Unstoppable (20 page)

Hunter turned to watch us as we walked in, his eyes never left Harley.  It took all I had not to rush toward him and snap his neck. 

“All rise!”  The judge walked in then the jury filed in.  “You may be seated.”

After asking the jury if they had reached a verdict the judge asked them to read it to the court. 

“We the Jury find Hunter Charles Jannison, guilty of—“

In the end he was charged with six aggravated assaults, six first –degree sexual assaults, falsifying legal documentation at the college, stalking, and the attempted murder of Harley. 

His prison sentence was fifty five years with no chance of parole. 

“Mr. Jannison, do you have anything to say to the courts?” the judge asked.

There was a long silence, “No.” was all he said then he turned and looked at Harley.  I stood as did Bryan and dad along with the brothers from Rail Riders and Devil Riders.  Hunter swallowed loudly then walked with assistance out of the court room. 

I couldn’t even look at Cheyenne before I walked out of the courtroom.  Instead I wanted to see Harley one more time.  For just a brief second our eyes connected before she looked down.  Fear, hurt, and anger flashed across her face. 

Every night I fell asleep it was Harley’s face that I saw when I closed my eyes.  It was always Harley. 

The first month in prison I managed to stay away from the hard core inmates.  That didn’t last very long though.  Somehow Harley’s family had connections with people on the inside.  I won’t even tell you what they did to me, if you use your imagination I’m sure you can figure it out.  I attempted suicide numerous times until I was put in solitary confinement and twenty four hour watch. 

One weekend I was yanked out of my cell and practically dragged to the visitor center.  On the other side of the glass stood Harley’s dad.  He pointed at the phone and picked the receiver up on his side of the glass.

“You look like shit.” He stated flatly.  I said nothing back.  He laughed slightly and shook his head, “You know, I would think you would have something to say.  But you show no remorse, none.  Somewhere in that sick fucking head of yours you probably still think about my daughter.  I’m here to tell you that when you get back to your cute little cell there’s a razor blade under your pillow.  Don’t attempt shit, do my daughter a favor and kill yourself.  She scared that you’re dumbass is going to escape these walls.  If you would somehow get out, just know I’ll blow your brains out.”  The clank of the phone being slammed down brought me back to reality. 

I hung up the receiver and went back to the cell.  The guard had to have known what Bryan had said.  He stood in on the other side of the door and watched me walk over to the bed and lift the pillow.  There was one rusty razor.  “I love you Harley.”

I was hoping that after the court hearing was over that things would get easier for me.  In a way they did but I was constantly worried that Hunter would somehow escape the maximum security prison.  I was constantly looking over my shoulder, my nightmares had started to come less frequently, but I was still scared. 

Not long after he went to prison Ryder got a phone call that Hunter had killed himself in the cell.  I knew that one of the MC’s probably had a hand in it, but I felt no sorrow when Ryder told me. 

I continued to see my counselor and started doing classes online for my elementary education degree.  The local community college offered the rest of the classes I would need to finish without having to go back to Washington. 

Sarah’s career in modeling skyrocketed, she was on the cover of numerous magazines, went to numerous red carpet events, and her clothing line was finally off the ground and running.  She surprised me when she told me that she started a charity for domestic violence and sexual assault victims.  Each portion of her sales she donated and had numerous other donations given already.  We talked almost every single day, she would face time me during photo shoots so I could “Be there” with her.  Ryder and I tried numerous times to get her to admit that her and Clayton had some kind of relationship but she would just laugh and say.  “Big girls need loving too!”

Ryder’s custom paint shop was thriving too.  He hired Clayton to help him since he was actually a very artistic person.  He ‘hired’ me to be his secretary, that lasted all of about two weeks because he got so far behind on his work.  Our sex life had pretty much returned to normal, there was not a surface in the shop that Ryder hadn’t laid me down on and so that he could show me the benefits of dating the boss.  And there was a time that Clayton walked in on us going at it hot and heavy in the office.  I was embarrassed to no end and tried to push Ryder off of me but he wasn’t about to let me go.

Cheyenne and I exchanged emails throughout the year.  She had sold their condo and moved her and her daughter into her parent’s guest house.  She tried to give me half of the money she made from the condo sale but I didn’t want it, so she donated it to the charity that Sarah had started.  

The biggest change in my life was when I decided to become a spokeswoman for rape victims.  I started going to the local community centers, high schools and colleges with my story.  I was truly amazed how many girls and women would tell me that they were too scared to get help and were trying to go through the healing process alone.  Mom, Sydney, Macy and I held weekly meetings at the fitness center where women could come in and talk to us.  Not every woman wanted the help and some went back to the abuser, all we could do was hope that they would return and let us help them get away. 

I was speaking at a seminar at the local high school when my microphone quit working.  The staff tried and tried to get it to work but nothing they did fixed the problem. I started to apologize to the students when the gymnasium doors swung open.  In walked my Dad, Ryder, Cade, Mom, Sydney, Macy, and Sarah.  Ryder was carrying something in his hand.  He nodded at the staff that was on stage behind me. 

“HI beautiful!” Ryder’s voiced boomed and echoed throughout the gymnasium. 

Our families and Sarah walked to the front and sat down in the front row.  I smiled in confusion.  Ryder walked closer to the stage and looked up at me.  “What are you doing?” I whispered and knelt down.  His eyes showed he was up to something mischievous.  I narrowed my eyes at him.  The speakers crackled and music started playing, I recognized the song as Smash Mouth’s - Believer.  Ryder jumped on the stage and did the unthinkable—he started singing along with the song.  Twirling me around and dancing around me while singing.  I knew there was no hiding how red my face was.  I laughed when he got the students and staff to sing along with him.  My dad was sitting there shaking his head.  Cade was laughing so hard he was wiping tears off his face.  Mom, Sydney, Macy and Sarah were all singing and clapping and trying to take pictures.  When the song finally ended I wanted to hide but Ryder surprised me…again. 

He was down on one knee, a microphone in one hand and a ring box in his other.  “Harley, I know this is the most embarrassing way to possibly ask you.  And I’m pretty sure your dad is ready to kill me for singing that ridiculous song, but I can out run the old geezer.” The gym erupted with laughter.  “Anyways, I’ve loved you since the second grade, we walked these very halls together.  We’ve been through more than any couple should ever have to go through.  I’m here to ask you to be my wife.”

I blinked and blinked, “A Shrek song Ryder really?”

He laughed, “Leave Disney alone, we go way back.  Shrek’s DreamWorks anyways.  If you marry me you marry Disney and DW too.”

I wiped my tears away, “Yes Ryder I’ll be your wife!”

“Holy sh…thank the lord!” He corrected himself.  The diamond ring he put on my finger was beautiful.  He stood up and swung me around.  “You’re dad really is going to beat my ass.” He whispered in my ear.  “Thank you Harley.”

All the hell I went through as a kid was nothing compared to watching my own daughter go through the fires of hell.  She came out stronger and more determined to help others though. 

I never told anybody that I had visited Hunter in prison, it was something I needed to do.  I’m sure most people would think that telling a man to kill himself is pretty satanic, but the hurt and anger I had boiling inside of me wouldn’t go away.  Hearing my baby girl cry out from nightmares and not being able to take it all away from her was more than I could handle.  I knew she was worried that he was going to get out and find her…so I had to make sure that it was never a possibility. 

Watching her and Ryder grow as a couple together throughout everything made me gain a lot of respect for him.  The day he walked into the club house and nervously asked me for my daughters hand in marriage I nearly broke down.  There was no man better for my daughter than Ryder. I knew that he loved her with everything he had.  He knew how to annoy her, he knew how to make her smile, but most importantly he knew how to make her happy and how to make her feel safe.  But of course I couldn’t let him know any of that so I made him wait a few days before I gave him an answer.  By day three he threatened to ask her with or without my permission. 

“Ryder, all I ask is that you do it so we can all be there.  I don’t want to miss the smile that will be on her face.”

He grinned, “I’ll one up that, I’ll even invite you to the wedding!”

That little shit head
!

~~~~

“Dad!  Hellooo...Dad?” Harley waved her hand in front of my face.  “Lost you there for a minute.” She laughed.  I shook my head. 

Standing there in front of me was my beautiful Harley Ryder, wearing a flowing white gown and a white veil pinned in her hair.  “Sorry baby girl.” I cleared my throat. 

“Don’t you dare cry dad, DON’T.YOU.DARE!” she was trying not to cry too. 

I wiped my misty eyes, “What time is he expecting you up there?”

“In about two minutes.” She dabbed her eyes.

I nodded my head, “We’ll make him wait five.” She threw her head back and laughed at that.  “I just want you to know how proud I am of you Harley.  You’ve been through so much, you’ve helped so many people on your journey to recovery.  Today starts a new chapter in your life and I couldn’t be more proud of you than what I am right this second.”

She hugged me and swallowed hard, “Thank you for everything daddy.”

Theresa knocked on the door, “Umm he’s getting pretty nervous.” She walked into the room.  “I can’t stay in here or we’ll all be in tears.  Bryan you need to come sit with your wife so I don’t hug on Hank for comfort.”  She hugged and kissed Harley then left. 

“Ready?” I held my arm out to Harley.

“Yep, do you suppose I should have put in my vows that he can’t watch any more kiddie movies?” she laughed.

“That’s saved for the nights that he really pisses you off.  Hide all the DVD’s.”

Ryder was nervously looking toward the back of the garden.  The smile that covered his face when Harley stepped into view was filled with nothing but love for my daughter. 

“Who gives this woman away?”  The pastor asked.

“Her mother and I,” I looked at Ryder.  “I’m watching you.” I whispered then turned and kissed Harley before sitting down next to my beautiful wife.