Page 4 of Q: Satan's Fury MC

“I told you. I’m fine.”

“Yeah, you did.” Two Bit glanced over at me, then looked back to her. He studied her for a moment, then added, “But I’m not buying it.”

Her brows furrowed as she snapped, “Sounds like a personal problem to me.”

“We’re just trying to help.”

“I didn’t ask for your help.”

“No, you didn’t.” My throat tightened as I told her, “But I’ve been in your shoes. I know how hard it can be.”

“You don’t know anything about me or what I’ve been through!” She rolled her eyes, then started to walk off as she grumbled, “Just leave me alone.”

She didn’t get far when Cotton stepped in front of her, stopping her dead in her tracks. He looked down at her with concern as he asked, “What’s going on here?”

“Nothing.” She nervously bit her bottom lip as she looked up at Cotton and announced, “I was just leaving.”

When Cotton turned to us, Two Bit was quick to explain, “We just found her going through the dumpster.”

“I already told both of them...” the girl whipped back around, “I was looking for my keys.”

“Oh?” Cotton studied her for a moment, then asked, “And how did they end up there?”

She didn’t answer.

She simply stood there and glared at him.

“You got a place to go, kid?”

“Why do you care?” She glanced over at me and Two Bit as she asked, “Why do any of you care?”

“Cause it’s thirty degrees out here, and you got no coat,” I clipped. “We’re not leaving you out here alone.”

“Please just leave it.” Tears filled her eyes as she told us, “I just gotta make it a couple more months.”

“What happens then?”

“I’ll be eighteen.” Her eyes were filled with determination as she told us, “I won’t have to be put in the system and end up in some place I don’t wanna be.”

“The way I see it, you got two choices.” Cotton crossed his arms. “You can either come with us, or we’re calling the cops.”

“Why would I come with you?”

“We’ll get you cleaned up and some real food in your belly.” Cotton’s expression softened as he told her, “And a warm place to lay your head. How does that sound?”

“It sounds great, but what’s it gonna cost me?”

“Nothing, kid. Not a damn thing.”

She mulled it over for a moment but eventually agreed to come with us.

After we got her some food, we took her down to one of the guest rooms where she took a shower, and then the girls got her some clean clothes and other girlie shit. It took a few days, but she finally opened up and admitted that she’d recently lost both of her parents in a house fire. She’d heard horror stories about the foster care system, so she decided to try and hide out until she turned eighteen. She left the only home she’d ever known and spent the next month living in her parents’ car.

Our president was known to have a bit of a soft spot for folks like Elsie, who were having a hard time, so none of us were surprised when Cotton offered to make her stay more permanent. It only took a couple of months for her to settle in and become like family, and I was pleased to hear she was doing well in her college classes. “Proud of ya, kid.”

“Thanks, Q.” She rolled her eyes with a groan as she said, “The professor didn’t make it easy. The guy’s a grade-A asshole with a receding hairline and a bad case of halitosis, and he’s intent on making my life hell.”

“Sounds like a real charmer.”

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