Chapter Eleven
Wren
YESTERDAY WAS HORRIBLE. I ended up falling asleep in Tristan’s bed while I was waiting for the cream to dry on my back.
No matter how hard I tried to keep my eyes open, it was a battle I couldn’t win.
I’m not sure how long I actually slept for, but I was rudely woken up when Judge barged in the room and lifted me in his arms once he made sure the front of my body was covered.
He didn’t cover my back for some reason though.
Since I was still half asleep, I nestled into his chest as he carried me out of Tristan’s room.
There was a point I swore I heard men swearing and gasps from others.
I have no clue what happened, but I’m sure I’ll find out at some point.
Things don’t tend to remain a secret in the clubhouse for very long from what I’ve learned.
I heard the men gossiping like school girls when I was sitting at the bar.
When I woke up this morning, I was in my room and completely disoriented as I tried to piece together what happened.
The clubhouse keeps getting fuller as more clubs show up.
The mood is somber as everyone catches up with friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Tristan and Zach don’t let me out of their sight as they work behind the bar and only leave to get more alcohol, clean the dirty glasses, and restock anything that’s running low.
I’ve tried to help them, but they keep telling me to sit down and rest. No one wants me to overdo things.
Fury, Demolition, and Vulture continue to check on me as well.
They’ve fed me, made sure I'm comfortable, and kept me company when they could. Fury is very quiet compared to how I’ve seen him a few times and I want to comfort him, but I’m unable to because I’m not sure what he needs.
Everyone in the club is keeping a close eye on him and distracting him when they see a drink in front of him.
With the funeral happening tomorrow, they don’t want him drinking too much. At least that’s what Tristan told me.
“Tris, is there somewhere I can sit outside for a little while? It’s getting really stuffy and loud in here and I want some fresh air. Am I even allowed to go outside? I don’t know what I can and can’t do around here,” I ask Tristan as he makes his way over to me at the bar again.
“You can go outside, Wren. You’re not a prisoner here.
The only rooms you’re not allowed in are bedrooms and any of the offices on the first floor.
Church is also a room you’re not allowed to enter.
It’s for members only. I’ve never even been inside those doors,” he answers me before telling me to wait a second.
Tristan walks out from behind the bar and stops to talk to Fury for a minute.
Both men look at me and I wonder what’s being said.
After a minute, my foster brother makes his way over to me and carefully lifts me from the bar stool.
Usually, I’d just jump down. The muscle spasms and pain I still randomly get in my back and upper thigh mean I’m not about to do anything that will hurt me more.
Tristan keeps an arm around my shoulders as he leads me through the crowd toward the front door.
Again, I feel eyes on me and know Judge is watching every move I make.
The second I’m outside, I close my eyes and tilt my head toward the sun.
Tristan doesn’t force me to move before I’m ready.
He knows I love to feel the heat of the sun beating down on me and simply enjoy a moment where I block the world around me out to savor the feeling.
When I open my eyes again, he leads me away from the small groups standing around outside to a picnic table that’s farther away from the rest of them.
“Sit here. If anyone bothers you, look for one of the guys from the Knight’s Rebellion. It doesn’t matter what chapter he’s from. They’ll all protect you and make sure you’re not bothered by anyone,” Tristan tells me as he takes a seat next to me.
“Why are you still out here?” I ask him, knowing how busy the bar is.
“Fury told me to take a few minutes. Wyatt is behind the bar for me. Do you need somethin’ to eat or drink?” he questions me as I look around the yard and parking lot overflowing with bikes as I hear another group pulling in.
“If I have anything else to drink I think I’ll float away,” I tell Tristan, laughing at the imagery of me floating away because of all the water I’ve had today. “Right now, my stomach isn’t feeling the best so I don’t think it’s a good idea to eat anything else. Maybe in a little while.”
“Okay. Lash ordered pizza, wings, garlic bread, subs, and a few other things for the day. He called it all in yesterday so we didn’t have to worry about cookin’ today.
It should all be here soon. I’ll make sure a little of everythin’ is saved for you behind the bar.
Everyone else will grab as much food as possible when they know it’s ready.
Zach had to run out to the store before you woke up this mornin’ and he got you some chocolate and a few other sweet things we stuck behind the bar.
Also brought you back a baked potato we can reheat if you want it,” he informs me as my mouth starts to water the second I hear him mention the baked potato.
“Thank you, Tris. Zach and you always take such good care of me. I might be ready to try the baked potato if there’s already one here. If you tell me where it is, I can reheat it and come back out here to eat,” I tell him as he starts laughing and stands from the bench next to me.
“I got it, Wren. You just sit right here. I’ll bring you a soda to drink with it. Maybe one of the orange ones today,” he says and leaves me before I can respond. I guess an orange soda is better than more water. I know why Tristan and Zach are forcing water on me, but not everyone else.
As I wait for Tristan to bring my food back, I look around at everyone standing outside.
The music is quieter, but it’s still loud enough to be heard from inside.
Today is only my second day here, and I think I can already tell the difference between people.
The Prospects are the youngest guys here.
They don’t have all the patches on their cut either.
They’re the ones I see running around grabbing drinks, food, and anything else members and ol’ ladies need.
Plus, they watch over the kids when the parents are busy.
The ol’ ladies are dressed without showing off every inch of their body and also wear a leather vest. I’m not sure what it’s called.
They don’t stick to their man’s side, but are never far away either.
These women have a quiet confidence about them and the knowledge that they’re untouchable.
The Rebels are dressed in barely any clothes at all.
They rub up against every man they come across and glare at every other woman near them.
I know it’s not just the girls who stay here at this clubhouse.
A few other clubs have brought their own girls with them.
The members of each club have a ton of patches on their cut, stand with a confidence I rarely see in others, and have a certain attitude telling everyone else not to fuck with them.
At least that’s how I see everyone here.
Maybe I’m way off-base and wrong in my assumption.
Tristan comes back out followed by Demolition. He sets my potato down in front of me on a tray filled with butter and salt. There’s a bottle of orange soda in front of me as well. I can’t help but laugh when I see the ton of butter Tristan made sure I have to put on my food.
“Mind if I join you?” Demolition asks as I turn to face him.
“Not at all. Thank you, Tristan. I’ll bring everything back in when I’m done eating,” I tell him before he makes his way back inside and Demolition takes a seat next to me.
“I’ve seen you eat more baked potatoes in the last two days than anythin’ else,” Demolition comments as he starts to laugh.
“I haven’t had one in five years. Mrs. Smythe used to make them once a week when I was in her home with Tristan and Zach.
She always made sure we had a well-balanced meal.
I’d never had a baked potato before living with her.
When Zach ordered one yesterday, he gave me a bite and I fell in love with them all over again.
Now, I crave them like nothing else,” I tell him as Demolition looks at me with something tender in his eyes.
“I want to thank you again for tryin’ to save Razer.
He’s the baby of the family and has always gone out of his way to help those in need.
If I had to guess what happened that day, I’d say he tried to help Greyson and got caught up in the fire.
He would have done everythin’ in his power to save Greyson even if the fire was his fault.
See, the Prospect was a very reckless kid.
My brother, Vulture, saw somethin’ in him in the beginnin’.
Brought him in and became his sponsor. Now, he’s kickin’ himself in the ass and regrettin’ the decision more than anythin’ else.
The guilt is sittin’ heavy on his shoulders.
Anyway, we all know Greyson was on his way out of the club.
He’d taken one too many chances and put others in danger far too often.
That was his last run and I wonder if part of him knew that,” Demolition tells me, his voice breaking a few times as he thinks about what happened to his son.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I wish I could have done so much more to help him. Maybe if I had gotten there sooner or pulled him further away from everythin’, Razer would still be here with you all,” I say, taking a bite of my potato even though it tastes like sawdust in my mouth.