Page 29 of Wildcat

“What do you think, man, do we look fuckin’ ready? Just do it.”

Then he leans back down and cuddles with his dog. That’s when I see Taz has her phone out just as she snaps a shot of her husband with their first fur baby. The vet says not a word about Enforcer’s outburst. He proceeds to start an IV. Once in, he sits on his heels.

“Enforcer, Taz, the first shot I’m going to give Tuna is to relax her. It’ll be like she’s sleeping. The second one will slow her heart until it stops. I’m going to give her the relaxer then the second shot. Here we go.”

Never in my life have I been present when this was done. There is no way in heaven or hell that Tuna doesn’t know she is loved. Her parents are with her the entire time. When she is gone, the vet picks up all his supplies and garbage.

“I’m very sorry for your loss. When you are ready, please let me know. I’ll load Tuna up in my truck and will take her to the crematory. I’ll personally return her when everything has been done. Do you want an imprint of her paw?”

Both Taz and Enforcer nod but no words. Taz is now on the sectional above Tuna as Enforcer lifted her up and put her there. Just as the vet goes to leave, we hear their screen door open and the kids and Malcolm walk in. Teddy instantly takes in the scene and goes completely still. Olivia gets closer to him, but the boy only has eyes for his dog.

“Momma, is she gone? Did she cross over to the Rainbow Bridge?”

Taz nods as Enforcer moves to go to his son, but Teddy runs straight to Tuna. Lying right next to her, he starts to cry while petting her, telling her how much he loves her. He promises never to forget her. Somehow the pups feel the vibe and slowly make their way to Tuna and Teddy. One lies next to Tuna, the other next to Teddy. Again, I see Taz with her phone out snapping a shot.

Malcolm grabs my hand, pulling me out of the room, giving the family some time. Not even five minutes later Taz comes waddling out. She gives Malcolm a small tight smile but comes directly to me.

“Thanks, sister. We knew it was time, but were afraid how Teddy would take it. As you can see, all around that rose bush are petunias. His way of letting us know he was ready. Don’t feel like you have to stay, you did something I’ll never be able to thank you for. Love ya, Wildcat.”

She kisses my cheek, grabs on to Malcolm’s arm, then walks back to her family. We get back in our vehicle and head back to the cabin. This is not the way I thought today would go. Tomorrow Malcolm is heading back to New York. Lots has happened since he said goodbye to his friend. We’ve gotten to know each other again. And as I keep telling Shadow no, we’ve not had sex, and only God knows if we ever will. Though from the look and feel of it, we will when the time is right. Yeah, I love him, but once you’re violated things are different. He feels the same. We’ve experimented with our limits and for now we’re good where we are at. We need time and that’s exactly what we’ll have. Malcolm is going back to New York to give his notice, though he’s already spoken to Judy. He’s working with Shamonda, who’s going to buy his townhouse. He’s giving a lot of his stuff to my brother for his new place.

Once everything is completed, I’m going to fly out to New York for the first time since I left to drive back to Montana with him. Well, with Malcolm, Buddy, Chloe, Peanut, Buttons, and China. What a cluster, but it’s my clusterfuck and I love it.

“Sorry, babe, didn’t know that was going down. It was nice what the kids did for you. Think it helped little Teddy more than you. He adored Tuna. Why is life so hard sometimes?’

Malcolm reaches over and grabs my hand. Then he gives it to me like he always does, honest and to the point.

“Frankie, if life wasn’t hard at times when the easy ones come, we wouldn’t appreciate them. As hard for Teddy and his family as that is, they have good memories with Tuna ’til she—shit, what is it called, yeah—crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Now let’s take a drive before we go back to the cabin. Something I want to show you that Avalanche shared with me a while ago.”

We drive for less than ten minutes. Malcolm parks my Tahoe, turns it off, and turns to me.

“Trust me, Frankie?”

“Always, Malty.”

He smiles, gets out, and comes around to my door. Once we are both out, I see some sticks in the ground with string or rope strung from one to the other. What the hell, this is part of Tink’s ranch.

“Damn, going to have to let Tink know someone’s out here fucking with her land.”

“Don’t worry, she knows. And it isn’t her land, it’s ours. Frankie Camano, let’s build our forever home here in the middle of Bumfuck, Montana. Now that I’m an employee of the Devil’s Handmaidens and Blue Sky Sanctuary, figured I need to find somewhere close to live. Talked to Tink and Noodles about some land. She told me to pick a spot and it was ours, so I asked Avalanche for his help. This land is fertile if we want to have a garden, large enough if we want to add our pack of fur babies and has the most gorgeous dawns and sunsets.”

I’m in his arms before I can say a word. This is what was missing in my life. My Malty. Now everything is how it should be in my life.

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Rebel, Book Eight

‘REBEL’

Myra

Damn, these women are driving me bat-ass crazy. Yeah, I’m part owner of the Handmaidens Fitness & Holistic Center. My partner, or should I say since Raven’s kidnapping and getting shot, she reached out to me to see if I wanted to maybe get involved in the gym. We’ve been going over the logistics of her bringing me on as a partner, but she already has a silent partner in our prez, Tink. She was all for Raven starting this club. Our prez likes, as she puts it, “the Handmaidens to have their hands in everything.” So now I’m going to be a business owner along with Raven and, I guess, Tink too. Good thing is I don’t have to have a huge amount of cash to buy in. Our prez handles all the financials in every business the club is involved with. Helps our sisters find work and supports our town with businesses and jobs also.

Then last year, when Taz came to Raven and me after all the shit that went down with Raven, we talked it out and added the holistic section to the center. There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for Taz. Fuck, when all her drama hit, I lost my fucking mind. She’s not my blood sister, but she means more than both of those bitches I share blood with. Then the whole thing with her hooking her star to Enforcer took me by surprise, but it works for them and that’s all that matters.

Taz and Enforcer’s family are having a rough time and I’m trying to be as supportive as they’ll let me. After a battle with cancer they lost their pitbull, Pituynia, or as we all called her Tuna. Little Teddy is devastated but I’m more worried about Taz. She’s pregnant, ready to drop any day, and she doesn’t need the added stress. Since Tuna passed, she’s not been in here and is hanging out by herself in their new home. Enforcer texted me yesterday to tell me that his Que, which is his nickname for my sister Taz, kicked him out of their house. He’s also beside himself. Right now, I have to deal with these members who think I owe them every single damn minute of my time. The one giving me the hardest time is a young woman named Cleo. She had a baby almost a year ago, and she’s pissed her two days a week gossip session hasn’t given her the body she wants. I don’t fucking know, but the actress photo she showed me when she joined is never gonna happen. And I honestly told her that. I just had a fifteen-minute conversation with her, trying once again to explain that two-thirty minute sessions of exercise are not going to remove extra weight if she’s not controlling her food intake. I didn’t mention out of those thirty minutes, she’s probably only exercising maybe half the time. She got really pissed at me, telling me she lives on salads, fruits, and protein. Personally, I know she’s lying, because Peanut, who works at our bar and grill in town, told me she’s there a few times a week either stuffing her face or guzzling wine like there’s no tomorrow. Not my business but one thing I can’t stand is someone who lies. So, in a roundabout way, I brought it up and she immediately told me she was quitting, and that I’m just a queer-ass bitch who’s probably on steroids and can’t catch a man. Okay, good morning to me.

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