Chapter 1

Luce

 

The sun was dipping behind the trees as I found myself sitting on the rock ledge again.  It had been such a long winter and I was so looking forward to Sheri coming home once school was over, but she called earlier in the evening to explain how, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, she was planning on staying in California a little longer.  It seemed there were some classes she wanted to get out of the way so she could graduate early and it was then I lost my temper. 

My insides were shivering as I pulled the jacket collar around my neck in a vain attempt to keep out the chill.  Suddenly I was feeling guilty about all the horrible things I said to her earlier, but it wasn’t entirely my fault.  Sheri knew I didn’t care to be around people, but she continued trying to get me to show up and find a place close to her.  Her father knew about us and offered to help her find me a place that would accept dogs, but I couldn’t leave home.  Why I couldn’t leave home wasn’t exactly clear, but I was being firm about it.  We had the same fucking argument almost every time she called, but she wouldn’t drop it.

I sat on the ledge wondering why I was being so stubborn about the whole situation and for the life of me the only reason to enter my mind was fear.  What was I afraid of though?  That it would be too much, or too many people and what about her social life?  Would I need to start getting used to being around people?  I wasn’t sure I could get into that and I told her all of those things, but she insisted it was time to let go of the past and start fresh.  I moved right on to remind her of all the work she recently put into redecorating the house and she started getting a little rude as she insisted she wasn’t suggesting I get rid of the place, but she thought I missed her. 

That was probably the dumbest fucking thing she could have said and I stupidly told her exactly that in those words.  Every time we spoke on the phone I went on about how much I missed her, but I was a recluse and she knew that before she ever came up with her phony car breakdown. 

It was confusing for me to understand exactly why she insisted on trying to change me, unless it was just a typical woman thing.  I seemed to recall my dad bitching about my mom doing that and how she was always trying to make him be something other than what he was. 

That was when it hit me how I was beginning to live by the logic of a crazy man.  Was I really afraid of being hurt by people or was I only afraid of having a life.  I loved Sheri more than anything and she was good for me, but she left too soon for it to take hold, allowing me to sink back into the life I was used to living. 

The entire situation was completely ridiculous and I truly regretted smashing the cell phone against the wall since it left me unable to call back and shout out how I loved her more than anything else in the world.  I wanted to be with Sheri, touching her again and feeling the softness of her skin against mine.  I wanted to hear her gentle sigh when I wrapped my arms around her and she would tenderly trace the dragon heads tattooed on my arms.  In a flash I made the decision to board my dogs and catch the first flight I could get on the following day.

Chapter 2

 

Standing from the perch to wipe snow off my ass, I heard a muffled roar of engines growing closer and froze dead still in my movements.  What kind of morons would be driving down this road on motorcycles when the slush was completely frozen by then?  It made me wonder if I really want to be face-to-face with said morons.  Unable to move, I watched as the lights sliced through the trees to blind me and instinctively forced an arm up to shield my eyes.  I was trying to see how many of them were pulling into the parking area, but the headlights all seemed to bleed together.  The bikes were obviously Harleys and it sounded as though there were quite a few parking close to my car.  When I could hear all the female voices, it actually sent a jolt of fear through me to completely extinguish the chill.

Now I’m not generally an asshole or a sexist, but if there’s one thing I do know it’s how women can be 10 times worse than any man if the feeling moves them and the women by my car were definitely trying to impress one another as they discussed trashing it.  I don’t generally think of myself as an idiot either, but what I did next clearly showed a lack of intelligence.

Making my way through the woods, I was suddenly face-to-face with at least 15 women who scared the living shit out of me.  Twelve of them looked as though they wouldn’t mind eating me alive, and not in a good way.  They weren’t bad looking women as a whole and the scent of leather in the air was oddly enticing, but the redhead sauntering towards me seemed to be the one in charge and, clearly, the most menacing.

“Well, well, what have we here?”  The redhead asked.

There was something strangely familiar about the woman as she approached me and somehow I knew it had to be Sheri’s cousin, Liz.  I knew how much Sheri disliked her, but it seemed in my best interest to be nice to the redhead sporting the intimidating grin.

“I’m sorry.  I didn’t know anyone else came down here.  I can be out of your way in a flash,” I offered.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to get away from us,” she pouted, walking up to me.

“That’s what I see too Liz,” a dark-haired girl agreed, walking over to put her elbow on Liz’s shoulder.

“Really I wasn’t, I’ve just been out here for a while and was getting a little chilled,” I argued.

“Maybe you could at least introduce yourself before you run out on us,” Liz insisted.

Standing there I debated making up a name, but it seemed in my nature to initially do the wrong thing, always assuming there would be a chance to change the outcome.  I was about to experience one of those harsher realities of life my father would mention from time-to-time and it really irked me for some inane reason.

“Lu Yates,” I announced and offered my hand.

“What did you say?”  Liz asked, her arms dropping at her side.

“Lu Yates,” I repeated.

“Lu, as in Luce?”  She questioned.

“Uhm, yeah.  How’d you know?”  I returned.

“Ha!”  She almost shouted before laughing maniacally.  “You’ve just been handed right to me and I don’t plan on ignoring a sign like that.”

“Signs for what?”  I wondered and looked around nervously as leather-clad women created a circle around me.  “I don’t think I understand.”

“The minute you stepped into the picture, my cousin turned her back on our family!”  She shouted.

“But she’s with her dad right now,” I protested.

“The other side of her family you stupid bitch!”  Liz continued shouting.

“She left me too you know!”  I yelled back.

That was the last thing I remembered until I woke up tied to a bed with a gag in my mouth and one of the worst headaches I think I’ve ever had.  Note to self; never shout at an irate redhead unless she adores you.  I was truly hoping I’d live long enough to use that reminder in the future.