Page 24 of Blinded By Love

“Can we get you cleaned up and while you’re in the bath we will explain everything.” I don’t move yet, waiting for her to acknowledge me and what is going on.

“We?” she questions in a small weak voice.

“Yes, princess. Mav and I came running when you started screaming. We- We were worried you hurt yourself more.” The giant of a man behind me stutters out, almost sounding embarrassed. “We can leave if you want.” He doesn’t wait for her answer turning to leave but stops suddenly, Mav running into his back. “Stay.” Her voice, sounding a bit stronger, continues. “I want you guys to explain what is happening. Why am I here?”

Mav goes to step around Jax when Wren calls out again. “Please. I need you all to explain.” I send a smirk in Mavs direction and he glares in return. “Fine.” He growls and stomps over to the far wall, pulling out his phone and leans against it.

I ignore the grown child in the room and focus on the woman who needs to tell us who Jax gets to hunt. “I’m going to help you undress. Is that okay?” She gives a small nod and I reach up and pinch her chin again. “Use your words little bird.”

“Y-yes.” She whispers, eyes closed tight once more.

“Good girl. I’m going to take off your shirt first. Arms up.” I grip the bottom edges of her shirt and slowly pull it up over her head. Watching her face for any indication of another freak out. Once off I toss it to the side and fully look down at the perfect specimen of woman. My eyes follow her curves down over her chest and further until I catch sight of something I’m very familiar with. My eyes are locked on three round scars in the center of her stomach. Bullet hole scars, I would know these wounds anywhere. I have a few myself.

“What the fuck is this?” Mav growls and my eyes snap to him now standing to the side of Wren and looking at her back. Exit wounds? Jax is already at his side looking at what got our brother so riled up. I watch as Jax’s facial expression turns from horror to outright hulk rage. “Who?” Is all he grinds out and I know there is more than just bullet wound scars back there. Wren sits there, stone still, back straight but head facing down as I move from her front to the opposite side of the guys. I shift her long bloody blonde hair over her shoulder and stare at the dozens of barely there faded crisscrossed marks decorating her body.

My blood begins to boil. How did we miss this? We have been watching her for over a month now and never once saw any of these. We are at her place basically every night but she never bothers to turn on lights or open blinds and we leave before she wakes. Not even our camera picked them up. Some of her actions and words now make sense. Someone did this to her. It’s also probably why Mav can’t find information on her; someone didn’t want her found.

“Wren. I need a name.” She lifts her head and takes a deep breath. “No. You all first.” I stare at Jax and Mav and they nod. Mav continues to stare at her marred skin growing more pissed off by the minute. “Can I take a bath now, please?” Her voice seems to snap him out of his daze.

“Yes. Let us help you.” He says not looking at Jax or me. Looks like Mav has changed his mind about my little bird. He has always had a savior complex and it looks like he plans to save our girl from her past. “Please angel.” His words are soft and gentle. The softest he has ever spoken to a woman.

“Yes. Just tell me why?”

“You let us take care of you and explain a few things and then you will explain some things as well. Do you understand?” I reply.

She tilts her head in my direction, the tears finally gone and a look of defiance now replaces the saddened expression from before. “If you give me a good enough reason on why I’m here then I’ll think about telling you what you want to know.” My eyes turn to slits and I’m about to demand she tell me who the fuck hurt her but Jax beats me to it.

“Deal.”

Chapter twenty-five

Maverick

I stare at Wren’s back hoping I’m still seeing things. Those are whip marks and not from pleasure. I clench my fist and grind my teeth. How dare someone harm this perfect angel?

“Wren. I need a name.” Xander demands but Wren simply lifts her head and takes a deep breath. “No. You all first.” The world around me seems so out of focus as I count each mark so I know how many I owe the person who did this. “Can I take a bath now, please?” Wren asks and a bit of clarity comes back to me. I need to focus on Wren, I need to protect her from us and now whoever did this.

“Yes. Let us help you.” I step forward but pause when I see her body tense just slightly. I don’t want her to panic more but I also needed her to be somewhat truthful enough to give me a name. I keep my eyes trained on her, refusing to look at my brothers and any possible smug looks that they may make. “Please angel.” I make sure my tone is soft and gentle. I imagine it’s like talking to a scared little animal cornered with no way out.

“Yes. Just tell me why?” she replies but I see the tremble in her body and the goosebumps that flare across her skin. She’s scared and for a good reason.

“You let us take care of you and explain a few things and then you can explain some things as well. Do you understand?” Xander asks, his demanding bosshole attitude coming into play.

She tilts her head in his direction but straightens her shoulder just a bit. “If you give me a good enough reason on why I’m here then I’ll think about telling you what you want to know.” I feel a small smirk lifting on one side of my face. The chick has balls, I like it. I see Xander about to reply when Jax speaks first.

“Deal.” Jax agrees for us.

We let her take a minute to herself. She knows we will have to touch her in order to help her but none of us want her to be afraid of us either. So, we wait, letting her decide how this will work. Wren takes a long deep breath, holding it for a few seconds, before exhaling fully. She does this a few more times before she speaks. “Okay, I’m ready.” I look up at the other two men in the room knowing we are all a bit worried how she will react.

She must realize none of us has moved because her attitude comes back with her next words. “Either you help me get clean and explain or I’ll clean myself and the deal will be off.” That snaps us out of our standoff. Xander steps up to Wren again and starts explaining how they will undress her while I go and refresh the bath water to make sure it's nice and warm for her. Jax steps out of the room but comes back a minute later with a small pile of silk pajamas and a pair of fuzzy socks. Her favorite when she doesn’t feel well.

“Little Bird, I think one of us should get in the tub with you. Hear me out. For balance and to better clean your head wound.” Xander explains and in all honesty even I can tell it’s a half assed reason.

There is a moment of silence before Wren's face lights up with the tiniest of smiles. “Fine.” Xander reaches up to unbutton his shirt when her next words have me tripping over my own two feet. “But I want Maverick.” My head snaps up to hers in shock. Me? I would be able to see Jax and Xander’s glare from a mile away. I raise my hands, already shaking my head when Xander asks the only question on my mind. “Why him?”

Good question. I haven’t been nice to her; shit, I made her cry at our meeting and I’m not the most welcoming guy to her. Do I secretly dream about how amazing Wren would feel around my cock? Yes, almost nightly. Do I wish I wasn’t a complete asshole to her all the time? Of course. Will I protect her, even if I have to protect her from us? Fuck yes. So why the fuck would she want me to be in the tub with her.

“Because he is an asshole and doesn’t even like me, so I won't have to worry about him feeling me up. Now can we get this over with, I’m tired and you all have some explaining to do.” Well, that makes sense except for the fact that I do in fact want to fill her up with more than one thing too. My pants start to grow tight at the mere thought of filling her. I reach down and adjust myself knowing this bath is going to be rough but feeling her skin against mine might just be worth it.

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