Karma (Kings of Rebellion MC Book 1) (13 page)

I wake up to hearing Natasha blow drying her hair. Typical.

I reach under my pillow, taking the second in my hand and launching it at her back.

“Hey!” She yells.

“I was sleeping.” I moan.

“It’s already six p.m., you lazy git.” She snaps and returns to drying her hair.

Six o’clock? I’ve slept for ten hours?

I sit up, groaning as I stretch. “I didn’t blow dry my hair while you were asleep.”

“I didn’t stop you.” She laughs and I stare into her giggling face, and then join her in laughter because she’s right. As silly as it sounds.

I get out of bed and regret my pyjamas again as Natasha laughs. I roll my eyes and put on the clothes I unpacked before I went to sleep. I’m still so tired, but if I don’t get up now I won’t go to sleep later tonight and my body needs to get back to the English time zone.

I pull on my skinny jeans, which don’t feel as tight as they did the last time I wore them and a long sleeved shirt with a black hoody over the top. I feel better being able to cover up as much skin as I choose and when I’ve refreshed my messy bun and applied a little make-up so I don’t look like a zombie, I’m good to go.

Natasha and I take a deep breath and decide to branch out of our room. I knock on Elise’s door as we pass but there’s no answer. When we open the door at the end of the hall, we come to the room we entered last night and see it’s full of men, women and some children. I spot a pair of sofas and only one girl is sitting there, so I decide that’s the easiest option.

Music is playing, food is laid out on a long table at the back and my stomach grumbles. I’ll have to check it out soon enough.

We sit down together, facing the pretty girl on the opposite sofa and she instantly smiles. “Hi.”

“Hey.” We both answer.

“So you’re the girls who helped my cousin.” She leans forward to get closer. “Thank you, and I’m not saying it to be soppy, I really mean it. Elise means a lot to me.”

I’m shocked to find out this girl is Elise’s cousin, but the longer I look at her the more I see the familiarities. Apart from the fact that she doesn’t have bright blonde hair like Elise, she looks exactly the same. This girl has black glossy hair that sits low on her back with bright green eyes that really stand out against her dark hair.

“So I see you have met Drew.” Elise appears with a large plate of food for us to share. “Dig in, girlies.”

After an hour, I get to know Drew a little and from what I’ve already seen she seems really nice. Much like Elise in that way.

“So what’s the latest with you and Grim?” Elise asks with a mischievous smirk.

“Grim?” Asks Drew, oh no is she an ex or something?

“Nothing is going on with us, in fact I’ve decided to call him Grim again.” I answer sternly.

“He told her to call him Brandon.” Natasha fills in Drew and her face shows the exact same shock as Elise did.

“He did?” Drew asks in a high pitched voice.

I slowly nod, still not grasping the importance of it all.

“You know, he won’t like you calling him Grim if he has asked you to call him something else.” Elise advises.

“He will have to deal with it then.” I snap, my voice sounding stronger than I actually feel.

It’s then that I spot him walking into the room and he scans the place until his eyes land on me. Without breaking our eye contact he makes his way over to me. He kindly smiles at everyone I’m with before speaking to me.

“Did you get some sleep?” He asks.

“I did thank you.” I nod.

“It’s a shame you changed out of your cute pyjamas.” He snickers and I feel my cheeks burn.

“He saw those hideous things?” Natasha gasps.

“Come on girls, let’s give them a minute.” Drew suggests and regrettably they all go.

Grim sits beside me, and he’s so close I scoot away a little. “How are you settling in?” He asks me.

“A lot better than my first experience with a motorcycle gang.” I joke.

He frowns. “We’re not a gang, Lauren.”

“So you don’t all ride motorcycles and dabble in anything illegal?” I end with a smile, knowing I have him.

Grim bites down on his bottom lip and chuckles and I swear it’s the sexiest thing I’ve seen a man do for a while now. I stare at his mouth, transfixed and left wanting for the first time. “We do like our bikes, and sometimes we do have to take certain situations into our own hands, but that doesn’t mean we’re a gang.”

“Sometimes?” He has me interested. The image of him getting down and dirty has my blood warming. He shrugs his shoulders, staring down at me and not saying a thing. “What illegal activities do you include yourself in?” I dare to ask.

“I can’t answer that, Lauren.” He replies. “I wish I could.”

I nod, understanding his answer. Out of nowhere, a man who looks scarily like Grim appears next to him and sits opposite us. 

“Well hello gorgeous.” He winks at me. “Do you need saving from him?” He motions to Grim. “I can keep you company.”

I have to admire his confidence. “I’m fine thanks.”

“What’s your name?” He asks, sending me what I’m guessing is his signature panty dropping smile.

“Devlin,” Grim warns with a low growl.

“It’s Lauren.” I answer Devlin.

Grim heavily sighs next to me. Is he not happy that I told this man my name? I couldn’t just ignore him.

“Lauren?” Devlin asks. “You’re one of the girls my big brother here rescued from the Devils.” It’s not a question, because he obviously already knows but I nod anyway. Then I realize what he just said.

“You’re brothers?” I look between them, of course! It’s so obvious, they look so much alike. Both of them are so good looking, dark features, stubble across his strong jaw and even the same dark eyes. They could possibly pass as twins.

“Lauren, this is my younger brother Devlin.” Grim introduces like he has no choice and doesn’t want to. “Devlin, Lauren isn’t available for your one night hook ups.”

My mouth drops open in shock from what Grim just said. “Grim!” I shout.

He immediately frowns at me for using his club name. As I talk to Devlin, I feel Grim staring at me.

“So is Devlin your real name?” I ask him.

“Yep, love it so much I don’t want no club name.” He smirks and looks over at Grim. “Unlike someone else.”

“I didn’t choose my club name, it was given to me.” Grim snaps.

Devlin stands and shakes his head. “Stop being fucking mardy. Dad wants to talk to your girl.”

“I’m not his girl.” I frown.

“Why didn’t you say this earlier?” Grim asks.

Devlin shrugs. “I didn’t know she was Lauren until a few minutes ago.”

With a nod, Grim gets up and I follow. Time to talk with the president.

I follow Grim and Devlin as they argue.

“I think this is too soon.” Grim moans.

“Well dad says he needs info.” Devlin answers.

“She doesn’t know anything.” Grim argues and I have to step in.

“Grim, I’ll talk to your dad.” They both go quiet and we continue to walk through the clubhouse. This is the part I haven’t been in yet. There’s a bar with a lot of music and we pass more rooms but I don’t know what’s on the other side.

When we come to a corner, Grim begins to walk beside me and I already know what’s coming.

“Why are you calling me Grim?” He asks quietly.

“That’s your nickname.” I reply and try to walk faster but he catches up.

“I told you to call me Brandon.” He reminds me.

I don’t know what to say. I continue to follow Devlin and before Grim can answer Devlin knocks on a large wooden door and it quickly opens, revealing their dad. He looks exactly the same as when I saw him this morning, dark jeans, black shirt with his leather vest. This is where Grim and Devlin got their looks from. Franky is a very good looking man and a silver fox if I might add. He gives me a smile and motions for us to come in.

“Does this need to be done right now?” Grim asks his dad.

“I figured as soon as we get this over with the better.” Franky looks to me. “You ok with this, Lauren?”

“Yes.” I answer. I would rather get this over with as soon as possible too.

Franky gestures for me to take a seat on the sofa and I take a look around. It looks like an office I guess and it does look similar to Demon’s but less scary. There’s no overload of weapons but there are a few guns behind his desk that I try not to stare at.

“I didn’t get a chance to greet you as I wanted to last night because the women were so excited to see that you were ok, and I’m happy that you are.” I’m shocked at how nice he is. My experience with club presidents isn’t very good and I was dreading Franky turning out the same. There’s time yet, but so far so good.

Franky places a hand on my shoulder, not in a dominating kind of way but more of a friendly gesture. “What’s the matter?” He asks.

I swallow to try and clear my dry throat, looking around the room and the men looking at me.

“Lauren?” Grim asks. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah.” I try to assure him with a smile. “I think I’m just still getting used to the differences.”

They immediately know what and who I’m talking about. Franky sits in the space next to me on the sofa.

“Lauren, we respect women and would never even think about doing what they did to you.” His eyes harden and it shows me how mad he truly is with Demon.

“Good to know.” I answer, watching as Grim takes a seat with Devlin on the other sofa.

“Now,” Franky begins. “I need to know everything you know that has to do with the Devils, Lauren. Can you do that?”

“Everything?” I dread.

“Just roughly explain, don’t go into too much detail about yourself. I’m purely focused on the club and Demon.” He assures me.

I go into my memories that I’ve tried to put behind me. I start at the beginning when Andrew and his two friends were already waiting for me. I don’t go into too much detail, like Franky said and move on to day by day and what details I picked up on. Franky seems interested in the parties that the Devils held.

“Who showed up to the parties?” Franky asks.

“I don’t really know, I wasn’t there that long to get to know regulars and names. Natasha should know, she was there months before me.” I inform him.

“But you were at the same party’s right?” Devlin asked.

“Right, but the men really loved her and I didn’t usually stay that long.” I admit, hoping they don’t ask why.

“Why not?” Grim asks and I can tell he didn’t really want to ask me.

I take a deep breath and look to Grim when I speak. “That would be because Demon liked to keep me to himself. He told me nobody else was allowed to play with me and as soon as someone showed interest, he would drag me away.” Flashbacks to being literally dragged by him flew by. He would drag me by my hair, legs or arms. It didn’t matter to him.

“Drag you away?” Franky sounds appalled.

“Literally. It wasn’t just him either.” I admit.

“What do you mean?” Devlin asks.

“Strike didn’t like the attention I got from Demon, so he would punish me.” Tears roll down my cheeks and Frank wraps an arm around me.

“Mother fuck!” Shouts Grim and I look up to see him suddenly stand and repeatedly punch the wall until Devlin pulls him away.

“Can I go now?” I ask Franky and as soon as he gives me a nod, I leave his office.

As soon as I left Franky’s office, I speed walked past everyone, not caring who I bumped into or ignore. All I wanted to do was get back to my room. I wanted to be alone. I’m not sure why, maybe it was having to go back to that place, or seeing Franky’s appalled expression, Devlin’s confusion and Grim’s anger. You don’t know what it’s like living like that until it’s there in front of you and you have no choice!

When I reach the room, I tug at my clothes because I feel so grubby. I rip off my jacket, throwing it down on the floor and kicking off my shoes. After sitting on the bed with my head in my hands for a few seconds, I eye the bathroom door and see the shower. It calls to me and the longer I look at it, the dirtier I feel.

I quickly get up, stripping my clothes on the way and eagerly walk into the shower. The water rains down my body, but I don’t feel any better. The room steams with the hotness of the water, but I don’t feel anything. I just want to wash away Demon’s hands and the abuse I received from Strike. I want to wash them away, forever cleaned from my body, but it’s no use. With the reality of what I’ve been put through, I fall to the floor with a slip and land hard on my arse. The water carries on pouring out and I scrunch in a ball, wrapping my arms around my legs and bury my head. The water helps soothe me while I cry, like warm hands stroking my back and I cry harder as I wish that my mother or better yet, my sister were here with me.

I don’t know how long I’m like that for, I don’t move. I don’t want to or need to. Sitting at the bottom of the shower feels good for me. A loud bang echoes through the room and the bathroom door is quickly ripped open and I hear a loud gasp.

“Shit.” I hear Natasha grumble.

“I’ll get Elise.” I hear from Grim, and then his departing footsteps. I don’t even feel embarrassed that he’s seen me like this because he has seen me a lot worse. Not only when I was at the Devil Spawn’s clubhouse, but when I was open and raw back in Franky’s office.

“Hey sweet.” Natasha crouches beside me. I turn to look at her, but I don’t feel like saying anything. “We need to get you out of this shower.”

She reaches over and turns the water off and grabs a towel.

“Come on.” She gets me to stand on wobbly legs and wraps me tightly in the warm towel. Natasha holds me tight, trying to absorb her strength into me because I really fucking need it right now. Unfortunately, we’re only human and that can’t be done, but it helps to know that she’s here for me.

As she leads me to my bed, Elise and Drew come running in looking so worried and I feel like crap because I’m making people care for me when I should be just like Natasha and Elise and deal with everything quietly.

“I’m so sorry.” I whimper as Natasha gently helps me down on the bed.

“Why?” She asks, looking deadly confused.

“Because I’m crying!” I fall apart again as Elise and Drew walk back in. “Why can’t I be strong like you? Why do I feel like this? I’m being so fucking weak!”

“Hey now!” Shouts Elise. “What the fuck is this crap you’re talking?”

Her language shocks me because Elise doesn’t swear, but now that she has I take notice.

“It’s true.” I sniffle. “You and Natasha aren’t acting like me. I’m messed up, you two are fine and I just can’t cope with the nightmares and flashbacks. It’s all getting on top of me and to make it worse, I thought that I’d feel better out here. I’m away from Demon, but I can still feel him!”

I hang my head in shame and feel the bed drop. I look up to see all three girls sitting on my bed with me.

“Just because I’m not crying, doesn’t mean I’m not suffering.” Natasha admits. “Fuck, I see those men’s eyes every time I close mine and I’m scared that it’s never going to go away. I wish I was more like you, Lauren.”

“What? Why?” I’m so shocked.

Natasha looks me dead on in the eyes. “Because you are strong, Lauren. You’re strong enough to deal with all that shit Demon and Strike did to you all on your own. You stood up for Elise when I thought you were crazy and after all that you’re still the strongest one because you are letting it all out and dealing with it. Me? I can’t even shed a single tear, that’s how fucked up I am. I’m so used to that club and what they did that I feel that anything else isn’t right for me and I need to deal with that how I feel best. You are doing great Lauren, don’t ever think different and if you do feel yourself slipping you have us.”

Natasha grabs me in a hug and I hear Elise from beside me. “I didn’t go through everything that you two did. Not half as bad, but I was still taken away and scared. I’ve cried on my mother’s lap and I’m not ashamed to say that but it helped me and to be honest, I feel like I can’t express how shitty I am doing in front of you two because you had it so much worse than I did.”

“No, that
is
stupid.” I frown at her. “Of course you are going to be upset, look at who they were and what they did. It wasn’t a competition Elise, we were all in that room and you have every right to be upset about that.”

She starts to cry immediately and joins my and Natasha’s hug. I look up and see Drew looking at us through a shit load of tears and usher her into the cuddle.