Chapter 7 Halo #2
It takes her a second or two, but she lets my hand go reluctantly and walks in the room.
I lean up against the wall next to the door, one heel on the wall, the other out in front of me.
Looking up and down the hallway, I feel that tingling I would sometimes get when I was overseas in the military, or worse, when I was a prisoner of war.
Haven’t had these feelings for a long time so this tells me something isn’t right.
First Dottie then Dani and now me. But the three of us have no connection.
Well, that ain’t exactly true, Dottie is our connection.
That thought makes me even more nervous to think someone is after her.
Could this episode have been directed toward Dottie, but someone may have mistaken Dani for Dottie?
They do look quite a bit like each other if you don’t know them.
Also, if you are seeing them from a distance because close up you can see their differences, especially since Dottie is covered in tattoos.
I don’t know much yet about them, but Dottie said they grew up with very fanatical parents who leaned hard on their religious beliefs.
Ain’t nothing wrong with that except the last part Dottie told me.
Their father had promised them each to an elder of the organization when the time came, and after their first period they would be considered women.
That was the final straw for the girls as the two men were well into their golden years.
Could it be something to do with that? I doubt two seventy-or eighty-year-old men are driving around trying to kidnap two twenty somethings so they can marry them.
Fuck, I can never just stay in my lane. I’m supposed to be up in Buttfuck, Montana, to help myself find some peace and tranquility, but instead I’m on a trail that is feeling like something huge is in the air and about to explode.
So into my thoughts, I literally jump when someone touches my arm.
Thinking it’s Dottie, I hold in my terror when I look down to see Shadow glaring at me with those icy-blue eyes.
Before I can even move or say a word, she’s grabbed my arm and is twisting my thumb up to get me to move.
What the fuck? Is this woman crazy? Thinking I can outmaneuver her, I try to turn the tables on her, and instead of her letting me go, she twists more on the thumb. Goddamn, she’s got some strength.
Pushing me into a conference room, she slams the door behind her, then pushes me forward as she lets me go. When I turn around she’s got an automatic aimed directly at my heart.
“Okay, motherfucker, the game is over. Right now spill your guts on who, what, and where, and I might put you out of your misery quick like. Otherwise, and listen well to me, Halo, I’ll tear you apart layer by layer and piece by piece.
No one, and I mean not a soul, is gonna fuck with my sisters, you hear me?
Now spit it out. What’s the endgame for you here? ”
I can’t help it, I smile, which pisses her off even more. Then I get real.
“Shadow, you don’t know me from Jack, but I’ll share a bit.
I don’t take orders from you or anyone any motherfucking more.
Those days are long gone. I came out here to get some help from the Blue Sky Sanctuary and your ‘sisters’ or club were never in my short or long-term plan.
To be honest, I’d never heard of the Devil’s Handmaidens Motorcycle Club here or anywhere else.
Also, I have no idea who’s been poisoning Dani, you might want to check whenever she’s eaten food from The Wooden Spirits Bar & Grill.
No, listen to me, it’s pretty easy to slip in as a bartender, busser, or even waitress for a short stint to get the job done.
Maybe, just a thought, have a talk to whoever manages it and see if there’s been a history of employee turnover.
Besides that, I can’t help you. Now if you’ll excuse me, need to make sure Dottie is okay. ”
When I turn to leave, I feel her before she says a single word to me. Her hands grab my arms, not roughly, but gentle like. She leans toward me though up on her tippy-toes.
“You’re not fooling me, Halo. I see ya and I mean all of you.
I also get it, as I’ve been there. Nope, zip it, my turn so just listen to me.
Get your head cleared from that shrink at the sanctuary.
We’ll give ya work at the ranch so you got money coming in and some health benefits.
Once we both have had some time, let’s get together and run shit between us, seeing you got all that military information, and I got—well—my life experiences.
Oh, don’t think I don’t know about your secret.
Just make sure to share with Dottie sooner rather than later because I don’t want to be the one to tell her.
Nothin’ to be embarrassed about, it’s just who you are now.
Go on, get back to your post. We’ll talk soon.
Keep Avalanche in the know with what’s going on. Yeah?”
Turning, I give her a chin lift then remember something.
“Hey, Shadow, I know both Dani and Dottie got that feeling of being watched. When the nurse left me in the hallway earlier, I got the same damn feeling. I looked but only saw hospital staff. What do you think, maybe you can have someone watching Dani while she’s here?”
She grins, which has me taking a step back, it’s beyond frightening. She chuckles, then shocks me, not sure why, should have known she’d have it covered.
“Sure, good idea there, Halo, though already have a rotation of Devil’s Handmaidens, Intruders, and the sanctuary folks to watch over her ’til we get her back home.
You might want to stick really close to Dottie for the time being.
Just know, Delta Force, if you hurt her, I’ll find out and then I’ll have to hurt you even worse. ”
How the fuck does she know I was part of a Delta Force unit? Like she can read my mind, she spits out at me as I walk away.
“Dude, know this now, there is nothing we can’t find out or actually locate with some time. Never forget that, especially if your plan is to stick around for Dottie. Now we’re done here, go make sure Dottie, fuck, I gave her a name and keep forgetting to use it. Okay, go make sure Storm is okay.”
And that is exactly what I do when she releases me. I go to check on Dottie.