Page 10 of Property of BamBam
With my back now to him, I say, “It was little stuff at first. The first time it happened, he apologized profusely and blamed the fact that he had just lost his job for his bad mood. Alcohol made it worse, of course, so I quickly became proficient in reading the signs, so I’d know if I was going to have a good night or a horrible one.”
Shame courses through me. Even though by then I no longer had a vehicle, I’m pretty sure I could’ve found help. Of course, by the time it all really hit the fan, I think I was just so beaten down, I had begun to believe the lies he spun.
“It’s your fault that I do this, Olivia. If you’d just do what I said, I wouldn’t have to correct your behavior.”Whispers from the past flash through my mind
Strong arms band around me and while I know they’re BamBam’s, I still jolt as fear rolls through me. My vulnerability was used against me time and again by Jasper, who often approached me the same way. “Shh, it’s okay, Livy, it’s just me,” he murmurs as I continue to be caught in a grip of terror.
“I-I-I’m sorry,” I stammer. I’m so embarrassed at my behavior right now, I can feel my cheeks heating up.
“Nothing to be sorry for, Pixie,” he quietly replies. “C’mon now, little man is snoozing again, how about we go back upstairs so you can take something for the pain and get some more rest?”
I huff out a laugh as his voice centers me. I’m not in the small kitchen that was the scene of so many of my nightmares. No, I’m in an industrial sized one that belongs to an outlaw motorcycle club, yet still gives off an almost homey vibe. He must sense I’mready to move because he steps back, and I immediately miss his secure arms being around me. Grabbing my second bottle of water, I follow behind him as we return to the room that was prepared for Theo and me, where I watch as he gets my baby settled while I open the bottle of painkillers that Mongrel brought back from the pharmacy for me and shake one out. Swallowing it down, I don’t miss BamBam nodding his head toward the bed as if to tell me to climb back in and rest.
“Bet you never thought your day was going to end up the way it did yesterday,” I say as I get settled under the covers while he returns to sit in the recliner. “You don’t have to stay, BamBam, I can take care of Theo.”
“I don’t mind staying, Livy, so you can get some sleep. How else are you going to heal?” he asks.
“Same way I always did before,” I admit, shrugging. Okay, that particular movement hurt, probably because my arm is throbbing, and I carried a backpack over my shoulders and Theo on my front in a swaddle.
He makes what sounds like a growling noise but when I look over at him, his face is carefully masked. I have no clue how strong the pill is that I just took, all I know is while I want to respond, I find myself sliding into darkness as sleep rushes up to claim me. I’m knocked out so quickly, I don’t hear him say, “You don’t have to do things on your own any longer.”
CHAPTER
SEVEN
BamBam
One of the things about my position within the club is I’ve learned to sleep light, for lack of a better word, while still waking up rested. Since Livy is still sound asleep, when I feel my phone buzz, I check on Theo then head out of the room to see what Rio needs. I hate that she might wake up and panic, but when my president calls for church, I go.
Walking into the room we use for church, I drop my phone in the box that Monkey’s holding, while Mutt has the other one for our weapons. Seeing Mongrel, I yell, “Grab me a coffee, then go up and guard the room Livy’s in.”
“Got it, BamBam,” he replies, running to complete the first of the two tasks I just gave him.
“Getting your coffee delivered now, fancy,” Abyss jeers. As our VP, he’s another big fucker, but I don’t take offense at his words. Instead, I flip him off as I settle in my seat.
“Yuck it up, Abyss,” I say. “Some of us were up once already this morning.”
Rio looks at me and asks, “Is she okay? Her son?”
“He woke up, so I took care of him because she was still out like a light from the sedative Doc gave her,” I admit. “She woke up and freaked out because I had to come downstairs to get another bottle. Took her a little bit before she was calm enough to take something for her pain and fall back to sleep.”
Mongrel approaches the doors that are still wide open as Rio waits for the last of the brothers to trickle in and I wave him inside. I can see his trepidation since prospects generally donotcome into church until they’re patched in, but he doesn’t miss a step when he sees me motioning him in. As he sets the steaming cup of coffee in front of me, he says, “Constance wanted me to pass on that she’s brewing a fresh pot in case anyone else needed one.”
“Noted,” I reply. He nods and turns, presumably to take care of guarding Livy until she’s awake and alert.
Once the last brother comes in and closes the door, Rio bangs the gavel. “Church is in session,” he states. “Now, some of you were coming back from a run to the border of Louisiana to check on whether or not another chapter would be viable, but I think we may want to see if the Louisiana chapter is willing to start one there, so we’re not spread too thin. BamBam and Mongrel brought back a woman and her son who were running from an abusive fucker. So, Abyss, tell me what y’all’s impressions were.”
“Cue and I scouted out the area down around Beaumont, Pres, and it could work for the Kings,” Abyss says. “It’s not too far from I-10, and of course, there are plenty of waterways as well.Found a few possibilities and gave them to Pokey to investigate further.”
“Pokey?” Rio asks.
“Running the variables now, Rio,” Pokey replies. “Once I have them you can get with the Louisiana chapter to see if it’s something that’s viable for them.”
“Were you able to get anything on the search you did on Olivia’s ex?” Rio questions.
A look crosses Pokey’s face that I can’t describe but immediately has me on alert. He lowers the screen and then clicks a few buttons on his laptop which immediately populates with the asshole’s DMV picture, along with what looks like a rap sheet. At a nod from Rio, he starts talking.
“Jasper Price, age twenty-two, is a high school dropout whose work history is sporadic at best. I honestly lost count at fifteen jobs, it seems he enjoys imbibing a bit too much after work, causing him to lay out more often than not. He’s been arrested multiple times, mostly petty shit, although there are several calls involving complaints from the neighbors. Twice he’s been charged for domestic issues, but the charges end up being dismissed by the court for insufficient evidence.”
