17. ‘Malcolm’

SEVENTEEN

‘MALCOLM'

MALTY

Got no idea what I'm doing, but no way am I letting Frankie leave me and go alone. Yeah, I get that she's part of the club and they've done this kind of stuff before, but I just have a feeling I need to be close. When I get in the truck with Avalanche and Panther, I am obviously going to sit in the back by a huge black canvas bag. Avalanche tells me to check the bag next to me. When I open it, I can't believe my eyes. It is sort of a medical bag but on steroids. Not sure how they got all this stuff and, personally, I don't want to know.

"You're a doc, so if it comes to it, we wanted you to have whatever you'd need. No, Malcolm, we aren't asking you to break the law or your oath, just to be around in case one of the good ones needs some medical attention."

Avalanche has a way about him. Even though we both know what we are about to do is illegal, after his words, I'm good with it. That girl doesn't deserve what I'm assuming she's going through. If it's anything like Frankie and I went through then the sooner we get to her, the better. Nothing will erase her situation, but if it doesn't go on for hours or days that's a good thing in my mind.

No one says a word for about ten minutes. Then something dawns on me.

"How do we know where to go?"

Panther looks at me through the rearview mirror.

"Freak from the Intruders was out where the kids were taken down. He flew his drone around and has their location as it stands at the moment. That's why we're moving in so fast, Malcolm. Once they move her, our chances of finding her get slimmer each day. They might even sell her after they've had their fill. And for her, as you know, the sooner the better. Freak has been flying the drone over the top, up as far as it can go, so they don't clue in on what he's doing. We're about fifteen minutes away. Try to relax. Not sure it will help, friend, but these women know what they are doing. I know you worry about Wildcat, as I do my Nizhoni, or as you know her as Shadow. All I ask is do as you're told, even if you don't agree. Time is of essence and Tink, Shadow, Wildcat, Glory, and the rest of those women have enough on their minds, they don't need any of us to give them anything else to deal with. For years they've been saving people. Let them do what they are good at, Malcolm. Be the backup for any medical issues. And maybe also be some support for Wildcat."

His words hit hard. Yeah, I've always taken my oath seriously and I tried to help anyone who came through the emergency room, but once they either were admitted or discharged, I have no idea what happens to them. Being in this situation, I will see firsthand what happens at the scene. I might be able to change someone's life in a positive way. My thinking is all over. One thing is for sure, Frankie has grown and matured enough to want to help others despite what happened to her. She found her calling. Now I must find mine.

"Hang on, Malcolm, we are going off road, gonna get bumpy. Make sure you put on the bulletproof vest before getting out of the truck."

I give Panther a nod, grabbing the vest that is on the floor. I've seen them before but I've never had a reason to wear one. I maneuver around until I have it on. Something appears in front of me. When I focus, it's a handgun. Fuck.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Avalanche. Not a believer in those, never have been. I save lives, not take them. No judgment, promise, but I just can't."

"Malcolm, not asking. If you plan to get out of the truck you will be armed. What if someone grabs your Frankie? What are you going to do, throw gauze at them? I'm not trying to be funny, brother. Hook the holster to the back of your jeans and remember it's there, just in case. If by chance you need to use it aim for center mass, largest area on the body, as you well know. We're getting close, Panther's going to turn the headlights out. Don't talk unless necessary."

That's when I notice they both have those earbuds in their ears like Secret Service people wear. Yeah, they have come prepared. In my narrow life I never gave any thought to what happens when people are taken from their homes to be sold as property to sexual predators. Just the little I've been exposed to is, to say the least, not only heartbreaking for the victims but definitely dangerous for those trying to rescue and save them from a life of horror and abuse.

"Malcolm, we're going to park right down by that bunch of trees. Actually, behind them. We are about maybe a third to a quarter mile away. The Devil's Handmaidens are already hiking in as they left their bikes right off the main road, though as hidden as possible. We should see them pass by if we're lucky. Three of the Intruders are down there in case an unexpected guest chooses to take a ride down. I know for sure that Pussy, Saw, and Tomahawk are experienced with this kind of mission. Pussy drives for the Devil's Handmaidens and also helps when they have a huge number saved from circuits. The other two have been with Tank forever, actually think they kind of grew up in the club. Enforcer is with Tink and the women. Promised Taz he'd keep an eye on her sisters, though my woman, Zoey, isn't thrilled with his presence. They have a hate-hate relationship most time. You know, kind of like siblings do."

I can tell Panther is taking his time trying to explain everything to me. Avalanche gets out of the front seat, opens my door, and motions for me to get out. Then he checks my bulletproof vest and makes sure I put the holster on my jeans right. I couldn't resist being a bit of an asshole to him, though I do it with a smile on my face.

"Thanks, Dad, want to check my ass, make sure I wiped good?"

I watch his eyes get larger on his face as I hear Panther muffle his chuckle. Since I don't know the big man that well, I wait to see what he does. When he offers me his knuckles, I know this could be the beginning of a bro relationship. He gives me a shove back into the truck and shuts the door quietly, just as I see out of the corner of my eye something moving against the driver's side of the truck. I go to reach for the gun at my waist at the same time Avalanche opens the door, grabbing me by the collar. That's when that face appears in the window and, thank God, the big man covered my mouth as I let out a screech. Shadow looks my way, grins, and gives me a little wave as Avalanche gives her his middle finger. Fuck, maybe I'm not made for this kind of shit.

I see figure after figure make their way past Panther's truck until the passenger door opens and Frankie is there. Damn, even at a time like this my mind goes to how hot she is. That short haircut is so fucking sassy on her, showing her beautiful eyes off perfectly. Her skin is glowing, even in the night shade. Between Billie's coloring and Enzo's olive skin tone, my Frankie has a golden caramel skin tone. She leans in toward me so I push the huge duffel bag to the floor and move as much as I can toward her.

"How you doing, Malty? These two taking care of you? How's your back?"

Just like Frankie, risking her life but still worried and concerned about me.

"Hey, keep your head in the game. I'm here, if you fall into a medical situation, just let Panther know. I'm set up with this bag of supplies. Go catch up to them, don't want you wandering alone."

That's when I see the look in her eyes change. She reaches for a strap that's across her chest and brings her, holy shit, it's the Louisville Slugger she had when we were together. She used to love to play softball so one Christmas I bought a personalized one for her. And, apparently, she's kept it. She swings it back around. She touches my face then turns and starts to jog to catch up to the bunch of women risking their lives to save another. Only out here in Bumfuck, Montana because in New York no one cares about anyone else but themselves. And it's getting worse. Avalanche climbs back into the front seat and it's radio silence. I grab the duffel and start going through it so I have an idea of what I have. Panther looks over his shoulder at me.

"If this becomes a thing, meaning you sticking around, let me know if you need anything else. Yoggie was a medic in the military so he gave us a list and we put it together. No pressure, Malcolm, just want to make sure you have everything you need. We've had some touch-and-go situations and even though Yoggie has some training, a doctor would be so much better. We almost lost Raven last year from a gunshot to the chest. She flatlined like… what, Avalanche, three or four times? Didn't know if she'd ever walk again."

I don't say a word, just take it all in. If I thought Frankie being a New York cop was dangerous, her being a part of this motorcycle club sounds ten times worse.

"Malcolm, totally understand but it's not always like this. Sometimes it's just ranching and taking care of town issues, unless a new human trafficking circuit is discovered. Then the Handmaidens will do whatever is necessary to break it up and save as many as possible. Or sometimes it's just getting the IDs so families can have peace of mind and stop looking at every face that walks by them, thinking it might be their loved ones."

Fuck, how did Panther know what I was thinking? Then I remember the Navajo explanation he gave me yesterday, I think. Not wanting to pry but being the curious fuck that I am, and since we're sitting here, figured I'll ask a question or two. I find out that Panther and his group of men live on his ranch about forty-five minutes to an hour away. They have a stud farm and service, along with breaking wild horses. Panther, Avalanche, Dallas, George, Chicago, and Jersey all were in the military. That's how they met. These two men, along with Jersey, were taken as prisoners of war. Avalanche didn't say anything further on that, and I didn't ask. Panther told an abbreviated story of how he got together with Zoey, or as I know her, Shadow. That was an interesting conversation to say the least because, again, I had to ask if he was ever afraid of her. He turned to face me and said there was no one other than the man sitting next to him that he trusted more with his life. It was easy to see how much he adored his woman.

I get tired of asking questions and after a few they ask me, we go back to silence. I lean my head back and close my eyes, trying to imagine what was going on. Again, Panther must have peeked in my head because he turns to me with those dark eyes and calming voice.

"Nothing has happened yet, Malcolm. They are getting into position. One of the Intruders, think it's Midnight, has taken the east side, high up, and on the west is Rebel. Both are excellent sharpshooters so the team going in has backup, no matter what."

Again, we go the silence mode and just when I'm about to fall asleep, I hear it again and again. Gunfire. When I go to get out of the truck both men turn to me, and I let go of the door handle. Fuck, how do they sit here? Especially Panther, knowing his woman is in danger.

"Breathe, Malcolm. Have faith in your woman's abilities. They train very hard for these types of scenarios. If they need help, they aren't afraid to ask for it. We don't go in unless we are called. We make sure no one gets in or out. Don't forget, we still have Freak with the drone watching the situation, so we have eyes on the scene. This is a well thought-out mission, Malcolm."

So with that explanation, I lean back yet again, though I'm on pins and needles with worry for Frankie and the women she calls her sisters.