Read Raine Falling (Hells Saints Motorcycle Club) for Free Online

days later that Diego realized he had forgotten to tell Raine that she could consider all debts to the Hells Saints MC paid in full. And by then it was too late.

CHAPTER 9
    I woke up alone with a fuzzy head and too many aches and pains to count. I ran the shower, and stiffened when the hard sprays of water hit my skin. I noticed the beginnings of several more deep blue bruises where that bastard Gino had pummeled me. I wondered again if I had to worry about the junkie and the bastard tag-teaming me one night in some dark parking lot. Then decided I was too fucking tired of it all to care.
    I got out of the shower and wiped the steam from the mirror to peruse the damage. I looked at the inside of my mouth first because I was still worried about loose teeth. Blushing, I said to myself, Don’t think about him. Diego had too much of an effect on me to be safe.
    This time my nose was okay, but there was a swollen purple bruise under my left eye. I had streaks of red running through the whites of that same eye where several blood vessels must have broken. My bottom lip was swollen and keeping with the color of the day, it was blood red. There was a big patch of blue sitting like a soft plum on my chin. I had a deep gash on my hairline where the ring he was wearing caught me on that second slap. But all in all I was okay. Not bad. I had seen worse. And thanks to Gino, I had seen worse on me.
    After the shower, I made my way slowly to the kitchen. I needed coffee. I was still shaky. The first time around I spilled the grounds all over the counter. I got all weepy again. So I figured what the hell and decided to give way to a full-fledged pity party. I figured I had earned it. Instead of making my bed or doing the laundry or engaging in the other millions of household things that needed doing, I headed to the garden.
    Teary eyed, I eased myself into the deep Adirondack chair. I let the wind dry my hair and the sun shine on my face. It took a couple of hours, but I was able to calm myself. Finally, finally I began to lose that numbing sick feeling. I reached into my pocket and found the silver harmonica that was never far from my side. I played a long mournful tune.
    My thoughts wrapped around me like they always did when I played my harp. They took me back to a time when everything that was wrong had turned out right. At least for a while.

CHAPTER 10
    I was sitting on the dirty floor of our living room trying to untangle Claire’s hair. It was early evening, and our father hadn’t been home in two days. I heard a loud bang as someone came busting through our back door.
    I looked up to see Prosper walking quickly through the house, stopping only when his eyes fell on us. He ran to me and wrapped his big hands around my face. He stood me up and turned me around twice, looking me over. I watched as he did the same to Claire. He nodded at us and gave me a look that was trying to be a smile. Then he turned, taking to the stairs three at a time. We heard banging and doors slamming. He was back again and holding our two little backpacks overflowing with clothes. Prosper bent down close and folded both of us in his big, strong arms. Without even bothering to close the door behind us, he took my baby sister and me out of there.
    We rode in that van for a long time. He drove and drove and all that time he never said a word. I held Claire’s little hand tightly in mine, but really, we were not afraid. Dusk had turned into night when we finally turned off the highway onto a dirt road. Claire had fallen into a deep sleep. I shifted her to lie on my lap, the warmth of her little body comforting me. At the end of the road stood a big, rustic cabin with lights shining brightly from every window. The door slammed behind Pinky, and she was in the driveway even before Prosper came to a complete stop. She fell on him the minute he was out of the van. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but whatever it was calmed her. Then I watched as they both