20. ‘Raven’

TWENTY

Well, looks like it’s another day in the life of a Devil’s Handmaidens sister. Got back to my cabin, took a quick shower, then got dressed. Made a travel mug of coffee and grabbed an apple. Before I left, sent a text to my club sisters, letting them know I was heading into town and the clubhouse, as I needed to get to my office and do some work. When no one seemed interested in heading in with me, I figured either they were already there or had other shit on their agenda. So in my cage, as I’m heading into Timber-Ghost, my thoughts go to Ash. As soon as I’m wondering what he’s doing and if I should text him, I push that thought out of my head. What the ever-lovin’ fuck is wrong with me?

Even knowing the whole story, there is still a small part of me that’s truly hurt. Either he didn’t think enough of me or didn’t love me with his whole heart because he walked out and never looked back. I mean never. We’ve seen each other from a distance since that day, I mean, we live in the same damn town. I would always walk away if we were at a town parade for like July Fourth or the Christmas bazaar. Then there was all the shit we put on at the Wooden Spirit Bar and Grill, one of our club’s businesses. With that thought, think I’m going to stop at the gym before I head to the clubhouse. Need to grab some of the last two months’ receipts. How did I forget to tell Ash I’m a business owner. Well, with the help of my prez, Tink. She backed me without a second thought.

When I came up with the idea of a gym, a real one, I talked it over with Tink. She loved the idea, as the building I was interested in was huge, so we could split it into one section for men to try and fit their workout requests, while the other section for women would have some machines but also Zumba, Pilates, and we start hot yoga next weekend. That Stephanie, my manager, found Luni is a miracle. Everyone was asking about it and I was feeling kind of bad not being able to provide members with something they wanted to try, but fuck, we live in Montana. From what Stephanie told me, Luni was in a bad relationship and when she left her ex-boyfriend, she came home to her parents’ ranch. When she lived in Billings, she worked at a gym and taught hot yoga. She actually came in to speak to us about maybe considering it and she walked out with a job. We’ll see how that goes.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I take the sharp corner slowly and when I’m back on the straight road I see something on the side of the road. Awe shit, someone hit a deer. It’s dead, most of its guts are on the road. I swerve to miss a huge pile of something, not looking. When I see a place to pull over, I do. Grabbing my phone, I put a call to 911. When the emergency operator answers, I let them know a huge buck was taken down and it could be a hazard on this road since it’s the only one that brings you into town. She told me she’d get some of the road and sanitation guys to go out and clean up the mess.

As soon as I turn on the street the gym is on, I know something is wrong. As I pull up, no lights are on and the front door is wide open. I pull my cage in quickly and pick up my phone. I hit number one speed dial and after just one ring, I hear Tink.

“Hey, Raven, what’s up, girl?”

“Tink, we got trouble. I’m at the gym, needed to pick up some receipts for this month and last. Looks like no one is here and the front door is wide the fuck open. Anyone close to town? I’m gonna go in, would love someone on my back.”

“Shit, Raven, stand down, wait until someone can cover you. Noodles, call Sheriff George, tell him we got trouble at Raven’s gym. I know Peanut and Kiwi are at the Wooden Spirit, let me get ahold of them. Shadow and Panther were going to the bank today so I’ll have Noodles reach out to them. Someone should be there as quickly as possible. Don’t take any chances, sister.”

Without another word, she hangs up and I’ve got dead air. I put my phone in my back pocket and grab my automatic out of my side holster. Reaching into the glove compartment, I pull out two extra clips. I look around and the street is completely dead, which again is really strange. Something is telling me to get in there so I exit my cage and carefully and quietly make my way to the door. As I move to walk in, I hear screaming and then men laughing. Oh fuck, no way, motherfuckers, not on my watch in my gym.

Turning, I hit my truck and use the key to open it. I pull out the Steyr AUG SA USA rifle after I reholster my automatic. Moving quickly, I again hit the door and now all I’m hearing is the laughter. I give my eyes a second or two to adjust, then I move in. Nothing in the main area, but the ‘party’ sounds seem to be the on the men’s side of the gym. As I walk that way, I see in the hot yoga area something is lying in the middle of the room. A person who’s not moving. Son of a bitch, I don’t want the person who was screaming to suffer another second, but I got to check on this one, so I move in. When I get close, I can see it’s Luni. She’s beat to shit, workout pants tore off of her, and just looking at her, I can tell she was raped. I feel for a pulse so I grab the phone and text Tink to get an ambulance on route.

Turning Luni on her side in case she starts to vomit, I again make my way to the men’s workout area. Looks like all the lights are on so as quiet as possible I make my way to the huge open area. What my eyes fall on has me taking in a huge breath and not letting it out. The motherfuckers in there, I swear to Christ, I’m going to kill them all.

Not sure, but I think they are all Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood. When someone starts giving orders to the two assholes holding Stephanie down, I just about lose it. Well, until I see who it is. How is he even out, thought Sheriff George arrested them all. Guess it’s time to make my entrance.

“Motherfuckers, step back right the hell now. Don’t tempt me to blow your balls off. I said move, you stupid piece of shit. Bastards, do it. Everyone up against that wall. NOW!”

Hearing my voice, they all turn in my direction, immediate hatred in their eyes. I don’t take my eyes off of any of them as I make my way to the wall next to the entrance, so no one can sneak up on my back. When Cliff Sterling’s eyes meet mine, he smirks. Jagoff, give me one reason to blow your goddamn head off, I think to myself. One of the assholes starts toward me, so I let loose with a quick finger pulse. Bullets hit the rubber matting on the floor. It’s the particulates of rubber hitting their bodies that has them screaming. I hope they hurt like hell. I quickly look over to Stephanie and see she’s on her feet, pulling her ripped workout pants back on. Her face is swollen and starting to bruise. When she sees me looking her way, she gives me a tiny smile. I return it with one of mine.

The assholes must think I wouldn’t see them advancing on me. I swing the Steyr AUG SA USA rifle to the side, grab my automatic, and aim at them.

“Keep coming, motherfuckers, and I’ll start blowing brain matter all over the place. Try me. Now, like I said, everyone up against that wall. Kneel, cross your ankles, hands interlaced behind your heads. Do it.”

A few of them head toward the wall when two start running at me. I don’t even think about it, I aim and in a second, one is down. The other starts to slow down when Cliff tells him to advance. He’s a young guy and I can see the fear in his eyes. I look at him then the ground. Thank God he got my message and immediately falls flat on the floor, hands on his head.

Seeing movement out of the corner of my eye, I see Cliff grabbing for a gun. Holy shit, he’s going to kill this poor confused kid because he didn’t give his life for the cause. Nope, not happening. Again, I aim and when Cliff’s hand lifts, I am ready. I pull the trigger and my bullet hits its mark. His arm. Immediately he starts to swear and cuss like a trucker, while I didn’t think my automatic would do so much damage even with a graze. Oh well, I don’t personally give a shit how much Cliff suffers. Then I hear noise coming from the front of the gym.

Turning I see Shadow, Panther, Avalanche, and Jersey running toward this part of the gym. I look back and smirk largely at Cliff.

“See, asshole, good always prevails over evil assholes like you.”

He belly laughs then glares at me.

“Bitch, you have no idea. In a million years you won’t be ready for what’s about to hit this hick-ass town. Startin’ with my family then hitting yours. NO one will be left out; I promise you that.”

Before he can say another word, Avalanche walks right up to him, pulls back, then punches Cliff right in the face. He actually lifts off his feet and falls straight back down, out like a light. Thank God, I was sick of hearing his voice.

“You okay, Raven? Fuck, we got here as fast as we could. Left the banker at his desk, took off running. Oh shit, go take care of your girl, we’ll take care of these bastards.”

“Shadow, need you to check on Luni. She’s in that room we were going to use for hot yoga. She’s been violated from what I saw, so go gentle. I’ll get Stephanie and we’ll meet you in that room. Panther, don’t let anyone walk in that area over there. See where it’s wet? Evidence, want Sheriff George to get DNA so we can bury these dicks.”

I walk to Stephanie and when I’m close enough, she flings herself into my arms, violently sobbing. Trying not to fuck up evidence at first, then I realize she needs comfort more than worrying about getting shit on these assholes. We’ll have more than enough. I hang on to her until she starts to slow down then stop. I lift her face and I’ll never forget the look in her eyes.

“Stephanie, you won. No, don’t. You did what you had to do to live and it worked. We need to get to the hot yoga room Shadow is checking on Luni. She’s in bad shape. Can you make it, Stephanie?”

She nods and we slowly make our way to Shadow. When we get there, Shadow is hanging on to Luni, who seems to be disoriented. Stephanie looks at her than me.

“Why is she here, Raven? I didn’t see her when I opened, and I know I locked the door and put the alarm on before I went to the back to check everything was ready for when I opened the gym. Next thing I know, someone grabbed me from behind and threw me on the ground. I couldn’t fight them off, Raven, too many of them. My God, what is Benji going to think? He won’t be able to handle this. He’s going to ask what they did. Raven, oh my God, I can’t lose him.”

I pull her close, look her directly in the eye, and give it to her gently.

“Stephanie, you didn’t do anything wrong. What they did is on them. Benji loves you, so don’t worry about anything. If he doesn’t understand, then I’m sorry to say he’s not the man for the phenomenal woman you are. Right now, we need to take care of you. I got to ask and even though I saw your pants torn off, did any of them take it to the max? Did any of the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood force themselves on you, did they rape you?”

She starts to cry before she nods. We both jump when we hear the ambulance siren. I hold on to her tightly as Peanut and Kiwi come running in, guns in front of them. Well, Peanut has her Steyr AUG SA USA rifle pointed in front of her. Kiwi has a large automatic in her hands. When they see me and take in the scene, both of them come instantly to the two women who have been violated. Peanut takes Stephanie from me, holding on to her. Kiwi is already by Luni.

When I start to move away, a hand grabs mine. Stephanie looks at me sadly.

“Thank you, Raven, I can’t imagine what would have happened to Luni and me if you hadn’t shown up. I’m thinking you saved our lives.”

I just smile her way when I hear my name yelled out loudly. When I turn, I see Sheriff George making his way to me.

“Gonna need your statement, Raven. Now would work for me, I’ll get you over to the hospital if you want or we can stay here. I put a call in to that FBI agent who’s been following our progress with the brotherhood. You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s go to my office, if you don’t mind. Not what I was expecting coming in today. Before you ask, no one knew I was making my way here before I went to the clubhouse. With everything going on, forgot to get receipts for this place. If I don’t get them to Taz regularly, she loses her mind. And it’s worse now that she’s pregnant. OCD all the way.”

We walk into my office and before I even make my way to the desk, Sheriff George grabs me, pulling me back out.

“Don’t touch anything, Raven.”

“Why? What’s up?”

‘Shit, woman. All of you Devil’s Handmaidens are like my family, don’t really want to talk about this, but here goes. Look in real quick.”

I do and at first don’t see anything, then notice the top of my desk looks wet. Well, there’s puddles of a cloudy liquid on my desk and something is running down my chair. When I turn my eyes to the sheriff, he looks down. What the hell? Then it hits me why Sheriff George is embarrassed and doesn’t want to talk about it. Someone ejaculated all over my office furniture.

“That is seriously gross. Good thing the dumbasses left their DNA. Makes it easy for you because it’s there for the taking. Guess they aren’t as smart as they all think they are. Definitely not the smartest ones, that’s for sure”

Sheriff George watches me for a second then looks around before he pulls me in, giving me one of his awesome hugs. Then he leans down and whispers only for me to hear.

“Definitely a badass.”

With that I let out a loud laugh, which has people walking by turning their heads to look in my office like I’m nuts. Maybe I am, but I totally needed that laugh. That is until in the next minute when all we hear are assault rifles and screams coming from the front of the building. Sheriff George looks at me and I nod, walking to the large locked safe against the wall behind the door. Using my fingerprint, I open it and pull out two assault rifles and two body armor vests, handing both to him. As a team we put the vests on first, then move out quickly to try and save as many people as we can. That’s my prayer because my chosen family is out there and the thought of any one of them getting injured, or worse, is something I can’t even let into my head.