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It was my first breakfast with everyone in the family. I had to push myself, push myself into my previous comfort zone- one where I didn't flinch whenever someone waved to me. Ripper had been with me every step of the way- a strong shoulder, a helping hand, a listening ear and the most important and biggest, a heart with love only for me.

And I loved him back so, so much. When I grew to be able to touch him more, it ended up a constant need- the need for him just to be there. My strength when I needed it most, my love forever.

"You're not stained in my eyes Corin. You'll never be tainted in my eyes"

But now, I sat at the table, all my family around me. Ripper sat at my side, arm around my shoulders, Hugh sitting on the other side.

Dad had taken quite a beating- in his mind. Physically he was strong, able and angry- emotionally he was drained, all for the fear of losing his daughter he had just found. He had cried in my arms the first time I let him in, silent tears that fell down his cheeks as he caressed my face. His hand had shook, my bearish father no stronger than a feather.

"My little Corin. My little Corin"

He was my father, and he would never hurt me.

Seamus sat near me too, bright blue eyes constantly on me as he pushed food on my plate, fussing about incessantly. I knew I had hurt him by not letting him in, not until a while later anyway- but he took it in his stride, tried to understand and did everything that I wasn't there to do- often, more.

My beautiful, beautiful boy. He would never hurt me.

Deadeye sat across from me, face turned towards his plate as his hands gripped tightly around his fork. I knew, without a doubt, that he wanted to charge in there and get me, his own life be damned. And when I had come out, come out and hugged him tightly, I felt tears dampening my shirt as he gripped me. His old, weathered face had the softening of relief and I smiled as he looked away from me. We both knew he was very happy I was back.

Then there was Slater. My lovable, suggestive friend. He definitely cut out all of his R rated dialogue, and helped me feel good about myself. Kind of like the stereotypical gay best friend except he wasn't gay- just really good with words, fashion and....actually everything.

Bianca sat next to him. But we had already talked about her.

They all stared, waiting for me to eat and I sighed. "Just eat. I love you all, but right now, I want to stab your eyes out"

Bianca and Slater laughed, digging into their food. And just like that, the slight tension dissipated. And it was good- more than good- to be with my family again. I turned my gaze to Ripper, leaning into his hard chest.

"Love you"

He kissed me on the forehead. "I love you more"

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All of the club sat in my father's lounge. They were still all big and leathered up, but gave me space to breathe. Women I didn't know came up to me, most just holding my hands with sad eyes.

One woman, with tawny curls and big eyes, gave me her number. "I've been through it too. and sometimes, you'll need someone like you to talk to"

I placed her number safely in my pocket. Ripper sat next to me as always, Seamus flanking my other side. Hugh stood at the forefront of the room, shrugging on his patched jacket.

"Today, we have a decision to make."

Everyone quieted down, watching my father with an anger on behalf of me.

But, my anger was there. It had lain below my anguish, silently waiting for the time where it could come out and grow, tired of festering lowly. My anger had grown, it was a ripe fury that flamed through me, indignance at their audacity to beat and rape me.

They deserved no mercy. They deserved no joy. They only deserved hatred and wrath.

My fists clenched, hand tightening around Ripper's.

Dad jerked his head, Hammer walking in with a woman being dragged by her hair. For the first time in a long time, I saw how furious Hammer was. When we had met, he had been so regretful, sorrowful and blamed everything on himself.

In some aspects, he was to blame. But in others- Lacey was the only person who was at real fault. The bitch had planned my kidnapping, planned my abuse and ultimately, planned my death.

A conniving, manipulative whore that should have been a cum stain instead of a stain in humanity.

And this time, I didn't want balance. No- I wanted revenge, with so much more stacked up on it, she would be broken from this life to the next.

Lacey's clothes were ripped and dirty, hair knotted and tangled around her head as Hammer threw her on the ground in front of us. And a surge of disgust went through me so strongly, I had the urge to puke and kick her in the face.

She pushed her hair back, wiping her bloody mouth and looking around. Her crazed eyes found Seamus, a smile cracking on her face.

"Son, it's me, your mama. Help your mama out, get these bad people away from me" Her voice was hoarse, and I stiffened.

Seamus clenched his jaw. "You mean nothing to me. You hurt my real mother- and I should kill you for what you did to her"

His words warmed me more than any fire could and I smiled at him. I was his family. Lacey's lips pulled back in a snarl, knowing whole heartedly that she had lost. A sliver of fear crept into her bloody face, widening her eyes and tightening her mouth.

I stood, willing my body not to shake.

I was strong, worthy and real fucking angry. Her mouth fell slack and she scrambled back, fear now clear on her face. I stalked forward, following every movement she made like a lion with a deer, knowing the kill was only seconds away.

"Do you want to know something?" I murmured, loud enough for her to hear. Lacey stayed still, until I pulled my booted foot back and kicked her, hard, in the ribs, enough force to wind a grown man. She spat blood onto the floor, moaning. It was a pretty sight.

"I said, do you want to know something?"

She nodded immediately.

I crouched down, flexing my fingers and cracking my knuckles. "I was raped in every crevice of my body, beaten brutally until my skull bled, locked naked in a room- all countless times. And do you know what I realized?"

There was a tense silence. She stared up at me. So did everyone else.

"I can live through anything." I crept closer, until I was nose to nose with her horrible, slutty face. "But can you?"

It would be my pleasure to find out. I jerked my head at Hammer, who came forward and grabbed her, dragging her out of the room as I followed, listening to her loud cries for mercy.

There was none to be given.

Hammer threw her in the back of his car, starting the long drive out to a farmyard they owned. We all followed, every member on a bike. We followed Hammer, the night dark and cloaking our movements- the police wouldn't interfere either way, MC's ruled this town.

We came to the dry grass plain, a small warehouse deep in the land, with a ring of dead earth in front of the steel doors. The motorbikes all drove in and parked in a circle, headlights blaring. I jumped off the back of Ripper's bike, slipping my hand into his when he stood up. He kissed me on the head then leaned down.

"Be safe."

My man of few words. I nodded and pulled his head to mine, covering his mouth with my own and showing him just how much his words meant to me. We drew out the kiss, my tongue licking across his lower lip as I pulled back. "I will."

Lacey was thrown into the middle of the ring, and as I walked closer, dark stains were stark against the dead ground. Loads and loads of blood, dried and crusting the earth.

Lacey was standing, hair matted in front of her wild face, fists clenched at her side. There was still a fire in her eyes, an anger at me and at everyone who had brought her there.

"I'm not going to die tonight bitch. You've taken everyone from me, and I want them back" She spat at my feet, blood spattering over my boots.

I shrugged a shoulder, taking off my jacket and throwing it to Ripper. "I know you're not going to die tonight. You're not going to die until I let you."

Hugh stood at the sidelines, hands behind his back. He was afraid for me, that much was clear, but the time for being afraid was not now.

I clicked my knuckles and gave her a grin. "You fucked with the wrong bitch, gutterslut"

My fist snapped out, full of force and right on target- to the middle of her ugly as fuck face. How could someone so ugly have an angel for a son?

She cried out, blood spurting out of her nose, and I darted forward, grabbing the nape of her neck and pulling it down, flashing my knee up and catching her fully in the face, a crack sounding. I threw her to the ground, jumping back and bouncing lightly on my feet.

I was just getting started.

Men jeered around me, fueling the bloodlust running through my veins. She deserved pain, she deserved hurt.

And for the whole night, until dawn broke the night, I broke every single bone in her body.

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