The two white vans the guys left with are rolling in and park next to the clubhouse entrance. Bear follows them in on his bike. He parks next to the vans and hurries around to open the back doors. Several women climb out of the vans, looking around scared out of their minds.
Krimson and I hurry over. Our footsteps are loud slapping on the pavement drawing attention our way. Bear unholsters his weapon and aims in our direction until we come into view. He lowers his weapon and puts it away.
“Monica, we need help with these girls. They’re terrified.”
“What do you want me to do?” I’m helpless when it comes to keeping people calm. It’s not my thing. Once I reach the vans, I see around twenty women and children huddled together, crying. I’m so out of my element. “Let me go get Danyella. Maybe she can help.”
One woman steps forward with a spark of hope in her eyes. “You know where Dany is?”
“She’s inside in her room. This is her home.” I spread my arms wide like I can embrace the clubhouse.
“Do you hear that? Danyella was right.” The woman turns to the others huddled around. “Those men were right. We’re safe here.”
“How can that be? They told us if we ever escaped, they’d kill us and our families. We’re all going to die.” A teenager with dirty brown hair sobs.
“You’re safe here. If you would’ve just believed me in the first place, you wouldn’t doubt what’s right in front of you now.” Danyella steps out of the building facing these irate women head on. She’s showered and changed. Looking more like her old self minus the skin and bones from being underfed.
“Danyella?” The woman who tried to reason with the others steps forward. “It’s true? We’re safe?”
“Yes, Kensi. We’re safe here. I’m going to get you ladies cleaned up, changed and fed. Aerial and I have already done that.” The little girl steps forward, she too has showered and changed. The clothes she has on are several sizes too big for her, but she seems happy and comfortable.
“Aeri? Oh my god. Ladies come on. I don’t know about you, but I need to wash this filth off.” Kensi smiles, lighting up the whole crowd. The other women are hesitant but follow Danyella, Aerial and Kensi inside. I bring up the rear with Krimson next to me. Bear and the two prospects stay with the van. It appears they’re debating about something but it’s not my concern. Not when there’s a clubhouse full of scared women. If they need me, they’ll come find me.
We walk down the long corridor into the common room. Four of Nolan’s men stop playing pool. Krimson’s crew stands up from the couches. Everyone who was doing something stops and watches us enter. The women stay together with their heads down, not making eye contact with anyone. Once they’re all at the center of the room, Danyella speaks.
“Ok. Here’s what we’re going to do. There are three bathrooms to use in this area. You can go two at a time if you want and a prospect will guard the doors so you feel safer. The bathrooms are down that hallway.” She points to the left toward our rooms. “Monica and I will get you clean clothes. The other prospects will start cooking for you and when you’re done, you come back out here and eat.” Danyella looks at me to make sure it’s OK. I nod my head. These women would’ve never listened to me. “Break off into pairs and the first three pairs follow us.”
I step up next to Danyella and offer a smile. It’s brittle, but the best I can do right now. “Prospects, start cooking,” I order. They’ll listen to me before Danyella.
“What do you want us to cook?” One asks.
“I really don’t give a fuck. Make what you’d want to eat after being starved for months, possibly years. Make enough for everyone to have more than one plate.” I roll my eyes and snap my fingers. Three of the six set off toward the kitchen. “You three, with us. And if any of you want to try something inappropriate, I’ll cut off your balls and shove them down your throat. Then I’ll cut off your tiny dicks and send them to your mamas. We clear?”
“Crystal.” The three answer in unison. I don’t have to worry about it, but I want these women and girls to feel safe here.
Kensi and five girls follow us down the short hallway. We stop at the first bathroom and Danyella opens the door for them. Two enter and close it behind them. I hear the lock click into place. One prospect stands guard outside the door, crossing his arms over his chest. He won’t let anything happen to those girls. Danyella comes to the second bathroom door and opens it.
“How big is this place?” Kensi asks.
“Pretty big. Large enough for each of our club members to have a room. Some rooms are designed for families of four or single rooms. That way, the families can be comfortable when we have a lockdown or they want to come stay. Then we have rooms for the club whores. Outside we have another building built for boxing and working out. I’d say around sixteen thousand square feet. This whole place used to be a warehouse for storing cars. The Royal Bastards MC bought it around ten years ago, converted it into their clubhouse and we’ve been here ever since.” I answer with pride in my voice. “We also have another area designed as a playroom for the little ones. There are different things to do in there like kids can draw, play and run around like maniacs.”
Kensi’s eyes grow wide. “Club whores?”
“Yeah, the women who want to fu..” I trail off looking at the little girl Aerial, that came with Danyella. Her eyes are wide and she’s listening to every word I speak. I quickly change the direction of my next words. “Two consenting adults who want to associate behind closed doors.” I look at Danyella and she is covering her mouth, trying to hold back her laughter. Bitch.
“They screw behind closed doors.” Aerial proudly states. Gasps fill the hallway and Danyella covers Aerial’s mouth with her hand before she can say anything else. Aerial removes Danyella’s hand and shrugs her shoulders. “It’s true. My mama told me that as long as it’s consenting it’s OK. What those men did to you wasn’t OK. You didn’t consent.” Tears fall from Aerial’s eyes as she hugs Danyella. “What they did to all of you wasn’t OK.” Aerial’s voice is muffled by Danyella’s chest.
I step up behind them and bend down to be the same height as Aerial. I turn her so she can see me, “No Hunny, it wasn’t OK. Those were bad men. But these men,” I motion to the prospects behind me, “You can trust. I trust them with my life and I hope you feel safe here. No one will ever hurt you again.”
“I do. I trust them. They have kind eyes. The other men didn’t. They were mean and their eyes were hard. Does that make sense?” Aerial darts a quick glance at the prospect behind us and then looks at me again.
“Yes, Aerial it does. It makes perfect sense. The eyes are the windows to the soul.” I smile and rise to my feet.
“You two will be in here. Please take your time and we’ll see you when you’re done.” I motion for Kensi and another girl to enter. They close the door behind them and lock it. The prospect stands idle in front of the door.
Danyella walks a few more feet to the third bathroom. “This is the last one. Same thing applies. Take your time and come back out the way you came when you’re done. Monica and I will bring clothes for you.” She twists the bathroom doorknob and opens it. The other two girls don’t say a word and enter. They close and lock the door behind them and the final prospect stands at the door.