Chapter Six: Violet

                                    

                                          
The hard-plastic chair bit into the backs of my legs as I sat in the waiting area of the station, twisting the bottom of my tank top between my fingers. Cops bustled back and forth going about their daily business but I hung my head following the pattern in the industrial carpet trying to keep my mind focused and not panicking. Tanner was coming and between the two of us we could work something out; I'm not alone in this anymore. McCormick had invited me to wait in his office or give me a ride home but I didn't want to be alone at the moment; in the waiting room people could see me and I could see them. 
                          
My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I thought that I had moved past being this afraid of Decker, moving on to anger or indifference which just made me angry at myself. Slowly I tucked my hands under my legs in between the seat so people couldn't see them shaking as they went by, people didn't need to see how I was feeling. I could push my fear down, I needed to otherwise I wouldn't get through this and I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. 
                          
I knew using my real name would mean that Decker could track me down but I honestly thought that he would have moved on by now. I mean come on it had been two years and I hadn't been that special to him if he could do what he did to me but I knew that it wasn't about being special. To Decker it was about being his property, something he thought that he deserved and something that he wouldn't let go for the appearance of being weak around his friends. It was about ownership and not showing him up. 
                          
Wonder what he had been telling everyone all this time? Had I gone off to look after a sick relative and he'd been flying down on weekends to visit me? Maybe I was off helping doctors without borders, treating sick kids. He would find a way for whatever he told them to reflect well on him I'm sure.
                          
 But why the box of photos when he clearly knew where I was and could have turned up on her doorstep instead? Maybe it would have been easier if Decker had rocked up on my porch. I could have told him to hit the bricks and if he hadn't listened he would have been in violation of the restraining order and would have been arrested; or I could have shot him if Decker tried to make me go with him. But those photos meant that Decker or someone he had hired had been watching me for a while now. Jesus a couple of the photos had been of me getting out of the shower. A shudder ran through me knowing that someone had been watching me in such a private moment; it made my skin crawl. 
                          
The station doors were thrown wide open the left one bouncing off the wall as Tanner stalked in, wild eyes scanning the room until they found me and he visibly calmed down body slackening to his normal relaxed stance. He reminded me so much of my dad that it warmed my heart and stopped my hands from shaking, making me smile at him. That was until the rest of the pack filed in behind Tanner. My arms crossed over my chest and I huffed. I had been so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I hadn't heard all the motorbikes coming down the street. 
                          
My eyes narrowed at Tanner. "You told them?" I accused. Dan nodded at me but didn't stop to talk walking into McCormick's office and closing the door behind him. 
                          
"They needed to know lassie, was in council when you called but they're family and they want to keep you safe just as much as I do." Tanner's eyes begged me to forgive him. I could never stay mad at Tanner, reaching up and squeezing his arm. "It's ok."
                          
Seth, Chris, Louis and Wade slouched in the doorway but I met Seth's gaze. His eyes were ringed in a slightly lighter blue which let me know that he had been told everything. I looked away staring at the carpet again. I hated being seen as weak and Decker attacking me had been me and my weakest. "You told them everything?" I muttered at Tanner needing to know if I was right.
                          
Tanner crouched down to my level which was a feat with his height and squeeze my shoulder. "It's going to be ok, we'll get this sorted." 
                          
Black well-worn converse came into view and I drug my eyes up from the carpet knowing that it was Seth in front of me. I couldn't take it if he looked at me with pity, not from him. But I shouldn't have doubted him, that smirk of his didn't waver as he look down at me before pushing the helmet he held into my hands. "Come on Darlin' we can wait outside."