Prologue

Since I've cometo Blue Sky Sanctuary, not sure if it's a false hope or if Ollie and Paisley know what they are doing. My headaches are less and my preference of being by myself is starting to fade. Not saying I'm Mr. Personality, not even close, but I'm able to hold small conversations sometimes and on a really good day talk one-on-one now. When I first came here, I barely spoke, which made it hard for Ollie to try to grasp why I was here. He finally got a whiteboard and told me to answer his questions on there. I've never met a Navy SEAL with so much patience and so calm. He made me feel welcome, which hasn't happened since I was discharged from the Marines.

It wasn't my fault we were given orders from our superior officer, who had an agenda. Now, even though I'm one of the lucky ones, I'll never be the same. We were attacked viciously and a few of our team didn't make it back to the States. When I was in the hospital, heard a bunch of military folks talking about the Blue Sky Sanctuary. Never heard of it so when I finally made my way out of the hospital and was living in a rehabilitation center, I looked it up. Sounded too good to be true but took a chance and made the call. Thank God I took a chance and followed my gut.

Ollie actually answered the phone and we talked for like forty-five minutes. The man never rushed or pressured me just listened. When he did talk it was to let me know he understood where I was coming from. He started the process so when I was released, I went straight to the airport and made my way to Timber-Ghost, Montana. Yeah, in Bumfuck, Nowhere and it was just what I needed. That was almost ten months ago. Now, don't think I'll ever leave here. Maybe not stay at the sanctuary but try and find my own plot of land and just live off-grid. I'm nowhere near ready to live by myself, but if I put in the time might have a chance to do just that.

Hearing a door close tells me my roommate is back. He was on a run, moving some animals for Paisley, Ollie's woman. Not sure how, but both Ollie and Paisley found a way to join her profession of being a veterinarian and love of animals with his knowledge of what happens when military folks are medically discharged with no resources and are in need of help. The Blue Sky Sanctuary puts the two together, the humans help the animals, who in turn help the humans. Simple concept, but damn, it's not so easy. Lots goes into all this place is and I've only seen small snippets, because since I've been here my main objective, according to Ollie, is to make my many doctor and therapy appointments.

Sitting on my bed, I run my hands through my hair. Well, the thick mop on the top of my head, as my sides are shaved due to my brain surgeries. Yeah, have had multiple ones and might need another soon if my headaches and other symptoms continue. I can feel the scars but thankfully they are healing and some of my hair is slowly growing back, kinda of weirdly, but still growing thank God. I begin to sweat as my mind takes me back to Bahrain. Actually, it reminds me Ollie also was in that location when he was injured and discharged. My mind is skipping back and forth. I know there is something I'm not remembering about back then, but for the life of me it won't come to me. My therapist said to give it time and try not to push it too hard. Easier said than done when something is both right there on the tip of your thoughts and out of reach.

Hearing a knock on my door, I tell Jeffries the door is open as I walk toward it. He hesitantly opens the door and I'm shocked to see he's beat to shit. I jump toward him just as he almost passes out. Fuck! I hold him up and drag him to the sofa in the open great room. This is one of the newest manufactured homes that have been built, so we lucked out. Once I make sure Jeffries is on his side, I go back in my bedroom, grab my cell, and look up Ollie's number, then push the button to dial.

"Yeah, what's up, Grey?"

"Ollie, sorry to bother you, brother, but seems like we have a situation. Jeffries just got back and he's beat to shit. Right now, he's unconscious on the couch. Not sure what to do or if he needs to be taken to a hospital. He never said one word, just passed the fuck out."

"He just got back? Shit, thought he was home hours ago. And he didn't say anything? No, I'm on my way, give me like ten minutes. Thanks, Grey, you did the right thing."

He disconnects before I can reply. I put the phone on the kitchen counter and walk back to Jeffries. I take a minute or two to look him over. Well, he's going to be in a shit ton of pain tomorrow, well, later today. Definitely a broken nose, as both eyes are black and blue. His lip is cracked open and his knuckles on both hands are red and ripped open. He fought back. Good for him, poor kid. With him on his side, I notice his shirt is torn up in the back. I take a closer look and my gut tightens. He's been whipped. Motherfucker better hope I don't find out who did this to the kid. I get up and grab a dish towel. I put it under warm water then bring it back and start to clean the kid up. That's what I'm doing when Ollie, Paisley, Phantom, Crowbar, and Spirit walk in, all armed like they are going out on a mission. When I see Phantom smirk, it hits me I'm standing in my boxer briefs and a T-shirt. I excuse myself and hightail it back to my bedroom to throw on some clothes.

When I get back, I hear Ollie on the phone talking to someone. Crowbar walks over to me, hand out in front of him.

"Damn, brother, good thing you were here. Ollie is on the phone with that motorcycle club, the all-female one, asking if their doctor could maybe run over and check out Jeffries. Phantom and Spirit are looking to see if they can find anything outside, he might have dropped or brought back with him. He say anything to you before he passed out?"

I'm not sure why, but my gut is telling me to keep my mouth shut. I look at Crowbar and just shake my head. He gives me a look then nods and walks back over to the kitchen area where Ollie is. Dude is a goddamn weirdo, to say the least. He sets off my radar every time I'm near him.

"Okay, Tink is sending over Dr. Cora to take a look at the kid. Doubt anyone was pissed he was moving our animals from one pasture to another. I mean, it's donkeys, goats, sheep, and the four alpacas. Son of a bitch, this kid has been through enough already, for God's sake. Who the hell would beat an innocent kid like that? Better pray that I don't find them first 'cause they'll regret this, swear to Christ."

I watch as Paisley puts her hand on Ollie's back. It has him take in a few deep breaths then he kind of relaxes, if that's even possible. He looks at her with so much love in his eyes it's hard to watch them together, and I don't know why. I look over and see Crowbar giving them the stink eye until he realizes I'm watching him, then he shrugs his shoulders and sits on a stool at the island. I walk over to Jeffries to see he's in and out. When I go to walk away, I feel his hand on my leg so I stop, look toward the crowd in the kitchen, seeing they are all talking so I turn and sit on the large ottoman in front of the couch. I say nothing, as I don't want to draw any attention especially from Crowbar, though I lean down, elbows on my knees so I'm closer to Jeffries.

Looking in his eyes, I see such fear that my gut tells me this is gonna end up being something huge. I mean, Ollie just saved his sister, Raven, I believe, from that racist asshole group. Shit, what was their name? Yeah it comes to me they are called the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood. Between Ollie and the folks here at the sanctuary, and the two biker clubs, Devil's Handmaidens and The Intruders, they were able to bust up a huge portion of the Timber-Ghost, Montana chapter of the brotherhood.

Feeling fingers tapping on my leg, I glance at the man on the couch to see his eyes on me watching everything around me.

"Grey, those assholes were torturing that poor damn animal. Laughing and drinking beer as they intentionally hurt an endangered and protected wolf. Well, it is in most states, I think. I couldn't let it go, my God, those fuckers had duct tape around its snout and before I tried to break it up they were hitting it with sticks 'til the big dick brought out a whip. You got to see if the wolf is still alive or if they killed it. Shit, I know ranchers here in Montana have issues with the packs being here, but torturing one isn't the way. Please, Marine, promise me you'll go look to see if they left the animal to die, Grey. If so, please put it out of its misery."

Out of the corner of my eye I see movement, so I give Jeffries a look and under my breath I say, "Promise." Then I shift my eyes to let him know someone is coming, so he relaxes and closes his eyes. Something is definitely off, especially when Crowbar comes over and flicks the kid in the head. I'm glad that Jeffries is able to maintain his "sleep mode."

"He wake up? Were you talking with him, Grey? What'd he say?"

Standing to my full height of six foot five inches, I tower over Crowbar, which I know pisses him off. Army puke that Crowbar is, he's like a dog with a bone, never letting anything go. Always trying to prove he has the biggest dick, which we all know isn't true. I stare him down and, as usual, he's the first to tuck tail.

"Not sure what all the questions are about but he's not opened his eyes, though he did make a few moans and groans but that's about it. Maybe once the doctor gets here, she can figure out what's going on. Not my problem, and I got shit to do, especially since there are way too many people in my space. Need some damn air."

Ignoring the stink eye he gives me, I walk over to Ollie and let him know I'm going to grab some air, give Jeffries some room, especially with the doctor on her way. I go grab my boots, coat, hat, sidearm, and holster. I avoid Crowbar and make my way outside, which settles my nerves immediately. Not good around people. Especially when it's groups of them it makes me itchy. As I make my way to my truck, I hear a noise off to the left of me and before I can pull my automatic, I see Spirit stepping out of the pitch-black area off the gravel road.

"Fuck, Spirit, I could have shot you, woman."

I hear her snort then she raises her arm and I can see she's holding a gun in her hand. As she gets closer, she reaches behind her back, pulling out a flashlight, which she turns on, pointing it to the ground at first then back at her hand. Holy shit, she's got a grip on a Walther PDP-F. Excellent choice for a woman because it fits the smaller hand. Then she shifts her shoulder and I see she has an assault rifle over it. Well, shit, Spirit came prepared. We both look to the right when we hear something coming our way.

"Motherfuckers don't shoot, it's just me. Got nothing out here as far as I can tell. I do know that poor bastard struggled to get to your house and is going to be in a mountain of pain tomorrow. We get anything from Jeffries?"

Unlike Crowbar, I trust both Spirit and Phantom for some reason, though I haven't known either for a long period of time. They've never given me a reason to not trust them, while Crowbar is always defensive and a total asshole. Probably gonna bite me in the ass, but I share what Jeffries told me in the house. Spirit glances around before she leans in farther toward Phantom and me.

"Grey, any idea why Jeffries didn't want anyone to hear him? I mean, it was just the three of you guys in there, so if he trusts you and I know he not only trusts Ollie he also idolizes him. That leaves the dimwit, Crowbar. What's your plans, Grey, can you maybe use a hand? Need our help?"

Knowing I should probably take her up on the offer, I tell them both that I'm good. Not wanting to be a total dick, I thank them both before telling them if I don't make it back to ping my phone. They both nod then I get into my vehicle and start off to the remote area Jeffries shared with me. I better not find any assholes out there because if I do, won't be much left for the sheriff, that's for damn sure. Gotta have my brother's back, no matter what.