Woods (Aces MC Series Book 5) (6 page)

Lauren

It had been a long day, I moved my head from side to side
trying to loosen it after sitting in lectures all afternoon. I glanced at my
watch to see that I still had time to pop to my locker before heading for the
bus, I needed to off load some of my books that I didn't need this evening. Walking
down the corridor, I felt a little uneasy and decided to quicken my steps.
School finished half an hour ago so there weren't many people around but it had
never posed a problem before. I tried to shake the feeling telling myself that
I was being stupid but since that incident, I was struggling with being on my
own unless I was at home.
I reached my locker and used my key to open the door, stuck inside was a
photograph of my mum, dad, Mark and myself on a family holiday at CenterParcs,
which made me think of happier times. I traced my finger over my parent's faces
and smiled.
I was startled by someone clearing their throat and closed my locker door to
see Aiden standing beside me. I dropped my bag and stepped back slowly trying
to put some distance between us. My chest rose and fell quickly as I felt the
panic build inside me, I franticly looked up and down the corridor but I knew
there was no one around to save me.
"Where you going babe?" Aiden followed me across the corridor and
pushed me into the lockers aligning the other wall. He pushed his body up
against me hard and smiled as he brought his face close to mine. Aiden opened
his mouth and stuck out his tongue, I couldn't move my body but managed to turn
my head in time so that his tongue touched my cheek rather than my mouth. He
licked my skin making groaning sounds in the process. "Don't play coy with
me babe, there's nothing you have that I haven't seen already."
Aiden gyrated his hips pushing his cock back and forth so I could feel it
through our clothes, "I bet I'm making you wet babe, I bet if I had a
little play inside your panties I'd feel your arousal." He moved his hand
up my outer thigh over my hips until his hand was resting on the waistband of
my jeans. During his excitement, he dropped his guard and I was able to get my
leg between his thighs. He moved his body as he tried to get his hand inside my
jeans and I took this opportunity to bring my knee up hard to make contact with
his testicles. He squealed like a bitch and I managed to push him giving me the
room to free myself. I grabbed my bag from the floor and sprinted down the
corridor moving as quickly as I could in order to get away. As I ran, I took my
phone from my pocket and called the one person that I thought could help me.

"Hi babe."
"Ramsey I need you are you able to pick me up."
I heard his hesitation, "What's up babe?"
"I...shit..." I was breathless as I navigated through the corridors
towards the exit.
"Are you running?"
"Yeah."
"Who you running from?" he raised his voice and I could hear how
concerned he was.
"It doesn't matter," I'd managed to exit the building and ran across
the road to hide behind the bus stop. My chest was still heaving from the
exertion but I tried to calm so I could carry on the conversation.
"Yes it does, you obviously called for a reason. Right, I'm on a job but
Cade can come get you. Where are you exactly?"
"I'm behind the bus stop outside my school," I whispered.
"Right you're scaring me Lauren, are you in any immediate danger coz if so
I'm calling Woods."
"No I think I'm ok, can you just get your mate here quickly." I
looked around scanning the street making sure that I hadn't been followed.
"He's not far from you so he'll be there soon. Now stay where you are,
he's driving the same van as I usually do. Can you remember what it looks
like?"
I glanced around my surroundings, "Yeah I can."
"Good, well don't go getting in anyone else's vehicle."
I sniggered, "I'm not a child." I whispered again.
"Far from, I'm just worried about you." Again I could hear his
concern but also frustration that he wasn't able to help me.
"Thank you but I...Shit!"
"Lauren what's up?"
"Hold on," I watched as Aiden left the building cradling his dick
from where I had kneed him.
"Lauren, what's going on?" I had taken the phone away from my ear and
could hear Ramsey shouting down the phone.
"He's gone, it's okay he's gone." I felt relief as I watched Aiden
walk further down the street in the opposite direction.
"Who's gone babe? Who the fuck are you talking about?" Ramsey
continued to shout but I knew it was out of frustration.
I let out a sigh of relief, "It doesn't matter now you can cancel your
friend."
"No fucking way, you stay on this mother fucking phone until Cade arrives,
have you got me?"
I rolled my eyes, "Yes I understand loud and clear."
"Are you going to tell me what went on?"
"You know I'm not." I couldn't tell him what had happened in the
corridor because I would then have to inform him about the night of the party
which I wasn't doing.
"Did it have anything to do with the other night?" Ramsey knew I
wouldn't be forth coming with information so he was doing his best to extract
information from me.
"Can we please just leave it? Some things are best left unsaid."
"Okay but you're gonna have to learn that you can't bottle everything up.
Sometimes it's good to vent and let everything out."
"And sometimes it's good to contemplate your own thoughts and deal with
them accordingly." I shouted aggressively.
Ramsey sniggered, "Fire sign by any chance?"
"Leo," I said abruptly.
"How did I guess?" I could hear the humour in his voice and knew that
he was trying to lighten the situation.
 "It's just hard for me to share," I said quietly.
"Everything needs to be in moderation Lauren."
I now felt like he was telling me off, "Have you finished yet?"
"Have you even listened to a word I've said?"
"Maybe." We both laughed at our exchange of words. I enjoyed our
banter he had a way of pushing me that no one had ever been able to before.
"Oh I think this may be your friend, blonde, good looking?"
Ramsey chuckled, "Well I wouldn't say he's good looking."
"Are you Lauren?"
"Yeah, one minute and I'll be with you." I returned my attention back
to Ramsey, "Right my rides here, thank you for sorting that out for
me."
"Not a problem babe, just pleased I could help."
"Again!" I hated the fact that I needed help but if I were to ask
anybody, I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather ask than him.
"However long you need me."
I blushed and appreciated that he couldn't see me, "Thank you, bye."
"I'll be in touch."

I ended the call and placed my phone into my pocket and
walked to the van, "Sorry about that I was on the phone to Ramsey."
"Not a problem he messaged and explained that you needed a lift, get in
and I'll take you home."
"Thank you," I was appreciative of the swift action in getting to me
so quickly.
"Is there any bother you need me to sort out first?" Cade glanced through
the windows looking for anyone that may need sorting out.
"No, the problem has now gone." I stated relieved that I wouldn't
need to explain.
He nodded, "Okay as long as you're sure."
"Yeah it's fine thank you."
I turned my head to gaze out of the window as he drove from the school.
Although Cade seemed like a great guy, I wasn't in the mood for idle chit chat
and wanted to be deep in my own thoughts rather than somebody else's.
I listened to the radio as we made the short journey across town, perfect
strangers was playing by Jonas Blue making me think of Ramsey. He was a
pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air among the chaos I was currently
living within and the words of the song ran true which made me smile.
"Do you mind if I don't talk," I asked Cade in a way of explaining
that I wasn't up for making conversation for the sake of it.
He sniggered, "That's fine with me babe, I ain't the chatty type
anyway."
"Thank you." It made the rest of the journey in the confines of the
van more bearable now that I'd cleared the air.
Before long Cade pulled up outside my house, "Thanks for the ride, I
really appreciate it."
"You're welcome babe but if you encounter anymore trouble just give one of
us a call."
I smiled and opened the door to slither from the seat, it had been another
eventful day but I was now pleased that I was home.

I opened the door, Doris lifted her head to see who was
entering and then settled back down in her basket. She wouldn't do much if I
were a burglar anyway, she'd probably lick them to death. I was still feeling a
little shaky after today's events, I wanted to be in the sanctuary of my own room,
which had quickly become my haven.
I eagerly made my way upstairs and entered the room as I did I breathed in the
familiar smell making me feel a little safer. I striped from my clothes and
immediately reached for my comfortable pyjamas, I wasn't going out this evening
so it didn't matter what I was wearing. I was consumed in my own thoughts that
I didn't hear the door open, I just saw the reflection in the window and turned
grabbing my jewellery box in the process and threw it towards the doorway.
"What the fuck?"
"Get out," I screamed not recognising my own voice as I picked up my
hairdryer and threw it at him also.
"Lauren what the fuck's going on?" I burst into tears and collapsed
on the floor retching letting everything come out.
"Come here babe," Mark made his way across my bedroom and sat beside
me, wrapping me in his arms to hold me close. His smell was powerful, his smell
was safe like my bedroom. I knew that if Mark was around no one else could hurt
me and I allowed myself to totally relax in his arms and cry like I'd never
cried before. The snot dripped from my nose and my tears joined the stream but
he didn't care, he cradled me in his arms like he had done since I was a baby.
Mark smoothed my hair and pushed it from my face in a caring motion that only a
big brother could do. We sat in comfortable silence and my heavy breathing was
the only thing that could now be heard.
"You okay babe?" he asked still soothing my head. I simply nodded, I
wasn't ready to talk. "I spoke to James about this recently, he said it's
perfectly natural. Grief can come out years later in a number of different
ways. You just have to remember that I'm always here should you need to talk. I
miss them every day the same as you and we need to be supportive of each other
forever in order to get through this."
Mark thought I was crying over the loss of our parents but I allowed him to think
that because it was just easier. It also meant that if I were quiet or just
wanted time alone, I could do so without too many questions being asked.
"I've been asked to go away again by the club babe but if you need me here
you only need to say and I'm sure Duke will understand." He looked at me
with so much love.
I managed a small smile, "I'm fine Mark I'm just being silly. You scared
me and I just reacted to the situation and let emotions get the better of me.
I've got so many people to look out for me while you're away and I'll be busy
studying for my exams anyway."
"Only if you're sure." I could see that he was stuck between a rock
and a hard place but I also enjoyed having space and didn't want him fussing
around me.
"I'm sure," I wiggled from his embrace and leaned on the bed to help
me stand. Mark continued to sit on the floor, he pulled his knees up and hugged
them close to his chest.
"Despite everything, I just want you to know that I've tried my
best." His statement took me by surprise, I'd never questioned anything
regarding Mark's commitment. "It hasn't been easy. I lived on my own for a
long time, doing my own thing before you came to live with me and then all of a
sudden I was responsible for another person. Now don't get me wrong, I've absolutely
loved having you here and because of you I've had to sort my act out which is a
good thing but what I'm trying to say and I know I'm making a complete hash of
it, is that we're both hurting but we're stronger together."
"Come here you big softy," I held out my hands for him to take and
helped pull him up from the floor. Wrapping my arms around his middle I held
him tight and squeezed, "I love you to the moon and back, you know that
right?" I felt movement but I couldn't see his reaction from where my head
was positioned. I squeezed him again, "I can't hear you!"
He sniggered, "Yes I know that you love me."
"Well good because I do and I can't fault anything that you've done for me
over the years. So stop being so soft, you're supposed to be a big burly biker
for god's sake."
It was his turn to now squeeze me, "Cheeky bitch." His phone bleeped
and he loosened his arms to read the text. He sighed, "I've gotta get
going babe you know the rules."
"I know the rules, now go I've got studying to do."
Mark placed a kiss on the top of my head and smiled as he slowly left the room.
I removed my shoes and fell onto the bed letting my body sink into the mattress
as thoughts of today ran through my mind. I hadn't contemplated bumping into
Aiden at school but I would now need to be more careful through fear of another
attack as I didn't think I'd be able to be as strong as I first thought.

Woods

"Are you sure this is the place?" I sneered as we
walked further into the bar.
"This is the address I was given," Recon sniggered. "You're such
a snob, you worried you'll get your boots dirty."
Fucking boots dirty, we'd need fumigating when we left this shit hole I thought
to myself as I took in my surroundings including the clientele.
"Hi babe, can I have two bottles of Becks when you're ready." The
barmaid smiled uncomfortably and I caught her eye veer to the booth at the back
of the bar near the toilets.
I waited for her to get our drinks and turned to Recon, "What's going on
at the back?"
Recon glanced over my shoulder, "It looks like a bloke wearing a cut but I
can't quite see from here."
I nodded my head, we'd have to investigate because this was our territory and
we couldn't have a patched member from a rival club on our turf.
The barmaid placed our drinks on the bar, "£6.60 when you're ready."
"While you're here love, can you tell me what you know about Amber?"
Recon held up the most recent photograph we had of her.
She took a look and shrugged, "Sorry I can't help you there, never seen
her before in my life."
"So how long you worked here then?" I asked knowing that Amber was
doing the odd shift here and rented a room off the owner of this bar up until a
month before her death.
"I've been here around four years," she stated coldly not wanting to
talk to us. "Is that all?"
She was brave I'd give her that, "Yeah that's all for now!" I watched
as she walked further down the bar and sat at a stool to flick through her
magazine.
"What's she hiding?"
Recon shook his head, "I don't know yet."
"So what's the plan of action?" I asked glancing around the bar.
"I think we should hang around for a while and see what crops up." I
caught him staring at a group of women who were giggling and looking over our way.
"I'm just gonna take a piss," I stood groaning as my boots touched
the sticky floor and made my way to the back of the bar. I glanced at the group
in the furthest booth to see a young lad wearing another clubs colours. I
groaned knowing that I'd have to say something, I just wanted to ask a few
questions regarding Amber and get on my way but it was looking that my evening
was going to be more eventful.