9. ‘Wildcat’

NINE

‘WILDCAT'

FRANKIE

My fucking head is killing me. I know Mom and Dad mean well but I'm not a kid anymore, they have to quit trying to baby me. Yeah, didn't mean to pass out but besides the utter surprise of them both being here, I've not eaten today. We're shorthanded here at Wooden Spirits, so I've been trying to help wherever I can. Now I'm sitting in one of the back offices we use more for a quiet place for employees to chill and maybe eat their lunches. It has a small love seat and a few tables with two chairs at each table. Right now, I'm on the love seat with Mom and Dad each in a chair they pulled close to me. No one is saying a word, but I can tell they want to, they're just too damn afraid. That's on me. I didn't handle this whole shitty situation right. I mean from when we were attacked at the cabin and all the time from then to now. Probably shouldn't have run away and only called a couple times a month. I can't even fathom what I put my family through, not knowing where I was. Guess it's time to put my big girl panties on and act like the adult I keep saying I am.

"Hey, guys, come on, it's all okay. I was just a bit shocked and think my sugars dropped too. Haven't had a chance to eat today, we had one server out sick and are still shorthanded. Sorry to scare you both. Now, how did you find me? No, I'm not mad at all, it's great to see you both. I've missed you like crazy. How are my crazy-ass siblings doing? I haven't spoken to any of them recently. Last time I think Shamonda told me Pepe was deployed again and she was ready to have that baby. Is she doing okay?"

Mom and Dad look at each other before my dad replies.

"Yeah, honey, she's fine. Her and the boys are spending time at Malcolm's to watch his cats, along with Buddy and Chloe."

They both are watching me closely so they see how the name of our dogs affects me. That tore my already bleeding heart out when I left home. We rescued both of them. Buddy was going to be used as a bait dog as whoever had him filed his canine teeth down. They were probably going to either use Chloe as a bait dog too, or maybe breed her though she was a collie-something mix. They were crazy together and hated loud noises. When Mal started to get the cats then everything changed in our lives. I need to know before I face him again.

"Umm, well, guess I should ask because no one has told me differently, is Mal married or at least have a significant other? Any kids or other fur babies I don't know of? He looks good, so can I assume he had a full recovery?"

Mom glances at Dad and I brace because I know that look. The "Billie" look, not the usual Mom look.

"Frankie, why don't you ask him those questions? Daughter of my heart, it is time to quit fucking around…"

Dad and I both gasp. Mom might cuss but the "F" word very rarely comes out of her mouth. Damn!!!

"Yeah, I used that awful word but you need to know how serious all this shit is. And, no, he didn't have a full recovery but that's his story to tell. I think it's about time the two of you…"

Mom stops as a knock on the door interrupts her. Before any of us can say another word, the door opens and Avalanche is in the doorway. I can see others behind him but unsure who it is.

"Hey, Shorty, you doing okay? If so, got someone who wants to make sure you're okay. Maybe have a word, if you're up to it?"

For some reason Avalanche had taken to calling me Shorty, which makes sense. I'm all of five feet four-ish and he's like a foot or so taller. I give him a small smile and nod. He moves into the room and behind him is Panther then Mal, who looks scared to death. Slowly, so I don't hit the floor again, I stand and make my way past the two large men to stand in front of Mal. He looks down at me and all the feelings I've had for him rush me. Before I can think about what I'm about to do, I reach up and wrap my arms around him. He doesn't hesitate to do the same and, like before, Mal always gives the best hugs. He wraps his entire body around you so you feel surrounded by him and safe. We stay like that for a bit then, reluctantly, I let go and move back.

"Hey, Frankie, good to see you awake. Are you okay? Do you have some time? I'd like to talk with you."

Looking around, it seems like no one is planning on getting up and leaving, so I wave my hand for him to follow me. I take one end of the love seat while Mal takes the other side. We both sit with our backs to the arms of the piece of furniture, so we are facing each other. Mom and Dad moved their chairs back so now they are sitting in line with Avalanche and Panther. All four are introducing themselves, so I take a moment and look over at Malcolm. He's beyond gorgeous. He's doing the exact same thing to me.

"You cut your beautiful hair. I mean you look sassy as shit with that cut and your curls are so bouncy. Finally liking them, huh? And, wow, tattoos, didn't see that coming. Not sure how to do this, Frankie, but shit, how'd you end up in Timber-Ghost Montana from New York? And more important, part of a motorcycle club? Cop to member of a club, you have to explain that to me."

I shake my head to try and clear it. Still don't know why they are here so I throw that out first. Before I can say a word, Noodles walks in with a bag of ice, which he hands over to Malcolm. He leans forward and places the ice against the love seat arm then leans onto the ice. The small moan tells me it feels good. What's that about?

"Sure, Mal, we can catch up but first, can you tell me why you are here after all this time? I mean, if you truly wanted to find me you could have, so I'm guessing something is up. So spill it, Malty. And first, what's with the ice? Did you get hurt trying to save me from cracking my head open?"

His eyes shoot to mine and I cover my mouth. Damn, that's what I used to call him when we were together. Not sure how it came about but at times it fit him, and other times it broke that guard he tried to keep up. From the corner of my eye, I see my mom get up and approach us. I look back at Mal and he looks so serious. I find out why seconds later.

"Frankie, I'm sorry that I must bring this to you, but damn, I can't believe all this shit went down and it was just yesterday. I was working my shift in the emergency room when I heard a voice from the past. No, don't panic, let me finish. It was that jagbag, Gerald. The crazy as shit one. I think he was the boss of the assholes who showed up at the cabin that day. Or maybe not, there was that huge guy also. Anyway, I didn't want him to know I was there but, as usual, my plans went to hell because he went crazy and attacked my boss, Judy, so I jumped in to tried to protect her best I could. When he saw me, his crazy went to epic proportions. He started spouting out about how it was time to take care of the two loose ends that fucked his life up. He mentioned the other guy, Joey, but didn't elaborate. Once I got home, I called your folks to fill them in, and that's when you called to say someone was out here looking for you. We decided with that information it was time to finish this chapter in our lives. And here we are. Oh, Gerald is in police custody as he's in prison. Had a bad fight with another inmate, that's why he ended up in the ER. Now it's your turn to share and tell us your story."

I gulp then hiccup. My nerves always give me away lately. I glance at my parents and Panther with Avalanche. The big man gives me a serious look but his eyes as always are twinkling. Looking at Avalanche, I wonder why I never took a chance and went down the road with that tall, dark-haired, handsome man. I know why and right now he's taking a seat next to me, his knee touching mine. I've never gotten over Malcolm Washington. Now, as they say, a door is opening and it's up to me to either walk through it or slam it shut. I know deep inside I'd never shut him out totally, so I take a deep breath, sit back in the love seat, and gather my thoughts. This has been a long time coming.

"Well, not sure about you, but I've been in therapy on and off since what happened at the cabin. Once I was almost healed, I went back to the force but it wasn't the same. I seemed to always be scared of my own shadow. You were out of the coma but still in the hospital, so my plan was to try and get as close to back to normal as possible, so that when you got out of either the hospital or rehabilitation center, we could move forward. That ended because of two reasons. First, I was getting some weird phone calls and shit left at our apartment, at the station, and on my car. My sergeant knew about it but not many others. Yeah, I know, Mom, I didn't tell you or Dad, didn't want to worry you. Then you told me in that horrific and nasty way to ‘get the hell outta your life.' After about the third or fourth time, Michael was in the hallway when I burst out of your room. He told me it would be best for both of us—no, all involved—if I just stopped coming around because you had so much healing and recovery in front of you that me hanging around nagging and bringing you down wasn't helping. He even offered me money to start somewhere else. No, I didn't take that jagoff's money, though I did crack him in the face for offering. Not sure you know, Malty, but he and I never really liked each other or got along. And that was on him. I truly tried because I knew he was your best friend. So I packed up what I had and the night before I was going to head out I got a call, telling me my ‘dark ass' better move along or else. No, it wasn't Michael or anyone I'd have met with the two of you. The voice sounded crazy as shit, but there was an underlying threat there. He and, yeah, it was a man who didn't like a woman of color for sure. Told me what ‘my type' was good for. Like cleaning houses, spreading my legs, and pushing out kids. That scared me because, if you remember back to the cabin, those guys kept saying how after they were done with us, they'd be accepted in as they passed the final test. That has bothered me over the years. I always thought maybe a hate cult of some kind.

"Anyway, I spoke to one of my friends who told me out West was beautiful, so I took a chance. By the time I got out here to Montana, I was a shell of myself. Guess PTSD had set in. I was afraid of every dark spot or loud voice or noise. I'd not healed from the trauma but didn't want anyone to touch me. I needed a job so when I was driving through all these small towns in each western state, I kept looking for something I could do under the radar. I fell into Timber-Ghost, Montana and that's where the Wooden Spirits Bar and Grill was looking for help. I applied and Tink hired me on the spot. After a couple of months, I was approached by Glory to prospect in the Devil's Handmaidens Motorcycle Club. I liked the thought of a ‘chosen family,' though not sure I'd fit being different. Well, let me tell you, besides you, Mom, and Dad, along with my siblings, these women are my heart and soul. I got through prospecting and once I became a member and got my patch and rocker—these things on my kutte. The club, who owns the bar and grill, offered me the position of manager of both. That included a hike in my pay, a very generous benefit package, but more importantly a build up to my confidence of being able to do a good job. After I left New York and my job, I felt like less than nothing and at times still do. Though my therapist from the Blue Sky Sanctuary helps me deal with those feelings and thoughts."

I take a minute or two, then keep going because if I'm putting myself out there I'm going all the way.

"Now, in regard to dealing with what happened to us, I've been trying to do more of that. Saying that, with the club's mission being trying to save victims from human trafficking and domestic abuse and rape, it has forced the issue. I honestly don't know all that was done to me as I was unconscious from the vicious beating I took. And for that I thank the powers that be, and yeah, Mom, God too. I do know how and what I felt after when I woke up in the hospital. Not sure about you, Malty, but my personal life has been lonely. Saying that, I have tried to move forward, but nothing or no one has given me any type of incentive to try and put the work in."

I glance at Avalanche, who's watching me intently. I know why I never pursued him. He's too good of a friend—no, brother—to lose that for anything else. And my heart still belongs to Malty, though he didn't seem to want it back in the day. I hear a growl and look back at Malty. He's glaring at Avalanche, who just shoots him his good ol' boy smile.

"There something you need to share, Frankie? Do you and that huge mountain of a man got something going on?"

Before I can respond, Avalanche lets a cough out before he busts into laughter, hitting his thigh and everything. Panther looks at him like he lost his mind. So do my parents. That is until he drops a bomb.

" Malty, the difference between you and me is if that fine-ass woman was in my life and bed there would be no fuckin' way I'd let her go, no matter what happened or where my head was. And that's the damn truth. Now, I'm thinkin' y'all need some time alone, so my brother and I are going to go out and aggravate the women. Sir, ma'am, very nice to meet you. Hope to see you around. Oh, and, Malcolm, just some advice. Get your head outta your ass before this woman replaces you with someone who can handle all of her. I get bad shit happens, believe me I do, but don't let it ruin your entire life, brother. Look at what's right in front of you."

With that, Avalanche and Panther stand, walk toward me, pulling me up. First one then the other hugs me tightly, with Avalanche whispering he'll always be there for me and how he loves his little Shorty. Once they are gone, my parents stand and hug me and Malcolm before walking out the door. I look to Malcolm, who looks to me and all I can do is wait and see where we go from here.