When Dove Cries by Beth D. Carter

glanced over at the pool table where two members were playing, and she tried to gage if she was attracted to them or not.
    Nope. Not one itty-bitty stirring.
    “It’s demeaning, isn’t it?” Dove asked.
    Lovey took a deep breath. “Truthfully, this club saved my life. And I wouldn’t change anything about my place here with the Wolves.”
    Dove cocked her head. “How did they save your life?”
    Lovey was quiet for a long time and when she started talking, Dove saw that it came from somewhere deep and painful inside her.
    “I was married,” she said softly. “I had a son. I had a wonderful life. And one day, it was taken away in a flash. My husband and my baby died in a car accident and I didn’t want to live. I started doing very self-destructive things. Bad things. Then one night, when I’d hit rock bottom, North Tabion found me. He brought me back to this club and forced me to sober up. Forced me to live. Forced me to remember that my husband would never have wanted me to follow him and our son into needless death. But I didn’t want a relationship again, so I settled for giving what I could. And in return, the men take care of me. I live here. I work here. And the men treat me kindly.”
    At the beginning of her story, tears ran down Dove’s cheeks. Lovey smiled at her and wiped them away.
    “I’m happy with my life,” Lovey told her.
    “I understand,” Dove whispered. “Believe me, I more than understand.”
    “Now,” Lovey said, clearing her throat. She gently picked up Dove’s hands and inspected the bandages. “What about these wrists? Looks like these bandages need to be changed.”
    “Yeah, I suppose they do.”
    “Do you have supplies?”
    Dove nodded and bent over to retrieve the paper bag Dr. Blake had given her. Lovey opened it and began laying out the items from inside. Then she carefully began to unwrap the gauze around Dove’s right wrist.
    “This looks like it’s healing nicely,” Lovey commented as she surveyed the wound. Dove saw that the area was a nice, healthy pink instead of an intense red.
    “Can I let it air dry?”
    Lovey shook her head. “Contrary to popular belief, you should keep a wound wet instead of letting a scab form. While moist, the cells can swim together easily, but if you allow a scab to form, it’s like a mountain for those poor little cells to climb. Plus, the scarring could be worse. I’d say keep it wrapped until all the open areas have sealed with new skin then you can do away with the bandages.”
    Lovey proceeded to cleanse the areas, reapply the ointment then wrapped them again. When she was done, the door to what was called the ’church’ opened and Draven walked out. North had called him in to talk to him, and Cade had lingered at the bar, watching the closed door. Dove suspected that whatever was going on behind the closed door had something to do with Cade’s arrival. Maybe North had to approve Cade being there. Apprehension filled her. What if North told Cade to leave? She didn’t want to lose him.
    Draven headed over to Cade and the two talked quietly before Cade headed to the open door. Along the way, he caught her staring at him. She could only imagine what he saw on her face, but he winked at her for reassurance. The door closed behind him, and nerves skittered through her stomach.
    “It’s okay,” Lovey whispered. She nodded toward Draven. “Go be with your man.”
    “Oh, no. My man? No,” she said, fumbling over the words. Heat engulfed her cheeks.
    “Oh, yes,” Lovey insisted. “I’m thinking you might be following in Allis’ footsteps because both of those men have been unable to take their eyes off you.”
    “Really?” Dove asked, glancing quickly toward Draven. His blue eyes were fixed on her. “Oh.”

    Draven closed the soundproof door behind him and took his usual seat to North’s right. North opened a box in front of him and handed Draven a large stack of cash neatly bundled and held together with a paper