Chapter 24

Lilly

Neil brought me some clothes and Silvy helped me into the bathroom. After she unwrapped my leg with instructions not to put my weight on it. It was time for me to take a long overdue shower. Man that hot water felt good. I didn’t want to get out but I couldn’t stand for very long without my knee bothering me even though I wasn’t putting weight on it. After I washed and dried I tried to get dressed but with not being able to see and my knee I had to call Silvy in to help. Once she was done she helped get back into bed. Silvy wrapped my knee again and put on my brace. She even packed up my few things for me so I would be ready to go when I was released. I’m excited and scared. I have to learn to do everything on my own. There will be no nurses or doctors around to help me.

But I also don’t want to be in the hospital anymore. “ Silvy what hotel did you get for me? You didn’t give me the details yet. And I need to know what card you used. Actually could you put that card up front in my wallet so it is easier to find. Why Dr. Ryans comes in if you could call a cab so it will be here when I’m ready. Thanks, Silvy.” “ Yea, about that. You see. What happened was.” Silvy says. Or she is trying to say. “ What’s wrong, Silvy. Did my card get declined or something?” I ask. But before she can answer.

There is a commotion outside my door just before it opens. I sit and listen to see who is coming in. Dr. Rodgers has been teaching me how to use my other senses more to make up for my loss of sight. First I hear the squeaky footsteps of sneakers and smell hand sanitizer. Then I hear a pair of heeled shoes hit the tile and hand sanitizer. My doctors. That should have been it. But next I hear one, two, three pairs of heavy boots hitting the floor. Then I smell warm leather, motor oil and exhaust. Club members. What the hell are they doing here? Haven’t I been through enough. They had to show up. What do they want to make sure I leave? I don’t need their bullshit right now. I wait for everyone to stop moving so I can get an idea where everyone is at. The heals and sneakers stop at the foot of my bed. The boots are on both sides of my bed. They have literally got me surrounded and I don’t like it. I look straight ahead in the general direction of my doctors. “ Why are they here?” I motion my head in one of the members' directions.

“ How?” the voice belongs to Ace. I would know it anywhere. He is to the left of me. “ I heard your boots hitting the floor. And you don’t smell like hospital staff.” I turned back to my doctors “ Now why are they here?” “ Lilly, the guys are here to take you home.” Dr. Ryans says. I don’t want to have to explain this to the doctors so I say “ I already have a ride.” I hear boots to my left come closer. Ace says “ Doc, can we have a minute?” I hear them leave the room. “ Lilly, we want you to come home with us. Not some hotel. We want to help take care of you. I know you think we turned on you. In your shoes I would have thought the same thing given what happened. At one time you trusted me. I need you to trust me now. We didn’t turn on you. I’ll admit we didn’t handle the situation well, but we never meant to hurt you. I promise you I will explain everything when we get you home.” They didn’t turn on me? Then what the hell happened? Ace said they would explain it. And I could use the help. But when they find out how much help. No, I can’t do that to them.

“ Ace, I can’t ask you guys to help me. It is too much. You don’t know what I need. Or how things have changed.” I’m cut off by Vipers voice “ We do know Lilly. When we told Ryans we wanted to take care of you he wouldn’t even consider it until we knew everything. He told us about your sight. We know how to help take care of you. Down to the tiniest detail. I know we can do it. It isn’t too much to ask. And you didn’t ask. We volunteered. And Ace is right. When we get home we will explain what happened that day. But I will say this ultimately it is just a misunderstanding.” They said they can handle my problems. He is right I didn’t ask. I really do want my family back. What’s the worst that could happen if I hear them out. I could always leave if I don’t like what they say.

“ Ok. I’ll go. I’ll hear you out. But I need two promises.” I say. “ Anything.” Ace says. “ I need to promise my lack of sight won’t be a problem no matter how long it takes me to adjust. Or how mad I get. Or how much I yell. I need to know you won’t throw me out on days that things are too much. And the other is if I don’t like what you have to say. You let me go. Don’t follow. Don’t come after me. I want to trust. I really do but it’s hard especially right now. I was really hurt by what happened at the clubhouse. I didn’t deserve that. I have never done anything to show you couldn’t trust me. I felt like I was being attacked by a pack of rabid wolves the way you treated me. I won’t go through that again.” “ You have our word as Reckless Renegades.” Viper says. And that is as good as a written contract in their world.. “ Then bust me out of this joint.”

I hear the gates to the clubhouse open and I can feel us pull through. I knew we were coming here but suddenly I’m wondering why I agreed to this. I don’t want to see a bunch of people right now. Ha, I’m making jokes already. Yea, I’m nervous. This place was my home for a year but also a place of heartbreak. I feel us park and Vipers door open. I can hear his boots on the gravel as he comes around the side of the car. I hear the back door open first and him pull something out. Then he opens my door. I can feel the chilly wind rush in and brush my skin. “ Lilly, I’m going to pick you up and put you in your wheelchair. You heard Ryans no crutches yet and not without someone with you.” I know. I’m not happy about it but I understand. I feel Viper slide an arm under my legs and another behind my back. I instantly wrap my arms around his neck as he lifts me from the car. Once he had me secured in the wheelchair then I let go.