“Sir, we know what we are doing. Move aside, she needs to be assessed.”
Hearing Yoggie, I pick up my pace.
“No, motherfucker, do not move her at all. She’s been shot in the back. There could be severe spinal damage, so don’t touch her. I said, get your goddamn hands off of her, you fuckhead.”
Glory rushes past me going for Yoggie. He’s beyond pissed and when I see Duchess, it makes sense. She’s been beaten to shit, her motorcycle boot has a hole in it, and it’s leaking blood. But it’s the way her body is lying that tells me Yoggie is right. Dr. Mal rushes by, sliding in next to Duchess, throwing a bag down next to the huge one Yoggie brought. Between the two of them they start to ready Duchess for flight. Two women come running from the helicopter with a gurney and all kinds of equipment. Watching as if it’s some kind of morbid dance, the four of them carefully put a neck brace first on Duchess’s neck, then a board against her back. Slowly they take each leg and place it in a stabilizer, then strap her legs to the board before moving it so she’s lying stomach first on the board. Seeing the amount of blood and fluid on her clothing and the ground, I feel the fear moving through my body. When she is secure, six people, three on each side, pick up the board and start to walk her to the helicopter. Just as they are passing me, I hear my name and everyone stops, shocked.
“Halo, tell Storm that Samson is from her and Dani’s past. He torched his two men he brought with. Think I heard him telling Dani that their father sent him to bring the sisters home, as they embarrassed him in front of his flock. Before I blacked out,he rambled on about a new partnership with some like-minded men who our club pushed out of town. It can only mean one thing, Halo. Tell my club sisters that the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood is back, looking to make trouble in our town again.”
Before anyone can question her, she passes out. I move to get back to Dottie to see her standing about two or so feet away, hand to her mouth. I’ve heard about the problems this racist cult has had with the Devil’s Handmaidens, The Intruders, and a club called the Grimm Wolves MC. A hate group that is trying to take us back in time, which none of these clubs will ever let happen. I rush to Dottie, who wraps her arms around my waist, hanging on tightly.
“Hold on, Dottie, we’ll get her back. Promise, we will get her back.”
“Benji, don’t make promises you can’t keep. We have no idea where they are or who is helping Samson.”
“Dottie, look at me. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it. I promise, we will get her back.”
“Listen to your ol’ man, Storm. Now that Duchess is being taken care of, we need to figure what the fuck is goin’ on. Come on, let’s get to the clubhouse. Raven and Freak can go through traffic cameras and maybe we’ll catch a break. Don’t give up, sister, I’m not.”
With that Shadow grabs Dottie’s one hand off my waist and I pick up the other, and the three of us head toward Panther’s vehicle. Shadow jumps in the driver’s seat, and once the two of us are in, she takes off, heading toward the clubhouse. I haven’t prayed in a very long time but as we make our way to the heart of the Devil’s Handmaidens club, the words running through my head are that whatever or whoever is up above watches over Dani until we can find her so we can bring her home.
FIFTEEN
STORM
DOTTIE
I’m literally losing my mind. The clubhouse is packed with people and more coming in every few minutes. The townsfolk, Sheriff George, and some of his deputies, along with two motorcycle clubs are trying to figure out what the fuck just went down. Hearing the sheriff explain to Noodles, Panther, Avalanche, and the rest of the guys from Panther’s ranch and others from the Blue Sky Sanctuary has me worried beyond belief. Samson not only shot our sister Duchess, but he also shot two of his own men and then set them on fire. Who the fuck does that? Well, damn, I know that Wrench, Shadow, and a few others like Chains from the Grimm Wolves MC would do it in a second and probably have. My mind is drifting and getting foggy so I make my way to the kitchen to grab some coffee. Before the swinging door shuts behind me, I’m in the arms of Momma Diane. The comfort this woman has given both Dani and I is unbelievable. I can’t let my emotions get the best of me yet again and when I go to pull back, she holds on tighter.
“Dottie, no, hold on to me for a few more minutes. If not for you then for me, because one of my girls is missing and I need some comfort.”
This woman cares more for my sister and me than our own parents. I mean, damn, our father might be behind all of this. Hearing someone pushing the door open behind me, I feel her small hands from behind hanging on to me.
“Hey, Dottie, don’t give up hope. I never will. We’ll find our sister and bring her home. So take a minute or two, get your head together, then get your butt out there. Let’s get this shit moving.”
Leave it to Tink, tiny and mighty, trying to keep my spirits up. I feel her holding on so tightly I can feel her baby bump, and that almost brings a smile to my face. She and Noodles are beyond the moon happy and instead of her being home taking it easy, as she’s been instructed, my prez is here worried about me. I push away from Momma Diane and turn to Tink.
“Hey, Tink, don’t jeopardize that little miracle for this bullshit. Promise you’ll take care of yourself. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. Faith, Mercy, and Noodles need you.”
She looks up and the determination and courage in those green eyes shocks me. Then she follows up with her words.
“Dottie, someone took one of our sisters. You know there’s nowhere he can hide that the Devil’s Handmaidens won’t find his ass, eventually. I’m fine and promise not to push it, but you’re my sister, as is Dani, so there is nowhere else I need to be. We’ll get her home, sister, that I can promise.”
Hearing a commotion in the great room, we all rush out to see Raven with a laptop in her hands, screaming at Freak.
“Motherfucker, I told you it was that huge-ass SUV. Dumbass, you probably drank too many of those energy drinks already and can’t concentrate. We’re looking for a two thousand nineteen Chevy Suburban LS, dark gray. I don’t see Dani, but it’s definitely this dude and he’s alone for now. The vehicle belongs to a religious organization out in South Dakota. It caught my eyebecause I know that both you and Dani are from there, Storm. Not much more, though we are tracing anything we can pull up on that organization. It’s gonna take time because for a religious group they have stellar security. I put a call out to Karma to give us a hand. He’s on it, and Brick said if we need anything to let them know.”
Knowing the Grimm Wolves have our backs gives me some comfort. Karma is one of the most intelligent technicians out there, though Raven and Freak are right behind him. When we work on some difficult cases, the three of them usually put their heads together. Seeing everyone here willing to help find Dani, I clear my throat then look to Shadow. She grins her demonic grin before placing her fingers in her mouth and letting out a shrill whistle.
“Storm’s got something she wants to say, so shut the fuck up and pay attention.”
Taking a minute, I gather my thoughts.
“Thanks, Shadow. All I want is to let y’all know how much it means to me that you’re all willing to take time outta of your lives to find Dani. I can never pay you back, but wanted each of you to know how much Timber-Ghost means to the both of us. You all are our family. The only one we want because we choose you.”
No one says a word and I put my head down, feeling like I should have said more, but didn’t have it in me. I know she’s alive as I can feel it in my body. We’re connected being twins, so I’m thinking I’d know if he killed her. Feeling him behind me, I turn to see Benji watching me with those midnight-black eyes of his.
“Dottie, need anything?”
