Page 1 of Coty

Chapter 1

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Coty

(Please read the dedication and trigger warnings on the previous pages first.)

Christmas was an amazing time for just about everyone in Willow Creek. My best friend officially claimed his ole’ lady in front of the entire club. Jack’s family, the officers, and his closest friends knew about it weeks before. Seeing my friend settling down is great. It’s weird, too. I’m happy for Jack and Lily. I really am. It's just, at times, I feel like a third wheel, an outsider intruding on their happiness.

Tonight, things are a bit wild around here. The Viking Warriors MC throws a massive New Year’s Eve party at the Den. Jack and I missed this celebration the last two years while we were out roaming around the country. I don’t remember it being this big. From the looks of things, half of Willow Creek showed up tonight. Actually, there are people here from all over Tennessee and a few surrounding states.

Most of the Viking Warriors are here tonight, especially the older members. Our younger guys are split up between here and JB’s Roadhouse in town. Nick is in the process of connecting the newest large-screen TV on the wall next to the doors for Church to one at JB’s. The live feed will even go to the families at home with small children through an app Nick created. We’ll ring in the New Year live with our families, brothers, and friends who couldn’t be here tonight.

“Rodeo.” Jack tosses an arm over my shoulders. His eyes dart around the clubhouse. Something’s up. He leans close and lowers his voice. “We’ve got A.A.”

Seriously? Tonight? Wow. Without a word, I follow my friend toward the hallway leading to his dad’s office. I pause in the doorway and glance toward the bar. We have three bartenders tonight, all men. She’s working at JB’s tonight—more money, better tips. Nick needs to hurry up and get these monitors working. Bankz and Hendrix are at the Roadhouse. They’ll watch over her. I’d just feel better having eyes on her myself.

Jack’s cousin, Jay, walks by and motions for me to follow him. I give the clubhouse common room one last glance before heading down the hall. I hurry around the corner and enter the club President’s office behind Jay. He and I stand on either side of the boor with Jack between us. Worley Bird moves to stand behind the desk next to Mack, our President. He’s also Jack’s dad and Jay's uncle.

A woman with long, dark hair sits on one of the leather chairs on this side of the desk. A little boy about two years old, maybe three at the most, sits on her lap, clinging tightly to a stuffed dinosaur. Sometimes, the women we help have children. It makes things harder when relocating them. Thankfully, Nick, our computer genius, handles all of that. I don’t know how the legal matters work. Nick never shares those details with us.

A light knock comes on the door. I slightly open it, already knowing who it is. Jack’s mom gives me a tight smile. These meetings break her every time. Still, she insists on meeting every angel who comes through our doors.

The McLeod family started Ariel’s Angels almost twelve years ago, two years after losing their daughter. Rescuing women and children from domestic violence is a noble cause. Every member of this club and several of our closest friends have pledged their lives to it.

Evelyn, or as we all call her, Nanny, walks over to Mack’s desk. Her eyes stay on our angel until she’s at her husband’s side. Mack stands and gives her a light kiss before sitting down again.

“Hello, angel.” Evelyn gives our angel the best comforting smile she can manage. Her eyes tear up, watching the scared little boy. The situations with children involved break her even more. Still, she bravely pushes forward. “Do you have a message for us?”

“Um.” Our angel takes a shaky breath. “I’m supposed to ask for Jacob and say Ariel, but I don’t understand it.”

“That’s okay, angel. We understand it.” Mack gently squeezes his wife’s hand. Their eyes meet for a moment. Evelyn nods, and Mack turns back to our angel. “I’m Jacob.” He holds his hand out over the desk. “Do you have a file for us?”

“Oh, yes.” Our angel juggles her son on her lap as she digs through the black backpack. She pulls out a sealed manila envelope and hands it to Mack.

Evelyn leans into Mack’s side as he opens the envelope. They quietly read over the files. Angels come to us with medical records or police reports. Sometimes, they have both. Jack’s mother turns away to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

Mack closes the file and folds his hands on top of it. Fighting to hold back his emotions, he lifts his head to face our angel. “Welcome to the Viking Warriors MC, Amelia. You’re safe here.”

“Mia.” Our angel wipes a tear from her eyes, too. “Please. Just Mia.”

Evelyn walks around the desk. She takes one of Mia’s hands and pulls our angel to her feet. Her bruised left eye wasn’t visible from where I’m standing until she stood. The evidence is there even without the reports in the envelope.

Our club Queen smiles as she blinks back tears. Her smile isn’t what you’d call fake. Evelyn McLeod cares deeply about every woman and child who comes through our doors. Her smile is the best she can do to hide her pain in moments like this.

“Well, Mia. I’m Evelyn. You can call me Nanny. Everyone else does.” Her laugh is a little shaky. “You and little Kash are safe here. We’ll get you two settled in for the night and talk more tomorrow.”

“But.” Mia hugs her son tighter. Her eyes widen as she looks around at the men in the room. “We’re in a motorcycle club. We can’t stay here.”

“Oh, don’t worry about them.” Evelyn casually flips her hand toward us. “They’re not as scary as they look.” She pauses. “Well, if they need to be, they can, but they’re your protection. You and Kash won’t be staying in the clubhouse. We have a safe house for you.”

“Boys.” Mack stands and places both palms on the desk. It’s a move he makes when he’s mentally fighting to find strength. These women’s stories break him every time, too. “Escort Miss Holt and her son to The Haven House.”

“What’s The Haven House? I don’t understand any of this.” Mia hugs her son tightly to her chest.

Evelyn sighs and cuts her eyes at her husband before turning back to Mia. “Forgive us. We don’t exactly explain things well at first. The organization helping you is called Ariel’s Angels. We help women like you start over in a new place far away from…” Evelyn pauses and smiles sweetly at Kash. “From what happened. We have a house for you to stay in while we make the plans you need. It’s run by women. You won’t be around the clubhouse.”

Yeah, we need to find a way to better explain our secret organization to our angels. These women have been through a lot. They’re naturally scared and concerned about what’s happening while we relocate them. Being a secret and not exactly a legal organization, we hide as many details as possible from everyone. Some women want to know everything that’s happening. Others are too grateful to be getting away and don’t care.

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