Page 16 of Ginger

“Ginger, do you want to go to the hardware store and look at the paint?” Bronx asked.

I glared at him, wondering what the fuck was wrong with him! We’d already discussed how it wasn’t safe for her to leave the clubhouse. Not with those men looking for her.

“Bronx, what the hell?” I asked. “Are you trying to use her as bait or something?”

“No.” He put his arm around Ginger and hugged her to his side. “But I don’t like the idea of getting all this stuff for our home without letting her be a part of it. Shopping online isn’t the same and you know it. If we both go, and maybe ask Memphis or another brother to tag along, surely the three of us would be enough of a deterrent.”

“I appreciate what you’re doing, but I think I’d feel safer here,” Ginger said.

“I can FaceTime her when I’m in the paint section. She can pick the colors that way,” I suggested.

“I like that idea,” Ginger said. “Please, Bronx? I’m not ready to risk going outside. Not yet. It’s too soon.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Fine. Once all this shit is over and done with, I want to check on adding a balcony to our bedroom. I think it would be nice to have an outside space.”

“Vegas has one. I’m sure the building structure could handle it. But I don’t think I want to try doing that ourselves,” I said.

“We’ll check on cost and get a quote. Maybe we can do that before spring.” Bronx set the laptop aside. “I’ll finish paying for all this just as soon as I figure out who’s picking it up. Make your list for the hardware store and I’ll give you some cash towards it.”

I waved him off. “You’re buying all the stuff we just shoved in that online cart. Do you really think I’ll spend enough on paint and the supplies for that one wall to come even close to your total? I bet I spend less than you did on the futon.”

“Fine. We’ll need to discuss finances at some point, anyway. Now that the three of us are together, it would make more sense for all of us to be on one account.” Bronx stood and stretched. “But that’s a problem for another day. Let’s focus on the wall today.”

I eyed Ginger. “She’s going to need clothes she can get dirty. Better add some shorts and t-shirts she can wear for cleaning and painting.”

“I’ll handle it.” Bronx tugged Ginger from the bed. Poor thing looked overwhelmed, but I also saw the happiness shining in her eyes. Whatever it took, I’d help chase away the shadows from her past. We had a new beginning, all three of us, and I wanted to make the most of it.

Chapter Eight

Ginger

I felt torn. Part of me wanted to squeal and dance in glee. But the part of me who’d only experienced pain before coming here urged me to be cautious. I could tell Bronx and Reno were good men, but I worried my newfound happiness would come to an end. Now that those men had found me, I knew I wouldn’t be safe. The club might say they would handle the situation, but what if they couldn’t? While Vegas seemed to have a cold side to him, I wasn’t certain these men could take on the monsters from my past. Not and survive.

I pushed the roller up and down the wall, adding a coat of light aqua to the living room wall. We’d agreed to make the bedroom a light gray. However, I’d liked the idea of having some color in here. The fact both Bronx and Reno kept asking my opinion on everything made me feel warm inside. I’d never met men like them before.

The plastic drop cloth under my feet crinkled as I moved a little to the right and started on a fresh spot. Warm hands landed on my hips and I slightly jolted. Glancing over my shoulder, I smiled up at Reno. He gave me a wink before kissing my forehead.

“Wall is looking good. Bronx wondered if you wanted us to order dinner in. We’re going to all be wiped the hell out later. Even if the place doesn’t deliver, one of us can run grab it, or send someone.”

“That sounds good,” I said. Would I get to try something else new?

“I’m going to run downstairs for a minute and ask KiKi if she’d mind fixing a plate of sandwiches for us in the next half hour. I’m sure you’re getting hungry, but I don’t want to stop for the day until we’ve got the furniture together, the wall opened up and patched, and this mess cleared from the floors.”

“I can make them,” I offered.

“No, honey. Not this time. Once we have our own kitchen, you can cook as much as you want. Although, it won’t be a full kitchen. Bronx and I will add a large toaster oven instead of putting in a regular one. And we’ll have a cooktop, as well as a sink and fridge. But it’s not going to be like the one downstairs.”

I wondered if they thought I’d be disappointed. I’d never had an apartment before. Even their room with the attached bathroom had been nicer than anywhere I’d stayed before. My uncle had kept me alive. That’s about as much as I could say. My bed at his house consisted of an old mattress on the floor. Springs dug into me while I slept. He’d kept me chained at night, and left a portable toilet in the corner. Then he’d made me clean it the next morning.

I’d tried not to tell these people how awful my life had been. Yes, I’d shared what those men had done to me, but… I didn’t want Bronx and Reno finding out I’d lived the way I had. The only time I got to bathe had been the days my uncle had given me to his friends or colleagues, or to pay off his debts. Even then, I’d been under observation and the water had been cold.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t realized Reno watched me. Snapping back to the present, I gave him another smile. The way his gaze narrowed told me he wasn’t fooled. He knew I’d drifted off somewhere unpleasant for a moment.

“As soon as the walls and baseboards are finished, we’ll put up the drop cloth in here. Then we can start on the furniture.” He kissed me again. “Don’t tire yourself out. If you want to rest, you can lie on the bed in the other room.”

I looked through the new opening in the wall. They’d ripped down the old one, framed it out, and were currently smearing something over the new wood. I couldn’t remember what they’d called it. I’d tried to pick up all the terms they’d used so I could learn about something they seemed to enjoy. The way they’d laughed and joked as they worked made me smile. I loved seeing them so happy.

Reno had pulled his old bed out of the other room earlier, and they’d moved Bronx’s over there. They’d also taken out the two long dressers and piled their clothes onto the bed. I knew if I said I wanted to rest, they’d make room for me to lie down. But I didn’t want to be a burden, or make them stop before they were ready.

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