Chapter 12 Raven
“Wait. So Jinx is living at the clubhouse as a Kutte Bunny?” I ask in surprise.
As Athena’s office manager and receptionist, I’m not privy to many details about her patients.
However, since Athena specializes in treating women who have experienced trauma, I’m not clueless.
“I would think living in a clubhouse full of men would be the last place she’d want to be. ”
Athena shrugs. “I can’t go into detail about her experience, but we discussed it this morning, and I can understand why she feels safe there. They are good men. They won’t take advantage of her, and they’ll keep her safe.”
I haven’t had as much interaction with the Demon Dawgs as Athena has, but I know several of the women who are involved with the club.
They all have positive things to say about the men, especially about how focused they are on keeping the women safe.
I’m friends with Kingsley, who was once a Kutte Bunny before Grimm claimed her.
She told me the story of how she wound up at the clubhouse and under their protection.
“She’ll be safe with them,” I agree.
“She will. I don’t know how she’ll feel about our personal lives bleeding into our professional relationship.
I’ve told her that I could help her find a new therapist if she feels uncomfortable staying with me.
She said she’ll think about it. I want you to put together a list of therapists around here who are taking new patients, just in case she decides to make a switch. ”
I nod as I pull up the list of therapists to start making calls. Before our first patient arrives, I have a list of 10 who are willing to take on a new patient for Jinx to choose from. I can find more if she doesn’t find a match in the first set. After that, I get started on the billing.
When lunch rolls around, I debate whether to go out and get it myself or have it delivered.
I know I’m hesitating because of what happened yesterday.
I’m not ready to deal with Tony if he decides to harass me again.
I need to be better prepared if he approaches me again.
So, I ordered a delivery from the local Thai place and continued working.
Patients came and went until I forgot about the possibility of Jinx calling.
“Oh, Jinx, hello,” I say when she calls. “Athena told me that you might be calling. She had me put together a list of therapists you might feel more comfortable with, unless you’ve decided to stay with her?”
Jinx chuckles. “It’s nice of Athena to have you look for new therapists, but I considered the situation and realized that I’m okay with staying with her.
I know she’ll be at the clubhouse occasionally.
The guys already know that I’m not interested in sex.
If they realize that I’m seeing a therapist, they’ll likely make assumptions.
They probably won’t be too far off the mark.
I think I like the idea of seeing a therapist who is familiar with motorcycle clubs. ”
I find her statement interesting, but I don’t dwell on the meaning. However, I feel the need to manage her expectations. “Athena has only been with Ranch for about a week. However, she’s been working with Caitlin at Crossroads for longer.”
“As long as she’s aware that they’re good men, I’m fine. I don’t want to go to another therapist and convince them that I feel safer living and working in a biker’s clubhouse.”
“Good point. I’m glad you’re staying with Athena. I’ll see you next week for your appointment.”
I didn’t get a chance to tell Athena the good news until we were preparing to leave.
“Jinx called, and she wants to keep you as her therapist,” I tell her as I finish my filing.
‘Oh, good. I was hoping seeing me this morning didn’t cause her to rethink therapy.”
“She said she wanted to stay with you because she didn’t think you’d try to talk her into leaving the clubhouse. She thought you’d understand that she feels safer there than anywhere else.”
Athena chuckles. “If she had come to me a few months ago, I would have been the one telling her to run. But I understand where she’s coming from now.
The guys will never hurt her, and they offer a level of protection she wouldn’t get if she were living on her own, speaking of living on their own.
How are you doing after the attack? Have you been having trouble sleeping? ”
I thought about the nightmare I had had the previous night and shrugged. “I had a nightmare last night, but other than that, I’m okay.”
“Did you dream about the attack? Did you remember something that you could tell Shield?”
“Oh, no. Actually, the nightmare had very little to do with the attack. At least I don’t think it did. It was just weird. I was running through the streets, and someone was chasing me.”
Athena pauses as she picks up her briefcase. “Could that be what happened? Maybe someone saw you walking and chased you into the parking lot?”
Rather than deny her suggestion, I nod and pretend that I’m seriously considering it.
“You may be right. Maybe my subconscious is telling me something.” I don’t say that I think my subconscious is warning me about how much more dangerous Tony Martin is than I originally thought.
He’s more dangerous because he’s not alone.
I shudder at the memory of the dream as I open the bottom drawer of my desk to remove my purse. I have some shopping to do.
“Do you think I should contact Shield about my dream? It seems weak.”
“Hmm, I don’t know. It can’t hurt.”
“I’ll think about it. Have a good weekend.”
“You, too. If you need me, call me.” Athena hugs before we part ways in the parking lot.
Instead of going home, I head over to the swap meet.
Between filing and billing, I made a list of items I need to ensure I'm prepared if I run into Tony Martin again. Not only do I need to replace my taser, but I now know that I need other weapons in my arsenal. If I can’t find them at Kobey’s, I’ll search elsewhere.
Luckily, I have a few contacts who can hook me up with what I need, and one of them has a spot in Kobey’s.
The hum of Kobey’s Swap Meet wraps around me the second I step through the entrance—vendors shouting deals, music thumping from somewhere down the row, the scent of kettle corn and grilled meat hanging thick in the air.
It should feel normal. Familiar. I’ve been here a dozen times.
Even so, I don’t feel safe. I can’t stop myself from glancing around and searching for Tony.
After yesterday, I expect him to pop up every time I’m in public, and that pisses me off.
Three rows down, past the knockoff sunglasses and vintage jerseys, I spot Luis’s booth.
He’s leaning back in a folding chair, boots crossed at the ankles, talking to a customer.
His table is covered in everything from pocketknives to flashlights to things that blur the line between legal and questionable.
Perfect.
He glances up as I approach, and his expression shifts immediately—easy grin, but his eyes sharpen.
“Raven?” he says, standing. “Didn’t expect to see you today.”
“Hey, Luis.” I force a smile, but it feels thin. “You got a minute?”
He nods toward the customer. “Give me one sec.”
I hover at the edge of the booth, scanning the crowd while I wait. No one stands out. That doesn’t mean anything.
Luis wraps up quickly and turns back to me. “What’s up?”
I lean in slightly, lowering my voice. “I need a new taser.”
His brows lift, surprise flashing across his face. “What happened to the one I sold you?”
“I lost it.”
He studies me for a beat longer than I like. “You okay?”
“Not really,” I admit, the words slipping out before I can stop them. “I have a problem.”
“A man?”
“Isn’t it always?”
He nods solemnly. “There are some nutters out there of the female persuasion, but yeah, the majority of them are men. What do you need?”
“The taser and anything else you can think of that I can use to defend myself if it comes down to it. He’s bigger than me and much stronger.” I also don’t think he’ll be coming for me alone, but I don’t say that.
The easy atmosphere around us fades. Luis straightens, all business now.
“Tell me what’s been going on.”
I give him the modified version of my run-in with Tony, even adjusting my scarf to show him the bruising. It’s less than it was, but not completely gone. Not yet.
I see the anger flash in his eyes before he ducks behind the table and pulls out a taser similar to the one I bought from him previously.
“This one is more powerful,” he says. “Even if you can’t get full contact, it’s strong enough to drop him.”
“What else?” I ask quietly. “What can I carry that can help if the taser isn’t enough?”
Luis doesn’t hesitate. He starts pulling items together—efficient, deliberate.
“Pepper spray,” he says, setting a small canister on the table. “Good range, gives you time to get away.”
A small, heavy flashlight follows. “Bright enough to disorient someone at night, heavy enough to use as a weapon.”
Then a personal alarm. “Loud as hell. Draws attention fast.”
I stare at the growing pile, my fear subsiding as I watch the arsenal grow.
“Raven,” he says, softer now. “You got someone you can call if things get bad?”
I hesitate. Carver’s face flashes in my mind, uninvited and entirely too tempting.
“I’m… working on that,” I say.
Luis nods, like he understands more than I’ve said. “Good. Don’t handle this alone.”
He slides everything into a bag and hands it to me.
“If you need help,” he adds, meeting my eyes, “you come find me. No questions asked.”
I nod, clutching the bag like it’s a lifeline.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
As I turn to leave, I bump into a hard body. That body belongs to someone I wasn’t expecting to see.