Page 5 of True Me

“You don’t think it will piss her off? Rebel doesn’t take handouts and you know that as well as I do,” Cash says, his voice letting me know he’s unsure about this move.

Neither one of us know what to do when it comes to Rebel. We’ve talked about her for countless hours and long into the night when everyone else is asleep. No matter how much we want to, we can’t figure her out. Rebel’s a natural flirt with all the guys in the clubhouse but it means nothing to her or them. The ol’ ladies never get pissed when she flirts with their men or puts them in their place if they’re being an asshole. Every single ol’ lady here knows Rebel would be the first to rat out any stupid fuck who cheats on his ol’ lady. She doesn’t give anyone the time of day and if an ally comes here, Rebel is the first one to turn down any of the assholes hitting on her.

“I’m sure it will piss Rebel off,” I answer Cash as I strip down and enter the shower even though the water is freezing cold. “I wouldn’t mind seein’ Rebel pissed the fuck off because at least she’d have her fire back. It’s been too long since we’ve seen a riled up Rebel. She’s gotten way too lost in her own head and all she thinks about is her grandma and what needs to be done next for her. It’s time to remind her she’s not alone in the world and that we’re here for her.”

“If you say so,” Cash mumbles, his voice filled with doubt as he rolls back over and pulls the blanket up over his head while I shower. He has to work tonight at the tattoo shop and should still be sleeping but he won’t go back to sleep now that he’s awake. Especially if he gets to see Rebel when he’s had his shower and gotten dressed for the day.

Knocking on the doorof Reaper’s office after leaving Rebel alone at her house, Cash and I wait for him to call out for us to enter the room. When he does, we walk in and sit in the chairs across from him. Alex is at his side and I’m sure we’ve interrupted something between the two of them. Reaper is looking at his wife like she’s his last meal and he’s fucking starving for her. Alex’ face is flushed and I kind of feel horrible. However, this shit with Rebel is more important than what anyone is doing right now. She’s been there for everyone and it’s time for us to be there for her in any way we can be.

“What are you both doin’ here in my office?” Reaper questions us, leaning back in his chair before he pulls Alex down in his lap.

“This conversation needs to stay between us in this office. We’re comin’ to you about Rebel,” I start watching as Reaper’s body stiffens and he sits up while wrapping an arm around Alex’ waist.

“What’s wrong with her? Is Grandma okay?” he questions us, looking between Cash and me. “I know she was havin’ a hard time at the bar last night and wasn’t herself.”

“She told her grandma that it’s okay if she let’s go. When we got her up to the room with us, she said that she has to get two more jobs just to pay for nursin’. We all know she’s got her inheritance but for some reason she won’t touch that money. If Rebel has to go out and get two more jobs, it’s gonna take time away from bein’ with her grandma and that’s the last thing she wants. It will kill Rebel if somethin’ happens and she’s not there with her because she’s workin’,” Cash says, running a hand down his face as he looks between Reaper and me with his eyes filled with the pain he feels in this moment.

“What?” Alex gasps, covering her mouth with her hand. “Are you guys sure about this?”

“She told us last night,” I confirm with a sad smile because this is fucking gutting me. “We don’t know the details of what led her to do that, but that’s what she said right before tellin’ us about havin’ to get more jobs. Rebel and Grandma have been there for everyone in the club. We need to be there for her now. This is when she needs us the most and she won’t accept our help because she’ll see it as a handout. Rebel doesn’t take handouts and we all know this. It’s time for us to step up and give her the support she needs and deserves to have from the rest of us.”

“Anythin’ she needs is hers,” Reaper states, his voice serious as he looks between Cash and me. “Where is this headin’ between the three of you? I find out you’re playin’ games with Rebel and I’ll fuckin’ beat the shit outta both of you.”

“Not playin’ fuckin’ games with her,” Cash states, standing from his chair with anger coursing through his tense body as he stares at our President with a feral look on his face. “We’ve both wanted Rebel for as long as we can remember and we’re done holdin’ back with her.”

“Cash isn’t wrong. Rebel is our woman and I’m gonna do what’s needed to show her exactly what she means to us. We’ll take things at her pace, but we’re both all in when it comes to her since this will be new for the three of us. It’s completely different sharin’ a girl between the two of us and makin’ it official as our ol’ lady,” I tell Reaper and Alex as they stare between Cash and me without surprise on their faces because they can see how serious we are.

“Good. Always knew you two would end up with her at one point. Rebel will be open to the two of you. She went with you last night when she needed comfort and has let you in her house when none of us are allowed in her space. She trusts the two of you like she trusted Pound when he saved her. The biggest difference is you weren’t her savior because you saved her ass from that vile piece of shit ex. You two are her saviors because she lets you in and shows you her true self. You’re the only men in this club she becomes vulnerable with,” Reaper says, a smile on his face because he’s clearly seen shit between the three of us no one else has seen. “Now, get outta my office so Alex and I can spend the rest of her lunch together without the two of you. We’ll have church later and bring this to the table. I think Hawk and Crow were lookin’ for you before you came down to see me.”

“We’ll see you later,” Cash says, a smirk on his face as he looks at our President and Alex before leaving the office while I follow him.

Heading in the common room, I see my dad and brother waiting at a table with Gideon. Gideon is sitting between my brother and dad until he sees Cash and me walking their way.

“Unca Eagle!” he calls out, excitement lighting up his face as he gets down from his chair. “Unca Cash!”

“Hey buddy,” I say, lifting him into my arms as he crashes into my legs and goes to wrap his arms around me.

Cash steps up next to me and starts to tickle Gideon who shrieks in laughter and wiggles his body around. Hawk and my dad laugh at our antics as my brother watches his son like a dad. Watching my brother become a dad was one of the best things to witness in my life. He’s one of the best dads I’ve seen and I don’t even give a fuck if someone thinks I’m biased because he’s my brother. Kendell walks in the common room and I take in her large belly as my brother walks over and helps her over to the table before pulling out a chair and taking the seat next to her. I still remember the words she said about my brother and can still see the love she has for him as she looks over with a soft smile on her face.

“I see our boy found his favorite two people in the world,” Kendell says, laughter filling her voice as I look at her and smile in response.

“He never misses us when we walk in the room,” Cash says, finally giving up on tickling Gideon as he rests his head against my shoulder and I press a kiss against the top of his head.

“Anyone seen Rebel since last night? Is she okay?” my dad asks us, his voice breaking the quiet of the common room as he looks between Cash and me.

“She’s puttin’ on a brave face but she’s not okay. Rebel was still home when we left this mornin’. If I had to guess, I’d say she’s home with her grandma right now because the nurse would’ve had to leave by now. Rebel won’t leave her alone,” I answer, taking the seat by my dad with Gideon still in my arms as Cash brings another chair over to sit next to me.

“She’s not okay right now. Rebel’s the furthest from okay as someone can get right now. We’ll be talkin’ about somethin’ in church tonight. Sorry, Kendell, we’d tell you if we could but this is gonna be way too many people who know Rebel’s business and that’s the last thing we want,” Cash answers, his voice soft as one of the new Prospects walks in the common room with crates of beer bottles to stock the bar with.

“It’s okay, guys. We know Rebel is a private person and likes to keep her private life to herself. I don’t ever want to pressure her to give up information she’s not ready to handle because everyone has the right to keep details of their life private. I’m gonna guess it’s about Grandma. So, please let her know I’m here to talk to her whenever she needs someone and you two boneheads fuck up,” Kendell says making us all laugh because she’s not wrong. All of us fuck up with our women every now and then and we usually need the help of someone in order to get back with them.

“Now, Reaper said you were lookin’ for me. What’s goin’ on?” I ask my dad and brother as Gideon goes over to Cash’s lap and settles in to fall asleep. This is typical because Gideon, or Little G, is always falling asleep on one of us.

“Just wanted to check in with you. Feels like it’s been a while since we last saw you and got a chance to talk. Have you been to the house and seen Grandma? None of us want to push her and just show up to see her. I’m gonna guess she’s not well enough to come to the clubhouse for a visit. Rebel doesn’t need to do this shit all on her own, Eagle. Cash and you are there for her, but the rest of us can be there too. Let her know that. I, personally, see Rebel as one of my kids and would do anythin’ for her,” my dad says, his voice soft and gentle as it normally is when he talks about one of the girls in this clubhouse.

“We’ll tell her, Crow. Right now, she’s just focusin’ on her grandma and we can’t ask anythin’ more of her than that. Eagle and I will do right by her because she deserves nothin’ less than everythin’ we have to give. She deserves to be treated like a fuckin’ queen and given the world. We’ll do all that shit and nothin’ more because our girl is more than worth it,” Cash states, adjusting Little G in his arms as he holds him closer. “Whatever Rebel wants, we’ll make sure she gets.”

“That’s what we wanna hear. She hasn’t opened up since losin’ Pound. Now she is and I don’t want to see her revert back to the shell of her former self the way she has been. The two of you bring a sparkle back to her eyes and make her act alive again. She doesn’t want you two to be anythin’ more than who you are. The same you do for her,” Hawk says, his voice a whisper as Alex and Reaper make their way in the common room and take a seat at a table near us.

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