The Phoenix Knights MC: Strength of Love (Rebecca Waters) novel Chapter 1

Olivia’s POV-

My eyes fluttered open slowly. I was still in a huge amount of pain this morning. A groan slipped from my lips, as my senses came too from my slumber.

The sound of birds and the roar of bikes snapped me out of the daze I was in from just waking up. My eyes snapped open, and I looked around to make sure no one had seen me sleeping in my truck. That would have been embarrassing and probably the talk of the school.

Shit, school.

I grabbed my phone in a panic, I had to hurry to turn it back on. I checked the time even as it loaded up. Thankfully, I still had time before I needed to get to school.

I turned to reach into the back to grab my duffle bag off the back seats, which was a bad idea. Pain radiated up my left side, making me cry out sharply. I relaxed carefully back into my driver's seat. Harry really did a number on me last night, before I ran from the house.

Harry Jones is my step-dad. He has raised me since birth, so I currently have his last name, but he never earned the right to ever be called my dad. Why? Because since I was eight years old, he has used me as a punching bag.

I just had to survive one more month, and then I turn eighteen, and I can be rid of him. I can leave and never look back, but after last night, I think I might have to leave sooner rather than later, or he might really kill me. I don’t think anyone would be able to stop me from leaving with the proof that I have.

Last night was the worst I had seen Harry. He lost a big business deal, and he lashed out, taking it out on me. I know at least one of my ribs is broken, and I know my face and neck are littered with bruising.

I pulled the visor down and looked in the small mirror. Yep, I was right, black eye, bruises to my cheek, jawline and even my lip. Despite having a black eye, it wasn’t swollen, just discolored, so you could still see my bright green eyes. It is a good thing it is still cold this month. I can wear one of my turtle-neck sweaters to hide the bruises on my neck, but my face is a different story. It is a good thing that I can hide it with make-up. I had to learn how to do make-up at a young age.

I quickly applied the make-up to cover the bruises up, before I went to the public bathroom. I had driven to the lake last night. There is a car park there. It is secluded and not somewhere Harry would ever look for me. There is also a public bathroom that is always open, so I will be able to go in there and brush my teeth, treat my injuries and dress ready for school.

I climbed out of my beat-up black truck, closed the door, and went to the back to get my duffle bag out of the back seats. The only reason my truck was beat up, was because it was the first vehicle I ever brought using the money that I have managed to make from my part-time job and the job my parents have no idea that I have. I could have brought a far better car with the money I earned from a job my parents didn’t know about, but I do not want them to know about it.

I locked my truck and headed for the bathroom.

Once inside, I went into the same cubicle I always did because it had a mirror and enough space for me to change. I changed my underwear and jeans first, knowing full well that would not hurt me nearly as much as trying to pull my T-shirt and bra off. I may have to leave my bra on and just bandage my ribs up.

I slipped my feet into my sneakers, before I struggled to pull off my T-shirt. It took a minute, and a lot of wincing to pull it off, but I did it, and the bruises were worse than I imagined. I wiped the make-up off quickly and took photos of all the bruises that littered my body. I bandaged up my ribs, knowing if I didn’t I might actually puncture a lung.

I was nearly finished wrapping bandages around my ribs, when my phone rang again.

It ringed multiple times, since I had switched it back on, and I hadn’t answered a single phone call, or really paid attention to the notifications of all the missed phone calls and texts I had received while my phone was switched off overnight.

I picked it up and looked at the screen. Countless missed calls from my mum, Benny and Megan. There were even a few threatening messages from Harry.

Megan was calling right now, she is my best friend, no doubt Benny is with her. Those two are a match made in heaven not that they would ever admit it. Benny is also my friend.

I answered the phone, before grabbing my cami top. “Hey, what’s with all the calls?”

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