ELLE
Zodiac’s return to Baton Rouge left me restless and emotional. Many afternoons, I found myself crying against Shay in the family room. Nothing in particular set me off. I was simply stuck in a malaise without Zodiac.
“I shouldn’t have indulged my crush,” I told my mom while Ford took Sutter fishing to get him away from my mopiness. “I thought I’d want Zodiac less, but time together has only made the need more intense.”
“I blame Ford. He encouraged you to follow your heart. I wanted you to stay far away from Zodiac. Your dad claimed that was chickenshit thinking, but I was right.”
Even though I nodded, I preferred my dad’s plan because it allowed me to spend time with Zodiac. Shay sensed I was bullshitting her and hugged me tighter.
“You can’t move to Baton Rouge.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Zodiac won’t move here.”
“I know. Stop hitting me with facts. I want silly dreams,” I said and cuddled against my mom. “Tell me that this long-distance thing will work out.”
“Your problem is you aren’t busy enough to take your mind off him.
I bet Zodiac misses you, but he has a club to run and territory to monitor.
Meanwhile, you’ve been home more because Sutter isn’t attending a physical school.
You used to spend more time at the Sorority House and condos.
Maybe if you hung out with your friends more, you’d be less upset over Zodiac. ”
“What about Sutter while I’m off partying with the foxes?”
“He can hang out with Ford. Let your dad have fun while you keep yourself busy. Soon, the baby will be here, and your time won’t be so flexible.”
Cupping my mom’s face, I kissed her forehead and cheeks. “You’re so smart.”
Shay wrapped me tighter against her like she did when I was a scared little girl. My parents were the reason I had the balls to date a man like Zodiac.
Over the next week, I tried to fill my days better, so I wasn’t as focused on missing Zodiac. I visited Cher and Stevie in the mornings before coming home to have lunch with Sutter. Then, I’d help Shay at her office or check on the safehouses.
Years ago, the Little Memphis Motorcycle Club bought an apartment complex to board club allies. Over time, women in trouble were moved into the empty apartments. By the time I was an adult, the Shelby Road Apartments were a safehouse for women and kids starting over.
My mom worked with many of the women to find them jobs, organize daycare for their kids, and rebuild broken lives.
I was always proud of Shay for helping people.
That was why I volunteered to supervise the safehouses, like the apartment building.
Offering a second chance to hurt women and kids felt like a family business.
The smaller safehouses were outside of town and more lowkey. However, the apartment complex had security doors at both entrances and the outdoor parking lot. We also kept a “den mother” and hired guns on sight to ensure problems were dealt with quickly.
Today’s supervisor was Barb, a no-nonsense woman with long gray hair, a weathered face, and sparkling blue eyes.
Nova and I were on our way home for lunch when Barb texted me for help with a woman looking for her daughter. Taking a detour, I arrived at the apartment complex just after eleven.
I decided to park a bit back from the building in case the woman proved to be sketchy.
“Is this dangerous?” Nova asked, glancing at my stomach.
“Probably not. If you hear yelling or sirens, don’t panic. If trouble breaks out, duck down and call your brother.”
“You should get someone else to handle this,” Nova mumbled. “Maybe we can call Clint or Exile or Boone.”
Remembering what Zodiac said at Cher’s party, I asked, “Why Boone?”
“He’s big and strong.”
Cocking a brow, I mentally filed away her possible interest in my friend. Grabbing my bag, I assured her, “Everything’s fine. I’m already here, and this is my job. Just chill and play games on your phone. Ooh, why not read one of those saucy romance books I saw on your Kindle when I was spying?”
Nova’s mouth popped open in horror as if she was caught looking at porn. Leaving her to blush, I walked down the block toward Barb and the middle-aged woman.
I scanned the busy road for trouble. A group of teenage guys were bunched up at the corner. A man sat in a car across the street. Another man lingered near the deli up the road. None of them looked overly suspicious, but I made a mental note of their movements as I joined Barb.
“Listen, Kristine, I can’t help you,” Barb told the prim brunette. “Maybe she can.”
Barb’s hand was near her thigh, signaling that I was dealing with a liar.
Kristine focused her sad eyes on me. “I’m trying to find my daughter.”
“Why would you think she’s here?”
“I heard this is where women who are in trouble go.”
“How is she in trouble? Is it drugs? Is she transitioning from a life of prostitution?”
Kristine’s eyes widened, and she fought a frown. Finally, she shook her head. “No, she had a troubled marriage.”
“Oh, I get you. We do help women like that, but we don’t bring them here,” I said, gesturing at the apartment complex hidden behind high bushes and security fencing. “We have safehouses located outside of town for abused women. Does your daughter have kids?”
“Yes, and I haven’t seen them in weeks. I need to know they’re safe.”
I handed Kristine a card with the information for my mom’s office. “It’s possible your daughter is in a state-funded safehouse. These people should be able to locate her.”
“Are you sure she’s not here?”
“Why would we put an abused woman and children at a location with recovering addicts and former prostitutes?”
Kristine eyed the apartment, wanting to call bullshit on my lies. Yet, I sold them so calmly that she couldn’t help believing me. My appearance probably helped. I was wearing a blue maternity shirt, double braids, and my glasses. Nothing about me screamed scary biker bitch.
Glancing at the card, Kristine mumbled, “I was told this was the safehouse where my daughter would be.”
“Who told you that? Was it someone from this organization?”
“No, just people who were familiar with how it works.”
“We’re obviously very tight-lipped about where we house abused women and children. That’s why we keep them in rural settings, so they’re less likely to be spotted by the people they’re running from.”
“That makes sense,” Kristine said, seeming unsure as she glanced back at the man in the car parked up the street.
“Here, let me text the woman who runs the organization, so she expects you,” I said while texting Clint and Rock about the problem at the apartments.
“Of course, you won’t be able to visit the safehouse where your daughter is staying.
For safety reasons, we’ll have you meet her and the kids in a public place.
We’ll also provide security to ensure that if you’re followed by her abusive husband, he won’t be able to harm your daughter, grandkids, or you. ”
“These rules keep people safe,” Barb explained as a way to distract Kristine while I warned Clint that a woman was scoping out information for an abusive husband.
Kristine kept eyeing the apartment. “Can I just check inside?”
“This chick is lying,” Barb announced, keeping Kristine from signaling the man in the car. “I bet a pimp sent her to find one of his runaway girls. We ought to call the police.”
“Don’t be stupid,” Kristine scoffed. “I just want to see my daughter!”
“Look at a fucking picture!” Barb hollered while I sent an alert message to the entire club.
Barb had been a hooker for most of her life. The woman looked crusty and frail, but she’d survived far scarier threats than this dumb bitch trying to force her way into the apartment complex.
“I’m going to call the police on you!” Kristine shouted and backed away when she thought Barb might hit her.
Kristine seemed unsure what to do. She eyed the apartment’s entrance and then looked back at the man.
“I’m calling the police,” I told Kristine while signaling for Barb to get inside and find security.
“You should have helped us,” Kristine said as the man left his car. “Now, it’s too late. You’ve made Keith angry.”
I spotted a gun hanging from the young man’s hand. I shoved my phone into my purse and retrieved my pistol. Kristine called out to Keith, saying some shit about how we were hiding his wife. While his attention was on her, I hurried behind a car parked at the curb to use as cover.
With people on the street and Barb likely watching from behind the gate, I yelled, “He’s got a gun!”
People across the street looked around. The younger guys at the corner scattered. I heard an alarm sound behind me in the apartment complex.
Keith’s dark eyes locked on me as he lifted his weapon. I saw such hate in his gaze. I could imagine the fear his wife must have felt when he lost his temper. Men like him offered little mercy to anyone else.
My dad’s training left me calm and ready. Without hesitation, I aimed for Keith’s wide chest and fired. Staggering back, he fired once and hit the ground.
As I pulled the trigger again, people on the street scattered at the sound of the pop, pop, pop from my gun.
Behind me, Kristine screamed. My gaze remained locked on Keith as he dropped to the concrete and gasped for air.
Despite the chaos, I heard the clicking of Kristine’s heels as she ran for me.
I turned just in time for her to slam my body into the car.
My face cracked against the side mirror, stunning me for only a moment.
I saw a blur of movement coming for my face.
Flipping my pistol, I slammed the handle into her mouth.
Shattered teeth dropped from the bloody mess left behind.
Kristine staggered backward, clawing at her face.
I heard motorcycles in the distance. My mind flashed to Sutter at breakfast. He and Ford had been goofing around. My life had felt so perfect, even if I missed Zodiac.
When the sound of motorcycles filled the air, Kristine ran toward the dead man in the road. Stumbling, she lost her heels and nearly face planted. I watched her change directions and run away from the approaching motorcycles.
My head ached from making contact with the side mirror. My phone vibrated wildly in my purse. People wanted to know I was okay, but I was afraid to take my eyes off Kristine.
Even with the noise in the air, I heard her screaming as she ran into the intersection.
She dodged the first few honking vehicles.
But her banshee cry was silenced once an SUV collided with her.
I stared shocked as her body flipped over the top of the large black vehicle and skidded across the concrete.
Witnessing the chunks of her flesh left behind on the road sent me into a panic. I felt like the world had gone insane. Crying now, I wanted to go home. I needed to feel Sutter in my arms. I also wished I had told Zodiac that I loved him.
Motorcycles rolled onto the sidewalk, creating a wall around me. Sabrina was off her ride first and dropped next to me.
“Are you hurt?” she asked, sounding afraid in the same way she did when Lula went missing, and our friends were hurt. “You’re bleeding.”
“I hit my head on the car.”
“Ambulances are on the way,” Rock said, squatting next to me and checking my bloody temple. “Do we know who the asshole and bitch are?”
“They wanted someone staying here.”
Rock lifted my chin, so I would look into his pretty seafoam-colored eyes. “You did well. Did the guy get off any shots?”
“He fired once into the ground. I fired six times. I don’t know if they hit anything behind him.”
Rock grinned at how I remembered my training. “We’re going to get you checked at the hospital.”
“That woman ran into traffic. She’s all fucked up.”
“Fuck that bitch,” Sabrina snarled.
Goldie took Rock’s spot next to me and put on a soft smile. “How’s little Zodiac?”
I rubbed my belly, feeling the flutters of my son’s tiny movements. “He wishes his father was here,” I mumbled before starting to cry again. “Or maybe I’m the one who wishes that.”
Goldie and Sabrina cuddled against me while more members of the club arrived. I heard Rock taking charge of the arriving police. Boone and Rowdy appeared in front of me.
“She looks okay,” Boone said to someone on the phone and snapped a photo of me. He squatted down and asked, “Your mom said Nova was with you. Is she here or did you drop her off somewhere?”
“She’s in my car up the block,” I said and grabbed his shirt sleeve. “Be gentle with her. She thinks you’re big and strong.”
Boone gave me a funny look, stuck between a smile and a frown. After he left, I looked at Sabrina and stared into her eyes. She looked so much like her mom, but she was a tough fucker like her dad.
“I usually love hurting abusive men and their enablers,” I said, crying again. “Why am I so sad and scared?”
“You’re just hormonal. It’s not personal. You’re still a badass.”
“Don’t tell my dad that I cried,” I whispered to Sabrina. “I don’t want him to worry about me.”
Sabrina kissed my head while Goldie hugged me. The ambulances soon arrived. I caught sight of the paramedics in the intersection with what remained of Kristine. Another group of EMTs tried to do something with Keith.
Clint arrived as Goldie and Sabrina walked me to a third ambulance. The fear in my brother’s blue eyes broke my heart. I offered him a smile as he climbed into the ambulance with me.
“She’s fine,” Sabrina insisted as she let Clint take her place. “They just want to check her out to be safe.”
I gripped my brother’s hand and asked, “Should you stay here to be in charge?”
“That’s what Rock is for. I’d handle things if it were his sister.”
“Yes, you would,” I said before the EMT started asking me questions.
When Clint exhaled deeply, I could see how the last six months had weighed heavily on his shoulders. Yet, he offered me a soft smile that I immediately mimicked.
Our lives had changed so much in such a short amount of time. He found his soul mate. I’d made a baby with a guy I really shouldn’t have fallen for but couldn’t deny. Making big, scary moves was easier with great people watching our backs.