Comp's Chance

What world did I step into here?

“We’ll start by introducing you to everyone. I know it’s a lot to take in, so just know we are patient, and you can ask as many times as you need for reminders. Then, after introductions are out of the way, we can get to why you’re here,” he tells me. I can do nothing but nod and try my hardest to pay attention as he goes around the room, introducing me to everyone. When he gets to the last person, he looks back at me.

“We have a couple brothers out on the road, but this is our club, The Reckless Omens MC. Now, tell us how you got to our front door?” Swift asks, crossing his arms over his chest and waiting on me expectantly.

Before telling them all my tragic and embarrassing story, I take a deep breath. “I met Jason in high school. When I was younger, I kept to myself. I wanted to keep my grades up and my head down. I wanted to eventually get out of that town, away from all the judgment. Jason was different, or at least I thoughthe was. He swept me off my feet and told me everything I wanted to hear. He was going to love me forever, take care of me, get me so far away from that town. We were going to own our own little farm in the middle of nowhere and have every animal you could think of. We were going to make a family together. We were going to be happy.”

I hear a growl from my left, but don’t turn to look. I need to get this over with. I hate how pathetic this story makes me feel. I hate how people eye me with pity anytime they get the details of my life. I don’t even notice I’ve been wringing my hands together under the table until I feel the weight of someone else’s hand on them, somehow instinctively knowing it can only be Comp. I turn my hand and interlock our fingers before continuing, feeling the warmth and tingle run up my arm from the contact. I need all the strength I can get.

Six

COMP

Hearing Sunny talk about another man, a family with some other lucky son of a bitch, has me wanting to go back over to the prospect that disrespected her and rough him up a little more to take the edge off. Instead, I sit beside her, holding her hand and silently trying to give her support. I know she can feel the scars on my hands, but there’s nothing I can do about that shit now. When she continues, though, it does nothing to calm my anger. It ramps it up to disastrous levels.

“God, this is so embarrassing. It took him a while, and he put in the work; I’ll give him that. He had me thinking he was the kindest, most respectable boy in school, but I was wrong. He finally talked me into sleeping with him. Of course, it was horrible, but what did I know then? Anyway, he wouldn’t talk to me for the next few days. I got worried I had messed something up and went by his house. I saw him in the driveway, in the backseat of his car, fucking a cheerleader. He laughed in my face and told me I was just a conquest.”

I’m squeezing her hand so hard I’m scared I will break her, but she holds on just as tight. All the men in the room are fuming at this point. I hear muttered curses, growls, and plain deaththreats coming from all around. I feel the same murderous rage, but I can deal with that later on my own. Right now, I have to be strong for Sunny.

“At any rate, I decided he was a mistake and one I would learn from. I was heartbroken, but I sure as hell wouldn’t let him know that. I went about my day as if he didn’t exist. As if school wasn’t already torturous enough, it was horrible once the entire school found out. I just tried to keep my head down until I could graduate and get out of that fucking town. It helps Milani beat almost every guy’s ass that tried to come up and bully or assault me,” Sunny says with a warm smile. We all turn to Loki, who is cackling.

“That’s my sister! I taught her everything she knows.” We all laugh at him, then look at Sunny to finish the story.

“It was only a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I’m ashamed to admit I thought my life was over. I thought it was the worst thing to ever happen to me,” she whispers like she’s ashamed and looks guiltily at the hallway that Paisley went down. Again, I squeeze her hand, but don’t look at her when I speak.

“Anyone would have been scared in your position. No need to beat yourself up over it. Everyone here can tell that baby girl is your whole world, and you are hers. You did good, mama,” I say, glaring at my brothers, who are staring at me with knowing smirks.

“Thank you, Nix.” When she says my real name, God, it’s like a balm to my soul. One I’ve needed for so long and never had until now.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I never even thought about hiding it from Jason. That wasn’t who I was, but now I wish I would have. I told him, and he freaked out. Demanded I get rid of heror else. I didn’t listen. His parents even tried to pay me off, but I didn’t want one dime from that damn family. In theend, I had my daughter, told no one but Milani who the father was, and went about my life. Jason made sure I knew he never wanted to see my baby girl or me ever again. He has seen her out in public twice in her life, and he’s turned away with a disgusted face each time.

“Now, imagine my surprise when I got a call from said asshole demanding my daughter a few days ago. His family has been in politics for generations. They’ve all been town mayors before moving up the line. They have governors, senators, and the whole shebang in their families. Just so happens that Jason is now the one running for mayor with his perfect little soon-to-be-wife by his side. The kicker, though, I guess they got wind of the fact that he has a daughter. They want to take Paisley away to make it seem like he’s the perfect dad and family man. She’s never even met him!”

Sunny is getting angry and starting to shout. Who could blame her? This fucker is trying to take the only thing that matters to this woman in her life. I have no doubt that if he ever got his hands on Paisley, he would beat her or ignore her completely. Either way, he would make that little girl’s life hell. No fucking way am I allowing that.

I lean over until I’m close to Sunny’s ear. “Shhh… Sunshine, we don’t want Paisley hearing you yell and get worried,” I tell her, and I feel her body relax into mine.

She takes a deep, calming breath before continuing. “Long story short, he is trying to take my daughter, one he cares nothing about and only wants for his image. I can’t let him have her. She’s everything to me, and I won’t let him break her like he broke me. I’ll run as far and fast as possible to get away from him. I’ll run forever,” she tells us.

Swift is sitting back in his chair, arms folded over his chest, listening. When Sunny stops, he looks at her, and I know whathe’s thinking. He wants to help her but also needs to know what we’re up against.

“Did you try going to the police?” Swift asks, but we both know that wasn’t an option for her. We just need to know how connected he is.

“He has the whole police force in his pocket, as well as the judges and anyone else in power in that town. They all work for the family and have for years,” she says, looking defeated.

She probably thinks now that we know his power, we’ll back down or turn her away. Oh, how wrong she is. Swift quickly looks around the room, and when he gets chin lifts from us all, he turns back to Sunny.

“We will take care of you and Paisley, darlin’. No need to worry. Comp, I need you to find everything and anything on this guy and his family. I want to know every fucking detail. Also, you need to hack the county courthouse to see if you can get ahold of every copy of Paisley’s birth certificate. We can remove…” Swift starts, but Sunny cuts him off.

“I never put a father on the birth certificate. I didn’t want Jason anywhere near her after he wanted to throw her away so easily,” she cuts in.

“Smart girl,” Swift says with an approving nod.

“Wait, you’re really going to help us?” she asks, surprised.

“Of course we are. No one is going to take your daughter away from you. Especially not some asshat in a suit,” Swift says, turning back to me. “Everything you can find on him. I want it on my desk by tomorrow morning so we can start planning our next step.”

“I’ll get started now,” I tell him, standing. However, Sunny has a death grip on my hand and doesn’t want to let it go. She looks at me, then her hand before slowly releasing her grip, but I can tell it’s the last thing she wants to do. Why isn’t this womandisgusted by me? Most women can’t look me in the face without recoiling and giving me a look of disgust.