Page 7 of Property of BamBam
“I wasn’t sure how big your baby was, but my daughters-in-law both have little boys a bit older than he seems to be, so they’re bringing over more clothes.”
The kindness exuding from both women, combined with the events of the past day… okay, the past two years if I’m being truthful… hit me and I burst into tears. Constance, not missing a beat, engulfs me in her arms, uttering nonsensical murmurings while holding me close, just like my mom would’ve done.Despite the pain that wracks my body, I don’t let go because the feeling of being comforted is more important in this moment.
Issy, who strikes me as an independent, strong woman, joins our small huddle and whispers, “You’re safe now, I promise. The Kings won’t let anything else happen to you.”
After Mongrel returned, the other two women left and I ate while BamBam fed Theo, who woke up from his nap. Sighing, I realize I’ll have to wait a little longer to take a shower and want to cry again. I’m so tired, both physically and mentally, that all I want to do is crawl into a bed that looks comfortable and inviting.
“Go ahead and take your shower, Pixie,” BamBam says. “I’ve got Theo. You need to get comfortable so you can get some pain meds in ya.”
My whole body aches, each contusion and mark I bear feeling as though it has its own pulse at this point, but it’s my left arm, which Doc had to set, that’s been steadily throbbing. I know so much of what’s to come remains unknown, but I decide to take things one step at a time.
The important thing is I’m no longer in danger of being beaten just for breathing. I know the inherent fear I’ve lived with for so long won’t magically disappear with the snap of my fingers overnight, especially since I’ve had to be so vigilant that Jasper didn’t hurt Theo, but for right now, the man who’s shown me nothing but kindness is caring for my son, so I take him up on his offer and head into the bathroom.
Okay, shampooing and conditioning my hair with one arm in a plastic covered cast is a complete and utter pain in the ass. Thankfully, while it was horrifically painful, taking care of washing my body is a lot easier. Still, it takes me a lot longer than normal and I can feel my anxiety creeping in.
“Come on, Livy, you’re taking too long,” I whisper, my voice shaking as I dry myself. I have my hair up in a towel to handle once I’m dressed then feel tears well up when I realize there’s no way I can put a bra on in my current condition.
Great. Just great. Maybe BamBam won’t notice, especially since I’m a lot skinnier than I used to be. With that in mind, I manage to get the pajama set on, then I brush out my hair and then my teeth. A small smile graces my lips when I see that Mongrel also got me ‘girly’ stuff like moisturizer, which tells me that some of those siblings are undoubtedly females. He even got some feminine hygiene items which suddenly has my heart almost thudding out of my chest.
“I didn’t tell Doc what happened,” I mumble, fear overwhelming me.
“Livy, you okay? Do you need help?” BamBam asks through the bathroom door.
I can’t tell him. I can’t tell anyone. But I need to tell Doc. No. I can’t tell him. I can’t tell anyone.
As the darkness looms, I must cry out or make a sound because suddenly, I’m cradled in strong, capable arms as I tremble with the implications. If any of them found out, they’d make me leave.
I’m broken.
I’m disgusting.
I’m nothing.
Nothing at all.
CHAPTER
FIVE
BamBam
She’s not saying a word and I don’t know what else to do besides hold her. All she’s done since I picked her up is shake. I did manage to shoot a text to Issy to ask if she could possibly reach out to the therapist she said she’d found that could help Livy begin the recovery process. Because it feels as though she’s unraveling right now, and I don’t know if it’s due to the fact that she’s safe or if it’s because she’s mentally reliving all of the abuse she endured throughout the cruel relationship with her ex.
“It’s gonna be okay, Pixie,” I murmur, trying to console her. “Issy did some research and found someone you can talk to. Someone that can help you process and move on.”
“Why?” she whispers. She sounds… defeated.
While my mother wasn’t an upstanding example of a nurturer at all, when my dad started working at the ranch, the women, Constance, Millie, and Maria took me in under their wing and mothered me, just like they did with Rio, Gage, and Issy. I sawwhat a good relationship should be, and also saw strong females who supported the men they loved.
“Because you have value and worth,” I reply, remembering some of the things Constance said to me as an impressionable young teen.
Mom didn’t beat me; she just wasn’t fully engaged. She went through the motions for the most part until she decided that a husband and kid were keeping her from living her best life. It broke something in my dad; he had a few long-term relationships, but he never married again, which was a fucking shame.
Dad was a man’s man; he was steeped in honor and integrity, and if he said he was going to do something, he followed through. It’s one of the reasons that Rio’s paps offered to let him prospect with the Kings. We skirt the letter of the law for the most part, but at the same time, our code is paramount.
My phone buzzes and I glance down to see that Dr. Elizabeth Harris will be coming to the clubhouse tomorrow morning at nine. Doc is on his way up to give Livy a sedative to calm her so she can rest. Because most of all, rest is what she needs. It won’t solve all her problems, but my dad always said things look brighter after a good night’s sleep.
Right now, I’m thankful that Issy and Constance found a recliner, because I’m currently ensconced in it with a baby sound asleep on my chest. Livy’s sleep is fitful, and she’s said a few things that have me wanting to get on my bike and find that fucker so I can put a bullet between his eyes.
