Page 23 of Revelations

Before Matie wakes up, I head to the kitchen and grab what I need to make a sandwich and the bag of chips Raptor was eating last night when Devil was sleeping. With everything out that I need, I quickly make something to eat on a paper plate and add the chips. Thankfully this is a meal I can make one handed and it doesn’t bother me any to do this for myself. While I might not be able to fully use both hands at this point, I’m going to do what I have to in order to leave the house and give Raptor and Devil the time and space they need. They’re building their relationship back up again and I’m happy as hell for them.

Someone showed up earlier, but I didn’t let them in the house. I’m not sure who it was, but I know it wasn’t Deviland Raptor. They would’ve come in the house without knocking on the door. If it were any of their family members, they also would’ve just walked right in. Caleb knows the code to get in the house and has used it daily since he showed up. Thankfully, no one else has come to the door so I haven’t had to hide or pretend I’m sleeping while Matie is. By the time he’s waking up, I have his diaper and wipes ready to change him and a bottle made for him. When we get away from the compound, I’ll worry about feeding him dinner later so he can go to bed and sleep longer than usual.

Heading into the room Raptor’s been sleeping in, I find Matie awake and talking to himself in that baby babble he does on a daily basis. With careful movements, I remove my arm from the sling and test out moving my arm a little bit. When I don’t have a ton of pain shooting down my arm, I feel as if I’m prepared to change his diaper and get him loaded up in the car seat that goes in the stroller here in the closet. It’s not the best option, but the only one I have to gather two duffle bags, the baby, and get him away from the compound.

Leaning over the side of the pack ‘n play, I remove Matie’s pants and change his diaper the best I can, trying not to use my arm that was dislocated as much as possible. Matie barely moves around as I change him. Instead, he gives me huge smiles and babbles as if he’s telling me a story. I love these moments with him because every now and then I manage to make out him saying ‘mama’ or ‘dada’. When I’m done changing him, I get Matie’s pants back on and use my good arm to lift his body from the makeshift bed he’s been in the last few weeks. For the first time in forever, I’m able to hold this sweet baby and my heart beats with pure happiness as he snuggles into my chest. After getting him loaded up in the car seat, I grab the pacifier from the pack ‘n play, his bottle, and the duffle bags.

Once I have everything in the living room ready to go, I grab the car seat from the closet and take it outside after turning the alarm off and opening the front door. Setting up the stroller takes no time at all as I look around to make sure no one’s around. Even this far away from the clubhouse, I can hear the music blaring from inside and know everyone is partying right now. I’m happy for them. In my mind, it’s just another reason I don’t belong with the club. I’m at the house alone and everyone is having a good time and living their best lives. Yes, I know someone tried to come up and hang out or take me back, but if they truly wanted me around, I’d be down there with everyone.

Shaking my head to clear the negative thoughts, I make my way back inside to grab the duffle bags next. Taking them down next to the stroller, I head back inside to grab the car seat with Matie strapped in it. He might be getting bigger, but I’m still able to carry him with my good arm while only using my other one for support so I’m not doing any further damage to the healing area. I make sure the car seat is settled into the stroller and latched completely before stashing one of the duffle bags under the bottom of the car seat and setting the other one over the handle. The strap is long enough to drape over the handle of the stroller and it doesn’t hang low enough to brush against the ground or wheels as I move it forward.

Ready to head out, I make my way down the driveway and the paved road the club added in to get from the front of the compound to the back. Matie drinks his bottle as I walk and looks all around at the sky above him. Pausing my movements, I carefully put my arm back in the sling and adjust it so it’s in a more comfortable position before moving forward once again. When I reach the clubhouse, I slow my steps and cautiously look around the area for anyone lingering around outside. When I don’t see anyone, I quicken my pace once again until I’m at thefront corner. Again, I don’t see anyone and know I only have to contend with whatever Prospect is working the front gate. Hopefully they don’t give me any fuss and let me out without calling Devil or Raptor to make sure I’m supposed to be leaving. I’ll lie if I have to because there’s no way in hell I’m staying here.

“Genesis,” a male voice says, startling me as I squeak out in fear before turning around and almost landing on my ass with the loose gravel under my feet. “Easy there.”

King reaches out and places his hand on my good arm so I don’t fall. He doesn’t remove his hand until he’s sure I’m steady on my feet.

“Hi, King. Um, what are you doing out here?” I ask him, looking around to see if anyone else has joined him.

“I’ve been workin’ on somethin’ for you. Raptor asked me to do this and with everythin’ else goin’ on, it kind of got pushed to the side. This mornin’ I finalized the adoption of Matie to you. Here’s all the paperwork you’ll need. No one will ever be able to take him from you,” King informs me as tears fill my eyes and I take the papers he’s holding between the two of us.

“Why would he do this?” I ask, opening the folder and looking through everything.

“After all the shit he said to you when you caught him and Devil at Enchantment, he wanted to make sure no one could ever use Matie against you again. I’m pretty sure it was the very next mornin’ when he came to me and asked me to get this taken care of for you. Ricky can’t touch him and neither can Melinda’s parents. Melinda isn’t an issue because she signed her rights away before she left him with you. Matie is all yours and everythin’ is legitimate. A judge we know signed the papers this mornin’ and faxed them back to me,” King says, a smile on his face as he looks down at me. “So, where ya goin’?”

“I’m gonna go spend a day or two with one of the dancers from the club. With everyone here, it’s chaotic and I feel in the way. I’ll see you soon,” I tell him, making my way closer to the gate as King watches me walk away. “Thank you for this, King. I’ll make sure to thank Raptor when I see him again.”

“I’m sure you will,” he answers cryptically as I continue to walk away.

Mandy is sitting in her car just past the gate. I wave to her and know King is still watching me. The feeling of his eyes on me fills me with dread because I’m refusing to look at him to find out what he’s doing. If he’s got his phone out, I know he’ll be contacting either Raptor or Devil to tell them I’m leaving with one of the girls. I don’t really want to get Mandy in trouble, but I can’t remain here either.

Getting up to the gate house, I find Deegan inside, leaning against the door frame and smirking at me.

“What’s up, Genesis? Were you plannin’ on goin’ somewhere?” he asks me, looking over my head in King’s direction.

I don’t have to turn around to realize they’re having some kind of secret, silent communication between the two of them. It’s frustrating as hell because I know this isn’t going to work in my favor. Honestly, I’m not sure why I even thought it would, considering everyone is here and not out back or something. It just sucks because King came outside when he did.

“I’m gonna head over to Mandy’s house for a few days. Can you open the gate for me, please?” I ask Deegan, smiling at him as innocently as I can while not looking him in the eyes.

“I can’t do that, Genesis. You’re not cleared to take care of the baby on your own yet. I’m surprised you even got this far without any help. Did you use the arm that’s still healing?”Deegan questions me, narrowing his eyes and bending down so he’s looking me in the eyes.

“I didn’t hurt myself. I was really careful and hardly used that arm at all,” I state, my voice going hard because I’m not some helpless damsel in distress or whatever.

“Dammit, Genesis. You’re not supposed to use that arm at all yet. Just because you didn’t feel any pain or anythin’ doesn’t mean you haven’t done more damage to it. Do you want to be out of work for the full four months? That’s where you’re headin’ if you don’t stop this shit,” Deegan says, his voice still low and gentle as he admonishes me.

“There’s a lot going on here, Deegan. I just need to get away for a while.”

“No, you’re runnin’ away. You were inside when the guys shared their secret and now you feel in the way of them. You’re not. Everyone here knows they’ve been goin’ slow with you and givin’ you time to get to know both of them. You’re the only one who can’t see they’re head over fuckin’ heels in love with you. I know you, Genesis. You’re makin’ up some bullshit in your head about your situation, Ricky, and givin’ them space to fix what went wrong between them,” Deegan states as if he’s read my mind. “You have nowhere to go, Genesis. If you leave the compound, you’re not only gonna put Mandy in danger by leavin’ with her, but you won’t be able to protect Matie. I know you love that baby with every piece of your heart and soul. Talk to the guys and stay here until that bastard has been dealt with.”

“I’ve got her, Deegan. Why don’t you let the girl know Genesis won’t be needin’ a ride after all. I’ll make sure she gets inside to Raptor and Devil. Thanks for havin’ her back,” King says, taking the stroller from my hand and turning it around so he can head back to the clubhouse.

I have no choice but to follow him since he’s just taken Matie from me. Dropping my head, I barely look back to see Deegan motion Mandy to back up before he slips out of a door in the gate I never noticed. They talk for a minute before he waves her off and enters the compound once again. Before he can smirk at me or anything else, I turn back around and keep following King to the main door of the clubhouse and let him hold it open for me as I take the stroller back from him. Tears fill my eyes as I realize I’m stuck here. Now that I’ve tried to escape once, the guys aren’t gonna let me out of their sight for any reason. If anything, more guys will have to come up and surround the house. That’s my opinion based on what I’ve heard from Hope and Morgan. Fuck! I really messed this shit up today.

Chapter Seventeen

Raptor

SITTING WITH MY parents and Dylan at one of the tables in the common room, I can’t help but think that two people are missing from the dinner we’re having with everyone from Benton Falls. Genesis and Matie are up at the house all alone. Morgan tried to go hang out with her, but Genesis never answered the door. When Morgan got back to the clubhouse, she told Dylan and me no one answered and that maybe Genesis was sleeping while Matie did. A huge part of me doesn’t believe that’s the case of what’s going on. I feel like she’s getting ready to run and this is her way of making sure none of us know what she's about to do.

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