“Damn girl, you bet it means something. He’s never had someone on his bike, ever. I watched him, he didn’t even hesitate earlier. He likes you,” Meg says.
“I believe he does.” I laugh and feel the tension release.
“What else happened?” Lily-Rose says she’s the florist and I’ve only met her once before.
“While we were in the diner, I saw a guy that had been at the parties where I was raped.”
The girls gasp and Rosie puts her arm around me. “I’m so sorry that happened to you, it’s awful. What happened then? Did Braxton talk to him, or did he just beat him?”
“He made me go and wait in the office for him. I don’t know what happened, but I heard two bikes pulling up. They were gone and so was the guy when I came out of the office with Braxton.”
“So, they either killed him and are getting rid of the evidence or they have him downstairs.” Meg smiles.
“They have him downstairs because I asked if I could see him and ask him some questions. Braxton told me that we aren’t allowed downstairs, but he is going to ask Prez.”
“I was down there,” Meg says. “I went down to see my abuser, my ex to make sure he knew that I was no longer his.”
“Really? Was it awful facing him?” I’m intrigued.
“Yes, it was awful, but I had my two men behind me and then I showed him what life was like for me with two men.”
“You did not?” I ask, incredulously.
“I sure did, honey.”
“Do you think Prez will let me go downstairs?” I ask Rosie, seeing as she’s his old lady.
“Yes, I think he will, especially if Brax is in your corner.” She smiles at me. “You know that we are here for you too. If it is too much and you want to come back upstairs, we will be here to help you.”
“Thanks ladies. I’ve never really had any girlfriends. Being in the military surrounded by men all the time meant that I didn’t have girls to laugh with. I missed it, but I feel that it’s something we might have in time.”
“Girl, if you want to drink and party with us then you can,” Jules the baker says. She’s with Pops the older guy that I’ve seen around.
We all laugh.
Braxton walks in twenty minutes later. “Hey,” he says as he bends down and kisses me on my cheek. “Come with me, I’m taking you downstairs.”
His deep voice makes my body tremble, and I would love to just explore that feeling, but I need to banish my demons first.
Standing he takes my hand and takes me to a door in the corner that I’d not noticed before.
He opens it and I hear moaning. There’s a damp smell and there’s some steps in front of me. I walk down them and when I get to the bottom, I see the man from the diner tied to a chair. I turn to look at Braxton and he just shrugs.
I step closer to him, and I can see he’s been beaten. I don’t feel sick or sorry for him. He did this to us and never batted an eyelid so I’m not going to either.
Prez steps forward. “Piper are you sure you want to do this. He’s been talking and it’s not pleasant.”
I nod. “I need to do this and thank you for letting me. I appreciate it.”
Prez steps out of my way and I walk over to the man. He looks up and smiles. It’s shortlived when I slap his face.
“What the fuck did you do that for, cunt?” He spits at me.
“Do you know how many times you hit me?” I stare at him.
He doesn’t say anything. I slap him again. “Do you know how many times you hit me?”
He shakes his head.