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I was so nervous while the men were gone.

The old ladies remained gathered in the common room.

We whispered and fretted. I was thinking of an excuse to return to the house.

I wanted to be alone. I was saved by my phone.

When it rang, it scared me. I wondered who would be calling me on a Saturday night.

I took it out of my pocket and glanced at it.

I didn’t recognize the number, but I cautiously answered it anyway.

“Oh, hello. This is a surprise. Of course, I remember you. That was a terrible experience. What can I do for you?” I asked, wondering why she was contacting me.

“Well, I need to explain a little first. Do you have time to talk, or is this a bad time?” she asked.

“I can talk, though I am waiting for someone to return. When he does, I’ll have to go. We’ll be having a family gathering.”

“Oh, no problem. I’ll try to keep it short. First, I heard that you are in a better situation. Your abuser is not part of your life. In fact, I heard a rumor that you and Dr. Phoenix are seeing each other.”

“Yes, we are. We’re together. I don’t know if you know anything about motorcycle clubs, but he claimed me as his old lady.”

She gasped. “So it is true. Wonderful, I’m so happy for you.

Well, to the reason I’m calling. I have a weird request. I run a support group for victims of abuse.

I had someone new join the other night. She’s kinda in a similar situation as you were.

She’s young, only twenty. Her boyfriend beat her badly.

She’s pregnant. I have to say, I hate abuse, especially when it involves sexual abuse of a child, abuse of pets, a pregnant woman, or the elderly.

It makes me want to smack the abusers around.

“She’s having a hard time, and I was wondering if it would be possible for you to talk to her.

She needs encouragement that things can get better.

She thinks I’m just saying that, and it’s not true.

She more or less said I had to show her someone who got away and was able to have a good life and all that.

I immediately thought of you and what I’d heard.

I hope I’m not being too presumptuous. I understand if you didn’t want to do it, but I had to ask.

I try to instill confidence and hope in the victims. It’s why I teach self-defense classes along with the counseling I do. ” When she paused, I reassured her.

“Amanda, I don’t mind at all that you asked. I had no idea you did outside counseling and self-defense. Wow. Impressive. What kind of defense do you teach?”

“Mostly karate and some Muay Thai. I’m one of those women who gets a thrill out of throwing knives and using nunchucks.” She chuckled.

“You’re a very talented lady. What do you do when you’re not working, counseling, or teaching?”

“When I’m not doing those, I’m more of an introvert. I like to socialize one-on-one. I’ll have a glass of sweet wine or maybe a Jack with sweet tea or lemonade. I’ll read a crime or fantasy book or crochet. However, I have a daughter under two, so I don’t get to do those as much.”

“It sounds like you and I need to get to know each other. And I have a few women you should meet. I know several, if you want strong role models to show your attendees. I would love to help. Would you like me to speak to her at a particular time or day?”

“Oh, thank you, that would be wonderful. I can’t thank you enough.

Let me speak to her and convince her to give it a try.

I didn’t ask her first in case you said no.

She’s stubborn, but then again, I am, too.

Will it be alright if I call you back in a few days and let you know what she said? Hopefully, I can get her to agree.”

“I’d love it. If I happen not to answer for some reason, leave a message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. I’m glad you called, Amanda.” I meant it.

“So am I, and thank you for being so helpful. I can’t say thank you enough. I’ll let you go. Have a good evening. Goodbye.”

“You, too. Goodbye,” I said before she disconnected.

Amanda’s call had the desired effect. It helped to divert my thoughts from what Bones and the men were finding, though not entirely.

I was touched that she thought I could help someone else out.

It made me wonder how many people were out there living the same way I did.

And would they find a way to get free? I was happy to help support Amanda’s efforts in any way I could.

“Who was that? Or should I not ask?” Eliana asked.

“It was Amanda, the victim’s advocate from the hospital. Remember, you were there when she introduced herself.”

“Oh, Amanda is the loveliest person. Is she okay?”

“She is. She has a counseling group and self-defense classes for victims. She got a new person in her counseling, one in a similar situation to mine. She was asking if I might talk to her to encourage her. I told her yes.”

“That would be inspiring to many. You should see if that could be a regular thing you do, if you like it. Everyone needs support and mentors. You’re moving in the right direction. If it helps others to get away from abuse and start a new life, I say go for it,” Eliana said.

The other old ladies heard her, leading to us discussing the request and Amanda.

It helped us pass the time. It was close to two hours after the guys left before they returned.

They came walking in wearing frowns. I saw Wire was holding something in his hands.

He didn’t stop to say a word. He passed us and went down the hall to where he had his office.

The others stopped to update us. Bones knew what I needed, and he gave it to me.

His hug was the right amount of squeeze to make me feel secure.

“See, we’re back and not a scratch on us. Well, none but the one on Hazard,” he grinned at his club brother.

“Damn tree limb. It was half-buried in the ground and covered with debris. I didn’t see it,” Hazard grumbled.

“What happened?” Natalya asked.

“He tripped and fell on his face. He cut up that ugly mug of his. I told him if he did it a few more times, it might improve his odds of catching a woman,” Nitro teased. Hazard gave him the finger.

“Screw you, Nitro. I don’t need help getting women. That’s your problem. Maybe you should go trip and cut up your face,” Hazard taunted.

They razzed each other for a good minute or more, making everyone laugh, and you felt the tension ease. Finally, Agony called them to order.

“Okay, you can insult each other to death later. The ladies are anxious to know what we found. Someone, we’re not sure who, put up a trail camera and built a blind in the woods.

If they had binoculars, it would give the person a clear view of the front gate.

Wire is seeing what he can get off it while I make a call.

If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be back, and maybe we’ll have at least partial answers tonight.

” Without another word, Agony left the room.

“Who is he calling?” I asked.

“The owner of the property where we found it. Mr. Engelston doesn’t hunt or allow others to do it on his land.

Therefore, there’s no reason for the trail camera or blind to be there, but Agony wants to double-check.

He’s telling him that Vixen got loose and ran over there, and that’s how we found it,” Dare explained.

“Well, that’s not a total lie. She does like to slip out sometimes when the gate opens. She thinks she has to patrol the whole area,” Natalya said, chuckling.

“She wants to guard her family well,” Knight added.

Their remarks prompted me to ask how long they had had Vixen and where they had gotten her.

She was an intimidating dog, but if she knew you, she was sweet as could be.

If I were someone up to no good and I was faced with her growling at me, I’d faint after I shit myself.

I told them that, which made everyone crack up, even me.

“I know we have a lot going on right now, so I’m not saying we do it soon. But would you be open to us having a dog? It could be a rottie like Vixen or another breed. Though I do think I’d like one that can double as a guard dog.” Bones slipped in there.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me? I’m not opposed to one, but let us get settled more and get rid of Deon,” I replied.

“I can live with that,” he said.

It was only a few minutes more before Agony rejoined us.

“Mr. Engelston said that he didn’t put a camera up or build a blind, nor did he permit anyone to do it.

He said we should let him know if we find out who did it.

He’ll have them arrested for trespassing.

I assured him we’d take care of it and not to worry. ”

There were snickers as we thought of what that would entail.

Should I be upset or disturbed that the club was more than likely going to kill Deon?

Perhaps, but the more I listened and spent time with them, the better I understood their code.

Did it make me a terrible person? As long as they weren’t killing or hurting innocent people, I didn’t care.

To divert my unhappy thoughts, I brought up happy ones.

Earlier, we hauled in the massive amount of stuff we’d bought.

Bones stored it in another bedroom until he was done with the nursery.

He insisted he would start on making the doorway and all that next week, and then it would be painted, and we could decorate.

I was even more excited after imagining the cribs and furniture in there, along with the paint and decor I wanted.

At first, I was going to go neutral. I assumed Bones and I would have at least one child together, and what if it were a boy?

We’d have to redo the room. And if we had more than one and they went back and forth on sexes, that was too much work.