Page 20 of Road Refugees

Chapter Seven

Heaven

I slithered outside with the kindly Goldendoodle. Orchid came my way, hands out as if to grab me again. Sucking in air, I flinched. I was tired of being grabbed. I was there to rebuild my ruined life and calm my raging brain. None of this was helping toward that end, and I picked up the leash the Golden dragged on the ground. When I bent over, he licked my face as if to reassure me.

“Heaven, Heaven,” cried Orchid. “Where’d you go? Someone said Kelsey sent for you with a bullshit message she had your brother on the phone.”

“That’s it all right,” I snapped. I could be forgiven if I was a little irritable. “Then some Bare Boner saved my life. Don’t believe me? That’s what happened. Orchid, they have guns, and they’re about to have a shootout in there, and don’t you dare go in and confront—”

“Oh, I’m not, believe you me. In fact, let’s get the fuck out of here. I don’t want to be anywhere near that shit.”

As she strong-armed me down the street in the direction of the lamb’s bar, I resisted. “Who was that man?”

“What man?”

“A man with dark hair tried to save me from the Friends of Distinction. Orchid, they were going to rape me or worse! That scrotum guy was inside, everyone was armed—”

“Knock it off.”

A curly-haired woman like an Irish heroine came charging up the street and tried to extract me from Orchid’s grip. Her jaw was set so ferociously, my arm easily came away like a water blister from Orchid’s knuckles. Now what?

“I heard about this shit,” said the woman, “and you’re coming with me.”

Orchid jammed her hands onto her hips. “Keep your nose to yourself, Bee. She’s with us.”

I was crushed against the woman’s bosom, and she smelled like jasmine, earthy somehow. “Are you with the Boners?” I asked. “I need to get to my brother at A Joint System in Pure and Easy.”

“I knew it!” Bee shrieked, rattling me a little like a bobblehead. “She’s one of us, and you cuntesses are stirring up shit as usual, all up in our face.”

The first shot from inside the store was fired, and everyone who’d gathered around sort of flinched and crouched down toward the sidewalk. Even the Goldendoodle froze in position like a surprised lizard. Bee wrapped an arm around my shoulders protectively, and I knew she would’ve stood between me and a bullet.

I shivered like a tortured child in a cold cradle. “Okay, Bee, I’ll go with you.”

“Good. My ride is at my nursery just on the outskirts—”

Bam! The swinging doors of that awful hellhole swung out as though kicked, and my black-haired hero raced out. In my terror, I had a split second to admire how handsome he was. Although he seemed to have a homemade haircut, thick black hair jagged below his ears, and a moustache made for a country and western bar, he exuded toughness. His jaw was set and his dark eyes flashed, and although he had a gun in his hand, I wasn’t afraid.

I thought he was heading for his dog, leash still in my hand. But he was coming for me.

And this time I didn’t mind being manhandled. There was safety in his touch.

He told Bee, “The Bare Bones have ordered me to take her to safety.” He looked me in the eyes and held out a palm. “Come, miss. There isn’t much time.”

I took his hand without a doubt. Was it my imagination or was there a spark of magic in his eyes?

Bee agreed. “You guys need to rabbit. Sax and I live not far. I’ll text you the address. You can go to Pure and Easy tomorrow.”

To my surprise, Orchid stepped up to the plate. “I’ve got her phone number. Her new cell is in her purse.”

Again, the wooden doors banged open. Three men in black leather Bare Bones cuts came bursting out, one of them still shooting into the room. No bullets came from the Friends, so I assumed they’d all been dispatched in some way.

“Kiss the dark side of my ass!” yelled the Boner who had shot, nearly bowling over Bee.

“This guy’s taking her, Funkhauser,” she yelled.

“Good!” Funkhauser shouted. “She’s ours!”

“Navarro, take your iron,” the dark-haired hero said.