the association with a club that represented everything I hated about Tonopah. The Scorpions MC were a bunch of thieves and druggies with a reputation for partying too hard and causing trouble. There were rumors they took girls and passed them around, forcing sex and a debt to their club.
“Hey,” Moby replied with a snarl, “I’m talkin’.”
Yeah, yeah. Nothing he had to say was interesting.
“And I said I’m cleaning. I’ve got to hurry up and get to the bar. My shift starts soon.”
He gave me an exasperated look and stomped over to the fridge, opening it up and pulling out leftovers. “This shit is old. Make me somethin’ else.”
I didn’t cook or clean for this fool. The trailer belonged to my father and he was the only reason I put up with Moby and his bullshit. If my sister wasn’t off and living her own life halfway across the U.S. map I wouldn’t be dealing with this shit on my own.
“I
don’t have time, Moby. I’ve got work,” I reminded him, rinsing off the sponge in the sink.
His attack was swift. I should have seen it coming. After all, his brutality began almost the day Gil hooked up with my stepmom. She didn’t stick around either. Gil Holloway was a cancer that ate away at everyone around him. I had the unfortunate luck to share his DNA.
Moby shoved me into the sink as the broken edge of the countertop scraped my skin. He shoved my head down into the basin as he stuck his free hand between my legs from behind. I’d worn shorts today and his thick fingers tried to pry their way inside my intimate parts. I did the only thing I could. My leg lifted slightly and then I slammed the heel of my boot onto his foot. There was a crunching sound and he howled in pain, releasing me immediately.