Page 43 of Born to Scar

Kia shakes his head. “She’s fucking terrified.”

Ray forces his way through and crouches to her level. When the fuck did he get here?

“Indy, you are safe here. You have always been safe here. We will never let him hurt you again. You know that.”

She sobs harder, breaking my heart all over again. I thought the Sunday she ripped my heart out was the worst part of this. She’s killing me here.

“Ray, I can’t.”

“I know, kiddo. I know. He’s gone. He will never hurt you again. We promised you. Do you remember? We promised you,” he soothes her, patting her hair.

Lainy and Kia are completely clueless about the terror that man has put her through. But how does Ray know? Why does he know? There are so many questions with no answers right now.

“How the fuck did he find her?” Cam roars, echoing my own feelings around the room.

She is shivering uncontrollably when I take her from Kia’s arms. She melds into my chest.

“Jay…why?” she whispers so softly that no one else can hear her.

“I don’t know yet, sweet girl,” I whisper back. She shivers violently against me. “You’re safe right now, Indy. You’re safe with me.”

“What the fuck is this?” Kia asks in a voice I’ve never heard from him before. Panic. He’s worried about her. The three of us who know sigh in unison.

“That is her father,” I answer gently, bringing Indy closer to me. Kia’s eyes dart between Cam and me, looking for more. But it’s Ray who answers.

“He’s a fucking pig.” He shakes his head. “That’s her joke. It works most of the time. He’s a…”

“Waste of fucking space,” Cam says flatly.

Her joke doesn’t work on me. It’s dark. I’m all for dark humor, which she has plenty of. But not that. Not when he’s done unimaginable things to her. Things that should have him in jail. Or better yet, dead.

“Guys, I’m still here.” She’s still trembling against me, but it’s fading.

“Yeah, you are, sweet girl. You’re right here,” I murmur on top of her head. “We’re going to keep you safe.”

She trembles violently again and shakes her head. “I’ll never be safe from him.”

Her chest is heavy on mine. Her entire body weight rests on me, like she has no energy for herself, nothing left to give. How could she? He’s terrorized her long enough. Now he’s back.

“Indy, you have more than Bik and Ray now. Cam and I will keep you safe, too.”

“And Kia and me too, Indy,” Lainy adds. “We won’t let anything happen either.”

“Neither will anyone in the club.” Mik’s voice comes from the shadows. “Indy.” The single word rings through the silence.

They make eye contact and have a silent conversation. She squeezes her eyes closed and nods.

“He won’t hurt you again,” Mik reiterates. My eyes and Cam’s snap to his. He can’t possibly know, too. He shrugs. “Guys, I love her too.” We fucking know that. “I’ve known for years. When my best friend is distressed, I feel it.”

I’m more interested in what that silent conversation was. I wrap her tighter in my arms, kissing her temple.

“What was that with Mik?” I whisper. She shakes her head. “You two are much closer than I thought.”

“He’s lived with me for over three years, Jay. He knows me better than anyone.”

“Really?”

She nods again. I didn’t know he’d been staying with her for so long.