8. ‘Raven’

EIGHT

Holy shit, I thought going through my story was going to tear me up. It went smoothly and when I was done, my chest felt lighter. Maybe it helped because not one of my club sisters treated me any different. Well, Taz came to me holding on tightly. Probably because of the baby I lost. She’s our softhearted sister in the Devil’s Handmaidens, unless you mess with those she loves then she’s a momma grizzly, for sure.

After taking a quick potty break, we all take our seats. Tink looks to Wildcat and says, “Bray” and my stomach drops. Oh no! I wait and it doesn’t take but a minute for my older sister to slowly walk in. Her eyes are shifting all over, and she’s nervous with her back to the door. Of all people, Shadow stands up, walks to her, and gets close, then touches her arm, all the while watching her face. Bray doesn’t do a thing, even I can tell she’s fascinated with Shadow’s skull-face tattoo. When she looks around, her eyes find mine and she shocks the shit out of me.

“Hey, Brenna, think Mom and Dad would freak if I did something like that on my face?”

Shadow looks to me and grins, then back at Bray.

“Think twice before you do it. I don’t regret it but there are days it would make life easier if this wasn’t here. Even though my ol’ man loves me, no matter what.”

We all laugh because before Panther, Shadow was just tough and mean. She’d never kid around. Tink hits the table with her hand and everyone settles. Then our prez addresses my sister.

“Bray, I know this is going to be really hard. I can’t imagine, so take your time. Hey, come on, sit down. Pick a seat that you’re comfortable in first. We’ll wait.”

Thought she might come by me but she walked over and took the empty chair next to Shadow. Well, fuck me, my timid sister and my club enforcer. That’s one for the books. They look so funny next to each other.

Over the next couple of hours we listen as Bray explains in great detail what she’d been through in the last two years. How she was moved all around this area. She recognized some of the Thunder Club Knuckle Brotherhood members, and she named them off while I took notes on my laptop. Also had my iPad open as I researched some of the names, and damn, was I shocked. Some were businessmen while others were politicians, cops, and rangers. What a clusterfuck.

Bray is struggling right now with what actually happened to her. She’s hanging on to Shadow, who has no expression on her face at all. We all hate this brotherhood and human trafficking, but to Shadow it’s personal. She’s been through it, so if anyone has an understanding, it’s her. When Bray starts to cry, Tink calls for a break. Both Shadow and Tink are quietly talking to Bray, so I step outside and walk to where Onyx is drinking coffee. Damn, she is going to be wired, which isn’t good ’cause she can get a bit crazy.

“Hey, she’s having a hard time. Which is better, you or Alder stepping in to help her?”

“Not sure, baby sister, she’s been struggling telling me what happened. Hey, Alder, come over here, will you, please?”

We both watch as Ash’s brother walks over. Damn, he should be a model with that swagger walk. But he’s oblivious to it. Just how the Sterling boys are. When he reaches us, he nods my way and greets Onyx. She winks at him, which makes him blush. Come on, really?

“Brenna just asked who would be better to support Bray. She’s trying to get through what actually happened to her and she’s struggling. Whatcha think, me or you, Alder? I know some but not all. Did she tell you?”

He looks to both of us and nods. The look on his face is murderous so I’m thinking the worst.

“Why does she have to relive those nightmares? Can’t she give a brief kind of summary?”

Onyx looks to me and since this is our area, I explain why it’s necessary.

“Alder, it’s more for her than us, though the more details the better it will be to bring them down. When we bust up a human trafficking circuit, it takes many hours to go through an intake form. It asks everything we can think of. There’s a reason because when we ask about the people involved, if they have any kind of distinguishing marks like tattoos, scars, birthmarks, that makes it easier when the busts go down. Each section helps to establish who did what, and then when we go to court we have—as Glory says—‘our ducks in a row.’ Believe me, I don’t want to sit in there and listen to what those sorry fucking perverted bastards did to my sister, but for her it’s the first step to recovery. Getting it out of her head. No, it won’t ‘cure’ her, but once she realizes as we talk to her that she’s not the only victim to go through this, it helps her to accept and try to move forward. So which one of you is it going to be? I got to get back inside.”

Two minutes later we walk in and everyone turns, and mouths drop open. Leave it to Shadow to blow the hell up.

“Raven, what the fuck is he doing in here? This is our Church and none but Devil’s Handmaidens are allowed. No, Bray, you are allowed because you’re a survivor telling us your story.”

Tink pulls on Shadow’s arm to bring her to her level. Then she whispers in her ear. Not sure what she says but Shadow looks at Bray out of the corner of her eye. Then back at Tink and nods. Tink waves us both in and I take my seat as Alder strolls around the table, grabs a chair, and sits directly next to my sister. Bray’s sides are covered as she is surrounded by Shadow and Alder. God help her.

Bray was quiet at first but the more she talked the madder she got. The O’Brien temper, we all have it. She had a moment that took her awhile, especially with what they did to her. I swear on anything sacred, if I have a chance at all, those motherfuckers are going to feel extreme pain. I’m nowhere near as good as Shadow, but I have something she doesn’t have. Bray’s my sister and that love of family goes deep.

By the time Bray is finishing up, Peanut’s phone vibrates. Only reason she even had a phone on her was she ordered food and two of my brothers offered to pick it up. Must be here. When I look to Bray, Alder has her in his arms. And the look on his face, oh my God, that man is in love with her. If not, he’s a damn good actor. Part of me feels sorry for him because I know from past survivors, Bray has a long way to go before she can even think about a real relationship. Hope Alder knows that.

“Let’s take a break, get some lunch. After lunch, let’s bring in everyone else so Wildfire, Heartbreaker, and Duchess, after you eat can you open up the walls and get it ready for the crowd we have outside? I’d appreciate it.”

I wait for everyone to clear the room. Bray is sitting back down with Alder kneeling before her. Surprisingly, Shadow is still sitting next to my sister. Bray is clinging to Shadow’s hand, which totally bewilders me. I didn’t think they had met until this morning.

“Bray, hey, sis, let’s get you something to eat. I can take you to my cabin so you can have some privacy, if you want.”

She flips her head up and she looks pissed while she looks at me.

“Why, Brenna, are you now embarrassed by what I just said, don’t want anyone to associate you with me? Don’t worry, little sister, you’re safe, doubt anyone will do that. I’m the dirty whore, not you.”

Besides shocking the shit out of me, her words piss me off and that is saying a lot. Usually, I use my humor but not this time, instead I use my voice.

“What the fuck, Bray? You idiot, I’m not embarrassed by you or what happened. I’m worried about you; guess you forgot what my club does. I’ve seen hundreds of women just like you, no, let me finish. What comes next is one of the hardest things you’ll ever go through, that’s what I’m worried about. I thought maybe you’d need a quiet place for a second or two, not everyone up your ass and in your business, and not in that order. So do what you want, Bray, just trying to be your sister and friend.”

I turn to walk out until I hear the first sob. It literally breaks my heart, but I keep walking. She’s got to want me here for her, I can’t force it. By the third sob I’m dragging my feet. Then I hear it.

“Please don’t go, Brenna. I’m sorry, seems like I’m barking at all the wrong people. Don’t go, little sister, I need you.”

Turning, she’s almost right in front of me and crushes me in her arms, silently sobbing. Wrapping my arms around her I hang on tightly, knowing there is nothing I can do to take her pain away except be here for her. Not sure how but, within minutes, the entire O’Brien clan is in the room, all surrounding Bray. Though we all lose it when our dad pushes to the front and gently lifts Bray’s face.

“I’m proud of ya, lass. Now you hold that pretty head up high and tell them all to go fuck themselves.”

Dad always gets a bit more Irish when he’s pissed. I just knew Mom wasn’t going to let him get away with what he said.

“Paddy, language please, you’re talking to a lady. Bray, I agree with your daddy, just forget the filthy words he used to get his point across. Now let’s suck it up, we’re O’Briens. Tink and Mamma Diane tell me we need to get out there before the men eat everything and leave us crumbs.”

With that my family breaks apart, though Dad holds on to Bray’s hand as he starts to walk back out. Well, until Alder comes on the other side of my sister. So she walks out holding two men’s hands and surrounded by my four brothers. She has her own security if needed. Feeling a hand land hard on my shoulder, I look to see Shadow glaring at me.

“Good job, Raven. There’s hope for you yet. Let’s eat, I’m starving, and we are only half through this shit. Up next is your ex, which should be fun. Hey, don’t say a word. I won’t put my hands on him unless the club says it’s okay. I follow the rules at all times.”

The serious look on her face and those words has me cracking up. She watches for a few seconds then she too starts to laugh. Together we walk out with smiles on our faces to the amazement of everyone on the outside.

Once everyone is sitting again, I wait. When Glory clears her thoughts, she starts talking about what’s going to happen next. When she calls our family name, every one of us—including Alder—up front stands and makes our way to the center of the circle of tables. Mom starts with what she had written down.

“Hi, y’all, I’m Gertie Sterling and these are my boys Reed, Rue, Alder, Asher, and Rowan. We’ve lived on our ranch in Timber-Ghost, Montana since before Asher was born. Now, before I begin, neither my boys nor I have anything good to say about Cliff Sterling. We don’t claim him as part of our family, haven’t for years. We will do everything we can to help you with bringing down that brotherhood of despicable men. Though there are some foul women included, just so you know. Now there is no question that we won’t answer. So go ahead, start, we’re ready, right, boys?”

We all start to shake our heads until my eyes are drawn to Shadow’s dead icy-blue eyes. They are staring a hole into my chest. Glaring at me, she raises her eyebrows at Gertie’s words. Oh shit, I have a feeling this one is going to be the monkey on my back. Like Gertie said, there is no question they won’t answer. Lucky me.