11. ‘Tink’

ELEVEN

After telling Squirt to make the calls, something pulls me back to where Raven and Bray are. Watching the two of them together, it’s apparent something is going on with Bray. She’s extremely pale and it looks like she’s fighting to keep her eyes open. Not sure why, but I look down to her hands and when I see the red at her wrists, I go into reactive form.

“Raven, pull that robe off of her. Now, sister, something isn’t right. She’s got blood coming out from under the sleeve of that robe.”

As soon as Bray feels Raven grabbing for the robe sleeve she starts to fight. Knowing time is of the essence, I grab Bray’s arms and pull them back, which jerks her to me. I see Raven’s eyes taking in every part of her sister. When her eyes get huge, I know she’s seen what I just saw also. Bray goes limp in my arms. Even though she’s taller, I manage to get her to a rocker and gently sit her down. I’ve let her arms go and I have one robe sleeve while Raven has the other. Slowly and carefully, one at a time, we remove Bray’s arms out of the fluffy robe. Even though I suspected it, the sight before me tears my heart out, seeing the towels wrapped around Bray’s wrists, which are now covered in blood.

“Motherfucker, Bray, what the hell are ya thinking? I put a shout-out to our family. Do you want them to see you like this? For Christ’s sake. Holy shit, those are my washrags. You did this here in my home, like right now? What the fuck, Bray?”

Bray is softly crying as Raven rips into her. I’m totally surprised at my club sister’s reaction, but I don’t interrupt because I wouldn’t like it if the roles were reversed. I walk into the kitchen, go through some cabinets, and come out with two baking bowls. I go to the freezer and grab ice, partially filling the bowls. I walk to Bray and lift her arms, placing each one in a bowl, then I cover her wrists with ice to slow down the bleeding. She isn’t going to die; the cuts are horizontal and not too deep. Probably will need stitches, but Dr. Cora can do it here or at her clinic. If we take Bray to the hospital, they will put her into a seventy-two-hour psych lockdown, and that’s something she doesn’t need right now.

Hearing boots pounding up the front stairs, the door bursts open and the O’Briens rush in. As soon as Raven’s mom, Bronagh, sees Bray and what she’s done, she kneels in front of her, placing her head in her daughter’s lap. Everyone is shocked, well, until Bray leans over her mom and starts to cry. Everyone is trying to give them some privacy so the O’Brien sons and dad step back out. Raven is standing right off to the side of her sister and mom, watching them both closely. I take a second to try and read what’s going on, and it’s typical victim/survivor mentality. One thing is for sure, Bray is going to need some deep intense therapy if she plans to try and move forward to find her place in this crazy as shit world we live in. Once trust is broken it never can be rebuilt one-hundred-percent. It’s going to take a very special person for Bray to trust even a little bit.

Knowing I should get out and try and calm down the male O’Brien clan, I head toward the door. Just as I go to push open the door, I hear a soft, “Wait.” Turning, I see Bray looking my way, face a mess. Something in her eyes stops me dead in my tracks.

“I’m afraid to even say these words, especially since Brenna already thinks even less of me. I’m in trouble, Tink, I need help. I was against it when Onyx brought it up, but do you by chance have any room so I can stay on your ranch? Maybe get some help with these issues that are bombarding me. Please?”

My heart breaks at how wounded and scared Bray sounds. I look to Raven to see she’s shocked by her sister’s words. Well, she was going at her pretty hard. Then Bray shocks the shit out of all of us in the room.

“Oh, Brenna, to answer your question, yes, I slit my wrists here in your cabin. Want to know why? Because I needed to feel some kind of release and doing it here, I knew I would be safe because you were also here. You stooge, I don’t want to kill myself, I wanted to get some of the pressure off of me. That’s all. Thanks though for your confidence in me. Means the world, lil’ sister. Just sayin’.”

I walk back over to Bray and lean down, though we’re almost the same height with her sitting down. I gently put my hands on her shoulders and squeeze.

“Bray, you are welcome here any time. That’s for you, not for Raven. Our doors are always open for someone who is trying to survive what they’ve been through. Now let me check on your family then make sure Dr. Cora is on her way. She’ll take care of everything. In the meantime, I’ll figure out where you can sleep tonight. Tomorrow we’ll do a full intake then set you up. Do you have any digital footprints out there? You know, mobile phone, tablet, or social media? Need to know that before anything else.”

Bray’s eyes continue to look my way, except when I said digital footprint. Then she looks at her sister with confusion in her eyes. Raven explains as best she can.

“Bray, digital footprint means if you’ve been on electronics and they are registered in your name or you just post, stating who you are, then you can be traced, and maybe even found wherever you’re hiding. That’s why it so important for Tink to know this because if the Devil’s Handmaidens club is taking you on, they have to make sure not only you are safe but also so is everyone else on the ranch in protective custody. Some of the survivors are planning on making the ranch their home, so we have to secure their safety. Just be honest, big sister, all we can ask of you.”

Watching the two of them together, it’s hard to believe Bray is the older one. She’s way underweight and her skin color is off. She has barely any muscle tone while Raven is ripped. She’s very dedicated to working out, though now I think some of it was her trying to keep her mind off her past and loss. I’m going to make Bray a top priority because she’s my sister Raven’s biological sister. Best I can do. Both Raven and I are looking at Bray, waiting on her answer to our question.

“Oh, sorry, had a brain fart. No, I’ve not been on any social media. Well, I looked through Alder’s Facebook page but didn’t post anything. Also, I don’t have a cell phone, they took mine and stomped on it when they took me. They wanted me to know I had no way to reach out to anyone.”

“Bray, honey, think about it right now. You did kind of reach out to Alder when he walked in and saw you there. The FBI is going to hike with Alder in the morning so they can try to help those other women up there. Now we are going to take care of you. So after the intake, I’ll make sure our technology officer gives you a brand-new cell phone with all the contact numbers of each Devil’s Handmaidens sister. Also, my parents, Tank and Momma Diane. Finally, the phone will have numbers for my man Noodles, Shadow’s man, Panther, and our brother, Avalanche. That will give you options if you need to call for a hand with anything that comes up. Does that sound good to you?”

“Yeah, it does, Tink. I’ll try my best to not upset your technology officer too much. Well, as long as she doesn’t get all snippy with me. I appreciate all you’re doing for me.”

Mrs. O’Brien leans up, tears in her eyes, as she intensely looks my way. Knowing how my mom is, I see Mrs. O’Brien’s gratitude and something I can’t recognize in her eyes. I smile widely and she returns with one of her own.

Just as I’m about to go into more details of what Bray can expect, I see Squirt walking through the front door, leading Dr. Cora in.

“Prez, got Dr. Cora here. Might want to step outside and give them O’Brien men an update on what’s going on in here. They are about to tear this cabin off its foundation and take it back to their ranch. Just a heads-up.”

Smiling at Squirt, I nod at Dr. Cora.

“Doc, she needs a full assessment, if not tonight then tomorrow. She’s going to be getting a full intake interview. Then we’ll assess and figure the next steps. As of right now, no digital footprint or social media except through a friend’s Facebook page, though no actual comments put out by Bray. She probably needs some stitches and something to cut the edge, don’t think she’s been sleeping too much. Definite PTSD and victim’s remorse. Will need a full blood panel and also will probably need a full workup, including for sexually transmitted diseases. No, Bray, lift your head high, that’s not on you, sweetie. Now I’m going to give you some privacy as I go talk to your dad and brothers. Don’t worry, I’ll only tell them that you’re okay and talking to Dr. Cora. Be back shortly. Tonight, you’ll stay at the ranch with us. I already have one of our club sister’s preparing a room for you. We got you, Bray, swear to God.”

Before I even make it to the door, I feel very thin arms wrap around me from behind. Bray lays her head on my back and in a barely-there whisper takes my breath away.

“Tink, there are no words but let me try though, understand I’ve been out of the loop for a while. We didn’t get to talk much up there in that cabin. I will forever be in your debt and the Devil’s Handmaidens club. Between you, your club, and Alder, I have many folks to pay back. No, don’t say it, I’ll figure it out eventually with some help. For now, if whoever is setting up my room for the night, can they leave a pad of paper and pencils or pens? Before my brain goes to mush, I need to write down everything I can remember. I need to feel like I’m doing something to bring those jerks down, even if what I give you doesn’t help. Again, they are only words but please know how much I appreciate what you’re doing. I couldn’t go to my parents’ house right now. I wake up screaming, wanting to run out of the house. Yeah, poor Alder, don’t think he’s gotten much sleep either. Oh, guess it’s good I’m telling you this now and not when I’m screaming in the middle of the night.”

Turning slowly, I grab her hands and squeeze them lightly. Looking past her, I see Raven, head down, while her mom holds on to one of her hands. Yeah, lots of history here, this family is going to need to get some help. I knew Raven’s parents weren’t thrilled when she decided to join the Devil’s Handmaidens but thought they got over it. We’ll see. Then I glance down at Bray, who must have turned her head, because she also is watching her mom and sister. Then her eyes look to me.

“Bray, I’m glad you told me but you need to know a few things. First, the ranch house always has people on guard, in and outside of the house. It could be one of my club sisters or one of my dad’s brothers from his club. Or my ol’ man or Shadow’s or even Avalanche. Once in a great while we have to call in the troops, and that’s when Ollie’s crew helps out. Before you ask the question in your eyes, we take in survivors who have been abused, beaten, raped, and even worse. To keep them here we have to make sure they understand they are safe. We also have to be safe and in the last couple of years that wasn’t so. Bad people got on my ranch with devious intentions. So now we do what we must. Not to mention that Sheriff George has us on a rotation so his deputies will drive up to the ranch and make sure all looks good. If you scream, is it better to wake you or let you be? Hey, look at me, Bray, we’ve all been there in one capacity or another. Now, if you need someone to talk to about the nightmares and shit, go to either Shadow, Glory, Taz, or Vixen. Each one of those sisters will be able to help you with how to handle those nightmares. Also, once you’ve agreed to stay with us, we’ll introduce you to the therapist who works with us and with Blue Sky Sanctuary. She’s really good and never judges, just so you know. Now let me go have a word with your dad and brothers. Go be with your mom and sister; they probably are worried sick about you. Dr. Cora will take good care of you. Bray, welcome, sister, we got you.”

After another brief hug she lets me go, and I walk out into a tornado of emotions coming off the men standing and sitting on the stairs of Raven’s cabin. Damn, why didn’t I bring Noodles with me, he could have defused this situation way quicker than I’m going to be able to. Oh well, will do my best, that’s all I can do.