“That’s not what I mean. Thank you.” I kiss him again, this time it gets heated.
Someone knocks on the door, and I’m startled and roll into a ball on top of Brax.
“Church,” someone says.
“Asshole,” Brax says holding me tight. “Baby, no one in here is going to hurt you. They might get loud, but they would never, ever touch a woman like that. I promise you on my life that they all love you already.”
I breathe a little easier. But I know that there are certain things that will trigger me, and it is going to take a long time to get past this. I know all about PTSD and how it can affect people. I have friends from the military that have suffered and even taken their own lives. I don’t want to be that person. I want to live and know that to do that I need to address the issues so that I can be a new version of me.
“I know, I need time to get over that part of my life.”
“I know Piper, and no one expects that to happen overnight. I’m here for you and so are my brothers and their old ladies. We have your back, and we will all help you.”
We both get up and get dressed. There’s a quietness around us, but it’s not tension filled, it’s a calmness that I’ve not experienced before. Is this what it’s like when you find the one? Is Braxton my person?
He kisses me. “I need to go and see the guys. They know that you’re my woman so you can roam around wherever you want. Just be careful and don’t go outside or off the compound without a prospect with you. The old ladies are around somewhere, and you can spend the time with them if you want.”
“I need to go and see Doc to make sure everything is okay and then I’ll go and find them.”
He kisses me on the lips. “Call me if you need anything.”
He leaves and everything is silent in the room. I don’t like the silence it takes me back to the bad times. I leave and go downstairs to the kitchen, I need more coffee. After making a cup I walk through to where Doc is and he grins when he sees me.
“I heard about last night, you were kickass.”
“I was driven by anger, but it helped me a hell of a lot. I’ve never been that angry or aggressive before.” I sit in the chair by the bed.
“That’s good. It shows you have emotions and can work through them. What’s your plans now?”
“What do you mean? I intend to finish my coffee then find the old ladies.”
He laughs. “That’s not what I mean. What are your plans for when you leave here? Are you going back home?”
“Oh. I’m not sure. I don’t want to leave here until all the men have been caught. I don’t think I could go about my normal business without worrying if they catch me again. I’m also sure I’m not going back into the military. I’ve probably been discharged anyway for being AWOL at this stage.”
“They would take your circumstances into consideration.”
“Yeah, but I don’t want that now. I’m not sure I want to leave here either.” I look up at him. “Do you think when this is over that they’ll make me leave.”
Again, he laughs. “I don’t think Brax would like that much. He’s got a thing about you, you know.”
“I know and it’s reciprocated. There’s just something about him that calls to me. I don’t think I could walk away from him now.”
“That’s good, because I don’t think he wants you to. But you will need to think about what you can do to fill your day. What are your skills?”
“Do you know what I’d love to do? I’d love to teach women self-defense so that they can get out of difficult situations. I know that it didn’t do me any good, but I’d feel better knowing that they can get out of cuffs, or zip ties or anything.”
“That sounds great, I’m sure if you speak to Prez he would be able to help you with that. I think it would be a great idea.”
The more I think about it the more I want to do it. I’m going to talk to the old ladies and see what they think.
“Thanks, Doc. I'm going for a walk now to find the old ladies.”
“See you later, Piper.”
I leave him in the room and walk into the kitchen where I find the old ladies.
They all call me over.