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“Your dad still in politics?” I don’t comment on her mother because that’s what Thad said after he put his tongue down my throat. I squirm at the memory.
“No, he retired. He’s just running the business and playing with Ryder when he can.”
“Ryder?” I’m fairly certain I know the answer to that question, but I still have to ask.
“Thad’s son from his ex-wife. She was a complete bitch. She only wanted to say she was a helicopter pilot’s wife. When he told her he was retiring to become a trooper, she divorced him and took off.” One question and I have more info than I needed.
“Here I am.” Jinx steps into the room. I was waiting for her, that’s why I was okay with the small talk.
“So, Avery and I would like to prospect. We both ride and have bikes. We know it could be a long journey.” Stormy stops from her rambling and works her top lip.
“What do you want to know?” I ask.
“Do you break the law?” Stormy’s question is not out of left field. Everyone knows the stories and watchedSOA. That’s what they all think we are like. Don’t get me wrong, some clubs do get bad, and I know we would if we had to, but I’d rather run a clean club with honor and respect than with fear.
“Not unless we have to. Once you decide to prospect and your background check comes back, we’ll talk more,” I tell them. I know she’s concerned about her brother.
“So, Stormy, our guru of road names has come up with yours,” Jinx says, and laughs as she points to Avery. “You, she’ll have to be around for a bit. She helps pick the names because you can’t give yourself one, you have to earn it.” They all laugh, and I just sit back and watch.
I’m trying not to let my mind drift to Thad. He’s been through a lot. I never got married. Yeah, Phantom wanted me to marry him, that was what started our last fight. I told him I wouldn’t marry anyone who beat me. I wouldn’t be his old lady. I got a broken nose and jaw for that, among other injuries. I was close to death when my aunt and Brazen found me. Poor Sky had to come visit me in the hospital because one of my lungs was punctured from the broken rib. Thank goodness she was only two and doesn’t have any memory of it, as far as I know.
“Well, what is it?” Stormy asks.
“Poison. Vixen said you come up with some mean drinks.” My aunt likes to help give people their road names. She gave me and Jinx ours. She’s come up with the other girls’ names too.
“I like it.” Stormy and Jinx are laughing, but I notice Avery isn’t. She’s looking around and avoiding eye contact. She’s hiding something.
“Avery, why don’t we talk. You can tell me why you want to be a part of the Devil’s Handmaidens,” I say as I look at Jinx, sure she’ll understand. She grabs Poison’s arm and pulls her along with her.
“But what about Avery?” Poison asks. The door is closed before Jinx answers her.
“I need help,” Avery says as she starts crying. I move around the desk and sit in the seat next to her. Her long hair is stark white and deepest black. From what Poison told me before, Avery is an artist. “Is it true what they say about you?”
“I don’t know what you mean?” I play dumb because until she’s a prospect who has cleared a lot of hurdles does she find out what we really do. It’s what keeps everyone safe.
“That you help women.”
“How?” I don’t clarify what I mean by that. Her answer will tell me how I’ll answer her.
“I’ve heard from some people that the Handmaidens in the lower forty-eight save women from traffickers.” Okay, I didn’t expect that.
“Where did you hear that?” Not many know we do this. They know we are against it, but they don’t know how we do it unless they are a part of our crew. They don’t know about the numerous rescues we’ve been on.
“My brother runs with an MC in Anchorage, and he told me. He begged me to talk to you.”
“What do you need help with?”
“Our little sister went missing. She hasn’t been found and the cops are saying she’s a runaway. She was in foster care because our parents aren’t the best and I worked too much to have her. But she’s been gone for three weeks now.” She cries harder. “I’m trying to get the money together so she can come live with me. But my boss at the tattoo parlor fired me because I’ve been out looking for her so much. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Just a sec.” I hold up a finger and grab my cell.
Me
Keys, need you and the laptop.
I send the message, then set my phone back on the desk. I don’t need to wait for a response. She will come. I reach over and pat Avery’s shoulder. When she looks up at me, I see the devastation on her face and stand so that I can hug her.
“I’m about to lose my apartment, and the state lady said I have to have an apartment by myself.” Her body shudders. I continue to hold her, knowing the state doesn’t make it easy for siblings to get their younger ones when they are in foster care.
