Page 44 of Property of BamBam
I wake up slowly, keeping my eyes closed so Jasper is unaware that I’m once again alert. I don’t know how long I’ve been out of it, but based on how he’s muttering to himself, it hasn’t been a significant amount of time. I can feel something sticky on my face and vaguely recall Jasper’s fist coming toward it as I was succumbing to whatever he drugged me with, busting my lip, but outside of that, I don’t feel all that bad.
Think, Livy, think. My mind is going ninety to nothing as I work through how I can help myself get out of this current situation. I know enough to realize that by now, someone should’ve realized I’m missing. Hopefully, they’ve raised the alarm because if there’s one thing I have no doubts about, it’s that BamBam will tear this whole ranch down to find me.
In the meantime, it’s up to me to do what I can to help myself as much as possible. While Beth got us enrolled in a self-defense class, I was somewhat limited at the time due to my broken wrist and ribs.
“Anything can be used as a weapon, Livy.”Hearing my instructor’s voice in my head prompts me to carefully open my eyes into thin slits so I can try to gauge where I’m at right now. While Issy showed me around when I was here the first time before I went to Hope House, we didn’t exactly go through each building individually. Still, with the sheer number of people ambling around because of the rodeo, as well as the fact there are so many of the Kings from other chapters here this weekend too, I feel as though the odds are in my favor.
Or… it could be wishful thinking. But, with thoughts of my son in the forefront of my mind, as well as the beautiful life that I believe will be mine at some point, I’m determined that I won’t go down without a fight. I may still be working through some of the shit Jasper put me through, but I have a lot to live for now.
Various farm implements are neatly stacked against the wall near where I lay, and I begin to quickly catalog each one for the potential damage it can cause. I don’t need to kill him, I just need to stun or incapacitate him long enough to get away from his reach and find one of BamBam’s brothers, or even BamBam himself.
Decision made, I watch Jasper pacing through slitted eyes as I slowly and methodically scoot closer to a set of benches, where it looks like some leather items are setting. My eyes widen slightly when I spot an awl, a handheld leather working tool within reach. Reaching out, I grasp it in my hand then quickly slide it into my front pocket.
“What the fuck? What are you doing over there, you bitch!” Jasper screams, moving closer to me and yanking me up by my arms.
“You won’t get away with this, Jasper,” I warn as I grab the awl from my pocket and start jabbing it anywhere I can reach. “You called me worthless but guess what? I now know my worth. You knocked me down, but now I stand tall. You tried to break me, but I’m growing stronger than ever. The control youthoughtyou had over me was only temporary, you piece of shit, because my belief in myself is permanent.”
He screams and drops me, his foot finding my recently healed ribs. As pain radiates through me, I scramble up and head to the door I can see. If I can just get outside, I plan to scream my head off to hopefully get attention from somebody.
“Not so fast, you whore,” he sneers, grabbing my arm and spinning me back toward him just as I reach the door.
Swinging my hand that’s holding the awl, I manage to rake it down his arm, causing him to bellow in pain and let me go. I don’t waste any time, even though the sight of all the blood dripping down where I’ve already nailed him makes me queasy, and I open the door.
Spying the barn where the horses are at not too far from me, I run as fast as I can and slip through the doors that are slightly ajar. Now to find somewhere to hide. It’s dimly lit, but I can see a ladder that goes into the hayloft overhead where the bales sit until they’re needed to feed the livestock that lives on the ranch. Making my decision, I rush there and despite the pain in my ribs, quickly scramble up them.
Jasper’s bellow as I throw myself behind a bale resonates in the open space, causing the horses who are in their stalls to start whinnying. The sound reverberates which has me crossing my fingers that one of the ranch hands will hear it and investigate.
“Please find me, BamBam,” I whisper under my breath as I see Jasper stumble into the barn. “Don’t let him hurt these magnificent creatures.”
“Livy! Livy, I know you’re in here and when I find you, you little slut, I’m going to do what I should’ve done months ago before you had that fucking brat. I’m going to kill you.”
My heart is nearly beating out of my chest as I peer through a small opening between the bales as he stomps around while hurling threats and insults at me. As long as he doesn’t find me, I should be alright, but just in case, I look around the loft to see if there’s anything else I can use as a weapon that won’t put me as close to him as the awl did.
Spotting a pitchfork, which I guess they use to toss the hay down to the ground below, I crawl toward it and move it within reach. It’ll be a last resort, but if it comes down to me or him, I’m going to choose me. Every single time and twice on Sundays.
Because my son deserves to grow up with his mom.
When the barn doors slam open, I scuttle back to my earlier position, the pitchfork clasped tightly in my hand. Seeing Mongrel, BamBam, and Marge of all people run in has me smiling for the first time in almost two hours. I know I’m safe with them charging in.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing in here? This is private property!” BamBam’s voice, full of authority, booms in the space below.
“Let me at him, or at least let me get in a few punches,” Marge says. Her voice is full of so much venom, I’m almost scared for Jasper.
The sound of a fist meeting flesh has my eyes widening as Jasper goes flying into the side of a stall where a horse is noisily stomping its hooves. “You touched her again,” BamBam barks out as he stalks toward Jasper.
“But it looks like she took her pound of flesh, BamBam,” Mongrel calls out, moving closer to Jasper, who is now looking up at the two men with fear in his eyes.
Good. It serves him right as far as I’m concerned. He doesn’t deserve to be called a man because if he was really one, he would’ve never touched someone who was smaller than him.
“Where is she, you bastard?” Marge seethes as she viciously kicks Jasper right in the groin.
“Fuck, that’s gonna leave a mark,” Mongrel sneers.
I bite back a snicker when I see his hand cover his own crotch. Somehow, most men react the same way as if they’re viscerally connected to every male on the planet. Even though my body aches from the few hits I took, the pain is pushed away as I watch the fearsome trio work Jasper over until he’s a blubbering, bleeding mess.
Once I’m sure he’s down for the count, I start moving to the ladder so I can let them put eyes on me and know I’m safe. By the time my feet touch the bottom rung, strong arms are wrapped around me, and I’m turned so I’m facing BamBam.
“Hey,” he says, looking down at me. I watch a frown mar his brow when he sees my split lip and the bruise that has my cheek tight and throbbing. “You did good, Livy, and I’m so fucking proud of you right now, if your lip wasn’t busted, I’d kiss the hell out of you.”
