Page 15 of Property of BamBam
“Giving bikers and their women a bad name, Issy,” he advises. “We party all night and sleep all day, remember?”
She snorts out, “Since when? This has always been a working ranch and I know damn well that Paps didn’t lie around much past sunrise.”
Rio walks off, shaking his head while mumbling to himself. I know he’s joking; the Triple R is his pride and joy, and it makes the club a helluva lot of money. Both traceable and not, since we use it to filter funds, just like we use the laundromat. Of course, transports for other chapters and shit are on a pay-as-you-go situation, or in some cases, we’re given a marker.
Except with the East Texas crew. Since most of them came from here originally, it’s more of a given that if we need help, Rip will give it and vice versa. Pays to have family in the club that’s blood related, that’s for damn sure.
As the rest of us head inside to see what we can find for a late-night snack, I spot Mongrel at the bar and motion for a beer. When he hands me the long neck after popping the top, I say, “Got her settled in just fine.” I know he’s got a soft spot for Livy. He’s always respectful of course, but it hasn’t escaped my attention that he went out of his way to ensure she and Theo had whatever they needed.
It’s gonna make him a good brother at some point once we’re ready to vote on his patch. I’m sure some of it has to do with having younger siblings, but I’ve noticed thathesees things that need to be done before they’re pointed out and he just does them. No muss, no fuss.
CHAPTER
TEN
Olivia
One of the first things the house mother gave me after BamBam left was a journal, along with a folder that has the itinerary with times listed for each meal, as well as when there’s a group therapy session. Surprisingly enough, there are activities that I can participate in after dinner, including game nights, as well as movie nights. They also have a giant, one-thousand-piece puzzle that’s available for anyone to work on whenever they want.
On Sundays, they’ll take those who attend church to the morning and evening services, if there is one, of course, and they do it again on Wednesdays since some churches also have Wednesday night services.
I haven’t stepped foot inside a church since the day of my parents’ funeral, and I’m still so angry at God that I no longer talk to him like I did when I was younger. I mean, He didn’t save them, andHesure didn’t save me from Jasper’s abuse. What was the reason for me to suffer the way I did? Is it because I wasn’t married to Jasper, and I was paying the penalty for that biblicalsin? I shudder at that thought because it would’ve been ten times harder to leave.
But one of the things that interests me is the journal I found on the nightstand next to my bed. It has my name engraved on the front, which I think is pretty cool, and the note on the top said it was for my thoughts and feelings. I guess it’s a diary of sorts. I remember when I was much younger having one, and how the biggest issue I had was whether or not I would make the cheerleading squad, and if I’d be invited to the homecoming dance.
Shaking my head, I peek at Theo who’s still peacefully napping. I grab the baby monitor that was in my room, make sure that both parts are on and head out to explore a little bit and maybe make up a few bottles so they’re ready. Thankfully, BamBam left the bag with the formula and bottles right by the door.
As I quietly close the door, I hear the soft murmurs of several women talking. When I get closer, the three women stop and stare at me with varying degrees of interest. “Um, hey. I’m Olivia, although most people call me either Livy or Ollie.”
The redhead, who looks like she’s close to my age, smiles and says, “Hey, Livy. I’m Ashley. I saw you had a little one when you came in, how old is he?”
“He’s three months old,” I reply.
“Your ex do that to your arm?” the older woman with jet black hair that’s closely shaved on the sides asks. Her tone is brusque, and she definitely appears to have endured a lot if the fading bruises on her face are any indication.
“Yeah,” I whisper, my shoulders dropping.
“Glad you ran,” she states. “My name’s Marge.”
“And I’m Briley,” the blonde says. “Right now, we’re the only four here, but that will no doubt change. You’re the only one who has a little one though. I sure miss my Serai.”
I hate to even ask because sadness practically oozes from her pores. Ashley takes pity on me and says, “Her little girl is currently living with her parents.”
“Fucking CPS, always gotta meddle with families,” Marge spits out.
“She’s with family which is most important,” Briley murmurs.
By now, I’m sitting on the chaise lounge at the end of the huge sectional, close enough that I can talk and respond, but far enough away to give the illusion of each of us being separate. I know that probably makes no sense, but each of us is obviously dealing with the trauma done to us by people who professed to love us.
“Their job is to protect the children,” Ashley rebuts. “If there’s concerns of abuse, they have to make sure the kids in the home are safe.”
“Yeah, but Briley had already arranged for her folks to take her little girl. There was no reason for the fucking state to get involved. They’re just legal traffickers,” Marge retorts. Turning to Briley, she adds, “You mark my words, they’ll have you jump through a shit ton of hoops to regain custody, then at the last minute, they’ll terminate your parental rights and put her up for adoption.”
By now, Briley is openly sobbing and despite my injuries and the pain I’m still in, I find myself hugging her to me in a futileattempt to give her some comfort. I obviously don’t know her situation at all, but it doesn’t sound good to me. Although… Marge comes off as brusque and abrasive, so she may just be giving a worst-case scenario.
“Marge, hush,” Ashley demands. “You don’t know that’s gonna happen to Briley, so don’t be putting those thoughts in her head.”
“Well, ladies, since y’all are all together, how about we go ahead and have a group therapy session?” Beth asks as she walks into the room. Seeing me, she says, “If Theo wakes up, just go to him and take care of whatever he needs. If he’s hungry, just bring him back, it’s not like he’s going to cogitate anything that’s said.”
