Savage (The Aces MC

Chapter 6

EFFIE

The journey to my uncles was surprisingly quick. Four hours flew, even if I only managed an hour of closing my eyes to sleep.

The bus was quiet and not many people were onboard, but that never stopped my racing thoughts from happening. They were loud enough for anyone to hear.

When the bus stop came up, I moved from my seat and walked down the aisle till I got to the door. The driver gave me a warm smile, and I thanked him, before getting off the bus.

As I stood, being the only person that had gotten off, the bus drove away while I looked around, wondering what route was best to get to my uncles. I didn’t want to go to the clubhouse since that would cause more issues. Maybe I should go to his house and pray he was there.

There was one thing I did manage to think about. There was no point in ringing him since I didn’t want him to contact my father to tell him I was on my way here and that I had left the club compound.

The last time I was here was when I was around eight years old, so I was going off memory of where he told me where he lived. I have only been here three times in my whole seventeen years and they were with my family. Before my mother left.

The clubhouse wasn’t too far from his place, that part was something I remembered.

Deciding to head to the clubhouse, I knew it was the only place I could go and would have to think from there.

Taking a breath, I headed away and walked a while into the town while taking in everything around me. It was nothing like our town, bigger and had more to offer for jobs. Our town is small and everyone knows everyone. It was a nightmare. Even though I was never a topic of discussion, my father and the club always were, which explained the bullying I received in school. Most of it was from hearsay, but it still hurt that they would come after a child like they did.

After what felt like hours and the sun was coming up, I found the clubhouse. It was in the middle of town, where there was a bike shop and a couple of other businesses around it, which all seemed to be associated with the club since the club’s name was on most of them.

The clubhouse was gated with a huge fence and even had a lookout point. There seemed to be no one tonight, which would be odd for the club unless they were on a run, which I prayed they weren’t. I needed to see my uncle.

Looking around, I was trying to figure out if there was another way in and without anyone seeing me, when my eyes landed on the side where there was an opening. Looking around to make sure no one was around, I walked over and stopped right by the gaping hole. It looked like someone had cut it, or something had gotten out—a dog or something.

Bending slightly, I managed to get through and even maneuvered my bag to get it in. I stood straight and placed it back on my back, while looking around to see where to go, but my eyes landed on the house I remembered all those years ago.

My uncle's place looked the same. Big and with a porch on the front. I wonder if he still had the pool outside. Not wanting to think about it because this may not go the way I think, I walk across the road to the house and slowly climb the steps till I reach the front door.

My stomach churns at what I am about to do.

My hands go to the side and clench into fists, while I move to knock. Taking a breath, I knock four times before letting my hand fall to the side.

Listening slightly, I heard movement and a thudding coming, which meant someone was coming down the stairs.

“There better be someone dying at this time of the morning,” my uncle’s voice grumbled behind the door, while he opened it.

My stomach was making its way up to my mouth. This was a bad idea. Why did I think this was a good idea?

Before my mind could spiral even more, the door flew open and my uncle’s eyes landed on me. Before anything could come out of his mouth, he stood there with it open like he was catching flies.

“Effie,” he whispered, his eyes trailing over me before meeting my eyes again. “Is that really you?”

I went to open my mouth when I heard someone behind him speak. “Who the hell is banging on our door this time in the—” Opal said but stopped when her eyes landed on me.

Her mouth dropped open but soon recovered. “Effie, is that you?”

I smile at them. “Surprise.”

Not the word I would have come out with, but the look on their faces was priceless.

Uncle Bear shook his head and grinned. “Well, considering I haven’t seen you since last year at your house, this is a wonderful surprise, but why did you want to come here at this time of morning?”

Pressing my lips together, I didn’t think this far ahead when I thought coming here would be best.

Opal, who is his old lady and someone who makes him happy, stared. Her face softened. She was my aunt, but not his first old lady. That was a story for another time, but they are meant to be together, the way he is around her. He was like a lovesick puppy when they came to see us last year.

Opal stepped forward and went toward me. Her hand went to touch my arm, but I couldn’t help but flinch away, which didn’t go unnoticed by both.

Opal looked at me with concern, before letting her hand slide into mine. “Come on inside, let’s get you out of here and into the warm.”

It wasn’t that cold outside, but I loved how she was trying to save face with me.

I gave her a smile as she led me toward the door, while Uncle Bear stepped aside and let me in.

Once inside, I could feel the heat from the house hit me, which then made me realize I may have been cold to begin with. In the attic back home, my new room, the heating never worked, which often meant I had to borrow some blankets from others, while they cracked up the heating in their rooms, while I suffered.

Shaking my thoughts away, Opal guided me to the kitchen and motioned for me to sit down. “I’m going to make us some hot chocolate, while you tell us what you are doing here.”

That was a loaded question, even though I did as she asked, since she was being nice to me. Something not many people have liked over the years.

Removing my bag from my shoulder and placing it on the ground by my foot, I sat down with Uncle Bear sitting next to me. His eyes never leave me, while I sit in the kitchen and look back at him.

His eyes say more than what he is saying, something he may have seen when he last visited when he came to the house before, but never said anything or this could be him trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Knowing I wouldn’t be able to tell him what I had to say, I moved slightly to my bag and opened it. Knowing instantly to grab the diary, I grabbed it and put it on the table while keeping my eyes on him.

Placing my hand on the diary, I let out a breath and looked at Opal to find her looking at me. “I don’t know how to put into words about what has been going on, but I can state facts, but here is everything I have documented.”

“What did you document, sweetheart?”

I stared at her for a moment, before looking at the diary. I couldn’t do this. Why couldn’t I just let the words out?

A hand came to mine, which made me flinch again, but the hand stayed. Looking up, my uncle’s face was set hard, but he said nothing.

Would he believe me?

Knowing I had to tell them, I just let the words flow out of me. “I have lied to you every time you have come to see us,” I stated, making my uncle tense at my words, but I know I can’t react.

“Ever since I can remember, since mum left, dad and Blade have been acting like it’s my fault,” I said, which made me look to Opal since Bear wasn’t staring at me. His eyes were elsewhere. I needed someone with a soft face to see me and Opal was one of those soft and kind people, unless you piss her off and I knew this would, but I didn’t care.

“They blame me for her leaving,” I said softly.

“It has nothing to do with you, Effie. It was all her doing and what your father—”

Ignoring what she was about to say since I already guessed, I cut her off. “My father is not the same person he was when she was around, he changed and so has Blade.”

My eyes move to my uncle when a tear escapes and rolls down my cheek. “I have been their punching bag, the clubs and bullied by what they have caused to happen in the town we live in.”

My uncle frowned, but I shook my head and looked at my diary. “Ever since this had all started and ever since I knew no one would have my back at the club, I wrote and got evidence of everything. Everything they had done to me.” My eyes moved to Bear, who was now looking at my diary, knowing the next words would make him see red. “Evidence of what dad and the club have been doing behind your back and who they are working with.”

That part made his brows shoot up to his receding hairline.

Rolling my lips together, I push the diary forward and look at him. He looked up at me and stared. “I can’t put into words what happened. I want you to read this all, not say a word until you have seen everything. But one thing I will state—don’t contact the club or dad. If he finds out I am here—I’m dead.”

“Oh sweetheart, your father wouldn’t do—” Opal started to say, but I looked toward her and shook my head, which stopped her mid-sentence.

“Oh, he will,” I whispered, moving my hand to the sleeve of the hoodie I was wearing. The only thing that could solve this and let them know it is all true is to show them. Thinking of how it happened was one thing, but reliving it was not what I wanted to do. I moved the sleeve up while keeping my eyes on Opal. I stopped when I heard her gasp, knowing she had seen it. I watch her hand go to her mouth.

I don’t say anything else. After a few seconds, I pull the sleeve back down and sigh. Looking back to my uncle, who was barely holding it together. “Can I sleep please? I don’t think I have slept tidy for three days.”

My uncle stares at me but only nods. He slowly turns to Opal, who is looking at him and then at me. “Take her to the spare room. Let her sleep.”

Opal nods and looks at me, motioning for me to follow her. I smiled but looked at my uncle, who was now looking at my diary and resting his hands on it. “Promise me, you won’t contact dad. He will be pissed and—”

Bear moved his hand from the diary and placed it in my hand, giving me a squeeze. “I won’t. Follow your aunt to the room. Leave your bag, you can have it when you have had your sleep.”

Not even wanting to argue, I did what he asked and moved slowly. He was still holding onto my hand when he moved it and placed a kiss on my knuckles, which made me tense. I know he can sense what I did, but I haven’t had any affection like that done to me in so long, not since he was last at the club.

Without a word, I removed my hand and followed Opal out of the kitchen while leaving my uncle to everything that I had brought with me.

All I have to do is now pray he believes everything I have written and found, or this was a waste of time, and I may have to find another way of living my life. A life without any family, but I just have to have the hope and the hope I need—hope my uncle believes me and is willing to save me from what happened and what could happen if I am made to go back, even though that will never happen, I will run before that happens. I’m just not telling my uncle or Opal that part though, it all rests on what he thinks and does next.