Page 23 of Rebel

She nods then turns and walks to Shadow, whispering something to her. I notice that Squirt stepped away so it must have to do with Shadow being our enforcer. Son of a bitch, why can’t we catch a break? I was so thankful, since I met Atlas, we’ve not had the usual drama of a Devil’s Handmaiden sister finding love. As everyone starts to gather around us, I wait tosee who’s in charge. Should have known when Enforcer moves to the middle of the crowd. He looks to Atlas with an intense look on his face. Then without hesitation, Enforcer starts to tell everyone the plans. The main objective is to retrieve Apollo and Athena, first and foremost. Raven has been on the black web and, at the moment, hasn’t seen any orders for an older couple or a single older male or female that leans toward retirement age. When Tink tells Enforcer it’s a go, I hear Enforcer scream for Freak, who turns and, moving quickly, makes his way to the crowd. Enforcer gives him the green flag, so the Intruders’ IT guy literally runs to his drone and gets busy. Enforcer turns and gives everyone the plan.

“Right now we are on pause until Freak or Raven can get more information to us. Once we have confirmation that the senior Giannopoulos’s are up there, then we will break into teams and make our approach. At no time do I want anyone to shoot, unless it is a life or death situation. Remember, we are here to get Atlas’s parents, first and foremost. Ollie, your snipers need to make sure they are up high enough and can have everyone’s backs. They need to be our eyes, as we’re walking into this situation blind. Tell them not to shoot unless, like I said before, a situation comes up and they need to save one of our lives or Apollo or Athena’s lives. Anyone have any questions? Okay, we now wait until Freak tells us what he’s found. Try to relax, we have no idea how long this is going to take.”

I turn with the intention to comfort Atlas, but by the time I turn we are surrounded by some of the Devil’s Handmaidens, along with the Intruders. Standing around Atlas are Panther, Noodles, Ironside, Malcolm, and finally Avalanche. As I walk closer, I hear Panther saying that Dallas, Chicago, and Jersey are working remotely, looking into anyone who could be responsible. They have already disregarded Atlas’s parents being in any kind of trouble. Panther explains to Atlas and me thatsometimes people in the dark world see a professional individual and see dollar signs. That is an incentive to try and work a scam to demand money for whatever they have of that person. In Atlas’s case, it’s his parents. It could have been the boys or maybe even me, Panther states. Or it could be someone who feels like Atlas offended them or let one of their family members die. Now with Atlas being an OB/GYN he speaks up, saying he has the highest survival rate in this part of Montana. Has he lost patients, of course, but they’re few and far between. That doesn’t help us, it just shows how good Atlas is at what he does. It also gives insight to his limits and what he manages to keep tight and in his corner. I listen as he goes through patients he could focus on that had some kind of problems with the births of their children, or if anyone lost a child and he was their doctor.

When Shadow slowly approaches both Panther and Atlas, I take in a deep breath. I pray she’s not going to try and persuade my man to make a decision he’s not ready to. She reaches out, very uncomfortably putting her hand on his shoulder, and what she says has everyone within earshot stop dead in their tracks.

“Atlas, this is probably going to be one of the hardest things you ever have to do in your life. First, your boys are safe, those guarding them would die to protect them. Now listen to me very carefully. Our club has gone through quite a few of these kinds of missions and, generally, we know how it’s gonna end before we rush in. Look at me, Atlas, I don’t lie or talk bullshit so I mean this. You’re a healer, so I get why it’s so hard for you to even try to comprehend making that final decision of taking others’ lives. I’m gonna be honest and if you look at me differently, so be it. I like your boys and you make my sister Rebel happy, so I’m gonna give ya an out. If after we rescue your parents, you see anything that leads you to a decision you can’t stomach, reach out to me and give me a look. That’s all I need to move forward. Atlas, I don’t have a sensitive heart anymore, lost it many yearsago. Now I’m trying to make amends by helping my family and sisters. Don’t feel bad because those who can do what those kinds of people can do aren’t even normal or human. So find me and believe I’ll make them suffer like they never have before. By the time I’m done with them, they will be begging me to let them die. And that’s exactly what they are going to do, but not until they’ve experienced immense pain, which I’m very good at providing. That’s all I wanted to say. Just trying to give you some peace of mind as you have a healer’s soul.”

Shadow doesn’t look at me, just turns and with Panther grabbing her hand, they start to walk away. I know how hard that was for our club enforcer. Since she got together with Panther, she’s been trying really hard to be more than what she’s been, a badass, no emotion, soulless enforcer who could and will kill without thought. I’ve seen how far she’s come. When Avalanche reaches out for her, she actually lets him. The two men are her sentinels against everything out in the world that looks down on her. Knowing what I have to do, I give Atlas a squeeze then quickly make my way to her.

Literally pushing under Avalanche’s arm, I grab my sister close and squeeze her tight. When I feel her arms hesitantly wrap around my body, without words I let her know how much what she just did means to me. I can feel eyes on us, but thank God for Avalanche and Panther, as they form a barrier around us from prying eyes. We stay close until I hear Freak and Raven screaming they have something.

Shadow lifts her head, looking at me with those arctic-blue eyes and what I see in them is the fine line she walks every single day of her life. I nod and together we make our way to find out what we have to do next.

SIXTEEN

‘ATLAS’

Shocked at what just happened, I can feel all the way to my soul Shadow never shows that side of herself. When Rebel let me go and moved to her sister, that confirmed my thoughts. Watching them, it finally dawns on me how much these women are taking on with each “mission” they go on. Lives and death are on the line. No, they might not be like me as far as being a doctor who has sworn to save lives. What they are doing is much more important and their dedication is given without any reservations.

When I hear the screaming, my head moves to the sound. I see Freak with some sort of controller in his hands and Raven with a tablet and laptop on top of a truck gate. Seeing everyone moving quickly in their direction I follow, pushing my way to the front. As I make my way, I feel pats on my back and shoulder, as well as squeezes on my arm. I’m humbled by their support as I barely know these people, When I’m front and center, Enforcer steps to one side and Noodles with Tink on another. As Freak starts explaining what they have found, Raven is passing her tablet to Enforcer, who holds it up for me to see. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to see until Raven comes over, pointing at red blobs, indicating warmer heat imaging all over the said area.I know before Raven even says it that each red area is a human being. My God, I can’t even count how many are there. When Enforcer steps forward, I try my damnedest to listen to him at the same time try to send up a prayer to the powers that be to protect my mom and dad. I can’t even think about something happening to them and then having to go back and tell my boys their yia-yia and papou have been injured or, oh God, worse. So lost in my thoughts, I miss whatever Enforcer’s plan is so I turn to Noodles, who must see it on my face as he slowly goes through what they are planning on doing. No one had any idea so many people would be involved so I see Malcolm and Yoggie grabbing huge black bags out of Yoggie’s truck. I thank Noodles and head toward the two. They are looking through the bags, so I wait until they both see me.

“I know that I’m an OB/GYN, but can you use another set of hands?”

Yoggie glances at Malcolm who shrugs his shoulders. It’s Yoggie though who gives me an intense stare. What he says almost knocks me to my knees.

“Atlas, we can always use more hands but need ya to think about it. One, if your parents are there, are you going to be able to process whatever we find? Two, have you ever been to war because that’s what this is. These ain’t normal human beings, they are the bottom feeders who use other humans for profit or worse, other sick reasons. Our world has let those with money feel like they can do whatever they want because of their wealth. I’m not trying to scare you, just want to prepare you for what might be up there. The last circuit the Devil’s Handmaidens broke up even made me sick. It was all kids under, I’d say what… Malcolm, maybe fifteen? They all broke my heart, but it was the two I found in a downstairs crawl space that tore my heart in two. They were sisters maybe, I don’t know, eight and ten. Anyway, both had been abused physically and theirwounds were left untreated. Atlas, I literally wanted to kill those motherfuckers with my own hands. What brought me peace of mind was watching Shadow, Spirit, and don’t freak out, Atlas, but Rebel also. The gore is usually Shadow and Spirit, while Dottie helps out. Because this was so big, Rebel did most of the physical beating due to her experiences in the gym and knowing where to hit and how hard. She would prepare them for Shadow or Spirit. What they did and, yeah, I watched without an ounce of pity for those pieces of shit. Little Faith and her sister, Mercy, both had to have a full hysterectomy due to their internal injuries. And to this day, no one has claimed them. They are living in the survivors’ quarters out at the ranch. Both are in therapy and from what Glory has told me, are making progress, but fuck, brother, how do you live with seeing that? They were goddamn children, Atlas. So if you start to feel any compassion or sympathy, remember as a doctor you bring life into our world and those types do damage beyond repair to mainly women and children. Do you think ya can handle this shit?”

I barely hear him because after he told me about the two little girls, it dawns on me that I was the one who did their hysterectomies at the clinic. Well, they were transferred to the hospital. The damage was irreparable. I couldn’t believe someone would do that to a child. Knowing this, I feel my heart hardening and I look both men in their eyes.

“Yeah, Yoggie, I can do it. Thanks for telling me that, as I was the one who did the hysterectomies on those young girls. Didn’t know the whole story, though now I do. I’m good if you two can use me. I won’t let you down, you have my word.”

Malcolm and Yoggie share a look, but it’s Malcolm who comes to me.

“Brother, shit, so sorry, didn’t realize you handled Faith’s and Mercy’s situation. I get it, being a physician, we take an oath to do whatever we can to save lives. I truly believed in that untilI came to Montana and my eyes were opened by what the Devil’s Handmaidens and Intruders do. There has to be consequences for assholes’ actions and, unfortunately, our government’s hands are tied. I try to make sense out of it by believing what we do is save others from experiencing the depraved actions of a few. Brother, if you ever need to talk, just reach out.”

Hearing Enforcer calling for everyone to gather, he starts splitting everyone into groups of five or six. I’m with Rebel, Heartbreaker, and a few men from the Blue Sky Sanctuary: Phantom, Grey, and a kid named Jeffries. A woman named Josey is pissed she’s been told to stay back and be ready to help with any injured. I don’t know much about the sanctuary, except they help ex-military find their way back into society, mainly with animal therapy. So they pair a damaged person with an abused or a wild animal that has been injured by humans. From what I’ve heard from Rebel, it’s working quite well, so who am I to judge.

I’m watching as all five are organizing their weapons and to say I’m shocked is beyond words. Rebel is carrying what looks to be a nine millimeter, along with two hunting knives. Also she has two grenades—yeah, can’t believe it—that go in a pouch around her waist. Finally, she has a, I think and I’m right, when Phantom asks to see the Steyr AUG SA USA Rifle. No hesitation, Rebel tells him this is the rifle of choice for their club and every vehicle has one in a case, in their trunk. All of the women in the Devil’s Handmaidens are trained to shoot with their handgun of choice and that rifle she is holding in her hands. Fuck, how did it not penetrate exactly what their club did? I mean, yeah, I know they rescue people who have been kidnapped and are being sold into human trafficking, but that’s where my brain stopped. I was so proud of what she and her sisters were doing. Forgot to think further on how they rescue, as they call them, “survivors,” who have no one else trying to get them back home becausea lot of the agencies have corrupt cops, agents, congressmen, etc. who are getting paid to turn the other way. When my eyes meet Rebel’s, I see the hesitation in them. This is the first time we’ve come to this kind of an impasse, and I can see she’s worried about how I’m going to react. Little does she know that I’m beyond grateful there are people to help me try to find my parents. Walking straight to her, I grab her cheeks, tilt her head, and plunder her mouth, regardless of who sees. My desperation is so apparent and her fear comes to the surface. Together we build each other up. As I get a quick taste of her once I release her lips, I lean down and whisper to her, letting Rebel know how much I love her. Hearing her gasp, she holds on tightly, telling me she loves me too. Together, wrapped in each other’s arms, we take a moment or two, knowing the next thirty minutes to an hour could change our lives forever.

Phantom is in the lead, followed by Heartbreaker with Grey, then Rebel and me with Jeffries bringing up the rear. Phantom instructs us to follow in his footprints and no talking unless necessary. We all have comms in our ears and when I look on both sides of us, there are groups making their way up to the property in the woods. I’m trying to keep my mind clear and to expect the unexpected, as Grey instructed me to do. The man has nerves that never falter. Damn, I’m a doctor and perform surgeries and I can feel my hands and body trembling. He’s stellar, well, all of my group are it seems, except me. Keeping to the footprints Phantom is leaving behind, I almost plow into Grey when the man leading puts a hand in the air. Glancing around, the two groups to my left are splitting up and the one on my right is going forward.Why did we stop,I think to myself?Grey turns around like I said it out loud and he heard me. Tapping his comm he looks right at me.

“Phantom found a booby trap, which means the area has been wired to blow. He wanted to warn us to stop before he moves forward to check out a path that will be safe. Give him a minute or two, he’s a great tracker and has been involved in many missions that had roadside bombs and booby traps.”

When he puts his fingers to his mouth, I don’t say a thing, though I have a million and one questions. I refuse to risk all of these people’s lives, who have decided to help me find my parents. When I look up, I’m shocked to see Rebel following Phantom, gun at the ready. Why the fuck is she going and not Grey or Jeffries? As I go to ask, I see Heartbreaker making her way around Grey to me. She shakes her head then looks around, pulling me toward her. As small as she is, damn, Heartbreaker is strong.

“Atlas, she’s trained so let her do what she does best. They’ll both be back in a few minutes.”

I nod and she doesn’t leave my side. Just as I see Rebel’s red hair, all hell breaks loose up ahead. All I hear is screaming, yelling, and crying, along with gunfire. I look to Heartbreaker, who sees my face, screams “Shit,” and takes my hand, and together we head up to the front line. As we come to the first half-assed put up cabin, I can’t believe my eyes. I blink numerous times but the scene is the same. There are bodies all over, I can’t tell if they are alive or dead with more running out of each building. Some look fine while others look like dead people walking—clothes ripped to shreds, bruises all over their bodies. Some have bite marks on their skin while others are moving around like dead women and children walking. The kids are tearing my heart out until I hear a voice screaming my name loudly. Heartbreaker, still holding my hand, takes off like a gazelle toward the screaming. We reach an outbuilding off theregular path and when I see both Yoggie and Malcolm, I know it’s my parents. Panther comes out motioning for the two men to go in. Avalanche comes directly to me, grabbing my shoulders.

“It ain’t good, brother, but they are both breathing. Prepare and if you think you can handle it, get your ass in there and help to try and save them. Go.”

With Heartbreaker at my side, I walk through the doorway and stagger, trying to stay standing. Rebel’s sister goes to stand behind me to give me some support as I take in the scene before me. My dad is stripped down to his boxers and it looks like someone whipped almost every inch of his body. Both eyes are black and blue, while his lip is split open. His hands both look like his fingers have been broken. When he tries to see me, I say his name and his head falls forward. That’s when I make my eyes move to my mom. At that moment, I totally get why Rebel and her sisters do what they do. Looks like Mom is unconscious and I can see Yoggie trying to start an IV as Malcolm is checking her stats. One of them threw a blanket over my mother’s naked body, which I’m beyond thankful for. The mattress she is lying on is filthy with what looks to be dried and fresh blood. I can see streaks on her legs and, oh my God, looks to be bite marks on her neck going downward. Moving closer, I take a knee, grabbing her hand.

“Mom, I’m here. Hey, you’re going to be okay. Can you hear me, Mom? Squeeze my hand, please. Dad is okay, going to be sore for a while, but seems to be okay.”

Nothing for a few seconds then a very weak squeeze. That’s when Rebel bursts through the doorway. Without thought, I watch as she moves toward my mom, taking everything in before she’s on her knees. Still tongue-tied, my woman immediately starts to talk to my mom.

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