Undaunted (The Kings of Retribution MC)

About six months after he left, she decided that we needed a change, so she got in touch with an old friend that lived in Polson, who offered for us to stay with her until we could get our own place.

Mom packed us up and we left Wyoming, the only home we had ever known.

After getting settled in the new town, mom found a job at a diner. Three months later, she moved us into a two-bedroom apartment. We’ve moved a few different places since then, but we’ve been in this house the longest—going on two years now.

She met Lee last year. He came into the diner one day and asked her out. Within six weeks he was living with us. A couple months after that, they married. My mother can’t seem to break the cycle. She has blinders on when it comes to the opposite sex. She’s not good at being alone. It’s like she needs a man to feel good about herself, only in return, they all bring her down. Hopefully one day she’ll open her eyes.

It didn’t take long for Lee’s true colors to show either. As soon as they married, he suddenly developed a back problem and couldn’t work an

ymore. Mom struggled to pay the bills and keep Lee stocked with beer that he demanded all the time.

As soon as I was old enough to work, I got a job, and now with Mom’s hours cut at her job, a lot of the burden is being put on my shoulders.

Lee is a low life. Scum of the earth type of guy if you ask me. The man wakes up drinking and passes out at the end of the day from all the booze. He also has a nasty temper and hasn’t been afraid to use it on my mom in the past. I’ve seen the proof on her arms before. He’s careful not to leave evidence on her face for everyone to see the kind of man he really is though.

Let me rephrase that because he isn’t a man. More like a piece of shit!

He also keeps mom’s bank account drained every month. The lazy fucker can’t even hold down a damn job long enough to collect the first paycheck.

I roll over and look at the clock glowing on the nightstand, which reads 6:00 am. I wish I could say I’m getting up to go to school, but after graduating I didn’t really have an option to do the whole college thing. I needed to keep working so I could help pay the bills, help keep a roof over mine and my sister’s head, and make sure we have food to eat and clothes to wear because our Mom struggles enough as it is.

My goal is to save enough money so I can get my own place, bringing Alba with me. I want her to have the chances I didn’t. Like going to college, living and experiencing life... soaking up as much as she can without all the negativity that our current situation is offering.

I close my eyes, “Just a little while longer.”

Rolling out of bed, I walk out of my room, dragging my feet down the hallway to the bathroom. On the way, I pass my mom’s room where I notice her sitting up in bed watching TV.

“Morning, Mom,” I say as I walk in and hug her neck.

Even after all she has been through, she’s still a beautiful woman, and I wish she wouldn’t waste herself staying with Lee

“Hey, sweetie,” she says, cheerfully. “Are you working today?” She asks while she reaches for the remote, changing the channel to the local news.

“Yeah, I have the morning shift at the store today,” I tell her as I sit down on the edge of her bed.

“Okay sweetie,” she responds, patting me on my leg, as she starts watching the weather report.

I get up and make my way out of her room when she stops me by calling out. “Oh, wake your sister up, I don’t need her missing the bus again. Lee doesn’t like when I use his truck to run her to school.”

“I’ll take her to school on my way to work. Lee needs to quit being such a dick about that truck. Hell, you pay for the damn gas in it anyway.” I say irritated.

I hear her let out a heavy sigh. I know she wants me to keep my mouth shut, but sometimes something needs to be said.

I decide to drop the subject.

“I love you, Mom,” I murmured, walking out of her room.

Finally, in the bathroom, I reach into the shower and turn the water on letting it warm up. I walk back, checking to make sure the bathroom door is locked because I don’t trust Lee to not ‘accidentally’ walk in while I’m in the shower.

I strip out of my black sleep shorts, letting them pool around my feet. Then I pull my tank top over my head, chunking it on the floor. I walk over to the counter, grab my phone, and pull up my playlist, hitting play before stepping into the shower.

Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars’ voices fill the air, singing “Safe and Sound”, as the water cascades down me. For just a few short moments the melody helps me to escape.

When I finish my shower, I head back to our bedroom, the one I share with my younger sister. Alba is 18 years old and a senior in high school.

She is, in many ways, my complete opposite.

You wouldn’t know just by looking at us we’re sisters. I’m petite, only standing five-feet-two-inches, with long, deep brown hair, and hazel eyes I feel are too big for my face. I’m also mouthy, opinionated, and stubborn.