Page 6 of Wrath’s Nightingale

“Thank you, Lady Luck and the Voodoo Kings.”

The crowd roars again.

“I’d like to donate my winnings to hiring a second nurse for Artemis Outreach.”

This time, amid the cheering, Nay takes the stage. She throws her arms around my neck and gives me a big hug. Papa growls. She smiles.

“Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure. After my recent stay in the hospital, I know now more than ever how much the outreach is needed.”

?

It is early evening before we wrap up the charity portion of the event. I catch up with Millie again.

“Hey girl, do you want to come to the after party at the clubhouse?”

She smiles at me. “Sure, I’d love to. I’ve been wanting to see the clubhouse.”

“How about riding with me? I can bring you back later to get your cage.”

“Cage?” she asks with a laugh.

“We call any vehicle, not a motorcycle, a cage. We call our bikes or motorcycles sleds.”

“This vest?” She says, touching my name patch.

“A cut.”

“How did you get your name?”

“When I was a teenager, I brought down the “Wrath of God” on a rapist. At least that’s what the cop told the judge, who let me off with twenty hours of community service.”

“On behalf of women everywhere, thank you.”

I smile at her. “You’re welcome, Nightingale. Are you ready to go?

“I need to grab my jacket and purse from the trunk of the car.”

“Lead the way, my lady,” I say with a mock bow.

I offer her my arm. She takes it and points to where her car is parked. We walk over and she retrieves the keys from her pocket and opens the truck. After she gets her purse and jacket, we head to the trike.

“My club brother, Brick, let me borrow his trike for today. He thought it would be easier with my recovery.”

“That’s very thoughtful of him and a good idea.”

I put Willow’s helmet on Millie and strap it on her before putting my own on and climbing on the trike. Willow went to the clubhouse early with Nola. Who knows what those two are cooking up? After I help her on, I give her basic instructions then explain the difference between how she’d ride a trike and a regular sled. She slides her arms around me and holds on tight as we make the drive to the clubhouse. Traffic around the square is congested, but it’s smooth sailing after that.

I park the trike in the sled garage. Many of our brothers have more than one bike. They keep whatever they’re not riding in here. I see Millie’s eyes widen when she takes off her helmet and looks around.

“A lot of chrome.”

I chuckle. “It is at that.”

“I can’t believe this place and I have seen little other than the gate and the outside of the clubhouse.”

“I’m a lucky son of a bitch. I get to live in this place.”