“You remember something?” Maisy asks.
I can’t stop the words from escaping. I’ve hated lying to her.
“I know these women. They will tell my president I’m here, and I can’t have that. I won’t be the reason another woman is hurt like I was. Or my niece gets kidnapped.”
Everyone stops and steps back. I take the space and jump out of the car. I’m in a pair of loose jeans. I don’t eat much, and my clothes are too big again. When I hold up my hands, I see them shaking. I don’t have the strength to fight these women, but I know they won’t hurt me.
“Why would I forget I saw you? Who is your president?” Tink asks as a tall man steps up behind her. Him, I fear. I could be putting his woman in danger.
I shake my head and glance around for Shadow. She’s behind me. I hold a hand out to stop her from advancing. Maisy comes around the car, but Shadow holds her back.
“I can’t tell you. You’ll tell her, and then Andrus will know. He told me every day that he knew about the Handmaidens. That he wouldn’t let some girl gang stop him. He said he’d kill them all or enslave them too. He told me several times that powerful men want us gone.”
“Us? Who is this Andrus asshole? We don’t like bullies, and we can take care of him,” Shadow says.
“No.” I back away from them, but a few more women start to surround me.
I’m trapped. Defeat hits me like a sledgehammer. I can’t do this. Dropping to my knees, I cover my face and cry. Arms wrap around me, and I know it’s Maisy.
“When did you get your memory back?” she asks me softly.
I wipe my hands across my face and give her the truth.
“I never lost my memory. I took your advice and just hid the fact that I remembered everything. Atlas figured it out. That’s why I asked to be moved and not listed. I couldn’t have him or anyone else finding me.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hurt crosses her face.
“Because I’m going to leave you too. You would have been safe since you didn’t know.”
“How do you know us?” Tink steps closer.
The circle around me tightens, making me feel claustrophobic. Months trapped in that small room on the yacht have left me fearing confined spaces.
“Step back,” Tink orders, and I nod my thanks.
For the first time in months, I say my name.
“I’m Stormy ‘Poison’ Abbott. My president is Scout ‘Riddler’ Abbott, formerly Keller. I was a prospect with the DHMC Alaska Chapter. When you tell Scout I was here, tell her I won’t be coming home ever again. Tell her to tell my brother and father to forget about me.” A sob chokes out of me at the words. I don’t want my family to forget me, but they must in order to ensure their safety.
“I won’t tell her.” Tink looks at everyone standing around me. “We won’t tell.” She waves her arm. “We’re here to protect you and others. If your president knowing will cause her harm, we won’t do it. You have my word as a Handmaiden.”
On shaky legs, I stand up and hold a hand out to her.
“You’re safe with us,” she promises.
“Thank you. But only for the night, then I must go.”
“You’re in no shape to leave in the morning. Come on, I’ll show you where you’ll be staying.” Shadow waves in the direction of a set of cabins, and I nod.
They show me to a small cabin that is bigger than my old quarters on the yacht. It has a couple of windows, and I don’t feel so trapped.
“We can put you in here instead of the bunkhouse with the other women. You’ll be safe here.”
“I can’t stay. It’s too dangerous.”
“Sure, kid.” Shadow chuckles and walks away, closing the door behind her.
I watch Maisy from the window. She’s standing outside, talking to Tink. It hurts that she hasn’t come to me or spoken to me since my confession. I walk to the bed and plop down on the quilt-covered surface.