Thanks to everyone who has left comments on the site or dropped me an email with comments. I am trying to write more chapters quickly but I unfortunately do not have heaps of time to do it.
The following chapter flowed from my fingers to the keyboard fairly easily and there is more on the way.
I notice that Ren has become a favourite of a lot of readers, and I must admit he is a character I find easy to write.
So for all the Ren fans out there I have an off shoot story of Ren almost finished and nearly ready to post so watch out for "Ren : Shades of grey" and I hope you get as much pleasure reading it as I have gotten writing the story for this hunk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sky sat huddled in the corner of the shed where the bikes were kept, dimly she heard voices raised in anger outside but she didn't move from where she sat clutching her knees against her chest, her torn shirt pulled closed across her body.
She was no longer in the shed, she had retreated to a happier time in her mind, a time when no one forced her to have sex with them, before she had been forced into submission and found herself at the mercy of a man who did not know the meaning of the word. In her mind Sky was back with her family, surrounded by their love and support.
* * * * *
Ren paused just inside the door of the shed as he let his eyes adjust to the gloom of the interior, he walked forward slowly as he looked around for Sky afraid of what he would find. He found the scattered cans of beer and the scuffmarks left where Sky had fought against Wilson, Ren walked following the trail in the dirt of where Sky had tried to crawl away. When he recognised the first drops of spattered blood his stomach lurched sickenly but he forced his steps onwards. At last he saw the small form huddled in the corner and approached her slowly.
"We're here now Sky, Wilson can't hurt you any more." Ren said softly.
It wasn't until he squatted beside her and gently turned her face towards his that he saw the damage caused by Wilson's fists. One eye was nearly swollen shut, the cheek beneath it already showing a bruise, her bottom lip split at one corner as well as in the middle and badly swollen.
"Come on Blondie." Ren said gently when he realised her eyes were dazed and vacant.
"Where's Hawk?" Ren demanded angrily over his shoulder.
"He's outside arguing with Wilson." Jake said as he pushed past Ren and scooped Sky up into his arms without a word to her, he carried her outside passing Hawk and Wilson just outside the door.
". . she came onto me! Playing up to me and teasing me but when I went to take her up on it she decided to play reluctant . . ."
Jake sent an angry glare at Wilson as he heard what the man was saying.
"Hawk, you need to tend to your woman." Jake said tightly before heading towards the cabin.
Hawk glanced at his friends retreating back before turning his attention back to Wilson.
"You had Sky, you owe me money!" Hawk said angrily.
"Fuck the money I vote we kick the mongrel's arse!" Ren said as he brushed past Hawk to grab Wilson by the throat.
"This has nothing to do with you." Hawk said as he tried to break Ren's hold on Wilson.
Brad stepped forward and pulled Ren off of Wilson.
"Come on mate, let's go inside. Something stinks out here." Brad said as he forced his friend to head towards the cabin.
"Hawk!" Jake yelled from just inside the cabin.
"I'll be there in a moment!" Hawk yelled back before turning to look at Wilson once again.
"You had better fork over some money or I'll take it out of your hide!" Hawk growled aggressively.
Wilson looked at Hawk for a few seconds then pulled out his wallet and withdrew a few bills from it then held them out towards Hawk.
"Want to pay more than that," Hawk growled and Wilson handed over more money before Hawk turned away, he took several steps towards the cabin before he stopped and turned to face Wilson once more.
"If your still here when I'm finished tending to my woman I'm going to give you a few broken bones." Hawk stated before turning and heading towards the cabin.
It wasn't until Hawk went into the bathroom where Jake had sat Sky on a chair that Hawk got his first proper look at the extent of Sky's injuries, not only was her face battered and bruised but he could see bruises already forming on her arms and legs as well as her skinned knees and abraded palms.
"Sky, come on, let me take this shirt off so I can clean you up and you can put something else on." Jake said but Sky sat there woodenly not responding to his touch or voice.
"Sky! Do as your told now!" Hawk ordered but it had no effect.
"Don't just stand there! Give me a hand here." Jake snapped at Hawk.
Hawk moved closer so he could pry Sky's arms from where they were crossed against her chest, as the remnants of her shirt slid from where she had clutched them to her chest her body was exposed showing another array of bruises and scrapes.
"He sure as heck got rough!" Hawk growled angrily.
Jake straightened up angrily and shoved Hawk backwards.
"Are you trying to say you believe the bullshit that mongrel was sprouting? Sky wasn't just playing hard to get or reluctant! Wilson took what he knew she knew that she wasn't allowed to let him take and belted her around just for the fun of it!"
"This aint getting her cleaned up." Hawk said gruffly as he avoided his friend's eyes.
Jake turned away angrily and eased what was left of the shirt off Sky, he then wet a soft face cloth and began to clean the blood off her face. Slowly and gently he worked talking softly to her all the time, hoping to reach her wherever she had retreated to and make her aware that she was safe. He sent an angry glare at Hawk over his shoulder as he uncovered the bruising around Sky's throat from Wilson choking her into submission. With the worst of the dirt and blood washed off Jake took a large towel and wrapped it around her before standing up and moving back behind Hawk.
"She's your woman, you get in there and tend her!" Jake snapped before walking out to the fridge to get a cold beer for himself, he opened it and leant against the fridge as he took several deep swallows.
"Sky hurt bad?" Ren asked.
"Bad enough. She don't deserve Wilson getting hold of her. She's rather a sweetie and she's learning quickly." Jake said tightly.
"Sounds like you don't mind her." Brad remarked.
"She's okay. If Hawk has to have a woman it might as well be her." Jake said almost grudgingly. He looked towards the bathroom and took a deep breath.
"I had better go make sure he's looking after her properly." Jake muttered before heading back towards the bathroom.
Hawk was just picking Sky up in his arms when Jake looked in and Hawk turned towards the doorway.
"She can lay down on a bed for a while." Hawk said. "I got to find some ointment for her cuts and scrapes."
Jake stepped aside allowing Hawk to get past then he followed him into the bedroom, he watched as Hawk settled Sky into one of the beds before heading towards the kitchen, Jake followed silently.
"Has anyone got ointment or cream I can use on Sky?" Hawk asked as he looked around the men in the kitchen, most of the men had came inside.
"I got some antibiotic cream left from when I sliced open my arm." Brent, one of Matty's friends offered.
"That'd be good." Hawk said and waited while Brent sorted through some things in the fridge to find the tube of cream.
Hawk took the offered tube and headed back in to where he had left Sky, she was as he had left her, not having moved at all. Hawk applied the cream to her hands and knees gently as possible before sitting on the edge of the bed beside her and brushing a few strands of hair back off her face.
"Come on Sky, your fine now. I won't let Wilson near you again." Hawk said gently as he brushed the back of his fingers against her least bruised cheek, getting no response he bit back an angry retort and stood up.
"I'll leave you have a bit of a rest for now." Hawk said then left the room.
Out in the kitchen Hawk helped himself to a cold beer then walked to the door to look outside to see if Wilson was still there, seeing no sign of him he gave an annoyed curse then went back inside.
"You gonna let Wilson get away with what he did?" Brad demanded.
"He paid through the nose for using her like he did." Hawk said angrily.
"You fuckin' arsehole!" Ren swore as he realised Wilson was getting away with what he had done. With that Ren grabbed his jacket and helmet and headed for the door, Brad calmly got his helmet and jacket and followed his friend, several of the others done the same or simply left the room until there was just Hawk and Jake left.
"Think I might see what's on tv for a while." Hawk said and headed for the sofa. Behind him Jake watched him with bleak eyes for several moments, shook his head and headed outside.
* * * * *
Sky woke with a strangled scream, not realising where she was she fought against the weight of the bedclothes until she realised she was in the cabin. Sobbing as memories flooded her mind she curled up in a tight little ball of misery and reached blindly for the blanket she had kicked off of herself in her momentary panic. The rough material hurt her abraded palm and she lifted the hand to study, seeing the broken skin she looked at her other hand and feeling the soreness of her knees she felt them gingerly with her fingertips. Wincing Sky brushed the back of one hand over her tear streaked cheeks and whimpered at the soreness around her left eye and cheek.
Hearing footsteps entering the room Sky turned fearful eyes towards the doorway.
"Hey sleepyhead, you woke up did you?" Jake asked softly as he changed course to approach the bed.
Sky turned her face into the pillow and curled up more tightly if that was possible.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Jake soothed as he brushed the hair back from the side of her face.