Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
MOJAVE
The idea of leaving Frankie home alone seemed to bother Rachel.
She left when the parents gave us both a pointed look, but she stood outside the front gate after they’d already driven off, staring at the house with a deep frown on her face.
I understood better now why she felt so anxious about it.
I’d thought Frankie was like me as a kid.
But my parents actually cared when I came home.
They cared who I was spending time with.
They wouldn’t have just accepted some stranger coming into their home asking to take me for a few hours.
If it’d been anyone else, anyone not safe, Frankie could’ve been hurt. Or worse.
“I’ll watch over her,” I told her when she didn’t look like she could walk away. “I can park my bike out front and wait until one of them comes home.”
Rachel finally turned to look at me, the distress clearly written on her face. “Thank you. I appreciate that. But I don’t think I can just let this go. This isn’t safe.” She grimaced. “I’m sorry. I know you and your crew are adamant that you’re safe around kids, but–”
“But I’m a stranger hanging out with a little kid,” I nodded. “I get it. I’m still gonna show up. I promised I would. But I can call you too if it makes you feel better. Or we can pick her up together.”
Her expression softened and she gave me a small smile. “I think for now, that’d be best. Thank you, Mojave.”
I nodded once, shoving my hands into my pockets and tipping my head toward the direction of the clubhouse. “I’m gonna grab my bike. I’ll walk you to your car first, though.”
She huffed, raising an eyebrow at me. “You’re one of those protective types, aren’t you? Always walking women home?”
I shrugged. “It’s safer.”
She hummed, falling into step with me as we headed in the direction of the school parking lot where she’d left her car.
Going to pick up my bike would mean Frankie would be home alone for a bit, but I didn’t think standing around in front of her porch would look good for me.
At least if I was on my bike, I could leave if any pigs started coming around.
“The more I learn about your crew, the more I realize just how wrong the town is about you,” she commented out of the blue. “I haven’t met one of you yet who makes me feel uncomfortable or unsafe. You’re all just a bunch of softies in vests.”
Making a non committal sound, I moved to her other side, putting myself between her and the street. It was quiet, most people were in their homes eating their suppers right now, but I still didn't want her by the street.
She gave me a significant look, her expression amused, but thankfully didn’t keep pushing about it. She changed the subject back to Frankie, asking, “Has she done anything to make you think she feels unsafe at home? Like she’s afraid to go back?”
I shook my head, my eyes on the road in front of us, scanning for danger like I always did. It was habit by now, and with the sun down, it was important. The town wasn’t terrible, but there was still crime. Especially with the recent uptick in activity from another crew.
“She’s being bullied,” I commented eventually. “She’s had a bloody nose before and she’s anxious about the walk, but once she’s past the gate, she always seems fine.”
Rachel pursed her lips, the line of her brow drawn together tightly in the middle. “I was worried about that. Some of the things she’s said pointed at that being a possibility. Do you know if she’s mentioned it to her parents at all?”
I just shrugged. Frankie and I really didn’t talk much.
I noticed her following me, got her home safe, and we started the whole thing over again the next day.
I didn’t think pushing her to talk to me would go anywhere.
Kids talked when they were comfortable. I learned that when the kids started showing up at the clubhouse.
Some of them didn’t have a problem walking up to any of the crew, but others took time to warm up before talking.
Rachel let out a sigh, but I didn’t think it was directed at me.
Just at the situation as a whole. “I love my job. Love helping kids find safe and happy homes. But it’s heartbreaking sometimes too.
I wish there wasn’t a need for my position at all, but unfortunately, that’s unlikely to ever be the case. ”
“You’re a good person,” I murmured. “It’s good they have someone like you looking out for them.”
She shot me a small smile before facing forward again.
“You’d be surprised how often people disagree with that.
Parents don’t often like to hear that things need to change.
Kids don’t always know what’s best and fight when we pull them out of an unsafe home.
But when I see those same kids thriving in a safer environment, I know it’s worth it.
I’ll do what I need to do in order to make sure the kids are safe. ”
It honestly didn’t surprise me that people didn’t like social workers.
A lot of the crew complained when she got involved when Wraith’s little brother showed up.
But he’d been covered in bruises and too thin.
It made sense that family services got involved, just to make sure he was okay.
Maybe if someone near Xander’s childhood home would’ve paid attention like Rachel did and stepped in earlier, he might not have gotten hurt.
We arrived at Rachel’s car in the parking lot and she turned to face me, giving me a smile as she offered me a hand to shake. “Thanks again for calling today. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, same time?”
“I’ll be there.”
Though… if I wanted to make sure Frankie showed up to school in the first place, it might be best for me to show up early too. If she needed an escort to get her to and from school, I’d make the time. No kid should be afraid to go to school.
Frankie’s mom didn’t even notice me when she got home, dropped off by a coworker in the same diner uniform.
She trudged through the gate, looking exhausted and unhappy, and I left once I heard the front door lock behind her.
I managed to get a few hours of sleep, but nightmares woke me up and I never bothered trying to get back to sleep after being woken up like that, so I showed up well before Frankie had to go to school, parking my bike in front of the school and walking to her house so I could leave straight from there once I was done.
Bounding out the door, Frankie beamed when she saw me, bouncing up to my side and looking around. “Where’s your bike?”
“At the school. Ready?”
She fell into step with me, eyes scanning her surroundings.
I turned my attention forward, doing the same, narrowing my eyes when a group of older looking kids rounded the corner about a block in front of us and Frankie’s footsteps faltered.
I put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a significant look.
“They aren’t going to do anything with me here. Keep going.”
She looked hesitant, uncomfortable, but eventually nodded and started forward again, though slower than before, her eyes locked on the kids ahead of us who were too busy laughing and talking to notice us.
“Are we goin’ to the clubhouse after school?” she asked after a minute.
I nodded. “If you want. Rachel will be there.”
That made Frankie wrinkle her nose. I frowned down at her. She’d seemed okay with Rachel the day before.
“What?”
“My parents said she was being nosy. I heard them complaining while I got ready for school.”
It took work to keep my face straight, a flash of annoyance making me want to scowl. “It’s her job to be nosy. She wants to make sure you’re safe.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but one of the kids in front of us finally noticed we were there. Frankie’s argument died in her mouth, her hand reaching to grab my cut as she slowed down again. She looked around, pointing toward an alley, and suggested, “Let’s go that way instead.”
Studying her face, I tried to decide the best course of action.
I wanted to keep going. If the kids saw her with me, they’d back off eventually.
But I didn’t want to make Frankie more scared by forcing her to keep going.
Especially when those kids had stopped walking and were now pretending to stand around and chat. Waiting for us.
Maybe tomorrow, I’d bring my bike. I’d need to ask her parents if she could ride it though. Butch would probably have the stuff she needed to be safe.
That didn’t solve today’s problem. What made little kids feel safer so we could keep going?
“Want to hold my hand?” I offered.
It was the only thing I could think of. I saw a few of the crew kids holding hands with their parents when we were out at club meals or something. That was a safety thing, wasn’t it?
Frankie’s grip on my cut loosened and she took my hand instead, edging close enough to my side that she was practically a barnacle. I didn’t comment on it, leading the way towards school again. Whatever she needed to feel safe.
The kids eyed us as we passed them, whispering and snickering, but they didn’t approach.
They seemed wary of me and didn't want to get closer until they had a better idea of who I was. I considered what I’d do if they actually approached.
They were kids, even if they were little shits, and it wasn’t like I could hurt them.
I wouldn’t let them hurt Frankie, though, either.
Maybe I’d ask Rachel.
Luckily, we arrived at the school without incident.
The older kids walked past us when we headed toward the elementary school, and a teacher was waiting out front, ushering kids in from the car drop off line with a smile and a wave.
One, a male teacher, did a doubletake when he noticed me and Frankie and made a beeline for us, alarm written all over his face.
“Frankie? Who’s this?” he asked anxiously, looking ready to get between me and the kid to separate us. His reaction didn’t bother me. People in town had bad opinions of my crew. I’d rather he give a shit enough to ask than ignore a kid showing up to school holding hands with a stranger.
“Mojave,” Frankie answered, a suspicious frown on her face. I narrowed my eyes on her. Why did she look at him like that?
The man still looked seconds away from calling the cops, so I offered him an explanation, tipping my head toward the kids who were still hovering outside the middle school doors. “She’s getting bullied. I told her parents I’d walk her to and from school so she’d be safe.”
He startled for a moment before sucking in a breath.
“Ohhh! You’re one of those groups!” He let out a relieved breath before introducing himself.
“I’m Arthur Castillo, the vice principal.
You know, I heard of those bikers who helped kids in tough situations get home safely.
I didn’t realize the bikers in our town did the same thing. ”
I shrugged. I wasn’t sure if our crew did or didn’t. I wasn’t part of that. I was just here for Frankie. I tugged her hand a little, jerking my chin at the school. “Go. Me and Rachel will be here in the afternoon. No skipping school. You’re smarter than that.”
She shot me a smirk and nodded, releasing my hand and waving as she headed inside. Only once she was through the doors did I look away, turning my attention back to the vice principal.
“She’s been getting bullied for a while now.
It’s not recent. You need to do better watching out for her,” I said.
Then walked away while he was still gaping at me.
I didn’t really care about his opinions on my comment.
It was true. If he and the other teachers at the school had been paying attention, they would’ve noticed something was wrong earlier.
If they couldn’t handle the job, they shouldn’t have chosen a job that had to do with kids.