Page 15 of His Other Half

"My opinion has nothing to do with the casino." Nicole sighed. "I had a bad experience with one of the men who is no longer working there."

"I'm sorry."

"Why would you be?"

"I'm Blackfoot."

Nicole's gaze softened. "You're not responsible for what other people do."

"You're a rare person who believes that," she said quietly.

Nicole beamed. Josie managed to hold it together, even though she was confused about why that'd make the other woman happy to hear.

"I'll let you get back to reading your magazine." Nicole stood. "It was nice meeting one of Paco's friends. If you need anything, don't be shy about asking someone. The guys might appear rough and standoffish, but they'll help you."

Josie nodded and watched Nicole walk over to the group of men, ignoring the women. She couldn't picture Nicole with the president of the motorcycle club. There was nothing hard or bitter about her. She flowed into the room, wearing a long, billowing skirt that hung low on her hips. The halter top left her midsection bare. She looked feminine and soft, and as it was proven, approachable.

Cami would've liked Nicole. Would like.

She forced herself to look away and stare down at the magazine, minding her own business. She wasn't here to make friends or have these people like her.

The pictures blurred in front of her, and she lost track of how many motorcycles she'd counted. She blew out her breath. Paco had to save Cami. A life without her friend would be unimaginable.

She glanced at the clock on the wall. The bikers had left six hours ago.

Standing up, she moved away from the table, and all eyes in the room looked at her. Warmth flushed her skin. She hadn't tried to run off, but that's what they were watching for her to do.

One of the men approached her. She looked at his patch on the front of his vest. Wyatt.

"Restroom?" she asked.

"I'll show you." He walked ahead of her toward the hallway.

Staying back from him, she followed. Around the corner, he stopped and pushed open a door.

"Thank you," she said, stepping around him.

"Not a problem." He leaned against the wall.

He obviously was going to wait for her. She shut the door and inhaled a deep breath. Away from the others, she bowed her head and closed her eyes, fighting the panic rising inside of her. What had she done?

She'd sent men into a war zone, where they could lose their life. Not only were Cami and the other two women who were kidnapped in danger, but every single Tarkio member who'd gone to the casino for her.

There was no doubt in her mind and heart that Paco was responsible for gaining their help. She'd begged him to go after Cami, and he'd done it for her. The other members had done it for Paco.

A rolling shudder swept through her body. What Paco had whispered to her before he'd left came to her in a dream. There was no possible way for him to know her thoughts unless he was Thunder Bird, but that was something only the elders believed in.

Her generation, raised on Blackfoot land, were skeptical of the old tales.

But how would Paco know her thoughts, unless he was her spirit guide?

She used the toilet, washed her hands and face, and left the restroom, no closer to getting the answers she needed. Right now, she needed to concentrate on Cami coming home and the bikers returning safely back to the clubhouse.

Wyatt walked with her to the main room, where she sat down at the table again. She looked around the area for Nicole, but the woman had left.

Staring at the girls around her age, her heart pounded. One woman had taken off her top and danced bare-chested in front of a few men, who seemed content to let her show her body. Having never seen such blatant sexuality in a group setting, Josie looked away.

She'd heard of clubs where women danced topless or naked for men in Missoula, but she'd never gone to any of them. On the Rez, women remained covered their whole life. Only boys were allowed to run naked around others until they reached puberty. As a little girl, she often thought that was unfair. It wasn't until she was older when she realized her people protected females from the ugliness around them.