A couple of months back, Kelly and I put it forward to Nix and the boys our plans for opening a women’s shelter in town. With me taking over from Tiny, I wanted to change some areas. Not all cases run the same. Not all women want or need to leave town. A local women’s shelter in town will help cut down on unnecessary runs, and still keep the women safe. We were going to go ahead with or without the club’s input, but we wanted them in on it since it’s gonna take up a lot of time for both me and Kelly.
Our goal for the shelter is to provide safe accommodation with twenty-four-hour emergency support, but also community support. Along with shelter staff and volunteers, we will be able to assist women with job training and hunting, housing, medical, and legal services. The length of time a woman or family can live there will be based on their individual needs and goals. Some may come through for emergency housing, others may stay on for over six months.
The vote came through as a yes from the club and, after some back and forth, we finally secured the perfect place big enough for what we need here in town.
“How did you go on getting licenses for the shelter?” Nix asks when everyone has gone through all the usual day-to-day dramas. On top of sourcing qualified staff and volunteers, we’ve been jumping through hoops to make sure all paperwork is up to date so we can legally receive donations and government grants.
“Have everything we need, bar a name. Any suggestions?” I ask the table, hoping someone has something. This part of the business holds the least interest to me, which is why Kelly is a perfect business partner.
“Well,” Brooks speaks up. “The boys and I were thinking maybe you wanted to name it, Missy’s Place.” I hold my breath, trying not to react.
My sister.
The reason I started all of this.
“You don’t have to.” Nix takes my silence for a no, letting me off the hook. But it’s not what I want.
“I think she’d like it.” I bite the inside of my cheek until the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth.
“Then it’s settled Missy’s Place it is.” Nix reaches over, slaps me on the arm, before moving on to the next topic. I miss it entirely, my mind’s too lost in the memories of Missy and what this means for me. For her.
I never thought I’d ever come to a point in my life where I’d be able to honor her name.
Until now.
It might have taken ten years, but fuck it feels good.
“You still with us?” Nix asks a while later, pulling me back. I look up and notice the boys have all left, leaving Nix and me.
“Yep.” I stand, ready to go.
“So you wanna tell me what happened to your face.” He stops my exit like I should have known he would.
Taking a seat back down, I prepare to lay it all out for him. “One of T’s boys jumped me after leaving Fireside last night.”
“How’s he look?”
“Lucky to be alive.”
He draws a breath in and slowly releases it. “This gonna come back on us?”
“Depends if he has the proof he says he has.”
“Is there a chance he has proof?”
“I don’t think so, but he seems adamant.”
“You don’t think so? Jesus, Beau. You either know or you don’t.”
“I don’t fucking know. I can’t be sure. It wasn’t a planned rescue. It happened so fast. You know this already. I saw her and took her.”
He taps the table three times, thinking through our options. “Well, where is she?”
“She’s still in town. Tiny has her in one of his safe houses. She doesn’t want to leave in case he files kidnapping charges. Tiny’s dealing with it.” It’s probably not the best place to have her considering Baz is losing it, but after this, I’ll make sure I talk with Tiny.
“Well, keep an eye on it. If this fucker gets out of line again, don’t be so easy on him next time.”
“Oh, I look forward to it,” I tell him, knowing I don’t need my Prez’s permission to take this shit further. If Baz fucks up again, I won’t have a problem taking the asshole down.
“You really okay with using Missy’s name? Didn’t mean to throw that shit out there when you’re unprepared.” Nix changes the tone of the conversation, but I’m prepared.
“It’s fine. I’m good.” His brows dip a little, watching me for a reaction.
“You just seem a little wired. Everything okay at home with Mackenzie?”
Fucking wired is an understatement. I’m on fucking edge and don’t need to be sitting around fucking talking about it.
“I’m good. Look, I gotta head out to the new building with Kelly. She wants to discuss furniture shit. We done?” I stand and look down at him.
“Yeah, we’re done.” He finds his feet and follows me back out to the bar.
“You ready?” Kelly stands when she notices me.
“Yep. You bringing her?” I ask, looking down at Mia playing at her feet. I don’t have a problem if she does, but I have a feeling we’re gonna have to go shopping and, fuck, shopping with Mia where she runs around touching everything is gonna drives me nuts.
“Don’t be an ass, Beau.” She shakes her head, before digging through her bag.
“What did I say?”
“She has a name. It wouldn’t hurt for you to use it.” She pulls her keys from her bag and starts to walk out to her car.