Sypher’s head snapped up. “Pops called you?”
“Yeah, he’ll be here in the next day or two. And then Reaper and Montana will be here after that.”
I explained the plan James shared with me. My brothers looked as skeptical as I did. I just hoped to God this shit ended soon.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Grace
I sat in the bathroom on the floor in front of the tub, my arms wrapped around my knees as I prayed for some time alone.
Kytten arrived with some food not long after King left, and ever since there had been a constant revolving door of women coming to check on me and sit with me.
I knew what they were doing. I knew they were worried about me, but I needed some time alone.
“Grace?” Sam’s voice on the other side of the door made me wince with guilt. I knew they were trying to help, but it wasn’t working. “Do you need anything?”
YES!
I needed them to leave and stop coming in. Why didn’t they get it? I didn’t want to talk about what happened. I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. In all fairness, they hadn’t asked me to talk about what happened. They didn’t really talk much at all. They came in and asked how I was. They tried to engage, but when I didn’t respond, they didn’t push.
“I’ll be right out,” I shouted through the door. I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead against my knees. Their constant presence was worse than being alone. When I was alone, I would dwell on the memories. They ran like a loop through my head. But when the girls were here, I felt lost. Like I couldn’t get a moment to fight the memories.
It was a lose-lose situation, whichever way I looked at it.
You could talk to Haizley.
I could. I knew I could. Or Aspen. My head snapped up. I bit my lip and looked at the door. There was someone else I could call. Someone I knew had been through something similar. Someone who could tell me I’d get through it and I might actually believe it.
I stood up and walked out of the bathroom and found Sam sitting on the end of the bed texting. “Hey, Grace.” She slipped the phone in her back pocket and stared at me.
“Can I ask you a favor, Sam?”
“Anything.” She smiled.
“Can you tell the others I need some time alone? I appreciate what you’re all trying to do, but I can’t...”
Sam’s smile turned sad. “Of course Grace. Just don’t shut us out, okay?”
“I’m trying,” I answered honestly.
“That’s all you can do.” Sam stood up and asked, “Can I hug you?”
Tears filled my eyes as I nodded, and Sam pulled me against her chest. She let me cry on her shoulder and didn’t speak. It was what I needed right now. Just to be held by someone who loved me. Someone who wouldn’t judge me.
When the tears finally subsided, Sam stepped back. “Don’t cry alone, okay? If you need to cry, I’ll come and hold you while you do it. I won’t say a word, and you can get it out.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
The door closed softly behind Sam, and I picked up my phone. I dialed the number I knew by heart. I missed my friend so much.
“Hey, Grace.”
“Hey, Amber.”
“You’re crying. Why are you crying? What the fuck did he do now? Do I need to come back there and kick his ass? ’Cause I will. I’ll bring the whole fucking club with me. You know thereare still some single brothers out here. I can set you up with one of them; you can move out here and live with me.”
I laughed out a sob and broke down. Amber had a way of making everyone feel better.
