Page 19 of Safe Haven
I change and slip the wig on my head.
“Her lipstick and cut.” Loki hands me a worn leather vest with multiple patches and stains.
I let my fingers run over them, wishing I knew their stories.
“Let’s roll. The Duchess does not like to be kept waiting.”
“You ain’t Mercy.”
The curvy brunette woman glares at me like I’ve grown a third tit. She looks around the clubhouse without saying a word, waiting for someone to start explaining, but all of them keep their eyes on the floor.
“Somebody better start fucking talking! This clubhouse has been causing me problems left and right. The feds are on our asses, and now your President doesn’t show for Church and you think this lookalike bitch is going to pass for her? Who the fuck are you trying to fool and why?” The more she talks, the angrier and meaner she seems to become.
“Danica was my cousin.” I blurt out the truth, and Loki curses next to me.
“Was? Explain.” I grab a bottle of whiskey off the bar that is the main focus of this clubhouse and pour us two shots, offering one to the woman running this show.
“Finally, someone with balls.” Duchess gets in my face and then pulls the wig off my head.
“You’re the one she regretted betraying.” She searches my eyes for god knows what.
“Yeah, I’m also the one who tried to save her but couldn’t. Instead, I’ve been helping clean up the mess she left, fixing your fucking problems, all while grieving her loss and dealing with the guilt of never being able to tell my family the truth. Haven, nice to fucking meet you.” I down the shot and slam the glass down so hard it shatters, bursting into shards of glass that go flying everywhere.
They cut my hand, and one catches Duchess’s cheek.
The room lets out a collective gasp and then silence so loud it rings in my ears, as I stare at the small drop of blood that rolls down to her chin and drips to the floor. Her hand comes up and wipes it away.
“You are passionate and loyal. I respect that. You also took care of my girls when their leader couldn’t. You aren’t soft, but you don’t have the right persona for this lifestyle.” Loki steps forward, interrupting Duchess with a shake of her head.
“Prez, she’s more than capable. She is just awkward. She’s more comfortable around dead bodies than breathing ones. She’d be a major asset to the club.” Duchess’s hand flies up, and Loki shuts right up.
“You’re not going to fool anyone trying to pass her off as Mercy, but she does seem to have the leadership skills you fuckers need. WE VOTE!” The room starts to mumble back to life, and before I know it, they’re cheering.
“Haven takes over for Mercy? Aye or Nay?” Shouting from every direction overwhelms me with Ayes.
These women don’t even know me, but trust me to honor their fallen sister.
“The Ayes have it. Now you need a road name.” Duchess looks me up and down.
“Azrael,” Loki blurts out, and I sigh at the nickname.
“The Angel of Death?”
I nod.
“Old college joke between my best friend and me.” I try to explain, but Loki shakes her head.
“Nah, cause you aren’t afraid of it.”
Chapter Ten
HAVEN
I’m patched in, and then the party starts. It’s part welcome home and farewell to Danica. I meet more people than I can possibly remember at one time, but I smile and nod until Duchess waves me over into a private room.
“You looked like you needed a moment.” I nod and take a deep breath.
“This is a lot.” I slump into a chair and place my hands on my head.
