Hidden (New Orleans Temptation Series Book 2) Read online

  “Woman, I’m tired of your excuses. I only need five minutes if that much,” he grunts as he licks my neck.

  I know I can’t fight him. I need to do what needs to be done in order to get out of here alive. And being in this house does not help me. His tongue slides from my ear, back down my neck, and over the top of my breasts. His hands are rough as he pulls the snap buttons of my uniform top open. He then pulls my bra down giving himself access to my nipples. His body has me pinned to the wall. As he sucks my nipple, I feel his hand under my skirt pulling my panties to the side. He looks up into my eyes. “Why do you look at me with so much hate, Mary? I took care of you when you had no one. I have not laid a hand on you since the day you ran from me. What else do you want from me?”

  I have no words for him. My face says it all and I can’t hide it. My disgust for him is too deep and there’s no turning the clock back. He leans down to my ear whispering, “You know, the girls at the club beg me to fuck them twice? I shouldn’t have to beg my old lady for one piece of ass.” He chuckles.

  I don’t know why his admission of infidelity enrages me, but it does. I haven’t wanted to sleep with him but have a few times since my runaway incident. I try to make it seem normal but I feel betrayed. It is a reflex, not a thought, when my hand goes across his face with a smack so loud I immediately know I am in trouble.

  I almost lose consciousness when his hand comes back across mine. He catches me before I hit the floor to berate me, “You fucking bitch, don’t you know I only want you? I want you to want me but you don’t so I’m forced to fuck the skanks at the club. You look at me as if I’m a piece of shit and I’m sick of it.”

  I hear his belt buckle come undone and fear spreads like wildfire throughout my entire body. Is he going to beat me or fuck me? I’m not sure which is worse at the moment. But I’m still too dazed from his hit to process that he has pulled me to the floor. It takes me a few seconds to realize he has entered me and is pushing in and out with angry grunts. I feel him hit me again in the face, and my mind checks out when I feel blood drip from the corner of my mouth. He can have my body, but my soul is mine and I won’t give it to him. Moments later, I feel his weight lift off me as a shirt hits me in the face.

  “Here, clean yourself up and get your ass to work, I’m done with you.” The sound of his heavy boots walking away, followed by the door slamming, is pure heaven. I sigh in relief hearing his bike roar to life spitting up gravel as he takes off down the drive.

  Thank God, he’s gone. I try to sit up and realize how rough he was. Did I check out or was I knocked out? I have deep bruises already starting to appear on my arms, my ribs are killing me, and the shooting pain in the back of my head is almost unbearable. I finally get up enough strength to get off the floor and go to the bathroom to wash out my bloody mouth. I look in the mirror in horror to find my eye almost swollen shut, my lip split, and a developing bruise is starting to take over half of my face.

  I can’t even cry! My life is so pathetic. I have no hope. If I stay, he will kill me, and if I leave, he will find me and kill me. I see the evil in his eyes; it’s only a matter of time if I stay.

  I take a deep breath and do my best to cover the bruises with makeup using my trembling hands. I literally drag myself into the coffee shop. I have no idea how I will make it through a shift, but I would rather be here than home with Rex.

  Chapter 4

  Sunny – Formerly known as Mary

  I open the door to the coffee shop and Cindy rushes over to me. “What did that bastard do to you, Mary? Are you okay, do you need to go to the hospital, honey?” She tries to put her hand up to my face but I push it away.

  “I’m fine, I will be fine. It was my fault. I should have kept my mouth shut.” I slap at her hands again to stop her from making a fuss and walk to the back to get my apron. I hear her footsteps and roll my eyes. I turn to her trying not to lose it. “Look, Cindy, I know you mean well, but please I don’t want to hear it. I don’t stay with him because I love him. I stay because he will kill me if I leave.” I shrug past her out into the shop to take my place behind the counter. I see Joe watching me closely. He is such a nice man. He’s old enough to be my father. I do my best to crack a smile at him, “You want the usual, Joe?”

  He shakes his head with a kind smile. “Yep, you know me, same old, same old.”

  I bring him his coffee black like he likes it. When I sit the mug down in front of him, he gently places his hand on top of mine. “Mary, I don’t want to offend you, but you need help.” I pull my hand away defensively.

  “Thanks for the concern but really I’m fine,” I say, starting to turn away from him.

  “No, you’re not. Please give me five minutes and let me tell you how I can help you.”

  He wants to help me? How does he think he can help me? “Two minutes is all I have. I have had a rough day and I need to serve the other customers.”

  “I know more than you think. I know who you run with and I know you’re being watched.”

  My eyes grow wide as I’m surprised by his comments. He’s not a biker. He’s a riverboat pilot. How in the hell would he know who I run with? I lean in closer to him not wanting the rest of the customers to hear us. “What do you think you know?”

  He whispers back to me, “I know you are the old lady of the president of The Flaming Dragons. And I know you tried to leave him a while ago and he went after you at that gas station right outside of Chicago. I also know he is fed up with what he calls your attitude and he’s openly screwing anyone that will have him at the club.”

  I stare at him with my mouth gaping wide in surprise. How could this man know this? He is one of my regular customers who typically engages me in conversation, but I have never given him private details. “How do you know that?” I ask not sure I really want to know the answer to that.

  “I have friends that are members of The Flaming Dragons and they talk. Usually they don’t, but apparently they are not happy with their current president. They don’t like the way he treats his old lady,” he says, nodding his head to my growing bruises. “His brothers don’t condone hitting women. But when I hear them talk, they talk about their sorrow for you because they know there’s no way out for you. And due to the code of the club, they can’t go against the president to help you.”

  I start to tremble again knowing he’s right and reality hits me hard. A single tear slips down my face, and I swipe it away quickly.

  “I know this is hard to hear, but you have to plaster a smile on that pretty face of yours and act naturally,” he says, looking at me calmly as if we were chatting about the weather.

  “Listen, we only have a few minutes to get this done. The Dragons tapped into the surveillance feed here and the surrounding areas are covered as well. But I know where the dead spaces are, and I can get you out of—”

  I stop him short with a smile on my face, but my tone is helpless and defeated. “How in hell do you think you can do that?” I ask, pressing my skirt down to make it appear as if everything is normal. I inform him that every stitch of clothing I own is tracked down to my fucking panties.

  “I know,” he says, looking down at his coffee, “That’s how they found you the last time you ran. Just listen very carefully and I can help you. Please let me help you, Mary,” he pleads and waits for me to agree.

  I shake my head in confirmation.

  He smiles. “I’m going to pay you in a minute for my coffee, and with my cash, I have instructions folded in between the bills. Go to the bathroom for a break and follow the directions VERY carefully and quickly,” he stresses. “I promise to get you out of here and somewhere safe.”

  I look down the counter to see a customer has come in and sat down two stools away from us. I put a finger up to Joe letting him know I will be right back. I’m not sure I can process this. Should I really just take off with him? What if it’s a set up? But I have known Joe for a year and he has been nothing but nice. I take my new customer’s order and
pour him some coffee. Thank goodness, he’s a white-collar worker and not a friend of The Flaming Dragons. I walk back over to Joe and decide I have to make a move. I will die if I stay, so I may as well go down in flames trying to get the hell out of here.

  When I approach Joe, he leans in toward me. “Time is running out, Mary. I lost my daughter to a man like Rex. I don’t want to watch him kill you like that piece of shit killed my baby girl. You in?”

  I shake my head yes. He stands up to pull a wad of cash out of his pocket sifting though it to give me what I need. He walks out the door and to his truck. I stand there for a moment trying to regain my composure. I reach my hand out to collect his money and then turn my back to the surveillance camera. I put the money inside the register and slip what appears to be the tip in my pocket. Just as I do, the door swings opens and Janie walks in for her shift.

  She yells from the door with two customers in the shop, “What the hell? That motherfucker put his hands on you again?”

  I look down in utter embarrassment. It’s bad enough you can see it, but do we really have to announce it to the world? I motion to her with my fingers over my lips to keep it down. When she finally reaches me, I pull her close. “Janie, come on, you know I’m stuck. But now that you’re here, can you take over for a few minutes so I can regroup? I think it’s time for some touch-up makeup in the mirror.” I give her a weak pleading smile.

  “Of course, hon, but the only thing that is going to fix your face is a bullet to Rex’s brain,” she says with anger in her eyes. I really think she would do it if she owned a gun. My body shakes at the thought of guns. I hate them. They make me very nervous.

  I give her another gentle smile wishing it were that simple. I rush to the bathroom stall to read Joe’s note. The paper appears to be a bit old. Judging it by the creases, I’m sure he has had this in his wallet for some time waiting for the right moment to help me. I look up. Thank you, God, for answering my prayers and sending Joe to help me. I know this is a sign and I just have to go with it. I instantly feel a wave of calm and determination. This is my only way out; I will do whatever his paper tells me to do.

  1. Unplug the cameras on your way out of the bathroom.

  2. Go to the backside of the coffee shop, and pick up the brown bag.

  3. Take EVERYTHING OFF! Put the clothes on from the bag and put your clothes into it. Leave your coat in the stall.

  4. Walk out the back door with the bag without speaking to anyone. Go two blocks toward the river, keeping on the far right side of the street to avoid video feed. I will be there waiting for you.

  I follow his instructions precisely. I’m amazed at how calm I am as I walk down the street toward the river. I see Joe’s red truck in a distance. I pick up my pace and hop in as my heart starts to beat in my throat. So much for the calm feeling.

  “Thanks Joe—” I start, but he cuts me off.

  “No time for talk. Now let’s get the hell out of here,” he says, pulling off quickly.

  “Where we going?” I ask nervously.

  “We are going down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. You do know I’m a river boat pilot, right?” he asks, shifting his eyes to me momentarily.

  “Yeah, I do, but how will that work?” I ask nervously. We are not to the boat yet, and my nerves are starting to come undone quickly.

  “You are going to get on my ship under the radar, and we’re going to sail down the river to New Orleans, and I’m going to take you to the Battered Women’s shelter where they can help you. They will house you, counsel you, help you get a new identity, and train you for a job.”

  “Really, they will give me a new identity?”

  “Yes, I tried to get my Lilly to go but she refused. He killed her two days after I begged her to go to the shelter.” His face reddens and his eyes fill with tears he tries to hold back.

  “Oh, Joe, I’m so sorry to hear that.” I reach over and squeeze his hand offering whatever comfort I can.

  “That’s why I couldn’t sit by and listen to what The Dragons were saying and not help you. That’s when I started to make the coffee shop my daily hangout. I wanted to watch over you, get to know you, and gain your trust. I made a plan and hoped it would work when needed.”

  I start to cry out of happiness. It warms my heart to know that a total stranger cared enough about me to do all this. I give his hand a harder squeeze. “Thank you, Joe, thank you,” I say, looking at him through my tears of hope.

  I look up and we are now entering what appears to be the shipyard. Stopping near the train tracks, Joe shouts over the noise of the passing trains, “Hand me your bag of clothes and wait here. Lock the door and don’t get out for anything, you hear me?” I shake my head in confirmation.

  He gets out and I watch him toss each piece of my clothing onto different train cars. All the trains are on different tracks. There are tons of trains lined up waiting and some are already starting to move out. He runs back to the truck, and I unlock the door letting him in and we are off again.

  He says with a chuckle, “You will be scattered all over the country in a few hours. By the time they realize you’re gone, they will have no clue in what direction you went.”

  “Freaking genius, do you know that? That is genius,” I say with a huge smile. This may really work.

  We park and sit in the parking lot while Joe makes a phone call. “Jimmy, its 4:45, what the hell are you doing? Yeah, well, I need you to start the meals. I’m freaking starving. I know you usually man the entrance, but I’m pulling up now, getting my shit out of the truck, and it’s just you and me on this run. I will lock the gate behind me. Yeah, thanks,” he says into the phone and hangs up. We watch from the truck as Jimmy walks off the deck and into the cabin out of our sight. We start to walk to the ship and stop at the loading area. He turns to me. “You stay behind me and walk as quickly as you can. I will get you to a safe place.”

  “Okay,” I say as my heart picks up a beat again. If it beats any faster, I may go into cardiac arrest. I feel safe with Joe, but I still have my ears out for the unmistakable sound of Harleys.

  We board the ship safely without anyone knowing, no bikes, no Rex, just us. Joe shows me to my cabin and gets me settled. He gives me some meds for the pain and shows me that I have a bathroom in the small cabin, a bed, and a small table with a chair.

  “You will be safe here. Please rest. You need it. I will bring you food in a little bit. There is a phone here, but only use it if it’s an emergency. Just pick it up and dial zero. When I answer, hang up. I will know it's you and I will come to you. But I doubt you will need to use it.”

  The trip takes about three days, I think? I was in and out on pain pills Joe gave me, which I normally don’t take, but my head and ribs were killing me. The rest was welcomed. I can’t remember the last time I was able to sleep so soundly.

  We finally reach New Orleans and it’s a relief to be so far away from Rex. Joe must have known The Flaming Dragons don’t have a chapter here so it’s the perfect place. I sneak off the boat while Joe causes a distraction and meet him in the parking lot. He had rented a car and had it ready to drive me to the shelter.

  We pull up in front of an old warehouse building on a cobblestone street. The feeling I have for Joe is overwhelming. What a gift he is; he put his life on the line for me. Without him, Rex would have killed me without a doubt.

  But sadness rushes over me thinking about Joe’s safety. If The Dragons find out it was him, they will kill him for sure. I reach over the seat while we still sit parked and give Joe the tightest hug I can with what I’m sure is broken ribs. Tears start to stream down my face. “Thank you so much for saving me, Joe. I don’t have a dad to look out for me. Without you, I would have wound up dead, and soon.”

  He smiles at me. “It’s the least I could do.”

  I return with worry, “Are they going to know it was you, Joe? If they find out it was you—”

  He cuts me off, patting me on the back, “Shhh, Mar
y, they will have no way of knowing. I never told a soul of my plans. I just kept open ears and never asked any questions about you. It’s all good.”

  We get out of the car and stand at the front door. I turn to embrace him again. As he hugs me back with such love, I feel his loss. I feel him heaving, trying not to breakdown. He pulls back and looks at me with eyes filled with tears.

  “Glad I could help you, Mary. From the day I met you, I knew you were my ray of sunshine. Thank you for bringing me out of the darkness. I can never bring my Lilly back, but saving you helps me feel like I have done something for her. You have many sunny days ahead of you.

  I stretch up on my tiptoes and give Joe a gentle kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, I will never be able to say that enough.”

  He motions to me with his hands swatting in the air. “That’s enough. I’m glad I could help. Now let’s get you settled.”

  He opens the door to the shelter and to my new life. Ms. Annabelle is the shelter director, and she takes care of everything for me. She shows me around the sleeping quarters, which is a long room with several bunk beds lined up on both sides of the walls with one there waiting for me. She looks at me with care and concern.

  “I know it’s not much,” she says, looking around the room, “but it’s safe. That’s the most important thing for you right now is to know you’re safe. Now let’s go to the office and get all the paperwork straight.” I follow her to the office where my life changes forever.

  Ms. Annabelle had the power due to my situation to give me an entirely new identity. She lets me choose my name, and I could not help but think of Joe and pick Sunny. I want to turn a new leaf and always look at the bright side so Sunny it is. We spent the rest of that day going to the DMV with my new birth certificate, getting a new license, going over the rules, starting counseling, and learning about my new hometown of New Orleans.

  The other women in the shelter were very nice and forthcoming. I could not believe their stories were so similar to mine. I have sat up at night thinking I’m the only person in the world that is weak enough to put up with this. I beat myself up mentally for so long and it wasn’t my fault. This is going to be good for me, but I’m not sure how long I can stay in this place. It’s very cramped with no privacy. I need to find a job and fast.