Page 40 of Sheltering Hollis

“Absolutely,” Helena said, her eyes twinkling. She bent down to Olive’s level. “And you must be Olive. How do you like your new house?”

Olive looked up at her shyly. “I like it a lot.”

Helena straightened up, looking back at me. “You must be exhausted from the drive. Come inside; we’ve got some food ready for you. And Olive, I’ve got your room set up. ”

The warmth in her voice put me at ease. As we stepped onto the porch, I noticed the details Dimitri had worked on—the carefully restored woodwork and the inviting front door. Inside, the house was cozy and welcoming. The living room was tastefully furnished, with comfortable-looking couches and a fireplace that gave off a soft, welcoming glow.

“Wow,” I breathed. “You did an amazing job, Dimitri.” It was nice and tastefully furnished, with comfortable couches and actual pillows on the couches. It could use a woman’s touch, but it was beautiful.

Dimitri smiled, pride shining in his eyes. “I’m glad you like it.”

Helena led us into the kitchen, her blond hair swinging, where a spread of food awaited. “We thought you might be hungry after the long drive,” she said.

Olive’s eyes lit up at the sight of the food. “I’m starving. Can we eat?”

“Of course, sweetie,” Helena said, helping her to a plate of food.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” Dimitri said, sweeping Helena into a hug. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but I could see how Maddox felt. He wrestled her out of Dimitri’s grasp, grumbling out it the whole time. It was pretty funny. Then, I saw the gorgeous ring on her finger, a huge square yellow diamond channel set into a thick gold band.

“Yep,” she said, emphasizing the ‘p.’ “Got him, finally.” She sent me a wink. “Hear, you’ll be best, man.”

“As if he’d have anyone else.” Dimitri’s shoulder bumped Maddox happily as he moved Helena out of the way with a scowl. Watching him interact with his friends was interesting, a new dynamic that clicked into place.

As we settled around the kitchen table, I found myself relaxing. Maddox and Helena were easy to talk to, and their genuine warmth made me feel welcome. Helena was quirky, nails painted black with pink smiley faces. I kept darting looks at them. One nail had a little blue heart. Tiny baby bottles hung from her ears. Was this code? Maddox, despite his imposing presence, had a way of making you feel at ease with his straightforward manner. He obviously couldn’t keep his hands off Helena, and he kept scooting her closer to him. It was adorable.

“So, Hollis,” Maddox said after a while, leaning back in his chair. “How do you feel about this move? About being here in Haverboro?”

I considered his question carefully. “It’s a big change,” I admitted. “But I think it’s a good one.”

Helena smiled, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “We’re glad to have you here, Hollis. It’s a close-knit community. You’ll see.”

“Thank you,” I said, feeling a swell of gratitude. “That means a lot.”

“Olive, sweetie, do you want to see your room?” Helena asked. Olive’s eyes lit up, and she sprinted after the other woman and up the stairs before I could say a word.

Maddox turned his attention to me. “You have our support here. The Brotherhood looks out for its own. No harm will come to you here, ever.” He looked at me the whole time he spoke, his words intentional. “We have a strict code in our MC about women. I want you to know that.”

I could read between the lines. Dimitri had confided in him about what had occurred in Colombia.

“Maddox and I always work together, malysh,” Dimitri spoke up, reading my expression. “When my plans changed in Colombia, I spoke with Maddox. That’s all.” He rubbed my back in a comforting circle.

“Dimitri was there in Colombia because Makarovich was responsible for something that happened to Helena,” Maddox said carefully. “She wouldn’t mind me telling you,” he qualified. “However, there are parts that I’m sure she’d prefer to share. However, she found out he was trafficking. That’s why she came back to Haverboro. We were afraid of blowback if Makarovich was left roaming around. That’s why Dimitri was there,” he explained.

“I see.” I did, but it blew my mind that these were the people I was hanging out with. People that casually talked about offing someone. However, Maddox had at least settled my worries about what sort of men I’d find in the MC, that they might be a threat.

Olive clattered back down the stairs, animated as she explained her new bedroom. I couldn’t wait to see it. Apparently, it was all decorated in yellow and sunflowers.

After we’d eaten our fill and Dimitri and Maddox had gone to bring in luggage and the boxes, I set up Olive with her coloring books and pencils at the table, and Helena and I started to pack the food away.

“I know it’s overwhelming, being on your own,” Helena began. “A few months ago, I came back to Haverboro for Maddox’s help.” She busied herself with the Tupperware. “It was hard for me to come empty-handed,” she admitted.

“Exactly, I don’t want to be a burden,” I said. I’d always earned my way.

“I get that,” she said. She didn’t look at me or hesitate as she continued to work steadily, which made it more accessible. “Trust me when I say that Dimitri bringing you both here is what he wants to do. He can handle the finances. But … I get that you need to feel like you’re doing your part. I know that I can’t just lay around.” She lay a hand on her belly. “Yet,” she winked.

“Oh my god, congratulations. That’s so exciting.” I smiled at her wide and joyfully. I could feel her excitement. She seemed blissfully in love with Maddox, and I could see how much he doted on her. Her baby would be born with a father and a mother. That was something Olive hadn’t had. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I’ll lay around soon enough, but I’m working at the diner. We could use another waitress if you’re interested,” she offered. “Maddox wants me to cut back on my hours.” She frowned.

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