32. Chapter 32
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Something Wolfe said triggered Mary to shut down, and based on the last few days, I’m betting she’s trapped in her memories.
Trying to anchor her, I reach over and clutch her hand after pulling back onto the road. “Mary, Siren, I need you to come back to me. You aren’t with Stephan anymore. He can’t hurt you.”
My words don’t reach her through the fog, but I don’t give up. For the rest of the ride, I keep talking to her, trying to coax her back to reality.
Pulling through the gate, I drive up to the clubhouse and come to a halt. Throwing up the console, I scoot over and cup her cheeks, making her look at me. I’m beyond grateful when Gunner and Axe quietly slip out, giving us some privacy.
“Mary, Baby. Come back to me. Talk to me.”
A trembling hand reaches up and touches my hand. “L-Luke?” she says weakly.
“Yeah, Siren, it’s me. You aren’t with him anymore. You’re safe.”
She blinks rapidly and her eyes come back into focus. “Luke?” She looks around and a confused look comes across her face. “We’re here already?”
“Yeah, Siren, we’re here. Do you want to talk about it?”
She takes a couple of deep breaths and then shakes her head. Disappointment fills me until she speaks. “Later we can, but I think what’ll help most right now is to be around my kids.” She pauses again as she shakes her head. “Fuck, I told myself I wasn’t going to let him mess with my mind again, and then it happens anyway at Wolfe’s threat and promise.”
Anger burns through my veins that the fucker’s still causing her pain, but she’s right. We need to go inside. Plus, I’m sure Thor will be calling Church sometime today.
“Okay, give me a moment and I’ll help you get out.”
Reluctantly, I pull away, open my door and round the truck to her door. I smile when I see her kids’ faces peering out at us through the window and I find myself giving them a little wave.
Opening her door, I take her backpack and sling it over my shoulder. Then I notice Levi’s bracelets are still sitting in her lap, and I’m not really surprised that she forgot about them after seeing Stephan. I put them both on, one on each wrist, to which she gives me a small, weak smile. Kissing her temple, I breathe in her scent, noting it’s something floral, as I lift her into my arms, careful not to squeeze her too tight since her injured shoulder is against my chest. She reaches up and places her good arm around my neck, stabilizing herself. However, when she starts running her fingers through my hair, I damn near trip over my feet. It’s a sensation I’ve been dreaming about feeling again for nine years—I’ve always loved the feeling of her hands in my hair.
Using my hip to shut the truck door, I climb the clubhouse steps and thankfully, the door opens when we get there. Mary lets out a little gasp and I grin when she looks up at me in surprise. My heart clenches when I see unshed tears shimmering in her eyes and I know it’s because Stephan never would have given her this kind of attention or care in the past.
“You think I was going to leave you totally dependent on someone in a normal wheelchair, Siren? Only the best for my woman.”
As soon as I heard confirmation that her shoulder was partially dislocated, I knew she wouldn’t be allowed to use crutches or wheel herself around in a normal wheelchair. I called Doc and he was able to get me a motorized wheelchair for her.
“We even put a ramp at the backdoor so you can come into the clubhouse.” I pause and lean in closer to her ear. “But just so you know, at least one of us will be with you and the kids at all times until we catch these assholes.”
I press a kiss below her ear and my dick twitches when she shivers in response. A second later, she frowns, and a worried expression flits across her face before she masks it.
Realizing I’m just standing right inside the door, I cross the room and sit her down in her wheelchair. I take a moment to explain the controls to her and then step off to the side. Immediately the kids swarm her, and she reaches down, hugging and kissing each of them. Cassie tries to climb up Mary’s good leg. I look at Mary, raising an eyebrow in a silent question, and she nods. Leaning down, I lift Cassie up, giving her a snuggle and pressing a kiss to her temple. My chest tightens and warms when she giggles as I lightly tickle her tummy.
“Remember to be careful, Angel,” I tell her and she wraps her little arms around my neck, squeezing me tight.
“I will, Mr. Patch.”
Carefully, I sit her down on Mary’s lap and am not surprised when she burrows into her side, pressing as close as possible as she leans her head against her chest. Mary leans down and kisses the crown of her head as she blinks away tears.
Mae breaks through the silence as she steps up toward Mary, reaching around Cassie and giving her a hug. “We’ve got a mini party planned tonight for your homecoming. It’ll just be with our club—no hang-arounds or people from town. This next weekend, Reaper’s crew is coming up for our combined club Thanksgiving dinner, so you’ll be able to meet them all as well. They’re also a bunch of great guys.”
I step away and head over to the bar which Colt is currently manning. “Can I have a beer and one of those raspberry waters?” Mary had taken to Mae’s flavored waters when they visited the other day, and I want to make sure she’s getting enough fluids while she’s still taking her meds. I know some of them can cause a lot of dry mouth, which I know she’ll hate.
He slides my beer over to me after uncapping it and reaches down to the fridge we keep sodas and waters in before passing me the water. Popping the tab, I grab our drinks and walk back over to Mary, flipping out the cup and phone holder attachment. She gives me another surprised look before grinning and shaking her head as she reaches out to take the water from me while being careful not to disturb Cassie, who has fallen asleep against her. How she can sleep in a room full of noise is beyond me. Taking a closer look, all three of the kids have dark circles under their eyes. I wonder if they weren’t able to sleep very well with Mary being in the hospital.
I’m brought out of my thoughts by someone tugging on my jeans, and I look down to see Ash at my side.
“What’s up, Ash?”
He cocks his head slightly as he looks at me with a gaze that reminds me of a hawk watching someone. “Can we talk?”
Smiling down at him, I nod and point at a table not too far away but still in Mary’s eyesight. “Of course.” I’m not surprised to see her frequently checking on the boys. Right now, Dragon and Timber are trying to teach Isaiah how to play pool. Ash was over there with them, but I’m not sure when he stepped away.
Taking our seats, I’m surprised when he fidgets a little before speaking, but then I remember what Haris had said about how Stephan was with the kids when they were at their house for Thanksgiving.
“So,” he pauses as he licks his lips. “So, you’re my dad?”
Grinning, I nod. “Yeah, son, I am. What I said in the hospital on your birthday was true. I’ve been looking for your mom ever since she was taken. I had suspected she was pregnant, but had no idea she was as far along in her pregnancy as she was.” Pausing, I debate exactly how to word this next part before deciding just to throw it out there. “Asher, I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything at any time. Well, later, when I go back to work, it’ll need to wait until I’m on break or back home unless it’s an emergency. You won’t be judged or punished for what you say unless you’re being mean to someone.”
His little shoulders relax some and he gives me a small smile as he nods.
“So, tell me about yourself. What do you like to do?”
Ash grins fully. “I love to draw and play cars and motorcycles with Isaiah. But my favorite things to do is to read or watch shows about different kinds of animals.” He pauses, a sheepish-shy look coming over him. “Someday, I want to be a veterinarian.”
Rubbing my chin, I think back to a few months ago when Bastion came to live with Levi, Thor and Dragon. “You know, maybe sometime we can have Carter come here for a visit? Or go into town to see him? He’s a vet and he’s how Bastion came to be here. You two could talk and see if that really is what you want to do with your future.”
Ash’s jaw drops in shock and my chest aches at the disbelief in his eyes. After a few moments, he seems to come out of his shock, but he’s still staring at me in disbelief. “You really mean it? You aren’t going to tell me that it’s a waste of time or that I’m not good enough or smart enough to do something like that?”
My chest aches even more at the pain in his voice and at what Stephan’s said, and done, to him over the years. Reaching out, I put a hand on his little shoulder, ignoring that it feels skinnier than it should be, and squeeze slightly. “Son, I will never say anything like that to you. Ever. Or to Isaiah and Cassie. I’m here to support you, all of you. To help you learn about things as you grow up and to give you the tools you need to live your life when it’s time to start taking your future in your own hands. If you want to be a veterinarian, then we’ll take steps for you to learn more about it to make sure it’s what you are really interested in. If you find out that it’s not for you, then we’ll go in a different direction.
“But know this, Asher. You are not worthless. Your interests are not a waste of time or effort. You are smart as a whip and don’t think I haven’t noticed how you seem to catalogue everything you see or hear.” I’m relieved when he smirks a little at that and see hope starting to fill his eyes. “Very few people are able to do that and recall the information months or even years later. I’ve seen how protective you are of your siblings and your mom, which are great traits to have, and I can’t thank you enough for protecting them when I wasn’t able to. You are a very special kid who I know is going to grow up into an amazing man one day. Someone that I already am very proud of.”
Tears form in his eyes, and for a moment, I think I’ve said the wrong thing, but then he launches out of his chair and into my arms. Seconds later, I feel my shirt turn damp with his tears and I hold him a little tighter, allowing him to let go of everything.
Glancing up, I notice Mary’s wiping her eyes and she mouths ‘thank you’ to me. Giving her a nod, it seems like I need to have a talk with her, too. I should probably have similar talks with Isaiah and Cassie, too.
She should never have to thank me for doing what I just did.
And when I get my hands on that fucker, on top of everything else he’s done to Mary, I’m going to make him pay for what he’s done to my kids. They may not be mine yet legally, but they will be.
They will know they can count on me for anything they need. That their ideas and voices are seen and heard. That they are wanted and cherished. That they are protected. For them to know that if anyone messes with them, they’ll have an army of steel and leather at their backs, ready to defend them.
After a few minutes, he pulls back and I help dry his cheeks. Cheeks that pinken as he looks down at my shirt.
“Don’t you dare say you’re sorry. I’ll tell you something I told your mom the other day.” I wait until he looks back up at me and he bites his lip in worry. A trait he seems to have gotten from his mother. “I’d much rather you let out your emotions like this rather than bottling them up until you feel like you’re going to explode. That’s not healthy. I don’t care if it’s me you’re ranting about. If you feel like your emotions are all over the place and need a safe place to vent, I’m that safe person. I will never judge you. I’ll listen and support you in any way I can. And if I’m not the right person to help you, I’ll find the right person for you. You hear me?”
He wraps his little arms around my neck again and squeezes slightly. “I hear you. Thank you.”
Giving him a little squeeze, I blink back my own tears. “Anytime, Ash. Anytime.”
“Church!” Thor yells out over the common room, and I give Ash one more squeeze before pulling back.
“I gotta go in for a meeting. Stay in here with your mom, your siblings, the ladies and the Prospects. Don’t go outside for anything, okay?”
At the sternness in my voice, it’s almost like he changes with the flick of a switch, which makes sense if he was used to altering himself on a dime because of Stephan’s mood swings.
“I’ll make sure they stay inside and are safe.”
The conviction in his voice makes me believe he’ll do exactly as he says. Damn, this kid would make a good member when he grows up. “Good man, Ash.”
He slides down off my lap and goes over to Isaiah, who is sitting on the couch. Mae’s flipping through the channels on the TV trying to find a show for them and Mary wheels over next to them. Cassie slides down off her lap and promptly climbs up on the couch, snuggling in between Isaiah and Ash. The way they crowd around her and shield her with their little bodies is a telling sign that has me frowning, making me wonder how much they’ve had to shield her before. Or how much Ash has had to shield the both of them because his eyes haven’t stopped scanning the room since they sat down. How he positioned himself propped up against the arm of the sofa so he can see almost the entire common room and part of the kitchen and one of the hallways.
Mary wheels over to me and I tear my gaze away from the kids and focus on her.
“So,” she pauses as she licks her lips nervously. “How does this work, exactly?”
Crouching next to her, so that she doesn’t have to strain her neck looking up, I place my hand on her thigh and squeeze it reassuringly. “Everyone but Thor and Phoenix will put their phones in the basket on the bar and we head in for a meeting. Prospects will stay out here with you, Mae, and the kids. I really don’t want any of you leaving while we’re in Church. If there’s an emergency, you can have the Prospects come and get us or you can knock on the door. Smoke said he programmed everyone’s numbers into your phone, so if you absolutely need to, you can call or text Phoenix or Thor. If there’s a situation where you need to go to the panic room, Mae can show you where it is, otherwise I’ll show you afterward just so you know where it is and the entrances.”
Her eyes widen, and I hate dumping all this on her at once, but I haven’t really had the chance to talk about this yet and I didn’t want to bring it up in the hospital.
“Everything should be pretty quiet tonight. Mae and some of the bunnies will be cooking something for dinner. I will say, you can see the kids from the pass-through window if you want to join them. All I ask is that you don’t tax yourself too much since you just got out of the hospital.”
She bites her lips and looks behind me toward the kitchen before nodding. “Um, I’ll probably be in the kitchen unless the kids need me. I want to get to know Mae better, but I’m nervous about meeting the bunnies, even though Mae said most of them are actually pretty cool and easy to get along with.”
I nod in agreement. “If I remember the rotation correctly, the ones helping tonight, Sarah, Amy, and Ashley, are easy to get along with. Roxy and Sasha also help in the kitchen each weeknight unless we order out. If we didn’t have Church, Levi would have been helping as well. You remember what I said about the other two?”
Her lips thin as she purses them and nods. Crystal still tries to stir up shit occasionally, but not as badly as when Gigi was here. Gemini and Cici are fairly new, and I’ve purposefully made a point to not spend any time alone with them, so I don’t know them as well. Though so far, they haven’t tried to raise too much shit. However, time will tell on that as both have tried to corner me since I’ve never been with them.
“Alright. I’ve got to get in there.”
Standing, I give her a quick kiss and after putting my phone in the basket, I head into Church, shutting the door behind me.