Chapter 20 ~
When I wake, I know my fever’s finally broken and I nearly sob with relief.
I flex my toes and there’s still a dull ache but nothing like before.
I have vague memories of the guys. Taking turns forcing me to sit up and swallow tablets. Switching out washers to keep my temperature down and holding me as I sob.
With them…I can’t find it in me to bury my pain anymore.
It’s dark around me. There’s little light coming from the window.
I look across and nearly weep when I see Maverick, soundlessly sleeping on my right.
I shift closer. I study his face—his sharp jawline, incredibly long eyelashes, messy brown hair. His features are softened in sleep, relaxed.
His hand is stretched out, halfway between us like he was reaching for me in his sleep.
I lace my fingers through his and his eyes pop open. Shit, I didn’t mean to wake him.
“Rory, are you okay? Do you need more tablets? Are you hot?” Maverick turns robotic, sliding his hand under the pillow to check the time on his phone before he feels my forehead. He does all of this still looking half asleep.
I slowly reach up and grab his hand still pressed against my forehead. He stills. Then he looks at me—actually looks at me.
“Rory?” He breathes, like he doesn’t want to get his hopes up.
“I’m okay,” I tell him, my hand sliding up under his shirt to rest on his chest.
“Thank fuck,” Mav half laughs. He kisses me tenderly but desperately, like he needs this.
I sigh into his kiss, feeling like I’m coming home.
“How are you feeling?” Maverick breaks our kiss, searching my eyes.
“Still a little achy but nothing like before,” I reassure him.
Mav visibly relaxes. “Good.” He quickly hashes something out on his phone, probably texting the guys and telling them I’m awake.
“What’s the time?” I ask him, curious to see how long I slept.
“It’s nine.” Oh, that’s oka— “On Friday night.”
“Friday night!?” I gasp. I vaguely hear the door open. “Maverick, I have two assignments due by midnight. Why’d you let me sleep so long?!”
I go to get up but his hand on my arm keeps me on the bed.
“Because you needed it, Rory,” Mav says sternly. “You’ve been sick for three days.”
Three days…
“I handed in your assignments.” Alec steps into my vision, sitting at the end of the bed. “They were pretty much done, Sunshine, but I did edit them and alphabetised your reference lists.”
Well. Damn. I’m pretty much gobsmacked when Alec leans over, feeling my cheeks and forehead.
“How’re you feeling?” He questions.
“Like I’m gonna have to hit the next person who asks that question,” I say honestly, “but fine. Still a little achy but I’m not cold and I’m not melting either.”
Alec smiles at my threat. I crawl out of the sheets and wrap my arms around him.
“Thank you for doing my assignments.” I kiss his cheek. His arms tighten briefly before releasing me when Mase demands cuddles.
It’s not after I’ve been to Mase and Mav that I realise something very important.
What the f—
“Why am I not wearing pants?!” I look down in total and utter confusion.
J snickers, a grin widening across his face.
I slide under the sheet, knowing it’s probably too late but cover my cotton undies.
“At some point on the first day of your fever, I asked you if you wanted to get changed,” Dom prompts.
“I…very vaguely remember that.” I hold tight to that memory trying to remember.
“Yeah, well rather than getting changed which required getting up, you just kicked your pants off, saying it was too hot for them and suggesting we all do the same before we melt.” Dominic snickers.
I groan and fall back into the bed. “Kill. Me. Now.” I cover my face with my hands.
“That’s the tip of the iceberg, Angel.” Mase grins wickedly.
How does it get worse?!?
“Then, you said we weren’t allowed near you because we make you all hot and bothered.” Jace cackles.
“Noooo…are you serious?!” I shake my head in my hands, embarrassment burning through me.
“Aww it’s okay, baby. I promise, you make us all hot and bothered too,” Maverick teases, pulling my hands away from my face.
“If I said anything else—don’t tell me. I think I’d rather not know,” I grumble.
The guys finally stop laughing and settle down.
Although I’ve been in and out of sleep for three days, I’m surprisingly tired. But I'm also ready to get up.
“You hungry?” Luc puts his hand on my knee, finally saying something. He doesn’t look at me when he says it. A pang of hurt hits me.
“Weirdly, yeah.” I sit up.
“It’s not weird. The last thing you ate was soup. Yesterday.” Alec tells me, concern lacing his voice.
“Is there any soup left?” I ask hopefully. That soup was amazing.
Mase gets up off the bed. “I cooked more. I’ll heat some up for you.”
“Thanks, Mase,” I call out as he disappears out the door.
The rest of the guys slowly get up from their places around the room. Luc is the only one who stays behind. Jace kisses my forehead before giving Luc a look I don’t understand and follows Alec, Maverick and Dominic out. Someone shuts my bedroom door behind them.
Luc doesn’t say anything so I awkwardly climb out of bed, going to my drawers and pulling out some clean clothes.
I’d love to change my underwear but with Luc here…I’m not that ballsy.
I pull on some loose fitting shorts before pulling off my shirt and replacing it with a clean one.
I need to have a shower but I wanna eat first and those clothes were kinda gross.
I also apparently didn’t have a bra on when Drake came because I’ve been going braless for three days.
With the ache still in my body, I damn sure ain’t wearing one now.
I fiddle with some things on my desk, closing drawers when Luc doesn’t look like he’s ready to say anything.
“Butterfly…” Luc trails off and I turn around.
He’s leaning back against the headboard, biting his lip. He lifts a head, running it through his blond strands.
“I didn’t…I never meant to…”
I sit down on the end of the bed and wait for Luc to gather his thoughts.
“King—“ Luc corrects himself. “Drake and I have a complicated history. We’ve had a few run-ins as rivals of sorts but I shouldn’t have been so…” he searches for the words before coming up empty.
“Look. I just—I know Drake told you and I something that put us at an advantage when he didn’t need to.
So, I’m sorry I was so standoffish. You trust him and that should have been enough.
I’m sorry,” Luc repeats, honesty clear in his eyes.
I’m quiet for a moment. Luc shifts uncomfortably under the weight of the silence.
“Okay.”
Luc’s eyes flick up. “Okay?” He says hopefully.
“Okay,” I confirm. “Luc…Drake’s done a lot for me.
I wouldn’t have survived as long as I have without him.
The kids at school pull shit sometimes but it would be a hell of a lot worse without Drake’s influence.
Most of them come from MC parents or have friends in local gangs.
It’s only now that Drake’s actually gone that some are getting a little too big for their boots but… I couldn’t have lasted without him.”
“What did he tell you?” Luc asks softly.
I sigh shakily and look down at the doona.
Disappointment flickers in his eyes as well as understanding.
“You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready,” Luc tells me, quietly.
“No, I just…I’d rather just tell this story once. After dinner…I’ll tell you all.” A feeling of dread washes over me but I can’t ignore this. If Drake’s telling me to go, then this is serious.
Luc and I rejoin the others. My stomach rumbles uncomfortably, the aroma of soup wafts through the kitchen.
Mase sets the bowl down on the island in front of me, two pieces of buttered sourdough on a plate beside it. I smile appreciatively up at him.
“You’re my favourite for today,” I mumble around a spoonful. The guys gasp in mock outrage.
Mase grins and leans across the other side of the counter to capture my lips. “Thanks, Angel.”
The guys stop pouting to heat up their own dinner. Eventually.
I think about how to tell them about Marcus.
Luc needs to be here. He can’t be in the town where all his father’s members who escaped are. I’ve learnt over the last few weeks that the ACIC didn’t get all of them. It’s not safe for him there.
But if Drake’s telling me to leave…then I have to leave. I know he didn’t tell me everything—he would have told me just enough for me to know that I can’t be here.
But I don’t want to leave them. I can’t leave them. I’m attached. I tried not to but I am.
What do I do?
“You okay, Ro?” I look up, into Jace’s concern filled grey irises.
I realise through my panic that Jace’s worry is identical to the others’ as my eyes shift around the kitchen.
“I have to tell you something. What Drake told me.” I whisper.
The guys share a look. “We don’t have to do this tonight, baby,” Maverick reasons.
“Yes, I do.” My voice trembles.
Mason walks around the counter, turning my stool to face him. He braces his hands on the arm rests.
Staring straight into my eyes, he says, “You can’t go, Angel.”
“What?!” Dom booms. My eyes don’t stray from Mase’s.
He knows.
“I won’t let you, Rory.” Sadness bleeds through his words.
“I have to, Mase.” I curl my hands into fists in my lap when they threaten to reach for him. The pain in his face is soul hauntingly fierce.
“I. Won’t. Let. You.” Mason’s hands come up to gently hold my face between them. “We’ll figure something out, Rory. Please don’t leave,” he begs and I relent.
“I—I won’t leave. I’d never leave without saying anything. But Mase, I can’t stay here,” I whisper, hoarsely. I’m two seconds from breaking down.
“What are you talking about?” Jace’s voice is stone cold. His face is blank, revealing no emotion but I can see the silent panic in his features—his jaw clenched.
“M—Marcus,” I stumble over my father’s name. “He has members of the Dark Riders looking for me.”
“Shit.” Luc sighs, bracing his hands on the counter. His head drops between his shoulders. “How many?”