There are trauma bays as well as several attached rooms for people who need long-term care.
Those don’t get used often.
Hatch got a pretty nasty burn at a bonfire a few summers ago and had to stay here for a while.
It’s still money well spent.
“She’s in the corner room. Be prepared, she doesn’t look much better than that first night.”
How do you prepare yourself to see a woman who was beaten up? All I remember is blood, cuts, bruises, and bombs.
Leech knocks, then opens the door. “Sylver, this is Havoc. I don’t know if you remember him. He’s the club prez.” Leech keeps his voice low and steady.
Where is this woman he’s talking to?
“Is he going to make me go?” A small voice comes from the corner of the room.
The voice matches the woman…girl. Is she even eighteen? Please tell me Reaper isn’t raping children now. Leech would have mentioned if she was a kid. Why was she wearing all that makeup when she arrived? Was it to look older so no one would ask him questions?
People didn’t really look at her. I know I didn’t. She was Reaper’s woman. That was enough to disgust me. “I don’t know yet.”
Sylver’s eyes turn to me, wide, innocent, and possibly deadly.
My guard goes even farther up. I can’t let appearance deceive me.
“You can’t kick me out. He’ll hurt me.”
That’s a given. “Did he hurt you before you came to my club?”
She looks down at the floor.
“Why didn’t you leave him then? Before it came to this?” I can’t understand why women stay with abusive men.
Sylver lifts her head and meets my eyes. “No one leaves Reaper. I saw him pour boiling oil on a woman. Put another woman in prison for the rest of her life after breaking her arms and scarring her like he did me. Leaving isn’t an option.”
“We can find you a women’s shelter.”
“That’s where he found the woman he poured boiling oil on. There’s no way.” She shakes her head, pulling her body into a tighter ball.
Not for one second do I doubt Reaper is capable of that. But is this woman his minion or his accomplice? That’s the question I can’t risk being wrong about.
But I can’t send a woman to be tortured or killed, either. “Why here? Why not disappear? It’s a big world. Surely, with a little assistance, you could find some corner to hide in.”
“Because he’s afraid of you. There aren’t many people Reaper fears, but you guys terrify him. This feels like the safest place. Please let me stay here.”
“We aren’t a rescue. You can’t live here forever.” But I can’t say no. “You can stay until we find a way for you to be safe.” Killing Reaper would be the ideal way.
“Thank you. I won’t be a bother. You’ll hardly know I’m here.”
I'd better not. After a nod, I turn and walk out with Leech right behind me.
“Are you sure about that?”
“No. We’re going to put her in a visitor room and have someone follow her when she leaves her room and monitor all her contact outside of the premises. If she calls her priest, I want to know every word said.”
Leech grins. “I’m pretty sure she won’t be calling a priest.”
We won’t hesitate to call one for her before we put her in the ground if she tries to double-cross us, regardless of how much I despise harming women.
