Chapter 58
Lark
As the guys continue to pry off the wooden planks of the clubhouse’s walls in the main room that had been damaged by the gunfire, me and a few others pick them up and stack them on a few of the tables, sorting them by stain color and then by size.
Timber had asked that we not throw them away until he could look at them to see if any could be cut down and salvaged.
Much like our clubhouse in Junction Creek, the wooden planks go horizontally along the walls in the main room and the hallways.
All of the boards are of varying lengths and the stain on the boards are slightly different as well.
The fireplace has a thick wooden mantle and large stones cover the hearth and the surround, which is the area around the fireplace that helps contain the fire.
The windows are trimmed in a lighter stained wood to which the reinforced interior shutters are attached to.
From what I heard, the shutters are normally left open unless something like yesterday happens.
I frown when I spy a lever on them that I hadn’t noticed this morning when we opened them. I walk over and undo the lever.
“That makes a lot more sense now,” I mutter as I pull a piece of wood horizontally that would allow a four-inch gap to shoot a gun out of. Provided the window was open, that is. It’d be dangerous to shoot straight through the glass, but I guess if you had no other option, it would work.
My mind goes back to our club and while I remember the shutters, I hadn’t realized that this was what they were for. I wonder if they have the same slide-outs? I make a mental note to look at ours when we get back home.
Looking around again, I remember what Mary said the guys did for Christmas.
A few of the guys had mounted a few marker boards along the lower sections of the walls and along the baseboards for the kids.
On the marker boards, they put removeable decals of various winter and Christmas themes that they could play with.
Those boards now reside in the playroom at the back of the clubhouse and from what I hear, they still get a lot of use.
My gaze goes to the door leading into Church.
From the brief glimpses I’ve had of the room, the lower half of the wall is done in the same wooden planks, but the upper half is sheetrock, which is something I know because Levi had told me holes have been patched multiple times because of the guys punching the wall.
It’s happened so much that she’s actually contemplated putting some sort of foam or rubber mats on sections of the wall so the guys can punch there when their anger gets the better of them so that they don’t accidentally punch a two-by-four and bust up their hands.
Either that or somehow mark where the studs were so that they could be avoided.
The wall at the front of the room has a giant mural of the club’s logo and the rest of the walls are filled with memorabilia of past poker runs and other events as well as a memorial of the previous club members.
Looking around the main room again, it strikes me how similar they are décor-wise. I wonder which clubhouse was finished first and if the others were based off the one here in Forest Creek since it’s the mother chapter of the Steel Archangels. I’ll have to ask someone.
I turn back to the shutters and
Hearing more boards drop on the floor, I get back to work picking them up.
A phone rings and I turn, recognizing the ring tone as the one Miracle has programmed for her mom.
“Just a sec, Mom,” Miracle says into the phone as she answers it and then she mouths to me that she’s going to take the call outside.
I nod before moving to pick up a few more boards off the floor.
Spying a few staples on the floor, I pick them up before tossing them into the bin, not wanting one of the kids to step on them.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Miracle heading down the hallway toward the back door, and my shoulders tense as I realize I didn’t mention her taking anyone with her.
Sasha tilts her head toward me as she sets down a stack of boards, silently telling me that she’ll watch out for her, and I give her a grateful smile as she follows after Miracle.
Later that afternoon, all the damaged planks inside the clubhouse have been removed and new ones installed.
I had no idea that Timber had stacks of extra planks in the basement of each stain color.
Apparently when they did the expansion and redid the décor, they’d planned ahead for eventualities like this.
As for the sheetrock, that took a little longer, but like with fixing the wood planks, all the guys pitched in.
Timber showed them how to fill the hole with drywall mud, after making sure no electrical was damaged of course, before putting some drywall tape over the hole and covering the tape with more drywall mud.
Later will come the sanding and repainting.
For the windows that were broken, they will unfortunately not get fixed today, so they’ve just been boarded up for the time being. Timber took measurements and tomorrow he’ll call in for replacements since they aren’t open today with it being New Year’s Day.
For the past few hours, most of the guys have been outside, working to replace, or possibly repair, the bullet holes to the exterior of the clubhouse walls.
Timber had said earlier this morning that it’d be shorter work to get the clubhouse done first and then he’d start on repairs to his and Mae’s house, as well as the condos, since they would take longer.
As for me, Mama Astrid, and the bunnies, we followed along after the guys, cleaning each room and washing everyone’s bedding.
It’s a good thing the club basically has a mini laundromat in the basement otherwise it would take forever to do.
However, I did have a good laugh when Mama Astrid and Roxy showed me how they are able to keep everyone’s bedding separated.
On the underside of the sheets, pillowcases, and comforters, there’s a little tag sewn in that has each person’s name stitched into it.
For the rooms that are left open for guests, they all have the word ‘spare’ stitched into the tags.
The same is done for all the true ‘spare’ sets as Mama Astrid said they always have enough extra on hand for each room to get a change of sheets.
However, the spare comforters aren’t anything fancy like some of the guy’s usual comforters.
She also said that it’s the same at our clubhouse as well.
For right now, everyone has spare bedding on their beds until we’re able to switch it out later today or tomorrow.
The buzzer sounds and I start the process of pulling out the dried bedding onto the large laundry table and then switch the bedding from the washers to the dryers.
Since this is the last round that needs to dry, I get to work separating out the bedding into laundry baskets that have the guys’ names written on them.
“Why don’t you head on up and freshen up, Lark? We just have to make the rest of the beds and then finish cleaning up in the kitchen. Supper will be here soon,” Mama Astrid says as she walks into the laundry room, and I frown.
“Are you sure? I don’t mind continuing to help.”
Mama Astrid waves me off, but it’s the twinkle in her eye that has me cautious. Much like her sons, I’ve learned to be wary when I spot that spark of mischief.
“It’s fine. We’re almost done anyway. Then we can all hang out together this evening before we head out in the morning. Levi called in the pizza and it should be here in about forty minutes or so.”
“Alright,” I reply, and I’m about to say something else, but then bite my tongue as I step away from the pile of bedding and Mama Astrid takes over.
I learned long ago that it was easier to just go along with something if she said it was alright, even if I am almost positive that she’s up to something. As for supper, I’m relieved that we decided earlier to order in because I’m beat.
With a sigh, I head upstairs to Anthony’s, well our, room on the third floor.
I lock the door behind me and pick up my duffle bag that I’d left in here this morning.
I knew I’d want to freshen up here rather than possibly tracking dust and everything into our condo to clean up.
I wasn’t sure how far we’d get when I’d packed the bag, but I never thought we’d damn near finish fixing up the clubhouse.
Then again, with over thirty people chipping in, I shouldn’t have been surprised.
Shaking my head, I take my bag into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Stripping, I put my dirty clothes in the plastic bag and step under the water. I groan and press my palms to the tile and drop my head, letting the hot water hit my shoulders and the back of my neck. Fuck that feels so good.
After a few minutes of just standing under the hot spray, I start washing my hair.
A moment later, familiar, large hands sift through my hair, and I hum when Anthony takes over for me.
I’d never say anything, but I think he secretly loves washing my hair.
Or I should say, one of the things he loves to do for me.
He’s constantly doing things for me and showing me with every touch that he loves me and wants to take care of me.
Personally, I love when he washes my hair—it feels so good and relaxing when he does it.
“I didn’t even hear you come in,” I murmur and he places a kiss to my shoulder.
He turns me and I rest my hands on his chest as I keep my eyes closed and he rinses my hair, careful not to let the soap run into my eyes.
Without a word, he does the same with my conditioner.
I reach for my luffa only to roll my eyes playfully when he takes it out of my hands and squirts my rose scented body wash on it.
I bite my lip to keep from moaning as his hands caress my body.
As he washes my leg, he smirks up knowingly at me, but the smug bastard just keeps washing my body.
As he continues, I feel stress leeching out of my muscles and in its place, tiredness creeps in.
I go to grab his shampoo, but he gently grasps my hands and shuts off the water.
“I already showered, Darlin’. I just wanted to do this for you.”
He opens the door and I sigh happily as he drapes a warm towel around me and I realize he must have put one on the warmer because I know I didn’t.
He then wraps a towel around his waist and I bite back a moan at seeing him aroused, but then my eyes droop as he rubs my body dry with the towel.
When he’s done, I damn near melt into a puddle when he squirts a generous amount of my body lotion into his hands and rubs it into my skin, gently massaging my muscles as he does.
I groan in bliss when his hands get to my shoulders. “You keep this up and I’ll be asleep in no time.”
He chuckles and after a few moments, I step away, needing to put distance between my skin and his magical hands.
He watches me as we both get dressed and I sigh as early questions I have about yesterday come back.
I never got to talk to Thor last night and with how busy he was today, I didn’t want to interrupt him.
“Is Thor mad at me for taking Miracle and the Prospects up to the walk?” I ask him as I brush my hair, but I keep my gaze on him in the mirror, watching for his little tells to see if there’s more to what he’s saying or not.
To my relief, Anthony shakes his head. “He was more worried than mad, especially after I told him what Mama C told me privately on the phone.” I frown at that and he shakes his head.
“It’s nothing bad, Darlin’. She just told me there were things you were going to need to do and that I needed to trust you rather than try to smother you with protection.
However, he does want to see you and Miracle down at the gun range sometime to see for himself what all you can do. ”
My chest warms at his words. Putting my brush down, I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my chin against his chest. When his hands grip my hips, I kiss his chest. “Thank you for trusting me.”
His hands tighten on my waist and a sliver of worry skates down my spine at the look in his eyes.
“I know you can take care of yourself, Darlin’, but I’ll always worry.
It’s instinct to want to protect you. I love you, Darlin’, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.
I won’t say I’m your last line of defense, since I know you’re always armed in some way now, but I am and will always be your last human line of defense.
That said, I know I won’t be perfect, but I’ll try to respect your ability to protect yourself and not smother you. ”
I damn near melt into a puddle at his words and go up on my toes, kissing him. “Thank you.” I pause, smirking at him. “And don’t worry, I’ll most definitely call you out on your shit if you get too protective.”
His chest shakes as he chuckles. Leaning down, he kisses me again before lightly tapping my hip.
“Finish up, Darlin’. I bet the food will be here soon.”