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We did not know… norance

I felt an infuriating tidal wave of anger at how I had been living my whole life It all felt like such a waste Twenty-three years of living a lie Living under strict rules and stern men

It alht me to tears

My life over the last month, however, had been so different At commune, my days were hard and mundane, but I suppose I had purpose: to serve the brothers in any way they saw fit At the clubhouse of the Hanghts were spent locked in Rider’s roo from the world on the other side of the door—no purpose

Only at certain times was I permitted to leave the room—omen were allowed to be at the cohts In the two short trips I had lued to one on the long run with Styx, but a few remained to protect the compound The men I saw used women in indescribable ways, the woh on opiates… on show for all to see One woe in explicit sexual acts with the other girls in the center of the room Before I could react, Rider appeared as if fro them away, just a sieh to usher me back to the safety of his bedroom

Rider visited often, checking e Sometimes he would disappear for short periods of ti they called “handling business” I got the feeling there wastheir bikes somewhere, but I knew from the club rules, explained to me by Rider, that women “don’t ask no questions”

Rider and I had become close He was always kind to me and I never saw him with the loose women,in this roo me about the world outside I thanked the Lord every day that he had been given the task of caring for one, and not one of the other brothers

A knock sounded at the door, pullingthe Bible, I jumped up in exciteet sos from the store for me to try

Racing to the door, I pulled it open, s wide in excitement, but I faltered at as beforein my chest

Styx

Styx was back… leaning against the doorfraht When clearly sensing aze His nostrils flared and his tongue licked along his bottom lip as his eyes drifted over my body