Open Wounds
832 Words
Alex
I entered the small diner down the street from my hotel. The AC hit me like a train. Unfortunately for me, North Carolina summers were no joke. And I had to cover my mangled body with sweats and an oversized sweater.
I waited by the "Please wait to be seated" sign, pushing my giant sunglasses up my nose. A beautiful middle aged woman approached me. "Welcome to......Margies." She hesitated, taking me in. She eyed me hard. I turned away.
"Just me for lunch." I whispered. She smiled, and turned away walking me to the booth. She set down the menu in from of me.
"Can I get you something to drink honey?"
"Just water with a lemon please." I covered my face with the menu.
"You got it honey."
Shit. She for sure saw right through me. She didn't say anything, so maybe if I'm lucky she won't pry.
Suddenly the bell above the door rang. I turned slightly and caught site of a massive man. At least 6'4", built like a brick wall. He had dark hair, shaved on the sides and long on top. I couldn't clearly make out his face. He wore a leather jacket with some kind of patches on it. On the back was a depiction of a skull on fire. I put my head in my menu, hoping I could eat quickly and get the he*l out of her.
I never should have left the room, I told myself.
Diabloe
Walking into Margies my stomach growled. She had the best burgers on the planet, I'm convinced. Burger King has nothing on her. I approached the counter as Margie joined on the other side. Normally she would be smiling ear to ear seeing one of the Phantoms. Today was different. She was pale and had a look on her face I couldn't quite decipher.
Margies had the club's protection. From the day she opened her doors she was nothing but accommodating to the club. From feeding our hung-over as*ses to catering for club get-togethers. She was what all women should aspire to be. Kind, smart, caring with a bit of a no-nonsense attitude. You didn't mess with Margie, but you always had a place to call home.
“What's up Marg you look like you've seen a ghost.” She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
“Hey Diablo, good to see you, want your usual?” I squinted my eyes, and she looked away. Following her line of sight, I saw a tangle of beautiful brown locks.
“Quit staring! I've never seen her around, but she has a black eye, swollen as sh*t. Not only that but bruises around her neck and I think I saw a bite mark. She tried and failed miserably at covering them up with makeup.”
Rage flooded my blood stream. Did I have commitment issues and resistance from most women? Yes. Did I believe in harming a woman, let alone abusing them? Absolutely not. Despite my disdain for some, most women in our circle I respected and loved. I looked over again and was met with her staring back. Oversized sunglasses, baggy clothes. I saw her mouth open and close. She looked scared. Heart-shaped face and plump lips, I c****d my head. I didn't need to be close to see the split in her lip. Someone had beaten her, badly, and I have the overwhelming need to break that fu*kers neck.
Alex
He tapped the table and nodded to the waitress. Then he started approaching me. I started breathing heavily, clutching the seam of my sweatshirt. I looked at the only exit and contemplated making a run for it. Who was I kidding? This massive man would catch me like nothing. What if Cal sent him? What if he was going to work me over and send me back with a bow? Before I had a chance to take off, he was across the booth, hands clasped, eyeing me up and down. His jaw was ticking as he leaned back.
“Who did this?”
I was da*n near hyperventilating. “Breathe, in your nose, out your mouth.” I nodded, taking deep breaths, finally feeling my pulse decreasing.
“I'm going to ask you again, darling, and I hate liars, I'm not going to hurt you, but he might not be so lucky, who the f*ck did that to you?”.
I swallowed hard. “It's nothing, I'm ok now, I just want to eat and leave.”
He raised his hand at the waitress, without a word spoken, she nodded and walked off towards the kitchen.
“Your eyes swollen da*n near shut and I can see where that fu*ker took a bite out of you. Me and my MC run this town and if there is someone here walking around hurting women, we need to nip it in the a*s, you understand?”
I sighed. MC? Where the fu*k did I end up?
- Writer
