“Bev? I’m really fucking scared right now,” Yvette whimpered as they climbed the stairs.
“So am I, baby. But I rode in with you, and I’m riding out with you. That much you can depend on,” Bev promised, and the fierceness in her voice was a comfort to Yvette’s ears.
They reached the door with the sign reading “Management.” Since they were expected, they knocked and opened the door without waiting for a response.
Inside the room were Danny, Hugo, Jay, Preston, Angel, and Frankie. The men were standing around the room, leaving the two visitor chairs available. Bev took the hint, and, after setting the boxes down by the door, she took Yvette’s hand and led her to the chairs. Yvette’s hand was shaking violently inside her own.
Before they sat down, she hugged Yvette and kissed her lips. “Remember what I told you. That’s the way of it.”
“Alright,” Yvette said, and she calmed down noticeably.
Danny gave them a welcoming smile, but there was concern in his eyes. “Just a moment, Yvette, and I’ll get Leo on the speaker phone for us.”
Leo came on the line. “Hello”
“Can you hear me alright?” Danny asked.
“Sounds good, and I’ve got about an hour, so take your time,” Leo told them.
Danny looked at Yvette. “Alright, Yvette, what is it you need to tell us?”
She began her story slowly, about coming home to find Crash jacked up already on meth, and then led her listeners to the clearing. Bev could feel the tension in the room growing. Danny was still as stone as he listened. Hugo was, too. Preston shaded his eyes with his hand, and Bev believed he had already figured out where this was going. She gripped Yvette’s hand more tightly, letting her know that she was still there. If it was her and Yvette against the world, then so be it.
Yvette told them that Crash wanted to watch it all burn, that she told him that she loved him, and then shot him.
The room was dead silent. Bev looked around, and the faces she saw were full of concern and support. Yvette was too afraid to look up. Her body was trembling in anticipation of banishment and punishment.
Danny broke the silence. “First off — and I know that I don’t have to say this to anyone in this room, so don’t take offense, but Yvette should hear it and know from my lips exactly where I stand on this. First off, this doesn’t leave this room. A breath of this, and the repercussions will be swift and extremely harsh. Our sister, using strength I’m not sure any of us possess and suffering pain of the deepest kind, saved our lives. I will not tolerate betrayal of her sacrifice.”
In unison, the men around the room said, “Here, here.”
Danny nodded at this expected response. “Second, the murder of Crash will go unsolved. Leo? That means, unfortunately, that you are likely to continue receiving the unjust treatment you have been the target of these last few weeks.”
Leo’s voice was clear. “Like that is anything next to what Yvette has done for us. I accept that dark mile willingly, and I’ll ride it fearlessly.”
Yvette’s head rose as what she heard began to sink in.
Danny gave her a soft smile. “I take it that those are the boxes that Crash was going to sell to Ernesto — may that bastard’s soul rot in hell.”
Bev said, “Yes. We decided that maybe you should have them, or burn them, or do what you think is best.”
Yvette’s voice broke with a painful whisper. “Am I still allowed to come here?”
Preston was the one who moved, and he moved swiftly, bending to his knee and pulling Yvette into a lover’s embrace. Then he kissed her and brushed back her hair. “Yes, Yvette. Yes. If you are not allowed here, then who could be?”
Yvette searched his eyes, kissed him back lightly, and then touched his hair. “Thank you, but I’m sort of riding with Austin now.”
Leo’s laugher was what set off the room in an explosion of tension release. Preston was the last to get it, but when he did, his smile was angelic. He took her hand and kissed it, and said with a mock pout, “I understand.” Then he stood and returned to his place against the wall.
“Yvette?” Danny began. “You have been through a lot, probably more than even you realize. Your sister Bev has been helping you, I hear. But at some time in the future, this will come down on you, and with that in mind, I would like you to talk to a friend of mine. A very dear friend, who you can tell anything to, including this. Normally, she would have to report such a confession to the police, but she will not do so with you. I promise you this. She has helped me in the past, and I’m quite sure she will help me in the future. Will you go to her? I’ll make the appointment for you myself.”
Yvette looked to Bev, who smiled. “I love you, but I’m not a counselor. I’ll take you, though. And be there to take you home after. Alright?”
“Alright,” Yvette said, and she looked to Danny. “Alright. For how long?”
“That’s up to you. It’s your dark road, but why make it harder? It’s hard enough already. A commitment of two months doesn’t seem like too much, does it?”
Yvette nodded. “Alright. I’ll go.”
“Good, very good,” Danny told her, and then turned to Jay. “Where are we at with the legal system regarding Yvette?”
“From everything that I’ve heard, after her statement, she is not a person of interest. They are sure that this is a gang issue and that Crash was executed either by us or a rival club. With the verification that Ernesto was involved, this strengthened that theory to the point of fact. I don’t believe that Yvette has anything to worry about. If it ever does become an issue, or if they come sniffing around again, Yvette, you have my number.”
“Alright,” Yvette agreed, her voice still soft, even shy. She was not quite sure whether to believe it or not.
“Good,” Danny said. “Now, new business that is related.”
“Excuse me, Danny,” Leo said. “I should probably get off the line now, but before I go: Yvette? You have my full support in this, and that includes everything. You’ll never hear me complain about the rumors or anything else. I got your back on this.”
“Thank you, Leo,” she said, bursting into tears. “I’ve treated you so badly. I’m so sorry!”
“No worries, sister. Like I said, I got your back. Bev?”
“Yes?”
“Love you and see you soon.”
“Love you too, lover.” Bev said, and Leo ended the call.
“Now, back to what I was saying. There is a term that was used by the Norse warriors: shieldmaiden. Are you familiar with this term, Bev?”
“Yes. It was what they called the women who fought like the men did. Hervor is a famous woman who comes to mind. There is a theory that the legends of the Valkyrie come from the shieldmaidens.”
“Yes, that is exactly the way I recall the term as well,” Danny agreed. “I would like to propose a new rank in our order. We have the brothers, the patch holders, and we have sisters. I would like to propose a rank of Shield Sister who will have their own patch, which will be a variation of our own. They will have the right of general vote, to ride with the pack, and access to club resources as a patch holder would. This group would be made up of women who have distinguished themselves by actions, deeds, or support to the club. Membership would be a vote of confidence from the officers, but only on the sponsorship of three Shield Sisters. What do you say?”
“Second,” Angel said.
“Vote,” Preston commanded.
All hands rose.
“Carried,” Preston announced.
“Good, that’s good. Now,” Danny said as he smiled and leaned back in his chair, “of course, we’re going to need three shield sisters or there will never be one. I propose that Yvette, Bev, and Kim be our first Shield Sisters. I don’t believe anyone has done more for the club than Kim’s long-term, deep commitment to the members. Bev has shown great commitment and fierce determination. She has also gained the respect of myself and many of you. And Yvette — Yvette has given everything. And though the club will never know exactly what she has given, I think that she should at the very least have the respect that she has earned.”
“Second,” Hugo said.
“Vote,” Preston commanded.
All hands rose once again.
“Carried,” Preston confirmed.
“Angel? You are our best artist. Think you can come up with a patch worthy of our Shield Sisters?”
“I’ll give it my best,” Angel answered.
“Then I’ll consider that task completed, because your best has always exceeded expectation. Now, Shield Sisters, we have other business to discuss, but it would be nice for you to hang around a bit so that when I announce our new rank, people will see who we are talking about.”
“I think we can manage that, and thank you,” Bev told him as she stood and guided Yvette out.
Yvette turned and looked back. “Does this mean I can’t ride on the back with Austin? That I have to get my own bike?”
“No,” Danny chuckled, “not at all.”
“Alright.”