I watch as he swivels his head to me, standing straight up, hands on his hips, and I almost push my chair back. Not sure how, but his eyes are almost glowing and his entire body has shifted like he’s expanding it to protect himself from an unknown enemy. He doesn’t reach out to me or anything, but his eyes take in my trembling and I can see him trying to pull it together. Finally, he runs his hands through his light-blond hair, removing the band holding in the man bun at the back of his head. I watch in awe when he rubs his fingers down his scalp to his neck, while pushing through the long hair he just released. I get it, when I wear my hair in a ponytail for too long it starts to give me a headache. Seeing the pain in his face and watching that blond hair hanging down his shoulders, I have the impulse to run my fingers through his hair, massaging his scalp. Oh hell to the no, got to get that thought right out of my head. Once he’s rubbed his fingers in his scalp, he slowly sits back down just as our meal arrives. It’s one of my favorites of Cook’s; her fried chicken, which, just the smell of it makes my stomach rumble. Feeling eyes on me, I look up to see his eyes watching me yet again. When he hears my gut, he actually starts to slowly grin then stops, not sure why. Then I get it when he starts talking.
“Like I told you before, my name is Benjamin Dawson. Born and raised in Crete, Nebraska. When I graduated, my old man informed me he had no extra money for me to go to college so his intent was for me to become a farmer like him. Not that I didn’t like doing that work, just not with or for him. Even as I grew up, when he drank he would lose it and either beat on Mom, me, or my siblings. After a while, when I was a grown man/child, I got sick of it. One night when he went to hit me, I raised my hand and knocked his drunk ass out. Mom freaked out and while crying told me to get gone before he woke up. As I was walking down our driveway, trying to figure a way to get to town, two of my siblings followed. I was good with that because it meant our dad wouldn’t be able to hurt any of us ever again. We got a ride in from a neighbor and I walked right to the recruitment office next to the hardware store. It was closed ’cause of the time, but I put my canvas bag of everything I owned down and leaned against it. When my sister and brother came by asking me what I was doing, I explained I was joining the military to get away and maybe find some purpose or direction. So, the next day, all three of us joined, though different branches. I went into the Army and later was approached to try out for Delta Force, which I did. Made my way to being a part of a squadron. We worked hard and everyone in our squadron had each other’s back, or so the guys and I thought.”
He stops talking and looks away. Then he glances down, picks up a chicken leg, and starts to eat it. I get it, he’s done for now. I really didn’t expect that much from him. Using my fork I attack the thigh, pulling the meat off, and shoving it in my mouth. We continue to eat our meal with not a lot of conversation, except agreeing with each other how good Cook’s food is. Feeling eyes on me when he gets up to use the bathroom again, I turn to see Shadow, who has a direct view of our table. When she sees me looking her way, she points to her eyes thenat me. Well, fuck me, I’m being watched by our club enforcer. I shrug my shoulders then turn around. Now I need to find out what this man plans to do for the night. It’s way too damn cold out to sleep in the woods. Waiting on him, I try to come up with a solution, though I’m realizing this guy is not a man who lets others make decisions for him.This should be interestingis my thought when I see him digging into the fried chicken. This reminds me that I am hungry, so I grab a piece of said chicken and take a huge bite. The flavor explodes on my tongue as I look over the table to see Benji watching me.If only I could read his thoughts,I think to myself as I stare into his eyes.
FOUR
STORM
DOTTIE
I’m sitting on the couch in the cabin Dani and I share, trying to read this first book in a new series she told me about by Devney Perry, who’s from Montana. For some reason my mind keeps drifting, as I’ve been on this page for the last, I don’t know, forty-five minutes. Shit, I know Dani can’t read enough of this Badge of Honor world, especially since our nemesis, D.M. Earl, is now writing in the author Susan Stoker’s world. No one can find out who this D.M. author is, who has been writing about our club. She’s gone so far as to start a spinoff series from that damn signing we all got in trouble for because we went without permission. That’s why we don’t have our patches yet. Tink and Glory said we needed to show respect and remember we are a family, not individuals in the club. We took too many risks while putting ourselves out there to get really hurt, or worse. Not that I regret going, just that we didn’t think before doing it. This year we are going again, but with permission from our club. Actually, Tink decided to open it up to the club so if anyone wants to go they can make their way to Texas in March. I’m looking forward to it because I’ve read a lot of the authors who are attending this signing. I really want some of their books so I can get them signed and added to my collection. Dani is way crazier than mewith that kind of stuff, but there are a few of the books I’ve read that I want a physical copy of because they were just that damn good. I’m glad my twin and I share our love of reading with each other.
Hearing Dani making her way down the hall, I put my Kindle Paperwhite down and grab my ice water, taking a sip. When my sister sees me in, I guess it’s called the family room, she heads my way. We were very lucky when Tink was adding more cabins to the ranch; she asked us if we wanted to each have our own or did we want to cohabitate together. Since that’s all we’ve ever done, we agreed to share a cabin. Well, let me say this isn’t like some fishing or camping cabin. It’s three bedrooms with an office and two and a half bathrooms. We each have our own bathroom with a powder room off the hallway. I know Dani was just as surprised as me when we saw the shell of this place. Tink worked with the folks from the Blue Sky Sanctuary, along with Panther and his group of guys. She turned over the project to Kiwi, Peanut, and Duchess and the three of them did a phenomenal job. There are five new cabins ranging from small to single family homes. They are built between the ranch and the original cabins. It’s also where we have our huge pole barns with the survivor areas off a bit, in the back part of the ranch on that side of the property. That was one of the, what did they call it, caveats since it’s usually the prospects who spend nights in the quarters with those we bring back from breaking up the circuits of human trafficking. It made sense that our cabins be closer to that area of the ranch. So out of the five, Dani and I have one. Kiwi and Peanut each have a small one. One of the single-family homes Tink gave to Cynthia and her two kids. I think Taz had something to do with that whole situation. When all that shit went down with Tink’s money disappearing and everyone thinking it was Cynthia, I know my club sister felt bad. Taz is such a good soul, and I know she spoke to Tink to help Cynthiaand her two small kids. Well, over the years, Cynthia has been living in an older cabin, closer to the survivor area to help out. She’s proven herself time and time again. Our prez, Tink, is a very generous person too, so when the house was almost done, she had everyone asking Cynthia what she liked. When the day came that Tink and Noodles were planning on giving her the title, the home was completed to be Cynthia’s dream home. Not sure who cried more in that family, but I’m thrilled for all three of them.
“When were you going to tell me about the new man in your life, Dottie?”
Hearing the softly spoken words, I can tell she’s pissed. Dani is the quiet one out of the two of us. I don’t usually take any shit from anyone. Now that’s even worse because I’ve been hanging with Shadow and Spirit, two of the craziest biotches from hell I’ve ever met. Though I’d never say that anywhere near either of those women. Don’t want to give them any excuse to kill me and then end up in the ground behind where Shadow works.
“First, there’s nothing to tell. I guess you can say I met Benji, well, he goes by Halo at the sanctuary. He reminded me of when we left home and I felt sorry for him, so I took him to The Wooden Spirits Bar & Grill for a bite to eat. Since he had nowhere to go, I texted Tink to see if he could stay at the ranch for a bit. She said he could stay in the vacant survivor building because he couldn’t go into the other since we have some female and children survivors there. He’s the one who asked to do something to pay for his bed. I had nothing to do with that. Why do you even care, sister? Usually you can’t take your head out of the most current book you’re reading. I’ve seen him a couple of times since that dinner a week and a half ago. He’s dealing with something I think Ollie is trying to help him with. Not my place to ask what’s going on, so just going about my business.”
She tilts her head to the left which tells me she, one, doesn’t believe me, and two, is trying to figure out where my head is at. This right here is one of the things I hate about having a twin. She’s already in my head so it doesn’t take her but a second to generally figure shit out. Her eyes are searching my face and when I see that cocky grin of hers, I know I’m in trouble because she saw something I wasn’t able to hide.
“Well, since you don’t have any interest in, what did you call him…oh yeah, Halo; then you won’t have any problem if maybe Heartbreaker or Kiwi make their interest known?”
Not sure why but I growl under my breath. Both of my sisters are drop-dead gorgeous. Not saying I don’t think I’m cute, ’cause I am, in that unique way as I’m covered in tattoos. There is a reason for that, which is to cover up all the scars on my body and stop all the questions about them. There’s only one person who knows about them, besides the assholes who put them there, and that is Dani. She has her own, though not as many or as severe as mine. I shake my head; I’m not prepared to go back to that time in my life. Dani grabs a water then comes to sit next to me on the couch, her knees curled under, which is her favorite position. She’s watching me with a twinkle in her eye and even though I know she’s trying to rile me, I’m not even surprised she doesn’t put herself out there to maybe pursue Benji. She never would make that jump for any man.
“What, Dani, no interest on your part? I mean, he’s huge, has long hair, and those eyes, damn, they are beyond mesmerizing. I couldn’t tell where the color started or his pupils ended, they are so dark. He’s also damaged, which you are always attracted to, little sister.”
Her face turns pink, which is how I know she’s getting pissed. Dani hates when I call her my little sister. Well she is, as she was born almost six minutes after me.
“Knock it off, Dottie. We’re the same age, for Christ’s sake. Wow, a whole what—five or six minutes doesn’t make you like my older sister. So, can I let our club sisters know what’s his name again, oh yeah, ‘Halo’ is available?”
“Absolutely fuckin’ not, Dani. Quit being a pain in my ass, will you? I can’t understand why you enjoy getting under my skin. Jesus Christ, please stay out of my business as I stay out of yours.”
“WHAT? You stay out of my what? Get a grip, Dottie, will you? I don’t understand why everything with you is such a huge secret. So what? You like the guy, it’s not a big deal. I just want you to be careful with your heart, that’s all. Do you know anything about him at all?”
Shit, do I tell her all Raven found out about Benjamin ‘Halo’ Dawson? I wasn’t going to go to our technology sister but couldn’t resist it. Seems like he’s a decorated war hero many times over. Well, until the last mission, but from what the records state, it wasn’t his fault. Somewhere along the line, a higher-up made a really bad call. The rest is history, though I think some of that is what is haunting him, including being a prisoner of war for thirty-seven months. It makes sense now why he’s comfortable around Panther, Avalanche, and the rest of the guys. They also were prisoners of war, a different branch of military though. Benji and Avalanche seem to be the tightest, and I get it. Panther is like an empath, which makes him seem like the one to choose, except he’s paired off with the lunatic who is Shadow. Or that’s what folks think until they get to know her personally. Dallas, Chicago, Jersey, and George I don’t really know that well. Well, Dallas and Chicago are a riot, especially when we are all drinking and just hanging out. I’ve gotten to know those two since Shadow has had both Spirit and me out at Panther’s stud ranch a few times. My sister clears her throat, so I take a gulp of my drink then turn to face her.
“First, don’t repeat anything I tell you, pinky promise. I had Raven do a check on him since he doesn’t share anything. His name is Benjamin but he only goes by Halo, though he told me I can call him Benji. He served in the military. Something really bad happened when he was serving in the Delta Force section of the Army. Dani, I looked it up and it said that only the best of the best people are chosen, based on certain skill sets. He was a prisoner of war in the Middle East for over three years, give or take. I know he is seeing a therapist at the sanctuary as I’ve seen Avalanche or Dallas driving him when I was coming out after one of my sessions. When I saw Avalanche the other night, I asked him about Halo. He point-blank told me he wasn’t breaking the trust of a brother, no matter what. Then he whispered to me the brother is drowning in his own sorrows and to be careful. So that’s what I know about him, Dani.”
My sister thinks for a bit then lifts her head, looking at me, her face serious as can be.
“Be careful, Dottie, please. I’m not sure what it is but I have a very bad feeling in my gut, and you know I always follow those feelings. Not sure if it’s Halo or something else, but that feeling is always there. Be alert and don’t fall for anything or anyone. Not even him. Make sure to check with Tink, as I’m sure Noodles knows more than anyone since he works with Ollie and his crew at the Blue Sky Sanctuary. Yeah, I get it, can’t get into all that happens in therapy, but the other stuff that comes up in daily life should be fair game. So that’s out of the way, what are you doing the rest of the night? Taz and Enforcer invited everyone over for a barbecue. I want to go but not alone, so are you going to go?”
Son of a bitch, forgot all about that. Not feeling it but looking at Dani’s face, she really wants to go, probably to hang out with the kids and bust their asses at their video games, which she is a master at. For someone so shy, my sister can kick ass on allof those games. I lean forward, grabbing on to her shoulders, squeezing lightly.
“No, I had not planned on going, but seeing your face, yeah, I’ll go, but just for a little bit.”
She jumps up, doing her crazy-ass happy dance, which entails her shaking her ass and throwing her arms in the air like little Teddy does. Then she turns, jumps on the couch, and hugs me.Glad I can make someone happy, I think to myself. Dani tells me we have like an hour and a half to get ready and go into town to pick something up to take to this barbecue. She told me it’s kind of a pick-me-up for Atlas’s parents. They are both struggling since they were kidnapped and brutalized. More so Athena, Atlas’s mom, than his dad, Apollo. We found them and took them back to town. Their physical wounds have healed; it’s their emotional and mental ones they are currently working on. Leave it to Taz to realize that bringing everyone together would help Atlas’s parents. Especially since they are just about done building their home not too far from Taz and Enforcer, thanks to Tink, who sold a piece of the ranch to them after their ordeal.
Getting up, I head toward my bedroom so I can jump in the shower real fast, then find something to wear, dry my hair, and figure out what to bring. In the back of my mind, I am half thinking of inviting Benji, though know I won’t. This is more of a chosen family gathering and since he doesn’t even know all of my club sisters, let alone their significant others, figured this is one he can miss. It dawns on me that I’m kind of thinking like someone in a relationship, which I definitely am not in. I just feel bad for him, or that’s what I keep telling myself so I don’t have to face those feelings that scare the shit out of me. Just pray I’m not putting too much faith in an absolute stranger.
FIVE
HALO
BENJI
