Forgiving Nancy (Last Hangman MC, #5)(23)

CHAPTER 10



Nancy

I wake up suddenly and find myself in the middle of a large bed. I look around, trying to figure out where I am and what happened last night but my memories of the last night are still a blur. What the hell happened?

Bennett!

I gasp as I remember running into him in the middle of Bourbon Street and then having a long talk with four women, but the rest is still fuzzy. I remember being calm, but right now, I’m shitting myself. I have no idea where I am or whose bed I’m in. Come one brain, help me out here!

I sit up and rub my eyes in the hope that the action will force my memory to the front of my brain but nothing happens. I wince as I shift towards the side of the bed, causing my apparently sore ass to painfully rub against the sheets. It feels like there’s a thousand tiny needles digging into my skin. I manage to get up without any more pain and look at myself in a full-length mirror that’s opposite the bed. I’m wearing clothes that aren’t mine and I look like I’m going to collapse any second now. I turn towards the door to make my escape from wherever I am, but I see a note pinned to a board on the back of the door.

Hey Nancy,

Viv here, I’m the one who brought you up last night. I’m not sure if you remember since your memory was fuzzy last night. I hope you feel better. I’m working at the bar that’s next door to the compound if you need me. Do NOT drink the coffee in the kitchen, it’s disgusting. Come over for a good cup of coffee and some breakfast. There are shoes and clean clothes in the wardrobe. Help yourself to anything. Gabe (the guy who brought you here last night) will be with me if you want to have a chat with him.

Hope you feel better.

Viv

Xoxo

I smile and sigh in relief as I read the note and a wave of recognition hits me after seeing Viv’s name. She seems like a genuinely nice person, she doesn’t know me from Adam but here she is, wanting to help a stranger. I didn’t have that many friends growing up and I didn’t really bond with anyone back there. It’s a nice but odd feeling to have friendly people around wanting to help you, I’m used to being told to f*ck off if I asked for anything.

I slip into the bathroom that I remember using last night and take a quick shower. I see that Viv has left towels and shower essentials on the bathroom counter for me, which weren’t there last night. I take my time using everything that she had left out for me, wanting to feel human again. I wash and condition my hair, shave in all the right places more out of habit than anything else and rinse before stepping out. I pat myself dry and wrap my hair up in a different towel. I dare to look at my ass in the mirror and I’m horrified when I see rows of red dots marking my skin. I can’t remember why they are there and by the looks of my ass, I’m not sure I want to.

I sigh to myself, trying not to dwell on it and apply some body lotion. I walk back into the bedroom and look through the wardrobe. I feel like I’m invading someone’s personal space even though Viv’s given me her approval.

After a few minutes, I settle on a pair of jeans, a tank top and a pair of grey Vans. I hate going commando but there is no way I’m going to borrow someone else’s underwear. That’d just be wrong on so many levels.

As I get dressed numerous questions run through my mind: why are they being so nice to me? Do they expect anything in return? Do they want to hurt or use me for MC business? Should I make a run for it? They are people Bennett knows so they can’t be too bad.

I take a final glance at my reflection in the mirror and see that I look a bit more like myself, but my eyes are dead in comparison to how they used to look when I was a teenager. I walk out of the room and look around, trying to remember how I got here last night. There are quite a few rooms lining the corridor and I have no idea which way to go. I walk to my left and look through a few of the open doors, but most of them are spare rooms or more bedrooms. I retrace my steps and walk back past the room I slept in and finally find the staircase.

This place looks more like a big house instead of a compound. I understand now why Gabe made that comment about the women making it their own. It does look like women decorated this place; there are flowers and pictures hanging on all the walls. It smells fresh and is very neat, not at all what I’d expect from a bunch of bikers. As I walk down the stairs at the end of the hall I feel a few pairs of eyes on me. A few guys from last night and a few I’ve never met. They aren’t judging or looking at me as if I’m a piece of meat, there’s compassion in their eyes, it’s almost unsettling but also reassuring at the same time. I’m not used to men looking at me without expecting me to drop to my knees and suck them off.

“How are you feeling?” A big, muscular man asks me.

“Ah…um…I’m alright.” I look up at him.

“I don’t bite, don’t worry.” He chuckles. “I’m Ant.”

“Nancy.” I half smile at him. I’m not scared of men, but this guy is freaking huge, I feel like a munchkin next to him.

“I know. You heading to Viv’s? I’ll walk you there.” He places his hand between my shoulder blades and walks alongside with me.

“I’m alright, really. I can walk there on my own.” I try to reason with him, but if his expression is anything to go by, then I’m going to have an escort for a potentially two minute walk.