Chapter Nine
Cash
T WO FUCKING WEEKS. That’s how long Rebel has been lost in her head and pulling away from Eagle and me. Her grandma was taken to the hospital the night she took her last breath because the nursing agency told someone about the abuse at the hands of that nurse and the needle that was in her hands. I’m still not sure what was in the needle. None of us have the first clue what that bitch was planning. Hawk is keeping an eye on things and has been checking the hospital where Grandma’s body is obsessively. He wanted to be the first person to know what was found in her autopsy. Anyway, we just got the call yesterday that Grandma’s body has been moved to the funeral home to get ready for her funeral. When everything is set, we’ll put the rest of the plans in motion so we can lay her to rest in a plot she’s already purchased.
Today we have to meet with Grandma’s lawyer to go over her will and make sure everything is in place and ready to go for the funeral. From the little bit I’ve managed to overhear when I’m not at work, the lawyer has already been putting the plans in motion and getting things ready to go for the funeral. He’s the only one who has all the details and knows what has to happen next. Rebel has been going out of her mind because she has no clue what the hell is going on or what needs to be done in order to have the funeral. Alex and the ol’ ladies won’t let her help in the kitchen or anywhere else because they want her to rest and focus on herself for the first time since her grandma told her she got sick.
I’ve barely been in Fallen Ink over the last two weeks. Reagan has stepped in to work the counter once again and has moved all of my appointments around to different days so I can hang out with Rebel and make sure she has everything she needs. Since the first time Eagle and I busted into Pound’s room, we haven’t been letting her hide out and pull away from us. We’re not forcing her to interact with the rest of the club right now. The only thing we’re forcing her to do is take care of herself. We get her up every single day when she wants to lay in bed and pull the covers over her head to shut the world around her out. Rebel takes a shower with one of us once we get her out of bed. Then she eats the food we bring up to the room. For now, she’s hanging out in one of our bedrooms and we don’t let her go back into Pound’s room.
It was one thing for us to go in there and climb in bed with her a few weeks ago. Now, it’s something else entirely because that’s his space and we’re not about to continue going in there when Rebel is the only one who’s been in there since his death. Rebel doesn’t want to force us into anything so she hasn’t gone back in his room again knowing we’re uncomfortable going in there.
“Cash, who all is goin’ with us today?” Rebel asks me, her voice almost a whisper from crying so much over the last two weeks.
“Just Eagle, me, Hawk, and Crow. We don’t want to overwhelm you with a ton of people comin’ to somethin’ this important. If you want, Eagle and I can go in the lawyer’s office with you but no one else will. Eagle’s dad and brother want to go to ensure you’re safe and won’t be harassed by Chad or anyone else. You’re dealin’ with enough right now and we don’t want to add anythin’ more to your load,” I tell her, my voice soft as I pull her into my arms and hold her close as Eagle enters his room and joins me in holding her.
Eagle looks at me over Rebel’s head. His eyes are soft as he leans down and presses his lips to the top of her head. I watch as Rebel closes her eyes and accepts what we’re giving her right now. The safety, security, and support she needs to get through this. Eagle and I weren’t there when she lost her parents but we can be there when she goes through this loss.
“We got you, Sweet Girl. Are you ready to head out?” Eagle asks her.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. This is the last thing I want to do but it’s necessary and I have to hear what this lawyer has to say so I can put Grandma’s plan in motion,” she says, her voice breaking again as she blinks her eyes rapidly to stop the tears from falling again.
Rebel grabs her phone from the end of the bed while I slide my cut on over my shoulders. We make our way to the common room where Crow and Hawk are waiting for us by the door. No one says a word as I place my arm over her shoulders and hold her close to my side. Today, we won’t be taking the bikes. We’re using one of the club’s SUVs in order to get to the office and back again. Crow gets in the driver’s seat while Hawk takes the passenger seat. Eagle and I climb in the back with Rebel in between the two of us. Rebel lays her head on my shoulder and links her fingers with Eagle’s as he rests their hands on his thigh. The SUV is silent and I know Rebel is getting lost in her head once again as she tries not to cry once again.
“Are you sure you don’t want us to go in the room?” Hawk asks as Crow drives through town toward the office.
“Thank you, Hawk. I don’t want to make a big production of this. Honestly, I just want to get in the office, have the will read to me, put the plans in motion, and get out of there. I hate being in lawyers’ offices like this. It’s the last one I have to go through hopefully. I can’t go through this again, guys,” she says, burying her head in my chest as I hold her even closer to me while Eagle slides over even closer and holds her close from behind.
“Anythin’ you need, Rebel. You’re family and we’ll always be here for you,” Crow says, his voice rough and sounding angry even when he’s not.
Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the top of Rebel’s and just be here in the moment with her. Rebel’s body is trembling and I know it’s taking everything in her not to cry or break down in front of us again. She told us last night that she hates appearing so weak and vulnerable in front of others. We don’t give a fuck if she cries and has a complete meltdown as long as she is here and lets us help her through every single emotion coursing through her. Eagle and I have told her as much when we’re all alone in our room but she still doesn’t give in. We’ve heard her crying in the shower while we remain in our room, waiting for her.
“We’re here,” Crow informs us as I sit up and look out the window.
Rebel doesn’t move or lift her head from my chest. Instead, she remains locked in position as Eagle unbuckles her seatbelt and removes his fingers from her.
“We gotta go, Doll. Mr. Jacobson is waitin’ for us,” I say, not wanting to force her to move from the SUV even though I know it’s what we have to do.
“I know. I’m ready,” she says, sliding out behind Eagle as I get out of my side of the SUV and rush around to lace my fingers with hers.
We head inside and Rebel stops at the reception area. Rebel gives her name and is told to wait for Mr. Jacobson to come out and get her. Eagle wraps his arm around her shoulders and we make our way over to the waiting area. Rebel doesn’t take a seat in one of the chairs. Instead, she paces the room and bites her nail. Biting her nails is a new nervous habit. She only does it when she’s upset, nervous, or angry.
“Sweet Girl, you can’t keep bitin’ your nails. You’ve already made two of your fingers bleed,” Eagle says, pulling her finger from her mouth and linking his with hers so she can’t bite them as I hold her other hand.
“I know. I’m sorry I didn’t realize that’s what I was doing. It’s not bleeding today,” she says, as I watch an older man walk into the room and head for us.
“Miss Carrington?” he asks, his eyes on Rebel as she stops pacing and spins too fast to look at the lawyer while dropping my hand.
“That’s me,” she responds as I turn to grab her hand while Eagle keeps hold of her other one.
“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Carrington. If you’ll follow me this way, we can go over the will and figure out what has to happen next,” Mr. Jacobson says as we all move to follow him down the opulent hallway and into a corner office. We all know you haven’t really made it until you’re in a corner office when you’re in business or that kind of shit.
R ebel is in fucking shock. I think the three of us are in shock right now if I’m being honest. Mr. Jacobson completely rocked Rebel’s world and Eagle and I have no clue how the fuck to bring her out of this shit because it’s the last thing we thought we’d hear when we sat down in this office today. I honestly figured we would hear who we had to finish contacting to put everything in place for the funeral. Instead we learn that our girl is a fucking multimillionaire. Not only has she inherited millions from her parents, but she also just inherited millions from her grandma as well.
Our girl now owns multiple properties, land that hasn’t been developed, and more money than she’ll be able to spend in her lifetime. She also doesn’t have to do anything for the funeral. Mr. Jacobson has taken care of everything and everyone who has something to do with the funeral has already been called and been working behind the scenes to put plans in motion. The funeral home is the last step and there’s only so much we can do there. Mr. Jacobson assured us they’re ready to get Grandma’s body and are heading to the hospital later today. They’ll handle all of the paperwork and make sure everything is in order because that’s what they do for the family members of the deceased they care for.
“I will be in attendance at the funeral, Miss Carrington. Your grandma was one of the best people I’ve ever met and everyone she came in contact with fell in love with her. I have no clue what her loss is gonna do to the community with the charities she helped over the years,” Mr. Jacobson says as Rebel’s eyes well with tears she’s fighting to hold back.
“Can you get me a list of those charities, Mr. Jacobson? I’d like to do something to take over for my grandma. I never realized she helped with so many things like that,” Rebel asks and I know our girl will step up and fill in for her grandma in ways she can honor her memory.
“Of course I can, Miss Carrington. I’m sure the charities would love to have your help,” he says, his voice gentle as he smiles at her and his eyes light up with his happiness at her words.
“Thank you. You’ve made everything so much easier than I thought it would be. I’ve only been through this once before and my grandma handled everything. I was truly worried about how hard this was all going to be considering I really haven’t processed that she’s gone yet. I’ll see you at the funeral,” Rebel says, standing from her seat and reaching out to shake the hand of the lawyer as he stands from his seat just after her.
“You’re welcome, Rebel. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me. I’ll make sure to have a copy of everything here in the office if you ever need it for any reason. Please, take care of her you two. You can also reach out if Rebel is unable to and ask anything she might be wondering about,” Mr. Jacobson informs us as we shake hands and disappear from his office with Rebel trying to hold her head high even though it’s the last thing she wants to do.
I can see the exhaustion in her eyes and her body is wilting. Even though she’s spent a lot of time in bed, she sure as hell hasn’t been sleeping. She’s been tossing and turning more than anything else and has woken every morning with the black bags under her eyes just a little worse than the day before. Eagle and I have tried absolutely everything to help her sleep and nothing is helping her. The only thing I can think of at this point is fucking her into oblivion.
“What do you wanna do, Sweet Girl?” Eagle asks her as we lead her from the office and out to the SUV that’s waiting for us.
“Are you okay?” Hawk asks her as soon as she’s inside and settled between Eagle and me.
“I’m as good as I can be considering everything. Hawk, can you do something for me?” Rebel asks and I have no clue where the hell she’s going with this.
“Of course,” he responds, not even hesitating as he turns to look at Rebel.
“I’ve got three different trust funds now. Can you somehow combine them and take some out of there so I can use that amount for charities while the rest collects interest?” she asks him and I’m really not surprised about this from her.
“I can. You want an account at a certain bank?” he asks her, pulling out his phone and taking notes.
“The bank I already have is good unless you have a different suggestion. All I know is I want the money to earn the highest interest it can. I’d also like to invest some of it in a variety of things from low to high risk. Do you know anything about all of that?” she asks him, as a smile covers his face and I wait for his response.
“I can take care of all that, Rebel. Are you sure you trust me to handle this amount of money?” he questions her, losing his smile and looking at her with a serious look on his face.
“I wouldn’t trust anyone more than the men of the club. Cash can help you figure all of this out since he’s the Treasurer. If you’re willing to help him,” she says, turning her attention to me and resting a hand on my chest.
“You don’t even have to ask me, Doll. You need or want somethin’ and I’m there for you. We all are. When we get back to the clubhouse, what do you wanna do?” I ask her, needing to know where her head is right now.
“I want to eat and then go to bed with the two of you,” she says, leaning into Eagle’s side as I lean up against her back so she’s surrounded by the two of us.
Crow pulls into the parking lot of the compound and parks as close to the door as he can. Hawk and him get out of the SUV and head inside the clubhouse without looking back. Eagle slides out through his door and lifts Rebel in his arms while I get out of my side. The three of us make our way inside and Rebel points at the table she wants to sit at as Alex jumps out of her seat and rushes into the kitchen. She rushes back with three plates of food as Zoey grabs drinks and brings them over to us. Neither woman says a word to us as they set everything down and disappear so Rebel isn’t overwhelmed. The three of us eat and whisper to one another until the plates are clear. Today’s the first day our girl has eaten without one of us having to force her. When she’s done, the three of us head to my room and lock the rest of the world away.