Macy's Corner Cafe

Chapter 9

John takes Macy home after they finished their drinks at the Dancing Coyote. He's still wondering about the meeting with Jackson. What was it that he wanted to say before they were interrupted?

Macy is really bad when it comes to alcohol and feels a bit tipsy. Good thing too. She's forgotten about the whole Derek incident from earlier. John walks her to the front door. Turning to him, she almost stumble, but he catches her. Hold on a bit longer than necessary, but she doesn't mind. She feels safe in his arms.

"What did you need from the shop?" He suddenly asks, catching her off guard. "Oh, for the life of me, I can't remember now." She says, but she does remember. Razors and band-aids...

John doesn't know. She will make sure he never finds out either. He'll be so disappointed in her. The self harm started right after she and Derek broke up. She couldn't cope and turned to the sharp edges of razors to take away the pain in her heart.

"I'll see you at the cafe tomorrow. If you don't feel like it, don't force yourself to come in. We can handle the shop." John says, looking at her. Sincerity in his eyes. He's worried about her. The fact that she's living alone is one thing. The other is the fact that Derek is becoming more bolder with his obsessiveness. It will be only a matter of time before something happens.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees someone standing on the corner of the street. It's Bullet. One of the Black Dragons men. Saying good night to Macy, making sure she locks the door behind her, he makes his way in Bullet's direction.

"Corporal, Sir." Bullet says when he is in hearing distance. He smiles at the nickname the guys gave him when he was Second in Command. It stuck. Better that Black Death, though.

"Bullet, why are you here? You alone?" He asks, scanning the area around them. "Mr. Turner told us to watch the house. We got the address from Geek. Gunner is on the other corner." So, Jackson does have a heart. "Anyone else?" John asks, knowing that they always guard in groups of four. "Keys and Auto will relieve us a bit later tonight." Bullet states while lighting a cigarette.

John nods and turns to walk to his car. "Corporal, is it true that Mr. Palmer found his little sister?" Bullet ask. John comes to a halt. Mason has a sister? He never knew that. "I wouldn't know, Bullet. I didn't even know he had a sister." He simply states and walks off.

Walking past Macy's house, he takes one last glance at the small cottage before getting in his truck to drive home. At least he'll sleep tonight. She has the best guards Black Dragon has to offer, surrounding her house.

Macy watched as John spoke to the man on the corner. She also noticed the figure on the other corner. What is going on? Why are there men standing on each corner? She doesn't feel threatened, though. Once she saw John talking to the buff man, she knew she was safe. Well, as far as safe goes.

Turning away from the window, she makes her way to the bathroom. A hot bath is in order to relax her tense muscles. Getting undressed, she looks at herself in the mirror. Her lean body with curves in the right places. Perfect hip and shoulder balance. An almost flat stomach. Still some work to do on that. Her bust not too large, but they might make her man happy. One day. Her toned legs are not as long as a model's but they are not bad.

Derek never had the privilege to see her n***d. She never gave him the chance. She waited for the the right moment, saving herself. That opportunity was taken by her then-best friend, Carla and Derek welcomed it with open arms.

She looks at her feet, observing the small scars running symmetrical to each other up her ankles. A few newer ones, still red, can also be seen. She can't cut on her wrists due to work. She likes to get her hands dirty and then John or the others will see. She turns at her waist to see part of her back. Long white scars runs the length of her back. Memories of t*****e and pain floods her mind.

She closes her eyes to stop the tears forming. She turns and climbs into the water, wincing at the sting of the newest cuts. Still raw and open, like the pain in her heart.

Relaxing into the water, her mind goes to the events of the day. Her fear when Derek and his goons came after her. Her relief when she saw John's truck outside the bar. She remember his smell when she ran into his arms. Woody and clean. His warmth when he held her close to let the threat pass. The strength of his arms. The beating of his heart.

Her heart starts to race at the mere thought of him. John Lance has an effect on her like no other man ever had. Not even Derek in the five years they were officially together. A warm feeling spreads throughout her core. A feeling of content and safety. Trust and protection. Not something she had for quite a while.

Lathering a loofah, she washes herself and her hair. Getting out of the bath, she dries herself and get dressed for bed. Hopefully the nightmares will stay at bay tonight. Her sleep is constantly interrupted by brutality and murder, screaming girls and crying children.

Macy climbs in bed and switches the bed-light off. Laying on her back, she closes her eyes with the image of her savior at the warehouse almost nine years back. His handsome face, his blue eyes and his ash blond hair. Darkness takes her and he becomes a part of her peaceful sleep. The first in weeks.