Page 24 of Lost in Yonkers

“Tina Hillen,” she said, shaking his hand. “What kind of name is Hurricane?” she asked.

He chuckled, “It’s my biker’s name. I’m a meteorologist, and when the guys found out, they gave me that name. It kind of stuck, and well, it’s my name now.” He released her hand and nodded to the building. “You want to come in. I think that the girl might be your niece, but you should look at the security footage to be sure.” That was a good question—did she want to follow the three bikers into their lair?

“Um, sure,” she squeaked. “As long as you promise not to chain me to a wall or anything.”

Hurricane looked her over, cocking one eyebrow at her. “Why would we chain you to a wall?” he asked.

“Never mind,” she breathed, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. “Forget I even said that.”

“Done,” Hurricane agreed. “We can sit back in my office, and you can look over the footage,” he offered. “She wouldn’t tell me her name or your name. All she said was she didn’t want to go back to her aunt’s house and although I threatened to call the cops on her, I just couldn’t do it. She seemed determined not to go back to your place, and I didn’t want her taking off and landing someplace dangerous.”

“Someplace dangerous—like a biker club?” Tina challenged.

“Believe it or not, we’re tame compared to other clubs out there,” Hurricane admitted. “Your niece is safe here and she must know that since she keeps coming back night after night.”

“Where is she going during the day?” Tina asked. She knew that Chasity had shown up to school a few times, but not every day.

“Not sure,” Hurricane said. “But she’s here at night, and she’s safe.” Knowing that much gave Tina some comfort, but she still wanted Chasity back home with her where she knew that her niece would be safe.

“Why did she run away?” Hurricane asked.

“It’s silly, really,” Tina admitted. “Her parents died a few months ago and I was named Chasity’s guardian. Her dad is—well, was my brother. She was such a sweet girl before losing her parents, but since moving in with me, she’s given me a challenge at every turn. I simply asked her to clean her very messy room, and she shouted something about me not being her mother, and the next day, she was gone.”

“I had two younger sisters and I remember their teenage years. I can’t imagine having to raise a teenage girl on my own,” Hurricane said.

“It’s not easy,” Tina agreed, “but, I made my brother a promise, when Chasity was born, that I’d take care of her if anything happened to him or my sister-in-law. I never imagined that something would happen to either of them, let alone both of them.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Hurricane said. He offered her the chair behind his desk, and she sat down. It felt as though her heart might have beat out of her chest as she waited for him to pull up the camera feed on his laptop that looked as though it had seen better days.

As soon as Chasity’s face popped onto the screen, Tina gasped. “That’s her,” she breathed.

“I thought it might be her when you told my guys that your niece had been missing,” Hurricane said.

“Your guys?” she questioned.

“Yeah, this is my club. I’m the president of the Yonker’s chapter of the Royal Bastards,” he said.

“I thought that you were a meteorologist,” she said.

“That’s my day job that pays the bills,” he said. “I run the club in my spare time.” She was sure that a guy like him wouldn’t have much spare time, but she didn’t want to ask him any personal questions.

“I’d like to take Chasity home with me,” Tina said. “Do you mind if I wait around for her to show up tonight?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hurricane said.

“Why not?” she spat.

“Because she thinks of you as the enemy for some reason,” Hurricane said. “She’ll just take off on you again, and then, you might not be able to find her. Why not let her stay here at night, where she’s safe, and I can talk to her? She’s starting to trust me, I think,” he said.

“You told me that she wouldn’t tell you her name or mine,” she reminded.

“Right, but she’s been telling me bits and pieces about her childhood and stuff about her parents. Maybe she just needs someone that she can talk to; someone she can trust.” He was right, Chasity needed someone to talk to, and if it couldn’t be Tina, then she’d have to be happy with just knowing that her niece was safe.

“Okay, as long as you don’t mind giving me daily reports,” she insisted.

“Not at all,” he said. “In fact, how about we meet every morning for breakfast at the little diner on Saw Mill River Road,” he said.

“You mean, Yonkers Diner?” she asked.

---