Page 14 of Wildcat

“Shadow, don’t let this sick prick win. I don’t know what he’s been spewing to get in your head, but remember, like all of you have been telling me; whatever happened is in the past and you’ve moved forward. You’ve already won, sister, not him. His life is shallow and without love, friends, family, or anything that is important. I don’t care what he was a part of, look at him now. It’s all an act, he’s petrified and knows he doesn’t have his asshole ‘friends’ to take his back. Those type of people, especially men, need to have others around to feel strong and in control of every situation. He’s being controlled by you and you alone. I don’t care if you kill him but make him suffer like he’s never suffered before. Please, sister, do that for me and I’ll owe you for the rest of my life. I’m not leaving but I don’t have that in me, wish I did because with him it would be a pleasure. Like a once in a lifetime moment.”

Looking down at my sister, who just had her past blow back and blast her, the fact she can worry about me speaks highly of who Wildcat is. No wonder she was on to being a great cop, she has the instincts. Need to talk to my dad, get him to fast-track her application. Timber-Ghost could use another good deputy. Maybe Wildcat and Yogi can pair up. Fuck, who would have thought two patched members from our clubs would end up on the police force. Life sure the hell plays some wicked games.

“Thanks, sister, you’re right. I’ll let him squirm in it, though his shit brought back a ton of things I’ve tried to forget. I will put him to ground but first, I think you and Malcolm should have your questions answered. Especially your man, sister, because he looks like he’s losing his right arm which, in a way, he is. That motherfucker was so good that even Malcolm didn’t see the evil lying right below the surface. Let me get cleaned up and have a word with Goldilocks and Glory. Not sure, but my ass might be in some serious trouble. I ignored my prez’s command and went rogue. There are always consequences to my actions. Please tell Malcolm I didn’t mean to disrespect him or you. To me, that jagoff, Michael, is as evil if not worse than my father Dario was. They walked in the same circles. Wildcat, don’t believe his lies because he’s had years to become the heinous human being he currently is. Something is seriously wrong with him because I know what he’s part of, and I know he had a hand in what happened to the both of you. We’ll talk soon, but for now, let’s take a break from all of this. I’m getting the stink eye from Goldilocks, so gonna see what’s got her looking at me like a crazy tiny lunatic.”

I squeeze Wildcat’s hands then walk toward the one person who saved my life so many years ago. It’s been a while since I’ve lost control, and I can see the concern in Goldilocks’s eyes. I mean, she’s seen me at my most manic and insane moments to where I am right now. Sure, she doesn’t want to see me take steps back. Fuck, neither do I. When I reach her, she is instantly in my space, arms around my waist. Damn, didn’t think I was so huggable, for Christ’s sake. But if I had to admit it, her tiny arms feel good right now.

“Don’t play badass, Zoey, I can see your fear and worry, you can’t hide from me. Please give it to me straight, how bad is it that we have Michael here? I can call Dad, Enforcer, and Wrench to get rid of him if you want me to. They’ll make him suffer as much as you want. Don’t let the dark pull you back, Zoey. I can’t lose you, neither can the club. Not to mention your new life including Panther, Avalanche, and the guys at the ranch.”

I’ve loved this tiny person since the first time she stuck up for me in that field years ago. She managed something no one else ever has in my entire life. Well, except Panther. She has a place in my heart because she’s never let me down. Always has given me all her trust and support. Her worry and concern brought me back from where Michael was trying to drag me back to. I lean down and give her a kiss on the cheek, which has her jerking back. Yeah, I know, I’m not one who does all the touchy-feely shit. That would be tree-hugging, crystal-loving sister Taz, of course.

“Love you, Goldilocks. Always have and will ’til the last breath I take. Thank you for just being you. I won’t let him win but for Wildcat, Malcolm, and me, it’s got to be me who puts him to ground. Saying that, let’s let him simmer a bit. I’ll have Rebel work him over a bit, but don’t want him dead yet. I get the feeling he has way too much needed information in his noggin about Dario and the Thunder Cloud Knuckle Brotherhood, along with the circuits associated with both. I thought Raven said she had a lead on a domestic situation or a small circuit of some kind between here and Bozeman, if I’m not mistaken. Once she gets the information, we’ll have to move fast on it, so put that asshole on ice. Only water, no food or just the minimum to keep him alive. Limited options to speak either ball gag, rag, or tape. Keep his discomfort at peak levels. Whoever is left behind has to be someone who can fuck with someone or we get Enforcer or Wrench over here. With that said, are we good, Maggie? I know I fucked up and I’m sorry, Prez.”

Her head jerks all the way back. Can’t remember the last time I called her Maggie. The worry in her eyes turns her green eyes to an emerald pine tree color. She reaches up and grabs my cheeks.

“To you, Zoey, I’ll always be Goldilocks. That’s just ours. Or Prez, but never Maggie. When you use that name, I know you’re pulling away and that I won’t ever accept. You hear me, you badass motherfucker?”

That has me laughing out loud. Tiny and mighty. Maggie-Goldilocks-Tink is one of a kind. Talk about badass. She just told me in her no uncertain way that I’m all good and so are we. I give her a nod then walk back into the room and over to where Michael is still on my unique wood table ledge. Malcolm has checked out his cuts and even stitch three of the bad ones. I’m not gonna ride his ass ’cause he doesn’t get this at all. Michael’s eyes follow my every move. They get huge when I pull out a bottle of booze. He knows what I’m about to do because he’s done the same thing to me and probably close to a hundred other women after he whipped us raw then, as he would say, he had to clean the marks we made him give us. So with that thought in my head, I open the bottle, walk over, and before Malcolm can grab my hand, I pour the liquor over all the cuts, small and large. Michael tries to scream but the rag keeps most of the noise down. When I pour the alcohol over the deepest one, I see his eyes roll and then he passes out. Or he wants us to think he did. I don’t give a fuck and when I look to Malcolm, he stares at me for a moment then shakes his head. I see Wildcat come up behind him, grabbing his hand and pulling him so he turns, and they both walk out the door, never looking back at this asshole.

Me, on the other hand, I reach out and grab his balls, squeezing tightly until I hear the sound I want. A choking sound has me lifting my eyes to his, which are shooting flames my way.

“This is the prequel, Michael. There will come a time when you won’t be able to talk or even moan your wish for death. That’s when the real fun begins. I’m not doing this alone. Wildcat and Malcolm will help, along with Enforcer and Wrench. You might not know who they are, but believe me, you’re gonna regret what you became associating with Dario. That I can promise you. Now I’ve got to go, but here’s something to remember me by.”

Then I squeeze his sack until his eyes start to bulge out. I give them an even hard press then quickly release. If I continue to do that, eventually cells will rupture and release toxins that will damage his liver and kidneys. That’s when the real pain will start. I meant it, he’s going to feel such pain he’ll scream with agony to take his last breath. Only then will I be able to give Malcolm, Wildcat, and myself some peace when I put him to ground to rot for eternity.

FIFTEEN

‘MALCOLM’

MALTY

Sitting in the main room of the Devil’s Handmaidens club, I’m beyond confused, pissed off, and hate to admit the last, but scared to death after seeing what Shadow did to Michael. What the hell is going on? I keep asking myself. How did we get to this spot when all Frankie’s parents and I wanted to do was make sure Frankie was okay? We brought the devil’s surrogate to her doorstep. How did Michael even manage to sneak in and come to Montana with us? I mean, since the attack and Frankie’s leaving, we’ve drifted a bit. I mean, nothing like we got in a fight and went our separate ways. Just life getting in the way on my side, or I thought so. I have no idea what Michael has been doing, now that I think about it. It’s making sense, as I’m finding out that I don’t know who the hell he actually is. None of this is making sense but when I walked into that room and met his eyes, he didn’t hide from me anymore. I could see the pits of hell in his glare. Something else too, but he pulled that back before I could make it out. It almost looked like sadness, but that could be me trying to make him appear human.

I’m sitting at a corner table by myself, just watching everyone go about their day. When Enzo and Billie rush through the entrance door, I see their eyes searching until they hit mine. Billie moves like lightning and in no time at all she’s in front of me, pulling me to my feet.

“Mal, my God, what the hell is going on? How did us trying to make sure our daughter was safe turn into this nightmare we are living? Is it possible that we just got here and everything blew up? Where is Michael? Is it true? How did no one put two and two together?”

I jump as do Frankie’s parents when a voice sounds directly behind them.

“Sorry to startle you, but I overheard what you were saying. No one figured out Michael’s, if that’s even his name, dark side because he’s that good. I promise you that he will not be walking away from here. When I’m done with him, what’s left will go to ground. Wildcat, sorry Frankie, will be up in a few minutes. No don’t worry, Billie, she’s not down there alone with Michael, a few of our sisters stayed down there with her. His days of fucking with her are over. If either of you have questions find me, but to let you all know, Michael is part of my past too, and it’s not in a good way either. He’s a sadist of the highest level and gets off on other’s pain and discomfort. Not just physical pain either, but emotional also. He enjoys playing mind games that lead to physical pain. He always gotten off on it and apparently still does. I need to clean up, but tomorrow maybe we can all get together and talk. We’ve got a situation we need to take care of, but first we’ll answer any questions.”

Shadow goes to turn and leave but Enzo grabs her hand, which puts Shadow on guard. He instantly releases her but Billie moves in and not only grabs her hand, but pulls her close. Those ice-blue eyes of hers are watching Frankie’s mom wildly. Billie raises her hand, cupping Shadow’s tattooed cheek.

“Shadow, my husband and I thank you for what you are doing for our daughter. Not just now, but since she managed to find her way out here to Montana. I don’t want to think what would have come of her if she was by herself. Seems like Michael has kept tabs on her and somehow recently found out she was here with you and your club. We were talking and maybe he sent that Joey out here to find Frankie. No, let me finish. We’ve watched two of our kids, Frankie and Malcolm, slowly start to fade away over the last months and years. Please find out what and why from that monster. Then be sure to slowly destroy him because he must pay for the damage he left behind. We will be in your debt forever.”

Billie reaches up and places a kiss on Shadow’s cheek. Then she turns, grabs Enzo’s hand, and they walk toward the kitchen area. I see Shadow watching Billie with her own hand over where the kiss was placed, shock all over her face. I get up close, which has her shifting to look my way.

“Frankie’s parents are as we said back in the day ‘da bomb.’ They don’t believe in violence or cruelty of any kind. That was why it was so hard for them when Frankie went into the police academy. Not because they didn’t think she could do it, but because of the demented, disturbed, and deranged elements out there in the real world. Their thoughts, like mine, never went to the prejudices that exist out there. If you have a minute, can you explain what your club’s mission is? I want to try and understand. Never thought I’d say this, but I’ve lived a naïve existence. I never thought Frankie and I were attacked for any other reason than happenchance.”

Shadow shakes her head and those ice-blue eyes lock on to my eyes. Then she shocks the shit out of me.

“Malcolm, yeah, I’m sure with Michael hanging around my father that race had something to do with it. But because of the intensity of your attack, this was personal. I’m no psychologist or psychiatrist, but if I was to guess—hang on—I honestly believe Michael wanted you for himself. No, I’m not saying you’re gay, though there’s nothing wrong if you were. What I’m saying is it’s Michael who couldn’t accept your relationship with Wildcat. He did everything he could to destroy it and when that didn’t work, he waited ’til you were both isolated and made his move. Yeah, he raped Wildcat but if you listen to her tell it, she was totally out. He took his pleasure when he was beating her for stealing you away. His hatred for her showed up all over her body. The rape was an afterthought and he might have been the one who used an object on her. Now your situation is different. He’d been dreaming for years of making you his. So when it finally happened, he lost control and seriously hurt you. But not before the men he was working with tried to hang you. Michael gave up something huge to my father to be able to bring some of my dad’s goons with him so he could attack the both of you. I don’t think either of you were supposed to walk away from that day alive.”

My head jerks up at Shadow’s words. Holy shit, she might be right. Now that I think of it, between the beatings and rapes, it went on for hours. When I finally passed out, thought I heard one of them say that if they left us, we’d both just die from exposure, or if they were lucky a hungry animal would wander by. Could Michael be so cold-hearted after all my family and Frankie’s did for him? My God, what happened to Michael to turn him into such a cold, heartless monster? I’ll probably never know, but at least some of this is starting to make sense.

Shadow turns and walks down the hallway as I lean forward, hands on my forehead, elbows on the table. The headache I started with has increasingly gotten worse. This is so bad and on so many levels. I’m so confused on what to do next. Frankie doesn’t need us, that’s so apparent. She’s replaced her family with a chosen one who’s had her back all this time. Even now they are the ones in control. I’m the one to blame for what went down years ago. If only I hadn’t fallen for Michael’s lies. Shit, I doubt Frankie will ever forgive me because I brought the devil into her life.

The scraping of chairs gets my attention. Frankie, Enzo, and Billie are gathering around the table with me. All with serious looks on their faces. Leave it to Frankie to jump right in.

---