Page 243 of Nyx

"The other night hit everyone pretty hard," Kincaid begins. "Talking with Victoria, the other women are even more scared now."

I can't imagine what it would feel like for them. Kayla died at the hands of another woman's abuser, and knowing they could be victimized by anyone and not just the men who were hurting them has to hit hard.

"I think we need to make real efforts in the next couple of weeks to find a more permanent solution for Juniper House on the property," Kincaid continues.

"News has spread through the community," Shadow adds. "We've had four other women submit applications in the last thirty-six hours, and although Caroline, Dana, and Melissa are okay with what we've provided in the clubhouse, it isn't fair to ask the same of everyone who is escaping their abusers."

A rumble of agreement fills the room.

"We have the land," Kincaid says. "We have the manpower, and I think we can have housing built for them in a couple of months."

"Are we talking a house similar to what they had in town or something different?" Hound asks.

"I think if this is going to be a permanent solution, then they need something a little different," Kincaid says. Duplexes or small individual apartments, maybe? Thoughts?"

"Is the goal permanent living here or transitional housing?" Slick asks.

"I think that's something we need to decide on," Kincaid answers. "But the clubhouse is the central hub for the club, and I think we can give them what they need elsewhere on the property and not lose the benefit of this place for our own members."

A pause fills the room as everyone considers his words.

I pull in a breath, feeling the need to speak, but also still clinging a little to the mindset that I'm an outsider here.

"I think," I begin, feeling a little awkward when all eyes turn to me, but deciding to continue as well. "Let me first say that I know I'm the asshole of the group."

A few members chuckle, but I don't feel disrespected by it.

"This isn't coming from an asshole perspective, but from one concerned with the safety of everyone here that we love."

The chuckle fades immediately.

"Kayla Rowe was vetted thoroughly, yet she was still manipulated. She had access to everything here. Just like everyone else, I'm all for helping any woman who needs help, but I worry that it could happen again."

"We're still working to figure out when Whitmore made first contact with her," Max says.

"And I place no blame on Cerberus for not knowing," I assure him. "What I'm saying is if it can happen with her, then it can happen again."

"That's another thing that we need to consider," Kincaid says. "We want to help everyone that we can, but at the end of the day, if a choice has to be made, I have to choose this family first."

"It's why we're putting it before the group," Shadow adds.

"And this decision doesn't have to happen today," Kincaid says. "There may be a way to get creative with this that satisfies both the need for safety and security of these women and also keeps our family safe."

"Could we create a different entrance?" Griffin asks. "Like we have the main entrance but then two entrances inside of that."

"I'm not following," Shadow says to his son.

"I mean, we have the main entrance, or we split that one and build a barrier that allows Cerberus access to this section of the property and a separate entrance that would lead to the facility housing the women of Juniper House. The man at the gate would control which gate is opened when they enter."

"That could work," Kincaid says, looking at his vice president.

"So build fencing and have a secure section for them that doesn't give them access to our area," Shadow clarifies.

"We can't make it feel institutional," Slick interjects.

"We can give them luxuries," Griffin adds. "A pool, big playground for kids. They'll know they're safe and hopefully won't be afraid to step out of the house like a lot of them were in town."

"I like that idea," Kincaid says. "What about permanence?"