Page 23 of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Tango: Fuck you both! Liza hasn’t been out of this room since last night at dinner, because she’s afraid of bikers and you know why. Now imagine, a woman who is already skittish because of her situation has some strange woman come to her door demanding things of her, in an unfamiliar place, where she doesn’t know what to expect, and it ramps that shit up to 15 from the 10 out of 10 anxiety level she was already experiencing. Hell, her first few minutes in the clubhouse involved club whores trying to steal shit from her. This woman hasn’t eaten since last night, because she doesn’t trust the people here enough to go get some god damn food, and you two are worried about me hurting Amy’s feelings with the truth? Why don’t we talk about the damage she just did to someone who already fears being here with us for good fucking reason?

Fox: Fuck, dude.

Whiskey: Sorry, I didn’t even think.

Tango: That’s fuckin’ obvious. Talk to Amy. She started this bullshit today, coming to Liza about a problem she thinks she has with me. Liza doesn’t need Amy’s made-up drama on top of her own. Amy also does not get Liza’s details, but you better make it clear she is to be left alone.

Whiskey: Will do. Sorry, man.

“Hey, when you’re done there, I’ll take you to grab some food, okay?” I called out over the sound of the shower turning on.

“Sure, thanks.”

~ Liza ~

Once I was ready and wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie sweatshirt overtop of it, Tango guided me out of his room and down into the commons. “I was going to take you out to get something, but I think it’s better if we stay here.”

“Is it because it’s too dangerous to take me out?”

“It’s easier from a security standpoint, but also I want you to get used to being around these guys. I don’t want you starving all day if I have to go to work, babe. That shit is not cool.”

I swallowed hard not knowing what to say. He had me pegged. I hadn’t left the room because I wasn’t comfortable doing so on my own. I didn’t know biker protocol for a single woman wondering around the place. I knew some wore property patches while others were free game for anyone. I definitely didn’t want to be mistaken as free game. So, I just stayed put and tried to work.

“You’ll get used to us all soon enough,” Tango was saying as Rabbit bounced up to us with his undeniable energy.

“Good to see you out and about, finally!” He offered as he smiled at me.

“Thanks. Got hungry,” I admitted which caused him to frown.

“Please, tell me you’ve been out of the room to eat at some point today, and I just didn’t see it.” I shook my head and watched as a silent conversation seemed to pass between the two men standing with me. “Okay, you have my number now, remember? If this guy isn’t here, you text me if you need something. You want an escort to get around within this joint; I’ll be that when Tango can’t be here. Okay?”

I offered him a genuine smile, because I couldn’t even begin to explain the amount of relief I felt in that moment. “Thanks, Rabbit. It seems like I keep owing you today.”

“You don’t owe me shit, girl. Stop saying that. I’m glad to help where I can. Now, let’s get your ass to the kitchen before it loses any of that bounce you got going on back there,” he joked. The growl that came from Tango didn’t appear to be a joking matter though. Rabbit just chuckled in response. “Calm down, buddy. Just appreciating the fine curvature.” He held his hands up as he walked backwards. “I’m keeping my hands to myself, see.” He grinned again and then turned to finish the walk back to the kitchen area.

“He’s our resident good-time guy,” Tango explained, unnecessarily. “Always in a good mood, always joking around. When it comes to doing his job, he’s completely serious though. When he says you can trust him to be the person to go to when I’m not around, he means it.”

“I already made that assumption when he told those other guys the truth about what went down today. I’m just glad he was there to witness it all, because I really don’t think they would have believed me or listened. She didn’t exactly lie to them, but she wasn’t forthcoming about how she approached me either, making it seem like I was a complete bitch for no reason.”

“I know. I am sorry about that. I can’t believe she did that shit. Amy’s always been a real solid person.” He obviously still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that the woman was being territorial over him. He would have to deal with it sooner or later though. I felt like that entire situation was just waiting to blow up in his face. Not that it was his fault, but his avoidance and refusal to assert his position before now wasn’t doing him any favors.

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