Read Online Call Me...Vengeance: Book 1 in the Vengeance MC Series by Natasha Thomas - Free Book Online Page A

That I would survive this and come out the other side a changed woman. A better woman. I would never attribute that to him, but I could go as far as to say; if it weren't for that night, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t be who I am now.
     
    Left without a way to get home, no money, and no way to call for help, I bundled myself up in my ruined dress as best I could and walked the however far it was to the interstate before a long-haul truck driver stopped to help me.
     
    Kevin, I later learned his name was, took one look at my appearance and asked me if I wanted to be taken to the closest hospital, I didn’t. I didn’t want to go home either, but I knew I didn’t have a choice. I needed to pack my things, get the cash I had hidden in my room along with the credit card my parents gave me for emergencies and get out before anyone knew something was wrong. I had no idea how, Oliver would spin this, but I knew it wouldn’t work out in my favor.
     
    I told Kevin to drop me a few blocks from my parents help, thanking him when he pulled his truck to a stop.
    “Thank you. Thank you so much for stopping.”
     
    Staring at my face, scrutinizing me, he offered,
    “Don’t have to drop my delivery till late tomorrow night, Sweetheart. I’ve got time between now and then to take a break, and I think I’m gonna take that right here. I’m headed to L.A., long way from Tennessee. A lot of distance between here and there if you catch my meaning.”
     
    “Um, okay,” I agreed, my voice wavering as shivers racked my body.
     
    “Not sure you’re understanding me, darlin’,” his pack-a-day smokers voice rasps. “Long trip with no company. It’s nice to have someone to ride along sometimes. My daughter used to before she went off to college, but she’s too busy with all those classes and her job at some coffee shop on campus. Rebecca’s a good girl, but she can’t get away to ride along with her old man much.”
     
    I didn’t know why he was telling me this, it didn’t matter either. I liked hearing him talk, I could have listened to the calm, reassuring cadence of his voice for hours.
    “That’s good she’s doing well for herself,” I whispered, not knowing what else to say.
     
    “What I’m trying to say is; you got a short walk home, shouldn’t take you more than a few minutes, maybe half an hour to get a bag together with whatever things it is you girls need, and another few minutes to make it back. I’ve got an hour break coming to me, and this is as good a spot as any to rest my eyes for a bit. I think I’m just gonna wait here, see if a lovely, sad young lady I found wandering around beside the highways wants a lift anywhere. If she does, excellent, god company for me,” he says with a shrug. “If she doesn’t, I fucking pray she makes the bastard who hurt her pay and I wish her all the luck in the world wherever she ends up.”
     
    Kevin winks at me, leaving the decision in my hands as I jump down out of the truck, shutting the door behind me. I hadn’t made up my mind what I was going to do by the time I made it through the servant’s entrance at the back of our house. I hadn’t decided as I shoved all of the things that meant the most to me in a duffle and took a shower to wash, Oliver’s filth off me either. Nor did I have a clear idea of what I was going to do as I slipped my boots on, wrapped myself in a knitted, over-sized sweatshirt and stole away into the night. It wasn’t until I was standing at the passenger’s side of Kevin’s truck, my duffle in hand, and tears streaming down my face that I knew what I had to do.
     
    Kevin didn’t say anything, not then, not until hours had passed. He just smiled warmly, patted my shoulder, and stored my bag in the sleeping cabin of his truck. I was glad for the time to think, I needed to work out what I was going to do, where I was going to go. I knew I would have to make a stop soon to withdraw money, my parents would realize I was