Page 9 of Injustice and Absolution

CHAPTER FOUR

DELILAH

One Year Ago | Age: 19

This place was always a solace for me.

An escape from the hell in which I used to live.

For the past four years, I’ve been lucky enough to call it home.

Maggie and I live in the main house, with Royce, much to the dismay of them both. But our dwelling is just one of the many buildings situated on the massive grounds of this compound.

Maggie has begged Royce, several times, to let us fix up the small shack on the property’s east end and move into it. It’s where he grew up, back before he purchased the rest of the land he now owns. But he refused her plea every time.

The acreage is bathed in beautiful shades of gold at one of my favorite times of the day. A glint of light coming from the south pulls my attention toward the quarry as the setting sun’s glimmer reflects off the towering conveyor system in the distance.

Tall shadows from those who are busy setting up for tonight’s bonfire dance around me as they work. People who quickly became my new family after my father disappeared without a trace.

On the very night I told Royce my secret.

My gut tells me he orchestrated my father’s sudden departure, but I’m too afraid to confront him about it. For starters, I’m not part of the club. Despite that, I’ve learned enough to know there are some questions better forgotten than asked.

But I need proof. I need details. I need to know—for absolute fact—that my father is never coming back for me. Maybe then my nightmares will end. Maybe I’ll no longer feel like someone is tracking my every step.

If I do ever summon the courage to ask him, I’m more afraid of him lying to me about it than getting angry or threatening me because I questioned it. Although deep down I know Royce wouldn’t hurt me. He may barely speak to me or even acknowledge me, but I see it in his eyes.

His sharp stare softens for no one but me. Not even for his own daughter, though Maggie wouldn’t appreciate it if it did. It’s sad that their relationship is as strained as it is. I would give anything to be able to fix it. Family isn’t something to take for granted.

They may not be the Brady Bunch, but things could be a lot worse.

“This is going to be the biggest bonfire you’ve ever seen, Delilah,” Crew calls out, pulling me from my thoughts as he exits the barracks.

That’s what the club calls the building where the rest of the guys live. Though from what Fernando explained, it’s nothing like the actual barracks you’d find on a military base.

It’s more of an apartment building, comprised of large, separate units. There are enough for everyone to have their own so no one has to share with anyone else.

Crew flashes me a smile before joining Ronin, helping him add more logs and kindling to the growing pile. I smile in appreciation. The club has gone out of their way to make sure today is special for me.

My nineteenth birthday.

I told them I wanted to keep it small and quiet—due in part to the constant feeling like I don’t deserve good things—but Maggie insisted on throwing me a “rager,” as she called it. The Bastards invited a bunch of friends and acquaintances of the club. Apparently, we’re expecting close to two hundred people.

Wooden benches and hay bales have been placed in a large circle around the bonfire. There are multiple coolers placed around the backyard full of ice and a variety of alcoholic beverages.

Royce has set very few rules for us over the years. One of them is that he doesn’t care if we drink so long as we don’t leave the house. Maggie scoffs at his rules, but at least it shows he cares. They aren’t hard to follow, and honestly, I like abiding by them.

They’re reasonable.

They keep me safe.

They’re the complete opposite of the rules my father had in place when I was growing up…

You must be in your bedroom waiting for me every night by seven o’clock.

You can’t tell anyone what we do or else they’ll send you to children’s jail for being a bad girl.

Make it feel good, or Daddy will show you what real pain feels like.

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