Page 5 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“But you just did.”
Poppy’s mother noticed me against the wall and used an introduction as an excuse not to answer.“I’m Hilea Hikialani-Albert, Pinner’s wife.You should call me Lea or Lady High, I guess.This is my girl Poppy.Kitchen?”Her outstretched arm invited me inside.
“Are you messing with Jewel again?”A middle-aged woman with brown hair, hazel eyes, sun-tanned skin, and a streak of gray emanating from one temple noticed me next to Lea.“Hey, ‘name’s Regina, but everybody calls me ‘Ma’ or just Gina.”She held out a sudsy hand.I took it and marveled at the sensation.It had been four months since anyone dared to greet me before they greeted my jailor/husband or his crew, and even longer since any woman looked at me with anything other than pity or scorn.I swallowed and finished the handshake before I made an impression.
“Kate.”I refused to go by any last name, or any nickname given to me by the asshole men or women who enabled them.
“Nice to meet you.Lemme see that ring.”
Ma, or Gina, snapped her fingers.Whoever she was, she seemed to run this room.I opted for compliance rather than fighting because she’d been equitable to me so far.
“Looks fake.”
“It probably is,” I answered.Shock Weaver wouldn’t give me anything of value.Not even clothes.So, I had to assume this was a highly gaudy piece of horseshit.I’d know as soon as I found a pawnshop.
“Cheap bastard,” she muttered under her breath.Then she plastered a smile on her face.“You didn’t hear that.”
“He is.”
“Why are you with him?”Lea asked.
I debated how to respond.
Gina dipped her head at Poppy, reminding me there were small ears in the room.I tried to smile but couldn’t.“Let’s just say I didn’t have a say in it.”
“That’s cow poop.”Out of the mouths of babes…
“Poppy!”
“I didn’t swear, Mama.You say poop, and that other word I’m not supposed to say.And Daddy says—”
“No, no-no-no-no no… you donotrepeat your daddy’s words.”
While they hashed out semantics, Gina studied me.“You on the pill?”
I shook my head.“I have an implant, and it’s good for another year and a half.”
Gina nodded.“I’m a nurse; let me know if you need anything else on the down low.Within reason, that is.”She glanced at the door opposite the back hall.Constant noise came from that direction, but it had increased significantly.
A young biker popped his head in.“Ma?Have you seen—” he saw me and pointed.“Shock wants to introduce you to the club.”
Oh, God.My hands trembled.I barely survived the first “meet the club” experience.I glanced at the back hall and the bolted door.
“Ma?”The boy-man asked.
“Give her a minute; she’s in the bathroom.”
“She ain’t,” he pointed out.
Regina stepped between us.“She is.I’ll send her out inoneminute.You have my word on that, now go pass that along, and while you’re out there, check on my son, will ya?Make sure he knows Itoldyou to check on him.That should keep him out of trouble for another ten minutes.”
“Okay, Ma, but one minute only.”He shut the door behind him and the noise reduced.
“I’m going to ask once; give me a straight answer.Did that bastard husband of yours hurt you?”
I nodded.
“How bad?”
