Page 16 of True Me

“I’m doing as good as I can be given everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours. I know you’re not gonna give in until I eat and drink. Grandma never could get me to do this when I wasn’t feeling it. One word or look from Cash and you and I know I won’t be able to resist. Both of you will force feed me if that’s what it takes for you to take care of me,” she says, a soft smile on her face for a mere second before it disappears and tears fill her eyes.

“Hey, Doll, it’s okay. Grandma isn’t gonna be upset or mad if you have a happy moment. You know better than anyone else that she’s gonna want you to be happy and live your life makin’ and cherishin’ every single memory you make along the way,” Cash says, his voice deep and rough from sleep.

“I know. But not today. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since she passed. Right now, I have so much to do and I don’t know where to begin,” she responds as I pull out my phone and pull up the number for Grandma’s lawyer.

“You start by callin’ Grandma’s lawyer so we can start puttin’ everythin’ together for her funeral. We’ll help you with everythin’ that has to be taken care of. After the funeral is over, the ol’ ladies have a wake to prepare for here at the clubhouse for everyone. You won’t have to lift a finger for the wake,” I tell her, watching as she takes the phone and presses the call button despite it being the middle of the night.

I hand Cash over a plate of food and his bottle of water before setting the tray on Pound’s desk until we’re done eating. I try not to listen to Rebel talk to the lawyer on the phone because the conversation deserves to be kept private until she wants us to know what’s going on. Cash doesn’t even bother to pretend he’s not listening in to her conversation as he feeds her bites of food while she talks. Rebel doesn’t even seem to realize that’s what he’s doing as she answers every so often and listens to the man on the other end of the phone. I got his name a while ago from Grandma and had Hawk check him out. Her lawyer is an older gentleman who has been a lawyer for his entire life. He isn’t a slimeball and only takes on certain cases and clients. His reputation is impeccable and that’s why Grandma chose him. Now, Rebel will deal with him and I can’t ask for a better man to help get her through this when it comes to the legal ends of things.

Chapter Nine

Cash

TWO FUCKING WEEKS.That’s how long Rebel has been lost in her head and pulling away from Eagle and me. Her grandma was taken to the hospital the night she took her last breath because the nursing agency told someone about the abuse at the hands of that nurse and the needle that was in her hands. I’m still not sure what was in the needle. None of us have the first clue what that bitch was planning. Hawk is keeping an eye on things and has been checking the hospital where Grandma’s body is obsessively. He wanted to be the first person to know what was found in her autopsy. Anyway, we just got the call yesterday that Grandma’s body has been moved to the funeral home to get ready for her funeral. When everything is set, we’ll put the rest of the plans in motion so we can lay her to rest in a plot she’s already purchased.

Today we have to meet with Grandma’s lawyer to go over her will and make sure everything is in place and ready to go for the funeral. From the little bit I’ve managed to overhear when I’m not at work, the lawyer has already been putting the plans in motion and getting things ready to go for the funeral. He’s the only one who has all the details and knows what has to happen next. Rebel has been going out of her mind because she has no clue what the hell is going on or what needs to be done in order to have the funeral. Alex and the ol’ ladies won’t let her help in the kitchen or anywhere else because they want her to rest and focus on herself for the first time since her grandma told her she got sick.

I’ve barely been in Fallen Ink over the last two weeks. Reagan has stepped in to work the counter once again and has moved all of my appointments around to different days so I can hang out with Rebel and make sure she has everything she needs. Since the first time Eagle and I busted into Pound’s room, we haven’t been letting her hide out and pull away from us. We’re not forcing her to interact with the rest of the club right now. The only thing we’re forcing her to do is take care of herself. We get her up every single day when she wants to lay in bed and pull the covers over her head to shut the world around her out. Rebel takes a shower with one of us once we get her out of bed. Then she eats the food we bring up to the room. For now, she’s hanging out in one of our bedrooms and we don’t let her go back into Pound’s room.

It was one thing for us to go in there and climb in bed with her a few weeks ago. Now, it’s something else entirely because that’s his space and we’re not about to continue going in there when Rebel is the only one who’s been in there since his death. Rebel doesn’t want to force us into anything so she hasn’t gone back in his room again knowing we’re uncomfortable going in there.

“Cash, who all is goin’ with us today?” Rebel asks me, her voice almost a whisper from crying so much over the last two weeks.

“Just Eagle, me, Hawk, and Crow. We don’t want to overwhelm you with a ton of people comin’ to somethin’ this important. If you want, Eagle and I can go in the lawyer’s office with you but no one else will. Eagle’s dad and brother want to go to ensure you’re safe and won’t be harassed by Chad or anyone else. You’re dealin’ with enough right now and we don’t want to add anythin’ more to your load,” I tell her, my voice soft as I pull her into my arms and hold her close as Eagle enters his room and joins me in holding her.

Eagle looks at me over Rebel’s head. His eyes are soft as he leans down and presses his lips to the top of her head. I watch as Rebel closes her eyes and accepts what we’re giving her right now. The safety, security, and support she needs to get through this. Eagle and I weren’t there when she lost her parents but we can be there when she goes through this loss.

“We got you, Sweet Girl. Are you ready to head out?” Eagle asks her.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. This is the last thing I want to do but it’s necessary and I have to hear what this lawyer has to say so I can put Grandma’s plan in motion,” she says, her voice breaking again as she blinks her eyes rapidly to stop the tears from falling again.

Rebel grabs her phone from the end of the bed while I slide my cut on over my shoulders. We make our way to the common room where Crow and Hawk are waiting for us by the door. No one says a word as I place my arm over her shoulders and hold her close to my side. Today, we won’t be taking the bikes. We’re using one of the club’s SUVs in order to get to the office and back again. Crow gets in the driver’s seat while Hawk takes the passenger seat. Eagle and I climb in the back with Rebel in between the two of us. Rebel lays her head on my shoulder and links her fingers with Eagle’s as he rests their hands on his thigh. The SUV is silent and I know Rebel is getting lost in her head once again as she tries not to cry once again.

“Are you sure you don’t want us to go in the room?” Hawk asks as Crow drives through town toward the office.

“Thank you, Hawk. I don’t want to make a big production of this. Honestly, I just want to get in the office, have the will read to me, put the plans in motion, and get out of there. I hate being in lawyers’ offices like this. It’s the last one I have to go through hopefully. I can’t go through this again, guys,” she says, burying her head in my chest as I hold her even closer to me while Eagle slides over even closer and holds her close from behind.

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