Chapter Seven

Gina

I spent most of my time at home. In my house. Lemon and some of the girls had come by every day, but I just couldn’t get out and walk around the compound. It had only been twenty-four hours since Falcon left, but I had fallen into despondency. The man I was in love with was on a mission to save the woman he was supposed to marry. No reason to be down about that, right? Yeah, I was moping and I knew it.

I was curled up on the couch when I heard feminine laughter outside my door right before there was a loud pounding as someone knocked heavily.

“Open up, Gina! It’s time for you to party. With us.” Was that Lemon?

I stood and walked to the door. I was in leggings and the shirt Falcon had left in my bedroom. Silly, but it made me feel closer to him when I was fairly certain everything would change when he came back. When I opened the door, all the old ladies in Grim Road were there.

“Hi, Gina!” Olivia was the sweetest person. Her man, Bear, was one of the biggest men I’d ever seen. Appropriate as far as I was concerned. “We brought snacks and alcohol. We’re gonna watch the Great British Baking Show and get schnozzled!” She gave me a bright smile along with a tight hug. “Everything’s gonna be fine. Lemon won’t let it be any other way.”

Cecilia was next in hugging me. Of all the old ladies, Cecilia was the one I gravitated to the most. She’d been forced into prostitution. Bullet had claimed her after she’d been beaten nearly to death. We weren’t close, but I thought she might be the one woman in the club I semi-related to. And only because of what I’d gone through from Hammer in this same club.

“Lemon raided Bullet’s stash of fruit punch. My advice is to lay off anything else if you drink any.” Cecilia grinned. “Small sips over at least an hour.”

Evelyn and Calista were next, each woman greeting me warmly. All the old ladies at Grim were wonderful. They’d all helped me so much. Lemon and her sister, Apple, had helped first. Lemon had been the one to get my story out of me. Then she had started the process of getting rid of my nightmare. As each woman had been claimed by one of Grim Road’s members, they’d all been around regularly. If Lemon or their men had told them what had happened to me, none of them ever said. They never failed to check on me or include me in any family events held in this area of the compound.

“The kids wanted to come too,” Lemon said, “but sometimes bitches need some bitch time with other bitches.” That got a laugh from everyone. Even me.

We all piled into the living room, settling on my mismatched assortment of couches and chairs. Olivia popped open a bag of popcorn while Cecilia began setting up the TV for our baking show marathon. Calista brought in covered trays of snacks. There were cookies, chips, and even some homemade dips. Evelyn found a comfy corner on the sofa with a sizeable glass of punch she balanced on a small table beside her. I assumed this was the punch Cecilia had been talking about, but figured I’d ask before consuming any. I wasn’t averse to getting stoned, I just didn’t want any surprises.

This was the first time I’d really appreciated the friendship and solidarity these women always projected with each other. Even though I rarely let myself be drawn into their circle, this time, there was no doubt I was part of this exclusive sorority. These women were here because I needed them. Lemon had likely put out the call and they’d all answered.

Lemon sat down next to me, handing me a glass filled with ice and Bullet’s notorious fruit punch, along with a big dollop of ice cream. Her eyes met mine, fierce yet kind. “We’ve got your front, side, and back, Gina. We always have. We always will.” It was a soft exchange just between the two of us and I found myself smiling. Lemon gripped my shoulder before sitting back and propping her feet on the coffee table next to mine. “Stop thinking about what might happen when Falcon returns. Focus on now. We’re all here and we care about you. Besides, if Falcon doesn’t realize what a perfect old lady he would have with you, he really does have pigeon nuts.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I’d heard Lemon call Falcon Pigeon Nuts more than once. It always made Falcon scowl, but I thought he didn’t mind it as much as he let on. I got the feeling that was just the way he and Lemon got along.

“You’re right. I really appreciate all you guys have done for me. Both now and since all that shit… you know. Before.” She was right, but I found it hard to shake off the heaviness in my chest. Lemon was good at many things, including reading people. She knew just how to coax someone out of their shell or, when needed, to give them a shove. The latter was never subtle.

It didn’t take long for everyone to have a running, laughing commentary on each challenge in the show. Between bouts of laughter and sips of punch, I began to feel lighter, almost buoyant. Despite my initial reluctance, being surrounded by these wonderful women was slowly peeling away layers of my anxiety. Evelyn passed around a plate of cookies she’d baked herself, insisting they were better than anything on the baking show. “You see, it’s all about adding that extra bit of love,” she said, and winked.

“Christ, Evie.” Apple rolled her eyes. “Can you get any more cheesy?”

We all laughed and Evelyn threw a pillow at Apple, hitting her in the face. Apple laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks, as did Evelyn.

The rest of the night was spent binge watching the rest of the current season. By the time the winner was decided, we were all drooping. And I was more than a little whacked from the fruit punch. Me and Lemon managed to get some blankets and pillows for everyone and we piled up on couch and chair cushions in the middle of the floor like kids at a sleepover.

I suppose that’s what it was. I’d never had one, but it seemed fitting that these women were the ones at my first sleepover.

As I lay next to Cecilia, I looked at the other woman. She was on her side facing me and reached out her hand to grasp mine tightly. “It’s going to be all right, Gina. Lemon won’t let it be anything else.”

“Yeah. I should have realized that. Sooner.” The woman was a force of nature.

“Falcon and Lemon are at each other’s throats most days, but she respects him. He’d have to be a good man to earn Lemon’s respect.”

“I know he’s a good man. I don’t know many men who would ride around on a pink bike just because I enjoy it.”

Cecilia grinned and squeezed my hand again. “See? That’s true love right there.”

We both laughed, but I was ashamed to admit how that simple observation helped me relax. It was either that or the pot in the fruit punch. Could be either, but I thought it was that damned pink bike.

I closed my eyes and drifted for a long time before I finally let sleep drag me under. Then I didn’t move until morning.