Page 60 of Storm's Deliverance

Josie is the first to cave. “I will ring Maisy.”

“Fine,” Belle sighs, messaging Ripley and Raine.

“Mabel is in an exam. I can’t drag her out of it,” Rhea says, wincing.

“No, don’t disturb her,” I agree.

“Yes!” Mom claps excitedly.

“You know, they could just be having church, call him a dick, and that be it.” Maggie shrugs.

Mom places a hand on her shoulder. “You know as well as I do that it will be a beating, or something else, and because these men believe their rules are never to be bent or broken, they will just accept it.”

“But Cash,” Maggie argues.

“Cash will be held back and forced to accept the ruling. It sucks and it’s fucking stupid.”

Maggie nods. “Okay, we need to rescue my boy.” She nods.

“Good. Now, what are we going to wear?” Mom asks, looking to each of them.

“We have to get changed? Why can’t we just go in there once the girls arrive?” Rhea asks, looking confused.

“Because it will not have the same effect. Now, I just so happen to still have our catsuits from fashion assemble, plus I have some spare.” Mom’s grin widens.

“Jesus, I’m not sure I can fit in that anymore,” Belle groans. “I’ve not only aged, but I’ve had 3 kids. These are the same hips that wore that suit originally,” she protests.

Alina raises her hand. “I wasn’t here when you did this fashion assemble.”

“Well, I have spares. I always thought they would be needed in the future. So, everyone is covered.” She pauses. “I will go get the box. I think Queenie put it in the cupboard at the end of the hall,” Mom says, walking off inside the clubhouse.

“Jesus, if Queenie was here now, she would be helping to organise this.” Maggie laughs, shaking her head. “Her preciousgrandson; she would be in there now giving Ghost what for.” Maggie smiles a sad smile.

“Then we are going to have to take matters into her our hands,” Mom says as she comes back, placing a large box on the table. “Suit up, bitches.” She grins.

I blink. I had heard stories about my mom and the ol’ ladies, and all the hell they caused, but seeing them now, seeing my mom so eager to cause hell, it explains a lot why my dad has such a short fuse.

Twenty minutes later, Ripley and Raine arrive with Maisy. They are debriefed on the situation, and the longer time passes, the more my stomach flips with dread at what they must be doing to him.

“Don’t worry, titty, we will sort the men out and get the dicks out,” Dixie assures me, patting my arm. I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing at her errors.

“Jesus, did you buy the entire supply of catsuits in different and all different sizes?” Maggie asks, going through the box and handing each of us a catsuit.

“Stop bitching and get changed,” she says as she begins stripping off.

“Mom!” I hiss. “We’re outside.”

“We all have underwear on. No different than a bikini.” She shrugs, and the ol’ ladies follow, one by one.

“Fuck it.” Maisy shrugs.

I roll my eyes and do the same. If anyone was passing the compound at this moment in time, they would have gotten a show like no other. Once we are all changed, we head inside quietly, so they don’t hear a loud clicking and clattering of heels on the concrete floor. Mom pauses outside the door and presses her ear to it. She frowns and opens the door, only to find the room empty and the back door wide open.

“They’ve gone to the garage,” Maggie breathes.

Mom nods. “Let’s go.” We run as best we can in our heels across the parking garage, before crouching beneath a window. “Nova, have a look,” Mom orders in a whisper.

Nova nods, giving Mom a salute like this is some kind of military operation. She carefully peeks over the windowsill. “They’re in here,” she whispers. “They’re standing in a circle around something... I can’t make out what they’re doing.”