Page 109 of Patching Over

“But they were willing to come here to meet us?” A slight frisson of doubt crosses my mind when I consider that the camp’s in a completely different state. Not horribly far, of course, but still, why would they search for counselors out of state?

“They live locally, Bella-boo,” she replies. “And before you go all spidey-senses on me, I checked out the website online and everything looks legit.”

Shrugging, I say, “Okay, let me grab my purse and we can go. We wanted to have some fun this summer anyhow, so maybe, just maybe, we’ll add something that’ll help us with our jobs.” Plus, it never hurts to have this type of job on our resumes.

“You mean the jobs we’re hoping to get when we graduate?” she asks as we head out the front door. She locks it while I head to the driver’s side of my car.

It’s a sweet ride that Sleeper gave to me after I finally got my driver’s license. Part of the delay was so many of my ‘uncles’ tried to teach me, I kept getting conflicting information about the dos and don’ts behind the wheel. Finally, Wiley, one of his friends, went over the state driver manual with me, then took me out for the required road hours. Because he didn’t make me feel nervous all the time, I was able to pass not only thewritten portion of the exam, but also the practical part. While most people hate their picture on their driver’s license, I giggle whenever I see mine because I’m cheesing so big.

“Let’s go and get this shit over with,” I grumble as we get into my car. What I really want to do is take a nap, but when Mo gets like this, it’s easier to go along sometimes. I can always grab one when we get back since I have my chores for the weekend done and there’s nothing important enough that needs my attention to keep me away from snuggling in my bed.

“I got a creepy vibe from them that kind of skeeves me out,” I admit to Moira as we head back from meeting our interviewers. For some reason I can’t explain, I’m in a rush to get back to our place.

The two young men were maybe a few years older than we are, and both are clean-cut, with neatly pressed clothes. Maybe that’s what is bugging me; I’ve never known any guys who iron their fucking jeans. In fact, the men in my brother’s club would label Harold and Roger, the two guys who came to meet us from the camp, as straight up pussies if they saw them. I can’t swear to it, but it also looked like the T-shirts they had on underneath their short-sleeve button down shirts were ironed as well. A tad bit overkill in my opinion.

“Eh, they said the camp is heavily religious; maybe that’s part of their thing? Modesty or something?”

“Considering our shorts have to be no shorter than an inch above our knees, and any tank tops we bring have to be the thick straps, plus our bathing suits must be one piece? I’d say so,” I grumble. “We’re going to have to go shopping, because for sure, I think the only thing I own that I can actually pack and takewith us would be my underwear, bras, and socks. Hell, we even have to wear close-toed sneakers! How on God’s green earth aretoesgoing to turn someone on, for fuck’s sake?” I ask, my voice growing louder even though she’s sitting right next to me in the car.

“Okay, so the wardrobe is less than stellar, Belle, but what they’re going to pay us weekly will definitely help us out financially next semester,” she replies.

Not that I actuallyneedthe money, but I know Mo does, so if nothing else, since I won’t leave my girl behind, I’ll do it. “I know, and I’ll do it, but right now, I reserve the right to bitch about it.”

“Fair enough,” she teases.

“We’re so fucked,” I mutter beneath my breath as the nondescript white van we were thrown into moves sedately and steadily through town so as not to cause any outward suspicion.

“What are we going to do?” Mo asks, her eyes trained on the two men in the front.

“Whatever they ask, within reason, until my brother figures out something happened, and rescues us,” I advise.

“How long do you think that’s going to take?” she asks, her lips quivering.

“No clue, especially since all the trackers I know Sleeper had on me are currently either in my car, or on the ground from where they ripped everything away from me and tossed them. But he and his club are resourceful. It may not be next week, Mo, but hang tough and we’ll get out of this.”

“I should’ve listened to you when you said you had a bad vibe,” she whispers, tears coursing down her face.

“Well, no use crying over spilled milk, we’ll work on getting out of this,” I promise.

I might agree with her, but she feels bad enough, and I need to keep my wits about me. I’ve had to be resourceful over the course of my life until Sleeper stepped in; it’s time to remember just who the fuck I am. I’m my brother’s sister; a badass in my own right. I won’t go down without a fight.

CHAPTER

THREE

Jingles (approximately one month later)

Summer is nearly halfway over, and despite my best efforts, as well as those of our IT guys, we’ve been just a step behind the people who took the girls.

By the time Sleeper had arrived, I secured Belle’s car, and made sure that hers and Moira’s purses were locked up in Brick’s office for safekeeping. Right now, the car’s on our property since it’s closest to where it was abandoned, but I anticipate at some point in time that Sleeper will have it moved back to Cleveland. It’s not a priority for either of us, that’s for damn sure. The prospects go out and crank it up every few days as well to keep the battery from wearing down. Kracken and I are currently back at our clubhouse, grabbing more clothes and getting caught up on the happenings we’ve missed since being involved in the search for Belle.

“Shut the fuck up, we’ve got shit to discuss,” Brick bellows, which immediately shuts all of us up. “Jingles, I take it with you and Kracken back, that you’ve still had no luck tracking them down.”

“Fuck, Pres, every time we’re given a lead, we chase it down and come up emptyhanded. Hell, I’m positive we’ve been at least one step behind them this whole time.”

“He’s right, Brick,” Kracken adds. “Hell, I swear our IT guys are working overtime pulling CCTV footage. In fact, Hawg? Brother, you need to eat. Don’t think I’ve ever seen you so fucking thin.”

“Gotta find those girls, Brother. That cult is bad news. The more I’ve researched and dug? Let’s just say what I’ve found doesn’t sit right with me. They do experimentation on those they take, trying to enhance their genetics or some shit that I don’t understand. Some of the women are used, and I mean thatliterally, brothers, as breeders.”

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