Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Marie
I’m getting dressed for the day when Ransom joins me in the bedroom.
I slept in bed with them all last night, and I didn’t have a single bad dream.
I simply sunk into the darkness while being cocooned in warmth.
I’m starting to realize the bond sickness begins to act up whenever Lore leaves the building I’m in, but I don’t know how that’ll work in a place like a hospital.
Is it restrained to a set amount of feet between us? Lore went inside last night while I was on the roof, and I had to follow him when a wave of pain and nausea hit me. I didn’t say anything, I simply stood up and hurried after him.
Devon is on his way home now with Martyr, and they agreed not to say anything to their club. This secret feels as if it’s keeping Lore safe with me. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, yet I don’t want to share him with the world yet.
I checked his chest wound today, and the antibiotics are doing their job. Now, if he’ll just sit for two seconds, maybe he’ll actually fucking heal.
“Stop scowling, Sugar,” Ransom teases me, coming into the room. “I have a wardrobe change suggestion for you.”
“You’re awfully interested in my clothing choices,” I tease him back. “Am I going somewhere today that I don’t know about?”
“Actually, you are,” he murmurs. “Lore has a surprise planned. It’s fifty degrees out, and while that’s not terrible, it isn’t fun on a motorcycle. I have leathers for you.”
“And you just happen to have these stashed somewhere like Mary Poppins?” I giggle.
“I can fit a lot of shit on my bike,” he snorts. “However, Lore told me last night about his plan, and I ordered everything in your size online then.”
Handing me a pair of tight, black leggings, he watches as I change into them. He can’t help but bite his full lips as I pull them over my ass, and I have to admit they’re comfortable.
“Those are armored in case you wreck,” he explains. “Lore won’t allow that to happen, but shit happens.”
I nod because he’s right, and change into the long sleeve top he hands me next. It feels nice against my skin, and isn’t too tight. It also doesn’t ride up once I tuck the hem into my pants.
“This is the leather jacket you’ll eventually get your patch on,” Ransom says softly.
“It’s got armor in the elbows, shoulders, and back to protect your body as well.
I know you want to learn to ride, and proper gear is really important to me.
It’s why I got so pissed off at the funeral.
Something inside of me needs to keep you safe, even when you’re not with me.
“I also got you new boots. They’ll have better protection and grip on the pavement. Now, for the next part. Weapons.”
“Plural?” I ask. “Where the hell am I going?”
“Ryder is a friend of the club,” Ransom chuckles. “It’s not him I’m worried about. There are low lives that troll the roads looking for some fun, and I don’t want you to have any problems while you’re riding with Lore. You’re going alone with him, which means I’m loading you up for war, baby.”
I really hope he never finds out about what happened to me with Lore’s pack while I was driving to Minneapolis, because it’ll definitely cause an issue.
“Alright. Load me up for bear,” I sigh.
“The bears aren’t the problem,” he grumbles.
“It’s the men of the world. Storm is bougie as fuck and wants to get you custom holsters.
He found someone in town who makes them, but they need you to go in.
Until that happens, I found a couple of options that’ll work for now.
I also bought you another gun that’ll fit your smaller hands.
However, I think you and Arsenal need to talk about your weapon needs. ”
“It’s very odd to have any need for a gun,” I say. “How… I mean, are we telling the club about Lore?”
“He can’t remain dead for much longer,” Ransom winces. “At least, not to the club. Wilder is going to remain acting president for now, while Lore becomes his enforcer. We were up until late talking while you slept.”
Ransom looks almost guilty while I fix the holster I decide on and slide the gun down the back of my pants. Don’t they make any holsters that are a little less bulky? I need to talk to the custom person when I see him to see if they can make that happen.
“I don’t care if you discuss things alone as long as I’m looped in later,” I explain. “Handle your shit, and then tell me what I need to know.”
“Okay,” he says, a look of relief passing over his face. “We’re rewriting rules on the fly, and that comes with some growing pains. We’re having the club over in a couple of weeks to discuss how to move forward, which means their opinions need to be voiced.”
“I don’t think the brownstone can hold all of them,” I say, feeling lightheaded as I fix my shirt.
“We’re going to rent a place through one of the mafia bosses for our meeting,” he explains. “A new sofa is also arriving today.”
Okay. Deep breaths, Marie. Fuck. I think this is why I need bite sized pieces of information when it comes to the club. They’re a little overwhelming on a good day. Minneapolis isn’t ready for them for longer than a quick visit.
“Alright,” Ransom murmurs, helping me into my jacket. “Your boots are downstairs. Lore is waiting and Wilder made you a smoothie.”
“Sneaky,” I murmur. “The four of you are scary when you band together.”
“Sugar,” he growls, smirking. “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. We’re unhappy we’ll be away from you, which means we’ll need to keep ourselves busy.”
“Oh? Care to elaborate?” I ask, following him out of the room and downstairs.
“Not particularly.”
Of course not, because that would be too easy.
“Are you pouting, Princess?” Lore asks, dragging me into a hug as I step off the last stair in front of him.
He begins to walk me toward the kitchen where I hear Wilder and Storm talking, and I perk up, hoping they’ll tell me their plans while we’re gone. Or even better! Maybe, Lore will tell me where we’re going. I don’t know who Ryder is or why he’s important.
“She’s stewing in her ignorance,” Ransom chuckles. “I told her just enough to peak her curiosity and nothing more.”
“He’s so mean, huh?” Lore asks, leaning down to talk against the shell of my ear.
“You’re no saint, Lore,” he snorts. “Are you going to tell her where you’re taking her?”
“I’m taking you to see Ryder,” Lore says as if that explains everything.
“I don’t know who that is!” I exclaim.
“Oops, let’s get you some coffee,” Lore suggests. “Sit down, Princess. Take a load off and I’ll explain.”
“I put a caffeine supplement in her smoothie,” Wilder says, amused as he places the glass in front of me as I sit down.
“I’m only a little grumpy,” I admit, taking a sip of the breakfast drink before moaning softly. It’s mango, and tastes incredible. It’s not too sweet, and perfectly blended.
“Ryder made our pack’s custom motorcycles. There’s no one else I’d rather have to make your bike. We’re going out there to design it, and he’s got a junker for you to learn on. He’s out in South Dakota, near the Black Hills. It’s about an eight hour drive on the bike,” Lore explains.
“We’re….seriously?!” I squeal, gaping at them.
“We discussed this,” he says, confused. “You need a motorcycle so you’re not dependent on anyone to get around while we’re together.
The cage is great, but there’s no better feeling than the freedom of riding a motorcycle.
I also want to know that you can fight your way out of something if it’s necessary, so I’m enrolling you in some training. ”
“You don’t want to teach me how to fight?” I ask, enjoying how cute he’s being.
I’m well aware that equality isn’t normal in this world. The mafia world can be a lot like this as well, though I know a few women who broke the mold. Aisling and Cerenity are examples of this, while Wren is a quieter version of what it’s like to create the life she wants.
“I smash the fuck out of people with my fists,” he says, his much larger hand encasing my smaller one. “The way I fight isn’t necessarily how you’ll need to.”
“Knives are a great way to put an enemy down, with a bullet to the brain after,” Ransom muses, leaning forward on the counter. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember he’s just as much of a killer as they are.
That is, until he says something like this.
“Maybe we can ask Cian about who he’d suggest to help Marie,” Storm suggests. “Cian Sullivan is one of the mafia bosses here in Minneapolis. I feel like he always has his nose in something.”
“I know that name,” I admit. “I may have met him once too, but I’ve never liked being anywhere near the mafia world.”
“It’s because this is your world, you just didn’t know it yet,” Lore says smugly, kissing my temple. “I need to check our bag to make sure I have everything. I’ll be in the next room, Princess.”
While he doesn’t know how tight the tether of our bond is, he still makes a point of telling me where he’s going. Lore loudly announced he was going to take a shit, and that’s where I drew the line to his announcements.
“What are you all doing while I’m gone?” I ask, continuing to drink my breakfast.
Ransom smirks at me, while I attempt to look innocent and ignore him.
“You’re being weird, Kitty,” Storm chuckles. “I’m going to be helping whoever needs it, making money in stock trading, and replying to emails. I also need to reach out to some of our clients in the other chapters to see if they need anything.”
“Do you have to go if they need parts?” I ask, worrying at my lip.
“No. The club is picking up what’s needed from our manufacturers and dropping them off,” he says. “They actually suggested that we begin delegating more now that we have you.”
“Really?” I ask, surprised.
“Some of them would walk through fire for you if you asked,” Wilder snorts. “It doesn’t matter that you haven’t known them for all that long, they got to know you and decided they adore you.”