Death, Talon, Gramps, and Fury are already sitting at the table as I take my usual seat and don’t put Wren down.The position I’m holding her in is awkward because she does still have the neck brace on.She hates it, but Dr.Sanchez doesn’t want her to remove it just yet because there are times she still has a lot of pain in her neck, shoulders, and back.He’d rather her wear it longer than normal to help stabilize her instead of taking it off too soon and her hurting more than she already is.
“Is she okay?”Fury asks, finally speaking to me for the first time.
“No, she’s not.But she will be.She wants to have a ceremony for Leah.It will be a few days before we can pick up her ashes.I’ll be helpin’ her make all the necessary calls and pick up anythin’ she needs,” I tell him as Tristan and Zack step up.Tristan hands me my keys and I leave them on the table in front of me so I don’t have to move Wren.
“We’ll help with whatever she needs,” Zach speaks up for Tristan and himself.
“You know I’ll help her,” Fury adds in as my brothers and Gramps nod in agreement.
“I’ll be leavin’ for a day or two after we have the ceremony for Leah.Wren has to meet with her lawyer for the will readin’.She’s not gonna go through that alone.As always, Fury is in charge when I’m gone,” I inform the table and those around us as Wren’s breathing evens out and I realize she’s cried herself to sleep.
“You’re her safe space,” Death says when I hold my finger up to my lips so they all remain quiet.“If she can fall asleep in your arms while bein’ as upset as she is, she trusts you and considers you her safe space.What the fuck happened in the hospital when it was just the two of you?”
“We had a long talk and went through everythin’.I shared why I was actin’ the way I did toward her and she explained some things I didn’t know until we talked.I asked her for a second chance.Wren didn’t outright say no.She just needs time for me to show her I’m gonna stand by my word and it’s not just shit I’m sayin’.I get it and wouldn’t react any differently if it were me.So, we’ll take things slow and I’ll prove my truth to her,” I tell them as Wren shifts the smallest amount in my arms but doesn’t wake up.
“It’s about fuckin’ time you pulled your head outta your ass, Judge,” Fury says and for the first time he looks at me with a smile on his face.“Look, I was an ass that day I punched you, but I stand by my actions.That was a fucked-up thing to say and for Wren to have overheard you makes it even worse.I’m gonna say this once because every man in this clubhouse cares for Wren.We all see her as a little sister.You fuckin’ hurt her and I’ll beat your ass.No holdin’ back.Treat her like a fuckin’ queen and when those babies are born, you be the dad every man in this room knows you can be.You’ve already proven it with the way you essentially raised Death and Talon and with the way you are with your nieces and nephews.You just don’t have the faith in yourself to be the man the three of them will need.”
“I’m not gonna fuck up with her, Fury.I’m fallin’ in love with her and have been since that first night.I was just too fuckin’ stupid to realize that’s what was happenin’ because I wanted to avoid it after growin’ up the way I did.But, if I everdofuck up and hurt her, you have full permission to beat my ass and leave me in a mess on the floor,” I state as everyone in the room starts clapping and cheering quietly so Wren doesn’t wake up.
“There will be a long line of guys wantin’ to beat your ass, Judge,” Demolition adds as I look over at him where he sits at the bar.“Gonna take my shot right after Fury.I know Tristan and Zach will take their shots right along with us.”
“And I’ll let every single one of you,” I tell him honestly as I stand up and grab my keys from the table.“Gonna take Wren to my room for bed.I’ll be up there with her.Don’t disturb me unless the clubhouse is on fire.Wren needs to be comfortable and layin’ down.Tristan, you or Zach bring me up an ice pack in an hour.She still needs to ice her neck.If we don’t have a heatin’ pad, someone needs to go buy one.In fact, just go buy one so Wren has her own here at the clubhouse.We have to alternate ice and heat to help with the swellin’ and then deal with the tightness of her ligaments and muscles.Also, make sure she has somethin’ to eat in a little while when she wakes up.I’ll send one of you a list of what she’s been cravin’ the last few days.”
“I’ll set a timer so I’m not late,” Tristan says, pulling out his phone as I leave the common room and head for my room.
After unlocking the door and stepping inside, I close it and lock it once more.I move carefully to the bed and lay Wren down as slowly as possible.She barely moves as I grab a different blanket to cover her with.Looking down on her for a minute, I take in all the details of her before turning and moving into the bathroom in my room.I strip out of my clothes and toss them in the laundry basket after hanging my cut on the back of the door.Without waiting for the water to heat up, I step in and finally wash away the hospital.I don’t linger in the shower in case Wren wakes up and needs me.
When I’m done, I enter my room with a towel around my waist to find Wren still passed out in my bed.She’s right where she belongs and I’ll do whatever I can to keep her here for as long as possible.I dress in a pair of sweatpants before climbing into bed and pulling Wren in my arms.She comes willingly while still asleep and I feel her baby bump pressing into my side.I never thought I’d want this in my life, but I find it’s something I want to experience as often as possible.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Wren
TODAY IS GOING to bethe longest day ever.Over the last few days, Tristan, Zach, and Judge haven’t left me alone.They’ve gone out to get me whatever I need, flowers for the ceremony I’m having for Leah, made a million phone calls, and went with me anywhere I had to go.Judge has been at my side every second of the day and I’m sleeping in his bed each night.When it was time to pick up Leah’s ashes, all three of them went with me because they knew it was going to be my breaking point.None of them were wrong.I lost my shit in the middle of the funeral home and almost collapsed to the floor.I would have if it weren’t for Judge lifting me in his arms so I never once touched the floor.I’m not sure what I’d honestly do without the three of them by my side.
Fury has also been there to help me when he’s not at work.We’ve been talking and he’s shared stories of Razer when we’re alone.I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know the man I tried to save.Kelsey and Bronwan have also been helping me when I’m at the clubhouse.They’re both great women and I can’t wait to spend more time with them when I’m not a mess.I’ve broken down with them multiple times over the last few days and they simply hold me while I cry until I can pull myself together.