Strike Fast (Snakes Henchmen MC 1)

What else was I supposed to think at that age? The man had terrified me into silence, and I honestly believe that if I hadn’t escaped he would have come back and killed me. Not many pedophiles leave their victims alive, or so a cop told me.

“A few weeks later, when my mother finally allowed me out of the house to see Shepard, and only at his house because of what he’d done for us, for me. I was playing with Willow. I couldn’t even play with Jett the way I used to, my best friend because I was too afraid. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, but I was changed inside. The door knocked. Shepard answered. There was a man there, they were arguing. I don’t remember about what.” I pull my hand from his and scrub both of mine over my face. “I recognized the voice.”

“Jesus,” His voice is low, but he hissed the word.

“I was so afraid that I peed myself.” I did pee, all over my damn self, my eyes wide, chest heaving. I thought he’d found me. I thought he’d come to kill me. “I remember Shepard yelling how he’d kill the guy if he ever came back there. When Shepard came back into the room, he looked right at me, and his eyes went wide. He knew without me saying anything that the man at the door was the man who hurt me.

“I don’t know what happened to the guy, but I heard Shepard tell my dad that he’d kill him, he wouldn’t stop until he was dead. That very night we left Tennessee for California. Shepard thought it would be better if I were away from the place it happened.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“There’s more.”

“More?” I look him in the eye and nod. “What else is there, Coral?”

“I had a baby, Stryker.” His eyes widen so much I’m scared they’re about to pop out of his head! “I loved her so much. I wanted to keep her. I didn’t understand why my parents wouldn’t look at her. I guess I didn’t fully appreciate back then that she was the product of what happened to me. I just saw her as this special little gift that God had given me.

“My mom wanted me to give my baby to someone who would be able to take better care of her. My parent’s made valid points. I was too young to care for her and give her everything she would need. I would never be able to afford everything I needed for her, they weren’t rich people, we had enough money to keep us all safe, but with an extra mouth to feed, no one to take care of her while I was at school because my parent’s worked, we’d struggle.

“My mom told me I’d never be able to finish school, go to college to get any kind of degree, which would mean I’d have no money, no place to live when I was older. My baby would have a hard childhood, and that was unfair to her.

“It didn’t matter how much I loved her because it would never be enough. I would never be enough. So I agreed with what they wanted.

“My dad called Shepard, and he arrived with BlackJack a week after I gave birth. Shepard said it would be best if I gave my baby to someone who could look after her, just as my parent’s had. I didn't want to, but I let her go. I did what was right for her. I’ll see her one day, and I’ll tell her how I have always thought about her, how I never stopped loving her, my little Elisha.”

We're silent for a while. There’s nothing left to say. I have no more secrets to tell him.

Things feel different all of a sudden. I can feel him pulling away from me. Yes, he's sitting right next to me, but emotionally, I feel him pulling away, and that hurts so much. I have fallen so hard for him, but I know I’ll pick myself up and move on.

That’s what I do.

I pick myself up each time my heart is broken, and I move on.

Protect my heart. That’s what I have to do. It’s better to do it now rather than later.

“I’d like you to leave.” I get out of my seat and fold my arms around myself.

He says nothing, just gets out of his seat.

This is it; he's leaving. I just need to hold it together until he leaves. I can break down then. I’ll cry him out of my system and get the fuck on with my life.

Chapter Thirteen

Stryker

I’m struck dumb. I’ve never met anyone who has been abused like that as a child before, much less the woman I love, and I do love her. I never knew I could love anyone the way I love this woman.

I led a shit life before BlackJack found me, but nothing I ever went through could compare to her pain.

Now I know what Roman was getting at, that day in the woods. I never pushed her because he was right, it was her story to tell. I just never imagined it could have been something this bad.

Twelve years old, kidnapped, raped, beaten, left with child, a child that was taken from her.

Jesus Christ!

She asked me to leave.

She wants me to go.

Except, I know she doesn’t.

I stand in front of her. Her head is hanging down, arms wrapped around her slim body, and she’s trying not to cry. “I’m not leaving, Coral.”

Her head shoots up, eyes narrowed.

Does she honestly think that what she’s told me has changed a damn thing?

“I told you nothing would change how I feel about you. You are the bravest woman I’ve ever known, and I fuckin’ love you so much.”

Her gasp is audible. “You love me?”

“More than life itself,” Then I grab her, holding her in my arms so fucking tight.

I’ve never had a family of my own. I ain’t gonna lie. My daddy was a drunk, and my mother split when I was seven like I said. I basically raised myself. Wasn’t till I joined the Snakes that I even knew the meaning of family. Wasn’t till I fell for Coral that I knew what love could be. But I do know that she’s mine. I’d kill or die for her in a heartbeat.

Stroking the back of her head, I tell her, “I’m not going anywhere, baby. What happened to you was the worst thing that could happen to anyone, but I’m here now. You’re mine, Coral. I’ve got you, baby girl.”

“And I’ve got you, Mark. I love you. I am so in love with you.” I squeeze her tighter, a smile on my face. Ain’t nobody ever said they loved me before. She doesn’t need to know that, though. “I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“You’ll never lose me, Coral. Never.”

“You will never lose me either. You’re my soulmate. I was meant to find you. I know that I was.”

I smile while planting a kiss atop her head. I believe that too. Someone or something brought her here to me. There was something out there that said it was our time to

be happy.

This woman is my true happiness. If I didn’t have her, I’d have nothing.

Sure, I’d have the club, Jack, and Taylor, but it wouldn’t be there same. I lived, but I wasn’t alive until Coral.

“Mark?” Her hand’s stroke up and down my back.

“Yeah?”

She finally looks up at me, and I see so much in her beautiful eyes. “I’m ready. I want you to make love to me. Show me what it’s like, please.”

I eye her for a moment. I don’t want her to do this just because she thinks she should. However, I don’t see that in her eyes, all I see is the need to be shown that she’s not a victim of her past. She’s my girl, my love, and I’m going to show her how much I love her.

I lift her into my arms and carry her to her bedroom. I kick the door shut with my foot and carry her over to the bed. I stand her on her feet and strip her slowly. When she’s naked, I tell her, “Lay down, little bird.”

She does.

She watches me strip my clothes, all the time her eyes travel the length of my body. We’ve touched each other a few times now, every time she looks at me like this, like she can’t believe her eyes. I’ve never shown her my back, and strangely, she’s never needed to look. I know she feels my scars when she runs her hands up and down my back, but she's never made any comments about what she's touching. Somewhere deep inside of me, I want her to notice, but I don’t have the strength to tell her my truth just yet.

I climb onto the bed, my lips instantly kissing her shoulder. Her legs open for me, and I can feel her heat against my cock. It makes me groan. I’m already hard for her, and that just made me harder.

I kiss every inch of her porcelain skin. I don’t leave a part of her unkissed. I want her to feel my love for her. I kiss her from head to toe and back again.

“Mark, please, I need you,” I smirk against the tender flesh of her inner thigh. Coral smiles at me, fingers in my hair as she guides me between her legs.