Broken

Part 4

Sophia's Point of View

It had been four days since I had been discharged from the hospital and six days since the incident and I felt like I still hadn't woken up from this horrible nightmare. I still couldn't believe that my parents were gone and that the leader of a sex trafficking ring was after me.

Sighing as I sat at the bar, I was waiting patiently for my uncle to come out of his meeting. It was a warm day in Santo Padre, but you never would have guessed it by my attire. My hair was bundled up in a messy bun on the top of my head and I was wearing a blue hoody and a pair of gray sweat pants that hung loosely on my hips.

EZ had been gracious enough to let me stay in his trailer with him ever since my Uncle Hank brought me home from the hospital. I barely spoke to anyone and up until now I had been too afraid to leave the scrap yard or the trailer.

The club, especially Hank and Angel had attempted to ask me questions about the incident, but it was one subject I couldn't bring myself to talk about. I wasn't ready to bring everything that happened that night out into the open. It haunted my dreams every single night and the only time I could breath a little easier was when I was awake.

I heard the front door open and turned around on my stool to see who it was. I let out a small sigh as EZ walked in with three cases of beer, stacked one on top of the other. I flashed him a shy smile as he made his way over to the bar and put the cases on the counter.

God, Felipe and Marisol Reyes have amazing genes.

The black, sleeveless, button down shirt, the black leather kutte, dark blue jeans, and black leather biker boots. It was a simple outfit, but the way EZ Reyes wore it was enough to make my imagination run wild.

"Hey," he said happily, flashing me his mega-watt "Reyes" smile," How are you feeling?"

"I'm alive," I replied quietly, "I owe that to you and the others. I know I haven't been really talkative the last couple days, but I just wanted to say thank you. You know, for getting me out of there and taking care of me."

"You're welcome," he stated as he began to unpack the beer, "Want one?"

"I probably shouldn't," I replied, secretly wishing that I could, "Shouldn't drink while recovering from a concussion, but how about a rain-check?"

"You're on," he replied with a smile, "Maybe I could take you out for a drink somewhere. You know, other than the clubhouse? When you're ready, of course."

My heart leaped in my chest. I could feel the heat travel up my body to my cheeks as my eyes lingered on his smile for a moment longer than they should have. I smiled back before biting my lip and looking down at the floor. Without even realizing he was doing it, EZ was tying my stomach in knots.

"I would really like that," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

In that moment I was overcome with a strong desire to feel his arms around me. I climbed over the bar and jumped to the ground in front of EZ and wrapped my arms around his waist, laying my head against his chest. I could hear him draw in a deep breath as he hesitantly wrapped his arms around me. I held onto him tightly and for a brief moment, we both allowed ourselves to get lost in the moment. It felt so good to be wanted and I know I hadn't felt that way in a long time. After a moment I pulled away and looked up into his eyes and gave him a shy smile.

"Sorry...if I invaded your personal space," I said with a laugh as I fidgeted with my hands and rocked back and forth on the balls of my feet, "I just...feel safe with you and I am truly grateful that I am not alone in this."

"If you need someone, Soph, all you need to do is ask. Someone, including me, will always be there if you ask," EZ stated as he reached out and brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes, "and you weren't invading my personal space. Trust me, you would have to do a lot worse than a hug to invade my personal space and maybe even then..."