Chapter Six

Brooklyn

THIS MORNING, OPHELIA and Cricket came to the cabin while I was finishing up helping Nanny and told me we were having a girl's day behind the clubhouse. They've got some drinks for us and we're going to spend the day lounging in the sun while the guys watch the kids. Robynn has something to do so she won't be joining us. It's a shame because I'd like to get to know Robynn better, but all the women here have busy lives, kids, and other shit going on. Depending on what happens with the guys, I'll have plenty of time to get to know her. It will still be a lot of fun hanging out with Cricket and Ophelia though. I remember how much fun they were in high school even if I never hung out with them.

In school, I was just kind of in the background of things. No one really paid me any attention because I was the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks. The only reason these two girls know who I am is because I was paired up with them a few times for class projects. We were allowed to choose our own groups and I would always sit in my seat and not worry about getting up to group myself with anyone else. No one ever wanted to work with me because they bullied me and told me I wasn't good enough to work with them. The truth of the matter is that I had the highest marks in our grade because all I did was study. By the end of the first full month of school, I already had all the homework and most of the projects done for each class so all I had to focus on was studying.

Cricket and Ophelia always tried to include me if we were in the same class, but it wasn't always possible. I'm not sure why Drayven would remember me from school, but he's made several comments since I've been here about things that happened or awards I won. I know I was never on his radar so it's been a bit shocking to realize he even remembers me. Anyway, I want to spend the day with the girls though I won't be drinking. Ophelia won't be either. She's heavily pregnant and I'm really not sure if she should be outside with the sun beating down on her. From what I remember, Cricket won't drink alone so I'm not sure what drinks we'll be having. I'm ready to find out though.

After helping Nanny in the chicken coop, I head back to our cabin and shower. The chicks I found are doing well; she has them separated right now until they get a little older. I find I enjoy the simple tasks of helping her with them, and since Nanny knows each of their names, I find myself giggling a lot whenever she fusses at them using their names as if they understand her. Braiding my long, red hair after brushing through it, I dress in the modest bathing suit I found in the things that were given to me when I was brought to the compound. I still need to go shopping for my own clothing, but I'm really nervous to go out even if I'm surrounded by guys. Plus, I'd rather not go buy underwear, bras, and lingerie with a hulking biker standing close by. While I'm used to wearing simple cotton underthings, I find myself wanting to add some pretty but functional items for my guys. So far, every time I've been away from the compound, someone has gotten close to the SUV the guys bought me and done something to it or left a note on it for me. While I don't want to let Bennett keep winning, I can't seem to help myself when it comes to the fear instilled in me.

I add on a pair of shorts to cover my lower body and some of the scars that are on my upper thighs. For a few minutes, I'm consumed with the thought of anyone else seeing the scars covering my body. However, Jayce and Gavin have made me feel differently about the marks covering most of my upper body and thighs. We've even discussed possibly covering some of them with tattoos. Since I love exploring the tats on my men, I'm thinking about doing so. It won't erase them but it will take the pain and trauma and turn it into something beautiful. Yes, I was told by Soul to call him Gavin when we're alone the same as Jayce. It's taken getting used to, but I love their real names and use them often when we're in the cabin alone. Anyway, after sliding on a pair of flip flops, I grab my phone and head out to the front of the cabin where Cricket and Ophelia are already waiting for me.

"Girl, where the fuck have you been hiding this body?" Cricket asks me as Wheels and Soul walk up.

"She's sexy as fuck, yeah?" Jayce says, stepping up and wrapping his arms around me and holding me close.

"She's definitely sexy," Ophelia says, a smile on her face as I feel Gavin wrap his body around my back.

"I'd do her and I don't swing that way," Cricket teases, grinning at me.

"And all fuckin' ours," he states as he presses a soft kiss against the side of my neck, sending chills through my body.

"Right now, she's ours," Cricket says, laughter filling her voice as I look up at the girls. "The guys are in the common room waiting for the two of you to join them. You're not gonna ruin our girl's day by hanging around us so we can't talk. This is where we gossip about all you men and then bitch about what idiots you are."

"We're not idiots," Jayce says, a sexy pout on his face as he looks almost offended.

"You're men. All men are idiots," Ophelia adds in, bending over in laughter as I hear Nanny's laughter join in.

"You got that right, Fee. All men are useless idiots and the world would be better off if they all lived in one little section where we could take one out every now and then when we needed to get laid. We'd get the best of both worlds while the guys are kept away from us unless we need them," Nanny says as we all start laughing our asses off. Even Jayce and Gavin start laughing at her words because it's utter nonsense.

"Nanny, don't you have somethin' to do that doesn't involve you eavesdroppin' on our conversation?" Gavin asks her when he finally gets himself back under control.

"Nope. I'm an old woman with nothing to do every day but take care of my chickens, watch you young people create chaos, and see all of my adorable great grandkids. I'll be heading into the clubhouse soon to make sure you guys aren't corrupting them with your idiotic conversations," Nanny returns, a large smile on her face because she loves stirring up trouble and trying to get the guys to argue with her.

Goliath and Hulk are the only ones who never fall into her trap. The rest of the guys usually end up arguing with her about one thing or another on a daily basis. It's really funny when she gets Scorch worked up about something because he truly doesn't know when to stop.

"Alright, Brooklyn is ours now. We'll see you guys in a while," Cricket says, grabbing my hand and leading me from the men I fall harder for on a daily basis.

The girls lead me away from the guys and I can't help but look over my shoulder at Jayce and Gavin as they stand where we just were with their mouths hanging open in shock. Honestly, they've been around Cricket and Ophelia long enough to realize that this is who they are. When they want something, nothing will stand in their way. Today, they want to hang out with me and it's gonna happen regardless of if the guys want it to or not. Thankfully, we're just staying on the compound so I don't have to worry about gathering a bunch of guys to follow us somewhere. And we don't have to worry about our vehicle being tampered with while we're hanging out somewhere else.

Cricket and Ophelia lead me to the back of the clubhouse where several blankets are laid out with a cooler right in the middle. The three of us take off our flip flops and step on the blanket before sitting down. Cricket and I arrange the pillows that have been placed out here behind Ophelia's back so she's comfortable before we take seats in front of her. Cricket opens the cooler and pulls out bottles of juice, passing them out before pulling out a plate filled with little sandwiches of various kinds. My stomach growls as I realize I never did eat breakfast this morning. I wasn't feeling the best and thought I was going to be sick before heading over to visit with Nanny and the chickens, so I didn't bother.

With everything going on, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm getting sick right now. It's happened in the past, especially when I was actually with Bennett. The stress from not knowing what Bennett's next move will be consumes me when the guys aren't around. Even when I'm at work, the thoughts don't stop from circling my mind on a loop because the wait is killing me. Bennett isn't one to make idle threats from what I've seen. He's got the power to back those threats up too. I'm not sure what kind of politics his father is involved in, even after dating for two years, but both men abuse the power that comes with Mr. Conklin's position. It didn't take me long to see that when Bennett and I started dating. He likes to brag about shit and tell everyone what he's gotten away with throughout his entire life. One thing I do know after being around the men at the club is that Bennett and his father are definitely not men. They may be male, but even the prospects have more honor and loyalty in their little finger than those two jerks.

Grabbing one of the tuna fish sandwiches, I bring it to my mouth only for my stomach to revolt. I quickly move it away and place it on the plate Cricket places in front of me. Ophelia and Cricket stare at me as I uncap the juice and take a small sip. It doesn't calm my stomach, but it doesn't make me want to be sick either, which is a win-win in my book.

"Is something going on with you, Brooklyn?" Cricket asks me, her voice soft and gentle as she inches closer to me.

"I just haven't felt very good since I woke up. Before heading to Nanny's, I skipped breakfast because I was nauseous, and thought that maybe I'm just hungry now. The second I smelled that sandwich, I thought I was going to be sick. Maybe it's the stress of my situation finally catching up with me," I answer them, not sure what else there is to say.

"Um, have you and the guys taken your relationship to the next level?" Ophelia asks me, a small smile on her face. "The only reason I ask is because that's the same way I was when I got pregnant with this one and with Leif. I know Cricket had morning sickness with the twins too."

"I can't be pregnant. We've only had sex a few times and I don't think the timing lines up for me to be pregnant," I inform them, thinking back to the times I've been with the guys.

"Sweetheart, it only takes one time for you to get pregnant," Cricket states, concern filling her face as I feel myself pale even more while fear starts to fill me. I know what both Jayce and Gavin have said, but I'm still worried that they don't truly mean it with respect to me getting pregnant. "It's okay. I've got a pregnancy test at the house. We can go up there and you can take it. This way you'll know for sure. Or you can go to the clinic. That way if it is the stress of your situation, you can get put on birth control. The choice is yours to make."

"I'd prefer to go to the clinic so I can get birth control, but I have to take Theo and a bunch of guys with me if I leave the compound," I answer the girls, looking between the two of them.

"Leave it to me," Ophelia says, holding out her hands for us to help her up off the ground before she waddles into the clubhouse. If I wasn't so worried right now, I'd giggle at how she's walking because it reminds me of a penguin. Not that I'd ever say that to her face; I don't want to hurt her feelings.

"It will be okay, Brooklyn. Do the guys know this is a possibility?" Cricket asks me, stepping up and placing her arm over my shoulders in comfort.

"Yeah. We talked about it. I know it can happen, but none of us ever remember the condom. For the first time, I get so lost in the sensation of what they do to me and it just leaves my mind before things go too far. They're showing me what true pleasure is and I guess I've just let myself be swept up in everything," I tell her as we wait for Ophelia to come back out to us.

"I will tell you right now, these men know what they want. With the lives they've led, they don't hesitate once they find their woman or anything else in life they want. It didn't take long when they enlisted in the military to learn that lesson. They saw death on a daily basis and learned how short life truly is. If I've learned anything from them, it's that tomorrow is never guaranteed and we have to live our best lives every day we wake up," Cricket states, her voice filled with determination as a faraway look enters her eyes and I know she's remembering the time her brother and his entire team went missing and no one knew what was going on with them.

I might not be close to Cricket and Ophelia, but everyone in town knows what happened with Scorch. The second his family was informed that he was missing, everyone in Odin's Gap knew what was going on. That was when Cricket truly lost herself and let the demons of her past haunt her. For a while she got lost and no one could reach her. Not even Ophelia. Those were some dark times and that's where she's at right now.

"Okay guys. Let's get out of here," Ophelia says, walking back out of the clubhouse followed by Theo, Scorch, Fetch, and Country. "These cravings are out of control and the guys are going with us so I can get what I want to eat."

Ophelia has come up with the perfect excuse to get us away from the clubhouse. I'm not sure how she's going to get me into the clinic with her saying she has some cravings happening right now, but she's inventive and so is Cricket. So, Cricket and I follow her around to the front of the clubhouse and get in the SUV Theo will be driving. Scorch, Fetch, and Country get on their bikes as we get settled in and we all take off. On our way into town, we're surrounded with Scorch and Country in front of us and Fetch in the back. Between the three of them, Theo will know if someone is about to come at us.

Cricket and Ophelia keep up a steady conversation as we head through town to distract me. Fear and nerves fill me as I keep my eyes searching for any sign of Bennett. No, he doesn't live in Odin's Gap, but it doesn't mean that he's not hanging out here while biding his time to get his hands on me again. For all I know, he has people who are watching me. Anxiety bubbles up in my stomach and I feel even sicker as I think about what his plans for me could entail.

The three of us are sitting in the waiting room of the local clinic. Cricket didn't lie to her brother when she said we were stopping here. She told him I needed to get checked out and on some birth control if possible. Since Scorch didn't put up a fight, I'm sure he has a feeling about what's really going on here. Though, Scorch isn't one to deny his sister or wife anything they want. These two women have him wrapped around their little fingers and he doesn't give a fuck who knows it. It's one of the reasons I've always liked Scorch. He doesn't give a fuck what anyone thinks about him and the way he chooses to live. If the girls are going through something, he's right there to help them through it.

"Brooklyn Dalton," a nurse calls out my name as she opens the door leading to the back of the clinic.

Getting up, I take a deep breath and follow her. Just before going through the door, Cricket gives me a nod of encouragement.

"Let's start with your weight and vitals. Then I'll send you for a urine sample so we can do a pregnancy test," the nurse says, her kind voice helping reassure me as I continue to follow her down the narrow hallway.

Stepping on the scale, I don't allow myself to look at the number flashing. Weight has always been a hard thing for me to accept. With Bennett and my parents constantly telling me I was fat and needed to lose weight, there's nothing the scale can tell me that I don't already know. As soon as I can step off the thing, I do and take a seat so the nurse can get my blood pressure, pulse reading, and everything else she'll do before I enter the bathroom on my own to leave a sample for them.

After washing my hands and leaving the little cup where it goes, I open the door to find the nurse waiting for me. She leads me to an exam room and proceeds to ask me a million questions. I answer each one honestly and tell her I don't need one of the STD tests done because I recently had one. Jayce is gonna talk to Doc so I can have the results in my hands. That's the only way it will be real to me. I trust the guys when they say Bennett didn't give me anything, but seeing the results of the test with my own eyes will help make it real. It's an unfortunate product of the abuse I've endured because I don't trust what I'm told, I have to see it in black and white. Thankfully, both men understand, and while they verbally express how they feel, they go one step further and show me so it sinks in.

"Someone will be right in with the results of your pregnancy test. If you're not pregnant, they'll talk to you about birth control and what you'd like to be put on," the nurse informs me, a smile on her face as she grabs her tablet and prepares to leave me alone in the room.

Sitting in one of the chairs in the room, I look at all the posters covering the wall. There's ones on pregnancy, birth control, birth, and a few others related to female health issues. Before I can look at them all in detail, there's a knock on the door and it opens. A young woman walks in the room. She's got purple scrubs on under one of those white lab coats doctors wear. Her blonde hair is up in a ponytail and there's no make-up covering her face.

"Good afternoon, Brooklyn. I'm Dr. Rainer and I volunteer here at the clinic. I've got the results of your pregnancy test and it's positive," she informs me, watching me closely for a reaction. "Based on the results, I'd say you're approximately two weeks along. There really is no point in performing an ultrasound at this point to confirm since it's far too early. I suggest making an appointment with an obstetrician and they can perform one for you. For now, I'll prescribe you some prenatal vitamins to take. Do you have any concerns at this point I can help you with?"

"I don't think so. I've been feeling a bit nauseous and that's why my friends convinced me to come in today," I answer her.

"Morning sickness is normal. If it gets too bad, make sure you mention it to whichever doctor you choose to see. You don't want it to get too bad and have to be admitted to the hospital because you've gotten dehydrated. If you don't need anything else, I'll leave the script at the front counter for you to get filled," Dr. Rainer says as I nod numbly at her with the fact that I'm pregnant filling my mind.

Dr. Rainer leads me from the room and I wait for a few minutes in the waiting room to be handed over a script. Cricket and Ophelia don't say a word as they wait with me. The two of them offer me their silent support and comfort as I take the script from the receptionist and we leave the clinic. The girls lead me back to the SUV and we head for a store that has a pharmacy inside. While Ophelia and Scorch walk around to find something to satisfy her craving, Cricket goes with me to get the prenatal vitamins. All I want is to get back to the cabin where I can process this news and figure out how to tell the guys I'm pregnant.