His Other Half (Patches: Tarkio MC Book 3)

handed her one of the glasses. She shook her head. "I don't drink alcohol."
"Fair enough." He returned to the kitchen and shot back her drink instead of wasting good alcohol, then got her a glass of water—which she took and held between her cupped hands.
"What time is it?" She drank half the water with a shaky hand. "Can I use your phone?"
"Three o'clock." He retrieved the phone from the end table, dragging the cord, and set it on the coffee table in front of her.
She scooted to the edge of the couch, set the glass down, and picked up the receiver. Pausing, she frowned. "I can't remember..."
"What's wrong?"
She inhaled deeply. "I need a phone book. I-I can't remember the number."
He grabbed the book and handed it to her. She thumbed through the pages until she came to what she was searching for and held her finger on the page as she dialed.
Leaning over, he read the print above her unpainted fingernail. Shorty's Cab Service.
He reached over and pushed the button, hanging up before she could complete the call. "You're not leaving."
She stared at him. He took the receiver out of her hand, and she jumped from the couch, backing away.
Regretting his harshness, he put up his hands in surrender. He had to remember she wasn't used to his lifestyle. The sight of him with all his tattoos, long hair, and gruffness frightened women on the street.
While he surrounded himself with hardness and violence, Josie walked gently through life, skirting the things that would hurt her. He'd learned a lot about her through her journal. The same softness coming from her worked against her when dealing with the mob at the casino and what happened to her father.
Her shoulders straightened. "Are you involved with kidnapping women?"
He sprawled his hand on his chest, remembering he wasn't wearing his vest. "I’m a Tarkio Motorcycle Club member."
"I know who you are." She sidestepped toward the door. "I want to know if you are responsible for kidnapping my friend."
"Your friend?"
Her gaze narrowed. She wasn't going to volunteer more information.
"Banks grew concerned when you failed to show up at work, knowing there were other women in Missoula who'd disappeared recently. Tarkio figured out what had happened and came after you. Now you're here, and I'm going to make sure you remain safe."
"I've seen you before. What's your name?" she asked.
"Paco."
"What's that mean?"
"It doesn't mean anything." He studied her intently, unable to figure out where she was going with the conversation.
"It means something." She crossed her arms. "People don't pick a name out of the air and use it."
"What's Josie mean?" He sat on the couch, confident that she was ready to talk.
She shook her head. "Nothing, but it's easier to go by in Missoula than my real name."
"What's that?"
"Sokanon." She paused. "It means rain."
"You're Blackfeet."
Her mouth tightened. "Blackfoot."
"Same thing," he said.
She cleared her throat. "All Blackfeet are Blackfoot, but not all Blackfoot are Blackfeet."
Stumped at what she was talking about, he straightened his beard. "I'll take your word for it."
"You should. I have no reason to lie." During their discussion, she'd made it all the way to the front door.
She turned the door handle. Paco remained sitting. She couldn't leave without using the key in his pocket.
Her shoulders bowed, and her head fell forward, taking her long curtain of black hair and hiding her face. "Thank you for helping me, but I need to leave. Please let Banks know I'll apologize for not showing up for work after I save my friend."
Unfortunately, he understood the underground life more than her. If those responsible for kidnapping the women realized she was emotionally connected to one of the girls and had gotten away, her friend was probably dead already.
They wouldn't chance the authorities coming and catching them with the women.

Chapter 4Josie
The next morning, Banks grabbed Josie's shoulders the moment she stepped into the office at the body shop. She refrained from moving away like she normally would do to anyone attempting to touch her. Her intent to find Cami wasn't intended to make anyone at work worry about her.
Having only worked at the body shop for six months, she was surprised her boss hadn't explained her absence away as rudeness on her part, believing she up and left without notice.
"I'm glad you're safe." Banks looked into her eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm sorry. I know my absence put you in a difficult position. I believed I'd be back for work after the weekend break." She swallowed hard. "I'll grab everything out of my desk."
Apologies came hard for her. Usually, she never purposely upset someone.
She hadn't planned to disappear for several days. Her goal was to go to the casino, and if she was right about Askook kidnapping Cami, bring her friend home. But two men caught her lurking in a private hallway and put her with the other women they'd kidnapped. Askook, of course, kept her there because he believed he owned her.
"Again, I'm sorry," she said. "It was careless to go to the casino by myself and look for my friend."
Banks shook his head. "Everything is right between us. There's no reason to stop working here. You're a good employee. Hell, one of the best we've had, dealing with the books and the customers."
Relief filled her. "Thank you."
"You can thank me by never going around the casino again." Banks lowered his chin. "What's this about your friend?"
Her vision blurred. "She's one of the missing women."
Banks glanced over at Paco, who stood at the side of the room. She lowered her voice. "The police won't search on Blackfoot land and my people...the tribal police ignore everything that happens at the casino. I need to go back because there is no one to help her."
Her boss grunted and straightened, dropping his hands from her shoulders. "Who else knows your friend is there?"
"No one." Her adrenaline spiked. Finally, someone was listening to her. "Her parents informed the police department, but they won't go to the Rez. I kept my