Chapter 54
Chapter
Fifty-Four
I’m exhausted, sore and terrified by the time we reach the Soulless Knights clubhouse. I’d begged Wrath not to bring me here when we stopped for a rest, but he said that they were expecting us. He said that his brothers wanted to see me, they wanted me home. I can’t help the fear that courses through me as I step up to the door and freeze on the spot.
“You’re safe, baby. I promise you,” he whispers in my ear as he grabs my hand and pulls me through the door.
I grip his hand tighter and my body trembles as the room goes silent and everyone turns to face us. He pulls me closer to him and I feel the heat of the prospect on my other side. Taking the strength that they give me I let my eyes flick around the room, scanning for him, for them.
I watch as Maria and Georgia-Rae run up to me and wrap their arms around me.
“Thank God he brought you back,” Maria tells me as Georgia just hugs me and then steps back to give me a smile and a nod. Then I see her glance to her right as Nitro steps up right beside her. He gives her a quick look and then looks back at me, I don’t have time to really wonder what the looks mean as he steps up and pulls me into him.
“You’re safe here, Flex.” I let out a sob at the nickname Griff gave me when we were teenagers.
Wrath doesn’t let go of my hand as he leads me in the direction Nitro just indicated to. As we reach the doors to Church, I stop; shit, are they going in there and leaving me out here to fend for myself. I didn’t see them here, but what if they turn up when Wrath is in Church. I turn to look at the prospect, hoping that he’ll at least be out here with me. But he smiles and nods, then looks behind to Wrath.
“Firecracker, I need your phone.” I look down at his outstretched hand then back up at his face confused. “No phones in Church, baby,” he tells me, but it only adds to my confusion.
“Marissa.” Nitro steps up to me. “We need you in Church, sweetheart. As soon as we’re done you can get some rest, but we need to talk first.”
I lick my lips and glance at Wrath, he smiles squeezing my hand, letting me know it’s ok. I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone, my hands shake as I hand it over. Wrath places it in a locker on the wall just outside of the door and then guides me into the room.
The clubhouse is an old, abandoned hotel; the room they use for Church is what used to be a conference room; there is a large wooden table in the middle of the room, the Soulless Knights crest carved into the middle of it.
As I look around the room, I’m surprised at how clean it is. The walls are a light grey colour. I turn to face the large window that looks onto the side of the grounds, and I’m thrown by the fact it’s not been boarded up.
“Reinforced glass, one way. The clubhouse is surrounded by larger than average fencing. I figured it would be safe to let some light in here.” Nitro smiles at me and leads me toward the top of the table. Nitro takes a seat at the head of the table, Wrath to his left.
I look at the seats around the table, not knowing where to sit, when Wrath grabs me and pulls me into his lap, I stiffen, but he turns my face to his.
“I need you close.” He looks at my lips like he wants to kiss me, but he doesn’t. He looks to Nitro and then turns to the door as the other brothers start to pile in. Each of them gently squeeze my arm before taking their seats. But Tongue stops next to me, looks down at Wrath before pulling me up and into him. He squeezes me so tight I can barely breathe.
“Tongue, too tight,” I breathe out.
“I’m happy you’re back,” he tells me before releasing me and taking his seat next to Ice. I smile at him and relax just a little before turning back to Wrath. He looks uncertain, but I step back over to him and take a seat back in his lap before leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on his lips. He licks his lips and gives me a smile, and then turns to the Prez.
I jump as Nitro bangs the gavel on the table. “Church is in session,” he tells the room. “Marissa. We’re all glad that you’re back. I understand that you were afraid to come back, afraid to tell us the truth?”
I swallow and look at Wrath before letting my eyes fall to the floor and nodding my head. “I’m sorry,” I tell them.
“Why?” he asks, and I look back up at him.
“Why am I Sorry?” He nods at my question, and I look around the room. The brothers sit in silence watching me, waiting for me to respond.
“I’m sorry about the truth, if I tell you?—”
Nitro cuts me off. “There’s no if here Marissa. You have to tell us, you know who did this to you, we want to know who it was and why?”
Wrath gently wipes away at the tears falling down my face, and I turn to him as I suck in a few breaths trying to calm myself.
“He said that me if I told you who was responsible that it would destroy the club, that I would be tearing you apart. He said that you would hate me.”
He pulls me toward him, resting his forehead against mine. He opens his mouth to speak but then shakes his head and then turns to Nitro. I blink back the tears catching sight of a smile from Nitro before Wrath turns back to me.
“Marissa Leigh Brooks.” I see tears well in his eyes. “Firecracker. I love you. Like a fucking arsehole, I tried so damn hard to push you away. I wish I’d told you from the start how I felt, and that is something that I will regret for the rest of my life. But it’s something that I want to spend the rest of my life making up you, if you’ll let me?
I know maybe now isn’t the right time, I know that you have so much you need to work through, so much you need to heal from. But I want to be there for you, I want to help you heal. Baby, I’m claiming you.”
My jaw drops at his admission, I know he said he loved me, but to hear him claim me, to know that he wants me, makes me feel excited and scared all at the same time.
“Brothers. Those opposed,” Nitro calls out to the room.
Wrath holds me, never taking his eyes off me as we hear nothing but silence.
“In favour?”
‘AYE.’ Is bellowed around the room as they bang their fists on the table,
“Baby?”
I see him swallow as he watches me, his eyes flicking back and forth between mine.
“Are you sure it’s what you want? What if I tell you everything and?—”
He slams his lips to mine, and I stiffen briefly, then I relax and kiss him back as he slips his tongue between my lips. Someone clearing their throat has us breaking apart. And I feel my cheeks heat.
“Say you’ll be my ol’ lady?”
I smile. “Yes.”
“Thank fuck,” he breathes out as the brothers cheer and bang on the table. It carries on for a few seconds before Nitro bangs the gavel bringing the room to order once again.
“It’s time to tell us who we need to hunt, baby?”