Chapter 8 #2
That’s another thing that is confusing me.
I’ve spent most of breakfast listening to crazy stories of these women being kidnapped, getting into fights, persuading people to give up information, all sorts of things, and yet they are also so kind and nurturing.
Almost all of them have children, multiple in Blanche’s case.
Almost all of them have careers on top of being Ol Ladies as well.
I know that there are women out there that do it all.
I learned that once Eden’s Keep ended. But I never met so many successful women in one place at the same time.
Or so many men who were willing to help with the children.
“Anyway girl, I hear you’re training to be an EMT. How’s that going for you?” Vi asks me, trying to feed the little girl in her lap.
I can tell just by looking at the toddler that she must belong to one of the Tombs’ brothers.
They all share a striking resemblance to each other.
Almost like Vex and his brothers and sisters.
I search for him in the common room, eyes landing on him in the doorway, smiling softly at me.
I give a small wave. He mouths “You OK?” and I smile and nod. Because I am OK. More than OK actually.
“So, what’s that about?” A beautiful dark woman with a lot of hair asks me. Flicking my eyes down to her vest I notice that she belongs to someone named Judge.
“Oh, that’s Vex. We’ve known each other forever.” I shrug.
“Aaaaaand?” Mira asks, leaning forward.
“And, he ah, he said he was my man.” My face heats and I look away, trying to hide my beet red face.
“Well, now that’s something,” Pops says, with a gleam in his eye. “Turns out he doesn’t need my help after all.”
“There wouldn’t be any need,” Chewy says off handedly. “What?” she asks when we all stare at her. “He’s the chaplain. Which means he’s there for moral support and guidance. To be chosen for that job you kinda need to be in tune with people and have good values and stuff.”
“Weird. I just think of him as my annoying big brother,” Blanche says, trying to wrestle her child into her front pack.
“Are you ever gonna let that kid use her legs?” Ana asks, pointing at the flailing toddler.
“No. She’s the last of my babies. I want to keep her with me as long as I can,” Blanche answers before flipping Ana the bird.
“Yo, Loyal, I got a woman at the gate, says she knows you,” Saint calls out into the room.
I excuse myself from the group and make my way through the Common room, only stopping when Vex lays a gentle hand on my forearm.
“You good, babe?”
The endearment hits me in the chest, the warmth spreading to my stomach and even further down. “Yeah, I’m good, just someone at the gate for me.” I smile.
His brows pinch together slightly before his hand lands on my lower back. “Let’s go see who it is,” he says as he gently guides me out the doors.
We make our way down the drive toward the gates. There, leaning heavily on them is someone dressed in brightly colored clothing. My breath hitches and I pump my legs, sprinting to the gates, Vex following close behind.
“Joe! Oh, no, no, no, honey, can you hear me?” I touch her bruised face through the metal of the gates while Vex keys in the code to get them open.
Metal screeches and they roll open, Joe falling into my arms, both of us hitting the ground as my body takes her weight.
“What happened? Joe, can you hear me?”
“Hey now, no need for tears,” her hoarse voice whispers, throat working hard. “I just studied too hard, burned dinner.” She tries to smile at me through a split lip and I hold her to my chest.
“Hey! You all good?”
Footsteps thunder toward us, Switch’s booming voice washing over me. He’s a doctor. He’ll be able to help. I look around wildly for him as huge men surround us, talking gently so as not to scare my friend.
“Let me take her, sweetheart,” Vex says, moving to scoop her up. I nod numbly, then my EMT training starts to kick in.
“Looks like she’s been in the wars, so careful of her neck. Judging by her face she could have concussion and her posture at the gate could mean broken ribs, so try not to jostle her. Don’t want to puncture a lung.” I lick my cracked lips.
Vex searches my face before nodding once. “Thank you for the rundown, sweetheart. You did good.”
He takes her weight from me, gently moving her in his arms and then jogging to the clubhouse.
“Did good, girl,” Switch says gently. “How long you been studying for?”
“Not long. We’ve only had two in-person classes, the rest are online.”
He nods, his messy ginger hair flopping around, “You’re good. Get your EMT cert then maybe look into something further. I’ll help you any way I can.”
I stare at him in shock before whispering out a thank you. I’ll process that later, for now I need to get to Joe and make sure she’s alright.
I rush into the clubhouse, wildly searching for Vex. He’s laying Joe on the table the women were at. Mama Debs, Nell and Blanche’s eldest daughter Sage are corralling the kids out of the room as the men pile in behind me.
“Aunt Joe!” My head snaps to the sound of Bree’s voice and I stand in her and Addy’s way as they rush toward the woman.
Dropping to my knees I hold them tight to me, “Hey, Joe isn’t feeling very well at the moment, so we’ll just wait a little.” Addy snuggles into me while Bree tries to peek over my shoulder. Moving her back to look at me, I brush her hair from her face. “How do you girls know Joe?”
“One time mommy got hurt real bad and took us to a place so she could get better. Aunt Joe was there getting better too,” Addy whispers, her bottom lip trembling.
A presence behind me has me staring directly at Dex, his brows pulled in. He kneels down next to us, softening his features some. “When was the last time you saw your Aunt Joe?”
Bree and Addy share a look, before turning back to us. “Before mom was hurt. We were meant to be going to visit.”
“OK babies, let’s get you in the back with the other kids. I’ll let you get first pick of the movie. Yeah?” They both nod and let Mama Debs lead them away, their little heads swiveling to look at Joe before they leave the room.
“What the fuck?” Chef whispers. His vest says SAA, and I know he’s one of our front line security men, so I’m slightly nervous by the tone of his voice.
“How is it the originals have smuggled two little girls over state lines, and now a woman they know has turned up on our doorstep with the shit kicked outta her?”
I get off the ground, and stumble my way to Joe’s side, grasping her small hand in mine. “Joe, can you hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you. Nice work out there.” She peers at me through the one eye of hers that isn’t swollen shut, trying to smile. “Why are Addy and Bree here? Please tell me you’re helping them?” She squeezes my hand hard enough to hurt.
“Yeah, they’re staying with me and Vex.” I smile. “They’re sweet.”
“They are. So is that man of yours.” Even with her face battered, she still has a twinkle in her eye.
I roll my eyes before sobering. “I’m so happy you came here, Joe.” I sniff, “I’ll take care of you. Just, can you tell me who did this?”
She swallows, eyes closed, a fat tear rolling down her cheek. “I can’t, he - he’s the law, Loyal. I just needed somewhere safe where he won’t find me again.”
I look to Vex, then Dex and Marx. We have to do something. Keep her here or send her to one of our contacts. Either way, we have to keep her safe.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” the man named Fox asks, leaning closer.
“It’s Josette, but everyone calls me Joe, with an ‘e’,” she whispers hoarsely but still tries a smile. And a wink.
He smiles softly. “Joe, I’m going to show you a picture, can you let me know if this is the man who did this to you?”
He swipes his finger over his phone screen, then holds it up to Joe’s good eye. Her breathing starts to quicken and an awful whine leaves her lips.
“That’s enough!” I spin at Justice’s voice as he swipes Fox’s phone from Joe’s line of sight. “I think you know by her reaction he’s the bastard who did this. Who is he?”
Fox glares at Justice for a moment, his gaze shifting from my brother-cousin, to Joe then back again before his posture changes and he backs down. “His name is Travis Hitchens. He’s a deputy in the Rose Grove Sheriff Department. He’s also the father of the twins.”
“What the fuck?!” Vex roars. He looks fit to burst, but one glance at Joe has him sobering a little, jaw clenched tight but obviously not wanting to scare her any.
“No matter who he is, we need to know if he came here looking for the kids, or looking for Joe.” Dex demands of the room.
“Both,” Joe coughs. “He came here looking for me. He thinks I know where the girls are.”
“Well, you do now.” Dex says, hands on hips. “I’m calling Church.”
Marx raises his brow and smirks. “Sure thing, Prez.”
The men start to file out of the common room, leaving me with Joe and some of the Girl Gang.
“Stay here and take care of your friend, babe. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Vex drops a tense kiss to my crown and storms out of the room.
“Oh girl, I may be in pain and only have one working eye but woooo, that man is fiiiiiiine!”
I snort, looking down at my friend. “He is, and he’ll help me take care of everything. I’ve got you Joe.”
She relaxes, a little, laying her head back on the table.
“Ah, cher, let’s get you somewhere a little more comfortable, yah?” Damian moves to lift her small body off the table, but is blocked by Justice stepping in front of him.
They stare at each other for a moment before Damian raises his hands in the air with a grin.
“You can rest in my bed.” Justice gently slides his hands behind Joe’s shoulders and under her knees, lifting her ever so gently. He cradles her against his chest as he moves through the room, heading to the hall where the prospect and guest rooms are.
“Well, would you look at that,” Mira whispers, eyes on my brother-cousin. “I feel a book coming on.” She takes a notebook and pencil from inside her bra and plops down onto the couch.
“Don’t worry about her, she always does that,” Ana says, waving a hand in the air at her friend.
“Now, more importantly, we got an asshole woman beater on the loose, and two little girls to keep safe,” Blanche says, hands on hips.
“So, show us where the weapons are, Loyal,” Lovely grins.
I give her a nod and rise to my feet. I had already pieced together that the girls witnessed someone murder their mother, but now that I know it was their very own father that did it and he came here and beat my friend to find out where they were?
Nope. Not having it. I’ve spent my life with men who treated women and children that way, and never again will that happen on my watch.