Page 41 of True Me

There’s some shuffling around and Doc is telling me to open my mouth as wide as I can. It hurts, but I do as he says. No one says a word for several minutes. Then, Doc informs me my throat is red and he wants to do more testing because he can’t tell if my vocal chords have been affected or not. I agree and he tells me I’ll be on a soft food diet for now and it could change depending on the results of the testing I’m about to have once he puts the order in for it. Doc leaves us alone in the room again after reminding me not to talk if I don’t have to and to get plenty of rest.

Eagle and Cash fill me in on what they’ve been doing and how everyone has been up to see me here at the hospital even though I wasn’t awake to visit with them. I remind myself to ask Doc how long I’ll have the bandages on my eyes when he returns later today. That’s something I want to know so I have some idea of what’s going on.

“Doll, are you hungry? Maybe we could get you some ice cream or a milkshake for somethin’ right now until your lunch comes in,” Cash asks me, running his finger up and down my arm again and causing goosebumps to break out along my skin.

“Please. Chocolate with whipped cream,” I answer immediately hoping it will hit the spot and not make me feel sick to my stomach.

“I’m on it, Doll.”

I listen as Cash gets out of his chair and leaves the room. Eagle and I don’t speak but I do feel him lay his head down as he moves my hand so we’re both comfortable. If I’ve already been here going on three days, I don’t imagine either man has gotten much rest and want to go home. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn neither man has left my side since they were brought in the room with me. Doc already told me Cash was losing his shit when I was first brought in and the nurse down in the emergency room is still bitching about him to anyone who will listen. Again, it doesn’t surprise me to learn at least one of them lost their shit because they couldn’t go back with me at the beginning. It’s protocol, but they wouldn’t care after seeing me hurt.

“Rest, Sweet Girl. Cash will be back soon with your drink and then we’ll figure out what the next step is. I hope he asked Doc before gettin’ you a shake. I’m not sure if you can have one before the testin’ takes place. Maybe we should ask before he gets back,” Eagle says, always the voice of reason and calm.

“Okay,” I whisper before trying to get comfortable in the hospital bed when it’s almost impossible to do.

Today it’s even harder considering I have the soft cast on my leg and it’s been propped up. I might not be able to see it, but I can feel the pillows supporting it and the difference in height compared to my other leg. Eagle keeps his head down on the edge of the bed while we wait for Cash to return. A nurse briefly enters and I listen as he asks if I can have a milkshake. Her response is that she’ll check because she doesn’t know when I’ll be taken down for the test. Instead of coming back in, Eagle asks her to let Cash know on his way back to the room.

The rest of the day is spent resting, listening to Eagle and Cash talk, enjoying my milkshake when I’m finally given permission to drink it, and having a few visitors come see us for a little while. Doc lets me know he wants me to keep the bandages on my eyes for a few more days at least because of how often I’m having ice put on my face. For now, I can deal with it. I’m not sure how long that will last, but we’ll see. I’m trying really hard not to just go off because I can’t change a single thing about my situation. As we’re starting to calm down and relax for the night, Cash and Eagle start telling me about their home and that they want us to move in there when I’m discharged from the hospital. It’s all one floor with the exception of the finished basement so it might be easier for the duration of me having to use the wheelchair. I agree and it sets them off on starting to make plans for us moving in there and out of the clubhouse. They won’t give up their rooms, but most of their things will be moved to the house. I can’t wait.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Eagle

REBEL’S FINALLY BACKhome and currently in the clubhouse. Yeah, we’ll take her to the house, but right now we have something important to deal with and we don’t want the first few hours she’s in our home to be spent alone or with one of the ol’ ladies. So, she agreed to remain at the clubhouse in order for us to deal with the stupid fucks who hurt our ol’ lady. She deserves to be given the freedom and peace we can hand over. Cash and I don’t want to leave her because she is still out of it from the pain medicine she has to take. Alex has assured us she’ll remain at her side until we’re done. Even when the ol’ ladies come down to deal with Fawn, Alex will stay with our girl because none of us want her to be alone for any reason. While Rebel is still thinking about seeing a therapist or counselor, she gets lost in her head about the situation and has nightmares every single night because she can’t stop reliving the torture they inflicted on her. That’s one of the biggest reasons we refuse to take her home when we can’t be there with our girl.

Two days before she came home, Rebel finally got the bandages taken off of her eyes. They’re still swollen but she can finally open them slightly. Her vision is blurry as hell and she gets a headache if she tries to focus on something for too long. Our girl doesn’t see that shit as negatives though. She sees it as she’s still healing and this is just a step in the direction of her leaving the past where it belongs. Rebel is trying to be as happy as she can be, but we know she’s upset, hurt, and hates that she’s stuck in a wheelchair until she can get the cast off of her wrist before she can start using crutches to get around. Rebel’s afraid of using crutches though. She’s never had them before and doesn’t know how hard it will be. The only thing she’s truly not looking forward to is physical therapy. Rebel broke down yesterday when she was thinking about it and it hurt to watch it happen.

“Sweet Girl, are you sure you’ll be okay while we go downstairs to deal with Chad and that other guy?” I ask her, walking up and sitting on the edge of the couch where she’s laying down.

“Of course. I know this is something you guys have to do. The sooner you deal with Chad and that other guy, the quicker we can get past this part of our lives. I don’t want them to take up even a second longer of our time when they’ve already taken so much from us,” she responds, a faint smile on her face as she looks up at me.

My entire body vibrates with rage as I take in the bruising and cuts on her body. She has suffered so much and now it’s time for us to deal with the fucks who put these marks on her body and the pain in her mind and heart. Chad won’t be breathing for much longer. Neither will the asshole who was there and was just waiting to get his hands on her until she signed the paperwork to turn her money over to Chad, Fawn, or the nameless guy. The only reason we’re waiting right now is because Titan and Savage managed to get the name of the loan shark Chad owes money to and Reaper is currently on the phone with him to find out how he wants this situation handled.

“I don’t want to be down there for too long. At the same time I want to make him hurt for every single ounce of pain they inflicted on you. Not just when it comes to the other asshole but for the time you were with Chad,” I state, my voice barely above a whisper as Reaper walks back to the common room from his office and I know it’s time for us to get to work.

Leaning down, I press a soft kiss against Rebel’s lips. When I go to pull back, she reaches up with her good hand and wraps it around my head to hold me in place. Rebel deepens our kiss and keeps me in place for longer than I anticipated. I’m not about to complain about this though. Rebel is not afraid of showing her affection toward us when we’re in public.

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