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Relieved by her words, I find a song on my phone to put a smile on her face. Once “Still the One” starts playing, Lady Bug dances around, grinning like a woman in love.
Eventually, we stop pretending we’re already on vacation and head downstairs where Kat anxiously waits to go to HQ. My youngest child—wearing her favorite gray skirt, pink shirt, black Converse, and a butterfly barrette in her short, dark hair—is always excited about new castoffs.
HQ is packed. In contrast to Kat’s excitement, my club brothers and their old ladies are worried about an influx of so many castoffs.
I also notice Ominous prowling around, angsty about Dire’s safety. I remember how indifferent she was toward motherhood early on. After one look at her baby girl, Ominous was all in on the experience. Now, she’s suffering through the difficult part of parenting when we must let our children stand on their own.
Nearby, Sister Sass sits with Aqua and Jelly Bean. Her sullen expression fills in more blanks after last night’s odd text.
“Can you help process people?” I ask Sister Sass and Aqua.
Sister Sass mumbles, “Do you mean the staff or the Dolls?”
“The latter.”
When my daughter rubs her tired eyes, I notice broken blood vessels near her lashes, indicating she’s been crying hard recently.
“Where’s Jester?” I ask, glancing around HQ.
“He’s out back with Blunt. I think they’re measuring dicks to see who will be Road Captain.”
Unable to stand by while she struggles with her confidence, I stroke the back of Sister Sass’s head. She frowns at first, thinking I’m coddling her. But then, her gaze meets mine, and she seems too young to be ready for Jester.
“Why don’t you check the security at the cottages to make sure they’re ready for the castoffs?”
“I’m fine,” she says, not sounding fine.
I glance at Aqua and Jelly Bean. They’re thinking what I am. That’s why Sister Sass gets pissed and stands up.
“There are seven sex slaves arriving to town. Maybe save your pity for them and leave me alone,” Sister Sass grumbles and starts to leave before sitting back down. “I haven’t finished my eggs.”
I smile softly at her trying to save face. “Check out the cottages. The old ladies can handle the Dolls.”
Aqua looks relieved while Sister Sass just shrugs. I wish I could really check in with Sister Sass, but Jester is always nearby. Last night at the house, I tried to get her alone to talk. She bailed when she thought Jester and Overlord might battle.
For now, I let Sister Sass enjoy her breakfast while I sit with Lady Bug and Kat. Our quiet meal doesn’t last long. As soon as the RVs arrive in Metamora, HQ mostly empties out. Before I leave, I check on Giselle sitting at a table with Apex, their daughters, Penthouse, and Eliza.
“Should I do something?” Giselle asks, seeming nervous.
Admiring her girls, I shake my head. “When it’s time to meet someone, we’ll do it here at the Sanctuary, not in town.”
Nodding, Giselle tears up. Apex instantly goes rigid.
“Everything is okay,” Lady Bug says, joining us. “The hardest part is over. The group is back. No one is hurt. It all worked out.”
Lady Bug’s words calm me. Having been so ready for a clusterfuck, I missed the part where the mission succeeded.
Giselle also settles down. Like Mabie, Giselle views Lady Bug as a mother figure. Apex doesn’t view her in the same way, but her words seem to register with him.
With everyone focused, Lady Bug and I ride into town. We find one RV pulling away from the Refuge Clinic with Dire behind the wheel. The other two take up much of the parking lot, so I find a spot down the road. Lady Bug and I walk up, enjoying the quiet day before we enter the extremely loud clinic.
Doctor Sal walks over and explains, “The estate’s staff could be moved to a second location and checked later. None of them complain of issues.”
Overlord appears with Ghost and Luca close behind. “Blunt will take the staff over to Metamora Retreat and get them settled in at the motel. Ghost and Luca can head home. We have people to interview the staff and figure out what they need. That’ll leave the clinic for the Dolls.”
“Are any of the women injured?” I ask Sal.
“Not in an obvious way. But I’m expecting old injuries like we found with Giselle.”
