Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 241

Cloe POV

When will they stop?

Today was a great day, a little out of my comfort zone, and it had nothing to do with no legs. I just never went to parties; Dad never allowed it. My sister, yes, but other than school, I wasn’t allowed out; even when we had guests, I was hidden most of the time. Get the food prepared, so all that’s left is to put it on the already-set table, and if I am lucky, I get to sneak some food while cooking. Then I would make an appearance when the kitchen needed cleaning, which was often the next day, and I would get beaten because there were still dirty dishes on the table and in the kitchen. As if I could have done them, with a locked door. But that was my life, so why do I have a nightmare now, after a great night? I was spoiled all day and night and felt guilty because I shouldn’t have been spoiled. That was for my sister only. My nightmare was a bad one. I had received praise for having nice hair, my sister spat out the dummy, and I was thrown down the stairs. Yep, I don’t deserve to be treated well, and I have been allowing that to happen for too long. I am old enough now to look after myself, so I should be looking at leaving this lovely home.

But where to go?

Can’t go home to Dad. I will never allow myself to submit to that again.

Will miss Storm and his family. They have been so kind and shown me what a real family should look like.

Maybe I can move to Storm’s great-grandmother’s home. I wouldn’t be spoiled there, and it would be acceptable, because I would be working, in the shape of minding the elderly woman, till she passes. Will see how it goes on Wednesday and ask before I leave that home. It might be what I need, and I can get some therapy from the local hospital, lots to investigate, but I can’t keep sponging off this family. It doesn’t feel right.

Storm helped me to the bathroom and did my business quickly. A similar outfit as before: track pants and a shirt. Today I will be in the gym for a while, going over strength exercises, so I can move around freely in the wheelchair. Storm hovered around me, waiting for me to ask for help, and if he had the wheelchair closer, I would have tried to climb in and out of it. It feels like he doesn’t want me to even try to be independent, that he wants me to always go to him. I can’t do that; it will hurt too much when the novelty wears off, and they move me on.

“Cloe, Doctor Jaqueline, will be here in an hour,” Tank called out after hanging up his phone.

The phone, that’s another thing they did. I received a brand-new phone for my birthday. I have never had a brand-new one; always my sister’s old one, if it wasn’t broken. Sometimes I think my sister deliberately broke the screen, so I wouldn’t be able to use it. Storm helped me set it up and get all the family numbers in, and Tandy’s and a few others, including Dirk, if I get stuck and need help fast. So much to take in. This life was complicated, at least with my father; I was guaranteed a beating every day. I knew what was expected of me, although according to my sister, I failed at everything. Which was funny, considering I was top of my class, and she failed all of them except the cheerleading squad, which I wasn’t interested in, because half the time, I was in too much pain to do it, plus my sister had a reputation with the ice skating team, and the football team. I think she has spread her legs with almost all of them. Mia was proud of that reputation, and I think Dad does too, because some of his guests have been to her bedroom a few times, I know, because I had to change her sheets the next day, and the results of the night before were on them.

“Hello Cloe, how have you been?” Doc asks as she pulls out her laptop to take notes.

It was just us here. Storm was told to do something at the clubhouse, and he reluctantly left me there.

“Does what I say, stay between us?” I asked because I am not sure if she has to report back to Tank. I thought now that I was eighteen, I no longer had him as my guardian. Think that’s what Tandy was bringing paperwork over for.

“Of course.” Doc tried to reassure me.

“I would prefer you stay here till you are fitted with prosthetic limbs. The other town had good facilities; however, as my patient, I would like to see things through rather than hand you over to someone else.” Doc looked so earnest, and to be honest, to have someone who actually cares about my health was nice. Aunt Mabel did what she could because she was hiding my injuries; she didn’t care any more for me than Mia did.

“Okay.” I timidly replied. I felt out of sorts, unsure if I had achieved anything.

“Now, wheel that chair over to the table, and move as if you are going to eat.”

That was how the rest of the session went. Doc gave me a task to try, and I either succeeded or failed, but as the Doc kept saying, it wasn’t a failure as such, but an area for strengthening and practice. We spent three hours in that room, and my arms were tired.

“Good, get a nice soak in the hot tub,” I wheeled myself to the tub, took off my shirt, wiggled out of my pants, and climbed in wearing my underwear. The doc never helped me once, leaving me to struggle all on my own. By the time I was out of the hot tub and dry, I felt I had achieved something today and felt a lot better. Maybe talking to the doc about my frustrations helped me to lighten my load.

“See you in a few days. Keep practicing, you will get better.” I guess I need to visit this room more often and try to do better. I am only helping myself by doing this; I’m climbing in and out of a chair, which doesn’t do much for anyone else, and it gives me a feeling of getting somewhere, that I can do this, and not have to wait for Storm to come find me.

I have to talk to Storm, but I don’t know what to say, without it sounding like I am ungrateful for all he does, and hurts his feelings.