Page 27 of Ivy’s Poison

Beth’s arm, which was around my waist for balance, tightened in fear. “Run.”

Leaving her behind to save myself was never going to happen. Instead, I pulled her into a nearby pantry in the corner of the kitchen. Before closing the folding door, I gestured to the rear door that led outside. “Mandy, run.”

After sitting Beth’s weak body on the floor, I quickly peeked through a slit between the wooden levels, hoping Mandy made it out. I think fear had her frozen in place. She hadn’t moved one bit! I whispered, “Baby, go!” I watched as Mandy jolted then turned to the rear door and took a step toward her escape, but it was too little too late.

The swinging door practically flew off the hinges when Dad stormed through, naked and erect. “Finally! I was starting to believe all my whores had split.” He pointed to the large professional metal tables beside her. “Take your clothes off and get up there.”

Do what he says. Do what he says.

Her hand was shaking terribly as she touched it. “Stain, please—”

I covered my mouth to muffle my gasp. Mandy was younger and not wise enough to keep her mouth shut. The lion had found her. It was time to crawl into his den and try to survive it.

Mandy never got to finish her plea. Dad was on her so fast it was a blur. Violently, he ripped the clothes off her body. Her now naked skin was already showing red blotches from the harsh stripping. Then, like the madman he was, Dad grabbed one armpit and one inner thigh, lifted her over his head, then slammed poor Mandy down on top of the table. It looked as if Mandy was still trying to clear stars from her dazed eyes as Dad climbed on top of her.

No warning. Nothing before he slammed his erection into her terrified body.

Instead of remaining silent, what all the other girls knew to do, Mandy wailed out in agony. I didn’t blame her, but I knew it would be the last sound she was to ever make.

In a blind rage, Stain put both his hands around her neck and started strangling while madly fucking her. Mandy struggled and fought for as long as she could before dying on that horrendous day. As she exited the world, my father, the man who should’ve been the prime example of what I should want to marry someday, was anything but. And he roared pleasure as he came inside the lifeless body he had just murdered.

* * *

Due to the remains, exiting the pantry was so unnerving that Beth and I silently sobbed. Dad was gone, but Mandy’s arm hung over the side of the table, her eyes vacantly staring at the ceiling. No movement came from her, nor would it come. The young girl who thought the biker world would be exciting, barely even had time to understand just how wrong she was.

There are good clubs. There are bad gangs.

We were of the horrid.

She didn’t stand a chance.

Beth was still leaning on me, each of us holding a bag of ice, as we limped down the hallway to our room. Once Trent was murdered, Dad let us keep the room we had all shared. My room had been given away after Trent claimed me.

We both jerked when we heard Jade happily babbling as if talking with someone. She pushed me from her. “Go!” I wouldn’t leave Beth on her own to save myself, but I sure as hell would leave anyone behind for my daughter.

Our locked bedroom door was open, and Jade was not in her crib. Meth was holding her. He accusingly asked, “Where the hell have you been? She was crying.”

As awful as Meth could be at times, he never hurt us in front of Jade. He loved her. That’s why he was the only person allowed to babysit her, besides Beth and me, and the only other person to have a key to our room for instances like this.

Jade now appeared happy as could be, smiling and playing with Meth’s beard. After setting the bag of ice on our dresser, I reached for her. Jade squealed and leaned for me. Holding her tightly, inhaling her sweet scent and thankful she was okay, I replied, “Dad killed Mandy in the kitchen. We need a clean-up.”

He kissed Jade’s cheek before walking toward the bedroom door. “I’ll get a prospect on it.” He sidestepped Beth. “Damn, girl. You look like shit.” She flicked him off. Meth chuckled at her then pointed to me. “Don’t you flake on our arrangement.”

I exhaled through a nod before he left.

Beth, slowly entering the bedroom, asked, “What was that about?”

I laid Jade on the bed to change her diaper. “Same ol’ bullshit. Another consequence of having a pussy instead of a dick.”

Hissing, she awkwardly plopped down into the rocking chair off in the corner of the room. “If I had a dick, I’d stick it to all these jerks in the ass.”

Removing Jade’s soiled diaper, I laughed, “And dirty it up like that?”

She groaned and grabbed her side through laughter. “Oh, that hurts like hell.”

With a fresh diaper, I picked up Jade and set her on the floor. She awkwardly stumbled around while I shut the door. The room was lit nicely from the sun. “Can you believe all the shit that happened today and it is only noon?”

Beth smiled, whether it hurt or not, at Jade slapping her knee for attention. “I’d say it can only get better from here,” her busted smile faded, “but we both know that’s a damn lie.” She moved the bag of ice from her ribs to her lip.