Healing Gabe (The Last Hangman MC #3)(50)
He was responsible for all the shit that went wrong in my life. From taking us into a f*cked up environment to making our lives a living hell. When we turned sixteen, things went south quickly and he started to use us to create alliances. Even with Trent gone, it didn’t make it better. I knew Jared and his men would be after me and I’d be on the run for the rest of my life. What I didn’t expect was the feeling of being truly alone and realize it, it was hard. I had no one left. All the people I loved were gone. I could have stayed for Gabe, but I couldn’t, not when he could only look at me with so much hate.
I don’t regret running away. I needed to get away so I could find and rebuild myself. Staying in the place that brought me so much heartache wasn’t going to help me. Coming back to New Orleans and the Last Hangman wasn’t an option back then, I couldn’t bring myself to be in the place where my parents died. It would only bring more heartache. I know Cabe would have accepted me back with arms wide open, but I just couldn’t face them, not at the time. I was really on my own and it was f*cking horrible.
“What are you thinking about?” Nic asks me, sitting next to me on the ground.
“The past.” I sigh.
“What happened to you?” she asks softly.
“You don’t wanna know.”
“You might think that, but I do. Not because I’m really nosey but because I wanna help you. My brother obviously loves you and there’s a reason for that. I don’t know exactly what happened but I know it was bad enough that he changed completely that day. He wasn’t the same Gabe who would read me stories or play the same game over and over with me. He never wanted to tell me what happened because he didn’t want to expose me to the MC world, when in reality I grew up in it, as much as he wanted to keep me away from it, and I f*cking love it.” She shrugs and I smile softly. She really is a female version of Gabe, it’s actually scary.
“The guy we saw the other day is responsible for my sister’s death. My uncle was a twat who wanted to marry me and my sister off to other clubs and we didn’t want that. We rebelled but it meant that Annie lost her life and I my freedom. Gabe saved my life one night and that’s when Jared started targeting him. Things wouldn’t have ended so badly or gone on for this long if he and my sister could have stayed away from each other. Instead they fell in love and Gabe joined the Last Hangman. They thought they were being careful, but my uncle - who was the Prez - and Jared knew all about it. One day, they took all three of us and tortured, raped and killed my sister in front of us. If I had let my Uncle sell me off to Jared, none of this would have happened and Annie would still be alive and probably married to Gabe by now. However, I fought tooth and nail, killed my uncle and ran away. Jared is president of the Kings now and is out for revenge against Gabe and the Last Hangman and is still trying to take me. I’m sorry you’ve all been brought into this mess because I came back.” I sigh.
“Fucking hell!” Nic whispers loudly.
“You could say that. I don’t know how or when they are going to strike. All I know is that no matter where we hide, they will find us.” I say sadly.
“They are going after the entire club today.” Jenny says softly.
“What do you mean?” Nic and I look at her confused. Bennett and Ryan join us. “What do you know that we don’t?”
“I overheard Jason, my husband, talking on the phone last night, talking about taking down the Kings today. I don’t know how, but that’s where they are right now. Hopefully, they will get there in time to take out the bastard who did that to you and your sister. I’m so sorry that happened to you.” Jenny squeezes my hand.
I squeeze hers back. “Thanks. I need to focus on the present and the future. Whatever happens, don’t go without a fight.”
“Usually I wouldn’t agree with that but she’s right, from what we’ve heard about what’s going on with the Kings’, the less they put up a fight, the more they are enjoying it. They want people to fear them. We’ll do all we can to protect you three,” Bennett says rubbing Jenny’s back. She flinches and sighs.
“They are the good guys, even if you don’t believe it or trust them, they will put their lives on the line to protect you. That’s what the Last Hangman is all about. We love each other, protect each other and party with each other. You don’t have to agree with that lifestyle, but know that whatever happens, they will risk their life to protect you and your husband and so will I.”
“Why?” She looks confused.
“Because that’s how we were brought up. It’s one massive dysfunctional family, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They might do illegal shit but they are great guys.” I smile at her.
“That’s nice.” She smiles softly back.
“It really is, except when they are all acting like badass alpha males at the same time. That shit is headache guaranteed.” I roll my eyes making Nic and Jenny laugh whilst Bennett and Ryan pout. “What? Don’t look at me like that, you know it’s true. You go around gloating and flexing your muscles and all that bollocks, trying to get the ladies to notice you. It’s f*cking hilarious to see and when they’re drunk it’s even better. I’ll always remember when I was younger, one of the guys was so hammered that he was hitting on one of the pillars supporting the compound thinking it was a woman.” I burst out laughing when thinking about that.