Page 9 of Bear

“Exactly how long had you known Venus when you claimed her?”

“That’s different. I might not have known her, but I knew what she was. What she stood for.” Again, he nodded to the hallway and the bedroom. “You don’t know nothin’ about that one.”

“I know she’s working for my CIA handler. The man who sent me on a suicide mission because I refused to follow bullshit orders.”

Piston whistled low. “Not a great start, brother.”

“Yeah. Tell me something I don’t know.”

“All right. How about this.” The older man leaned one hip against the door facing. “Apple says she’s sure someone is hurting Olivia. Maybe not physically, but mentally. Emotionally. Terrorizing that young woman.”

I shook my head. “Ain’t goin’ there, Piston. Whatever reason she has, she had a chance to come clean and she didn’t take it.”

He shrugged. “All I’m sayin’ is find all the facts. Look as deep as you can. Lemon and Apple are… special. Everyone knows it. Lemon’s found her way and is on the path that suits her. Apple hasn’t yet, but she needs to help people. Ever since the thing with Scarlet, Apple’s changed. Whatever happened at Iron Tzars with that man of hers made it worse. What she saw in Olivia was bad enough she gave her the club safe word. She was also demanding to come here to be with Olivia.”

“What?” I snapped the question, narrowing my eyes. “She’s not, right? Because that would be the one person Olivia could hide behind and keep us away from her. If she puts Apple between herself and us, she’s got us by the balls.”

“Idiot,” Piston muttered. “You really need to learn to watch a woman for a while before you go all caveman Neanderthal and put your claim on her. You don’t know a Goddamned thing about this woman. Do you?”

“What the fuck is it with everyone telling me what woman I can or can’t claim?”

“Never said you couldn’t claim her. Just that you’re a dumbass for taking a look at a pretty face and deciding to spend your life with the woman.”

“Christ, Piston. I feel something for her or I wouldn’t have done it. There’s a… I don’t know. A pull to her.”

“I see.” He sighed. “Well, good luck, boy. You’re in for a bumpy ride.”

* * *

Olivia

“I’d apologize in advance, but I think you knew this or something like it was coming.” The woman who’d escorted me into the bedroom and shut the door was all business. Judging by her expression, there would be absolutely no give to her.

“Strip down to underwear.” She had a moderately thick Russian accent in a pleasing contralto. Judging by all the pink, I was pretty sure this was Venus. Apple had told me about her a couple of times, always with an admiring grin. Like, if she thought she could pull it off, she’d emulate the woman’s look but thought it might be a bit much. Venus stood back at a reasonable distance, not getting up in my space or making me feel threatened. Which told me I had absolutely no chance of getting away from her even if I tried.

“Any clothes I have on were given to me by your club. Why do I have to strip now?”

She tossed another complete change of clothing onto the bed and set a pair of canvas shoes on the floor. Everything looked to be brand-new, socks and underwear still in the packs. “Because, we don’t take chances with our home.” She leveled a look on me. “Any chances.”

With a sigh, I did as she instructed. Venus was respectful but firm, averting her eyes for the most part and only watching me when it was strictly necessary. Each article of clothing I discarded, Venus checked. And I mean, she checked. Pockets, of course, were turned inside out. The woman went around the hemmed seam, feeling for anything between the fabric folds.

Once that was done, she nodded at me. “Now underwear. Unfasten your bra and I’ll hand you new one so you’re not exposed more than necessary.”

I cringed. “Do you really have to be that thorough?” I thought I might be in trouble here, but it wasn’t any more than I expected. The only thing I had was the phone. I was supposed to keep a small journal for observations, but I didn’t have anything for it yet. And I wasn’t really sure I could now. How was I supposed to rat on these people when they were being so kind? I mean, the strip search was a little much, but if they were really serious about keeping their location secret, then I guess I understood it. Besides, I’d known this was coming.

Again, each time I gave her an article of clothing, Venus searched it thoroughly. She didn’t give me privacy to change, but she didn’t make it weird either. Once I had the new underwear on, she handed me a pair of cotton Capri pants and a black tank top which I put on quickly.

The next thing she did was pick up the duffel I’d been given with the other change of clothes. And my phone.

She unzipped the duffel and dumped the contents out onto the bed. It was like the phone was just waiting to be found because it bounced off the bed and onto the floor with a soft thud. Venus didn’t look at me or in any way indicate she was displeased, but she stuffed the phone into her back pocket before going over the rest of the clothing in the duffel.

“You know, your people gave me those clothes. They’ve only been here a couple of hours and not out of the house since they’ve been in my possession.”

“Da. But they don’t take chances with their home. Especially when woman they bring back was running from CIA agent.” She gave me what looked like a genuine smile, but I couldn’t be sure. Like this wasn’t even an inconvenience. Just an everyday occurrence.

“How long have you been with Grim Road?”

She shrugged. “I’m not really with them. Piston has idea I’m his woman, but I haven’t made up my mind.”

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