The Phoenix Knights MC: Strength of Love

Chapter 7

Olivia’s POV-

After leaving class, my mind was racing everywhere, from what c*****e had said to me, to the text from Harry. I had to go home, but he threatened to lock me up in the house if I did come home. What choice did I have? I needed my computer, my clothes, and my stash box. It has everything I need: cash, credit cards, identification cards. Everything I need to disappear. The cash is separate from the credit and identification cards, just in case he ever finds one or the other.

I needed a few minutes alone, so going to the girls' bathroom seemed like my best choice. I needed to use the restroom anyway. It was the perfect excuse. So, that is where I went. I also knew I needed to sort out my bandages. They had loosened a little. I am also positive that c*****e felt them when he placed his hand on my back. I really hope he didn’t give how thick this sweater is. I stopped by my locker to grab my bag, before heading for the bathroom.

I got inside the bathroom and did my business first. Once I was done, I went to the sinks and washed my hands. I looked around the bathroom a final time to make sure it was empty, then I set my bag down on the side of the sink, and took a deep breath. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, and finally responded to Harry.

A nice short message: “Go to hell.”

I probably shouldn’t have sent that text to him. I will probably get my ass kicked later. But if I can get home and get what I need before he gets home from work, then I should be fine.

I sent a text to my mum that said, “I am still alive, not that you would care.”

Then I put my phone away. After everything, I have been through at the hands of Harry, of her husband, you would think she would care about me, that she would be worried about me. But, she didn’t care. I doubt she ever did care about me. She looks at me like I am the worst thing that ever happened to her. I feel like she never wanted to get pregnant, and therefore never wanted me. That is part of the reason I was so surprised at all the phone calls I had gotten from her overnight, even the fact that she contacted my friends. It could only mean there was something else going on, at least that is what it seemed like to me.

I grabbed some more painkillers from my bag and took them. I could barely handle the pain today, as I could soak my muscles to ease some of the discomfort.

I looked up into the mirror and checked my make-up, touching it up so that it didn’t get ruined. I needed to make sure the bruises on my face were not going to be visible to anyone. I didn’t want people to find out I was being abused. You can imagine the rumors that would go around.

Once my make-up was done, I packed it back in my bag, and lifted my sweater up next, folding the bottom over my breasts. I did the same with my cami top. I saw the position of some of the bandages, and I knew I was going to have to undo some of them.

I got to work on removing one length of the bandages. As soon as the bandages were removed, I rolled them up. I sighed looking at the bruises, they just looked so much worse now. They were so black and discolored. I think I should have stayed off and in bed today. I began to rewrap my ribs.

I was nearly done when I heard the small gasp from behind me. I froze to the spot.

Who is that? What will they say? What will they do?

The moment I came to my senses, I continued wrapping my ribs, as Katie, Mike’s little sister, appeared in the mirror, joining me at my side.

“What happened to you?” she asked, concern and horror all over her face.

I didn’t say anything. It was obvious what had happened. I got the s**t beaten out of me.

She pressed on, “I can help you in more ways than you realize.”

I turned to look at her, and said, “You have no idea what you are dealing with. What I am dealing with? You have a loving father and brothers to keep you safe. I am alone in this. No one can help me.”

Honestly, that is what I felt like, that no one could truly help. My friends have said they could, but I won’t let them put themselves in harm’s way for me. They have not seen the things that I have not seen in my other career, the one my parents don’t even know about. My hacker life, my computer programming life. My friends just know that I have a very lucrative side hustle that I keep hidden, so that my parents don’t find out.

I pulled my cami top and sweater down, as she said, “If you are being abused, I can help you. Get you a safe place to stay, so you can finish your days here at high school, then you can still go to college. I know you have got early admission to some IV league colleges.”

“Don’t pretend like we are friends. Your brother and his girlfriend hate me. He was going to come for me earlier, try to hurt me, when I stood up for myself against his stupid ass girlfriend. If it wasn’t for c*****e and Devil, he would have. So, why would I trust you, any of you? None of you know me or made any sort of effort to get to know me, but you and your crew allowed that b***h to belittle and harass me. Just leave me alone,” I said, with no real strength in the words.

I started to gather my things when she said, “Nice birthmark, by the way. I heard you and your biological father have the same one. It looks familiar.”

My brow furrowed as I lifted my bag, and rushed from the bathroom, not wanting to stay in there any longer. I sure as hell, didn’t want to be around when her brother and his girlfriend come looking for her. But what did she mean by it looks familiar? Had she seen my birthmark somewhere else?

I headed to find Benny and Megan, who were waiting for me by their lockers, making out. I smiled at them, it made me feel relieved that I wouldn’t leave them and they would fall apart. They have each other. They won’t be alone when I leave because they will have each other to rely on.

They pulled away when they saw me. I chuckled, “Come on, love birds, let’s go get some lunch. I am actually feeling hungry now.”

I wasn’t at all, but I knew they would nag me to eat something, as I still hadn’t eaten the croissant they brought me. I knew they knew. They had been watching me.

As we headed to the cafeteria, I told them both what had happened in the bathroom. We got our food straight away and went to take a seat.

A few moments later, Dana came in talking loudly to her friend. I heard them discussing how Sarah was crying, because Katie had yelled club business at her, before dragging her brother and his friends out of school. They had all gotten on their bikes and left in the middle of the school day.

What could have been so important that they left like that?

“You said Katie saw your birthmark and said it looked familiar,” Megan whispered, to which I nodded.

Benny gasped and whispered, “You don’t think one of the Phoenix Knights might be her biological father, do you?”

“You both know how my mother is, always so posh and up herself. She wouldn’t sleep with a biker. She looks at them with disgust. I remember her losing her s**t at me when I said I wanted a bike,” I whispered.

“Well, you never know about how someone was before you came into this world,” Megan shrugged.

I nodded, because she was right. How am I supposed to know what my mother was like before I was born? She never talks to me. Hell, she could have been a w***e for all I know. But now, I have a pit in my stomach.

Has my mother known this whole time, exactly where and who my biological father is?