2. ‘Wildcat’

TWO

‘WILDCAT'

FRANKIE

If that alarm goes off one more time, it's getting tossed right out the window. Right now I don't give a flying fuck if it's still closed up tightly. That's the huge bummer when you get loaded the night before because it makes it that much harder to get one's ass, well their entire body, out of bed. I turn to my left side, one hand under my head, the other curled up between my breasts. It's not even cold out but I'm starting to shiver. Fuck, what a way to wake up. The days of me doing this kind of drunken shit have gotten less, but every once in a while, I make sure to shove my own head up into my ass so I can relive what happened in the woods on that night.

I'm so up into my own thoughts, I literally jump when I hear pounding at my door. Shit, did I forget a meeting or something? No one, and I mean no one, usually wanders down to my cabin as it's out of the way, almost remote. Well, not totally true, as Avalanche has been here but not sure if it was his idea or mine. We are so much alike; damaged souls beyond repair. Grabbing my extra-large sweatshirt, I push my feet into my plush slippers and shuffle my way to the door. Since I don't see anyone, I turn to go back to bed, when again someone is pounding at the door.

"Who the hell's there and what do you want?"

"Open the door, Wildcat, it's Squirt. I need your help, please. Not sure what to do."

Knowing this isn't going to be a one and done with Hannah, shit, I mean Squirt and her drama, I let out a sigh. Love my little Devil's Handmaiden sister but she can be a total pain in the ass. I reach the entry, unlock the three locks, and open the door.

"Damn, Wildcat, what is this, Fort Knox? Didn't realize you had such valuable stuff in here."

I just roll my eyes as I wave her in. Thank God she has two travel coffee mugs in her hands since I've not even started my day.

"Sister, take a seat give me five minutes to start my day properly. Be right back."

With that, I head to the bathroom to take a pee, brush my teeth, and run a comb through my short curls, which then has me grabbing my spray bottle of water to calm them down. I open the medicine cabinet to grab my morning pills, which I wash down with a glass of water. No one wants to be around me without my meds for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Not many of my sisters know I take them, but I did share with Tink, Glory, and Shadow. Oh, and Kiwi since I had that panic attack at The Wooden Spirits Bar & Grill, which is owned by our club. Since I manage it and Kiwi is my bartender and backup short-order cook, she was there and watched me fall apart one early morning not too long ago. So naturally I had to share and give her an explanation, as she was ready to call in all our sisters from the club. I am not a very open woman, so sharing with her brought up even more memories. So this last month has really sucked balls, nope, ovaries I think to myself, but that's my life. Could be worse, and I know I tend to try and let nothing keep me down.

Opening the bathroom door, I make my way into the kitchen/living room to find Squirt curled up on my sectional, looking at her phone, tears in her eyes. Oh shit, what drama are we having today?

"Okay, Squirt, what's going on that has you about to burst into tears? And not that I don't want to help, but my door isn't usually the first one you come to. Where are Tink and Shadow?"

She lifts her head and I swear she's the spitting image of our prez, Tink. It's eerie , I sometimes think to myself. Keeping my eye on her, I grab the travel mug and take a sip. Damn, that's some good stuff, must be from Tink's house. She doesn't splurge much but coffee is one of hers.

"Wildcat, if I'm bothering you then I'll go. And I came to you because I trust you and know you're a former cop, right? No, don't get your curls bouncing, it's a fact that we all know, though you aren't one to share anything with us. You of all people know there are no secrets in the Devil's Handmaidens. These women gossip like little old ladies in a nursing home, for Christ's sake. So I've got a problem and not sure how to handle it. And it kind of involves you, I think. First off, I'm almost positive, but is your legal name Frankie Comano? Well, shit, guess I'm on the right path by the look of sheer panic on your face. Hey, sister, breathe. Wildcat, come on, please breathe."

Struggling just hearing my name, I sit next to Squirt, placing my travel mug on the coffee table in front of us. Taking a moment, I put my head between my legs and try to recall what the therapist at the Blue Sky Sanctuary told me about how to breathe when I'm panicking. When Squirt starts to gently rub up and down my back, I start to relax. In… then… out and repeat. After a few minutes, I sit up and lean back into the couch as she pulls her hand away.

"Squirt, I know we know each other's given names, but not sure why you'd remember it, as I don't use it ever up here. What's up?"

"Well, I was in town at the bakery. Was thinking maybe I'd bring some treats for our chapel meeting this afternoon. There was a line, as usual. When the next number got pulled, I heard a guy after he ordered an Americano coffee ask if they knew a Frankie Camano, and if so, did they know where he could find her. I thought he said you were a friend of his little sister and he was in the area. Anyway, as most of the businesses in Timber-Ghost know not to talk about the club members, both of the women promptly told him they never heard that name, but if it was important to maybe go talk to Sheriff George, as he knows just about everyone. I was watching him and when they mentioned the sheriff, he acted strange. So me being me, I pulled my phone out, took a chance, and snapped a couple of photos of him. They might not be the best but something about him seemed strange, and my gut told me he's not right or that he was lying. I thought maybe if I showed them to you, there's a chance he might be someone you know, or maybe not. I don't know, Wildcat, but Auntie Zoey—hush, don't tell her I called her that instead of Shadow—she always tells me to follow my gut, and that's what I did. Sorry if I upset you though, not my intention at all. I'm trying to have your back. Do you want to see the photo?"

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as an instant headache starts between my eyes. My hands start to tremble, that's how scared I am the past has finally found me. No one in my family knows I'm living in Timber-Ghost, Montana, so why would some stranger be spouting off my name? Taking in a deep breath, I look at Squirt.

"First off, you, little sister, you didn't do anything wrong. I'm glad you're learning to follow your gut. You of all the prospects know how important that is. Now, the reason I'm freaking the fuck out is, and not many know this, but no one not even my family knows exactly where I'm living. So for someone to be looking for me, using my given name, has the hair on the back of my neck standing up. To be honest with you, Squirt, I ran from my prior life for a very specific reason: to protect those I love. If somehow the assholes found me, then not only me but our club has a problem, so let me see the picture you took. Thanks, Squirt, for having my back, means a lot."

She gives me a slight grin then reaches for her phone. She unlocks it then guess she's looking in her gallery for the photo. When she clicks on something then hands it to me, I close my eyes for a brief second, praying to all or anything that will listen this is going to be nothing. I open my eyes, lift the phone, and look down. And at that moment, my life changes forever.

One minute my eyes are staring at a face I never thought I'd ever have to see ever again, and the next second I'm curled up on the floor. Not even ten minutes later, after a call from Squirt, I hear the knock before the door flies open and Tink, Noodles, Heartbreaker, and Presley rush in. Presley grabs Squirt close as she's softly crying, and that's on me. She didn't know what to do so she put out the emergency call to our prez. Tink is the first to me as she kneels next to me, not saying a word, just running her hands through my short hair and down my back. Noodles pulls the table away so Heartbreaker can take a seat next to me. She must have given Tink a look because once my prez removes her hand from my hair, Heartbreaker pulls my head to her lap and she takes over rubbing my scalp.

Between the two of them and their kindness, I can't control the first tear to fall down my face, but when followed by uncontrollable sobs, I hear a noise then Squirt is lying next to me, pulling me close. It is like a Devil's Handmaidens mosh pit between the four of us. Not sure how long we stay like this but then another loud racket can be heard before again the door flies open. This time it's Glory and two very pregnant sisters, Taz with Vixen.

One of the downfalls is most of the Devil's Handmaidens sisters all live on the property in the main house, cabins or in homes close by. Some within spitting distance. Though today I so appreciate the closeness. Before a word is said, Glory gets down on the floor while Taz and Vixen step over all of us and plop down on the couch above us. What surprises me is how they all know right now I don't want to talk about it. Their support is what is helping me to keep it together. Tink is rubbing my back, Heartbreaker is massaging my scalp, Squirt is spooning with me, and Glory puts her hands to my forehead. The constant contact is what keeps me in the present because my mind wants to travel down that dark motherfucking road I've spent the last couple of years avoiding.

First, you hear a distant sound like a truck or something roaring down the road to the cabins. Then doors slamming and finally something that sounds like wild animals in chase. The door is open, so when feet hit the front deck, we all look that way just as Shadow runs through it. Her eyes are crazy as fuck, the ice-blue literally glowing. She takes one look at all of us and lets out an animalistic growl to end all growls. She stomps toward us then squats down. Yeah, only she can pull that off, I'd fall right on my ass. Then she asks the million-dollar question.

"Wildcat, sister, whatcha need? Who am I skinning alive then strangling with their own intestines? Or I can bleed them like a chicken or tar and feather them. You tell me what you want and, sister, I'm there."

It takes maybe a minute, if that, before I hear Taz snort, Vixen fake coughs to hide her giggles, and Glory mutters under her breath "Ohhh fuck here we go again." I feel Squirt's shoulders shaking because she's laughing into my body. It's Tink, as always, who has that relationship with our enforcer and loudly, with so much emotion in her voice more tears fall down my cheeks, scolds.

"Damn it, Zoey, why do you always resort to violence, for Christ's sake? Can't you see we're having a moment trying to support Wildcat? Can't you be quiet for a second or two? Geez."

I've tilted to get a better view of Shadow and now she's glaring at our prez. Then she leans back, plops down on her butt, and raises her knees to lean her elbows on them. Never taking her eyes from Tink, she gives it right back.

"Goldilocks, how much time do you need? I've got all day."

With that, we all break out laughing as I watch Shadow's eyes turn to me. I can see her worry and concern so I give her a small smile, which she just nods to then looks at Tink and sticks her tongue out. Perfect. Just what I needed to get my head out of my ass. Then I hear something above me, which has all of us on the floor looking up. Doesn't take long for the smell to start to make its way around the room. Holy shit, one of the pregnant ones farted. Leave it to Shadow to be blunt and direct.

"Well, fuck, hope whoever dealt that deadly one didn't shat their bloomers. For God's sake, that is killer. Gotta get some air." One by one we get up and head outside. The last ones out are Taz and Vixen, giggling together, like they don't have a care in the world.

Guess it's time to figure out my next steps with these wonderful women who would and have dropped everything to have my back.