Free Hope by Sam Crescent Page A

opened the door to their apartment block.
He was silent as they made their way up the flight of stairs to their room. The
door was still locked. He opened the door, pulled her inside, and then locked
all the bolts into place.
    “Did you know there was a time when women could live alone
and independent? They had control over their own life. They were free to walk,
talk, and do anything they wanted?”
    “I remember the books that talked of such freedom. They
really didn’t know how good they had it. I mean look at where we are now.”
    He released her hand, and she missed the contact.
    “There was a lot more to smile about back then, but at least
we’re learning from our mistakes. There has to be hope for the future. Even
with this life, I’m happy I’m alive.”
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Damon thought about his mother. She’d been a good woman and
a hard worker. When he was younger she’d done everything in her power to give
him a good life regardless of their circumstances. He knew it wasn’t her fault with
the way the world was. She didn’t create the M3 or the consequences of it being
taking. Hearing Penny talk about reading and writing made him wish he’d had the
chance to learn. Damon listened to others as they read or told stories that
have been given down family lines. Don wasn’t looking for a writer or a reader.
Don was always looking for a man who knew the world. A man who thought through
his actions before taking out a target or starting a fight, that was what Don
wanted in his men.
    He didn’t read and write, but he knew how to read a
situation without getting killed. Knowing other men and understanding their
reactions was the key.
    “What were your family like?” she asked.
    They moved toward the sofa. Damon watched her sit down
before grabbing a drink from the fridge. He handed her one as he took a seat
next to her. Her scent filled the air around them. He liked the way she smelled.
Her soft feminine curves called to him with her fuller hips and large tits. He
could lose himself in her soft flesh for days. Kelly had been wearing her cloying
scent. When she’d pressed her body against him, he’d been repulsed. Kelly was
nothing like the woman by his side.
    “My family was like any other family. They were loving , loyal, and damn caring throughout it all. We
always found something to laugh about even though there was never anything to
keep the nightmares at bay.”
    “What about your dad?”
    “Not much to tell about him.”
    He remained silent refusing to talk about his father. His
father had been the first in his family to go down because of the flu. It was a
long time ago, and they were all gone.
    “Are you the only one left?”
    Damon nodded his head. “Yes. I wasn’t with them when the flu
came to my family, but they were dead before I got chance to help them.   I tell you, burying your family is a wake-up
call. I went back to the house where they died, packed up my shit, and moved. I
wanted nothing to do with the world that left me.”
    It still hurt to think about.
    “My mom died, too. Things went weird after that. When she
was there it was like she grounded everyone around her. You know? Kept their feet firmly on the ground. When she left, my dad
started acting weird, and it just got worse.”
    He felt her shrug her shoulders. Damon sipped his drink
feeling the night starting to wear on him. “We need to get some sleep. You can
have the water first. I’ll get some more water later.”
    She took a final sip of her drink then handed him the
bottle.
    “Thank you, Damon. For everything you’ve done for me. I’ll
never forget it.”
    He smiled watching the sway of her ass as she walked away.
    “Don’t thank me at all, sweetheart. Not with the things I
want to do to you,” Damon muttered to himself. Penny had already left the room.
He knew he should talk to Don about her staying at the club permanently. She
wasn’t safe alone with him.
    They’d not known each other for long,