Page 14 of Stonewall

And I wouldn’t let either of them down.

CHAPTER TEN

I WAS GETTINGso sleepy, my eyes were heavy,but until I saw Gael and made sure he was all right, I wasn’t surrendering to sleep.

It was hard for me to trust someone to take care of things. I had only depended on myself for pretty much my whole life. But, when Lenny said he would care for Gael and me, I saw the truth in his eyes. And I’m so tired right now that it’s a relief to lean on someone. At least until I was able to think straight. Because right now, I had no idea where I was or who these people were. I wanted to ask several times, but I’m afraid of the answer. Not that I fear these people will hurt me.

I don’t.In fact, I feel safer than I have my entire life.

No, I’m afraid to find out who Lenny really is and his motive for talking to me. I worried that his interest in me wasn’t genuine but a job. And what he feels is a responsibility toward Gael and me since he brought me here.

Wherever here is.

I heard the door open, and Lenny walked in, holding Gael. “Mommy,” Gael shouted as Lenny sat him on the side of the bed.

“Be careful, buddy,” Lenny cautioned Gael, who was ready to pounce, wanting hugs.

Gael moved up until he was sitting beside me. I pulled him close. “You okay, Mommy?”

I looked into his worried face and hated that I had caused it. “I’m fine, Gael. I just need to rest for a few days,” I assured him, wishing I could smile, but talking was hard enough. “Were you outside playing?” I asked, noticing dirt on his face.

“Yep, me and Germie made a new friend; her name is Roe,” he gushed with excitement. Poor Gael didn’t get a chance to play with other children.

“Roe’s parents said you could spend the night at their house and play some more if you want. You can even take Germie,” Lenny told Gael.

“Can I?” Gael asked me. His little body gave a bounce on the bed.

“I don’t know….” I didn’t know these people. How could I just send my son off with them?

“I promise you, Brooke, Sophia and Lord will look out for Gael like they do Roe. And I will pick him up tomorrow and bring him here to see you. Gael will be safe and taken care of,” Lenny said.

What kind of name was Lord? Sounded like a road name. Was my initial thought that Lenny was a biker true?

“Please, Mommy? Roe has a pool and more cookies and ice cream at home,” Gael begged; I should have known there was food involved.

I looked at Lenny, assessing him again and seeing honesty, then returning my gaze to Gael. “Okay, you can stay. But I want to see you tomorrow,” I said, ruffling his hair. “Now, give me a kiss before you leave.” Gael leaned over carefully and kissed my cheek with an I love you, before being scooped back up by Lenny.

“I’m going to go with Gael and make sure he is settled. But I’ll be back,” he said softly, leaning down to kiss my battered lips. Then, whispering, “Trust me.” Before whisking Gael out of the room.

The doctor said his name was Kenny, and I think if I didn’t feel like shit, I could appreciate having a doctor that looked like him taking care of me, I thought as he came back into the room from a side door to my bedside. “You can trust us, Brooke; Gael is in good hands, as are you,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Now, are you ready to get some sleep?”

“Yes,” I answered.

“Is there still pain?” he asked. He had given me some pain medication earlier.

“My head has a dull throb to it still.”

“Okay, I’m going to give you something to help you sleep. I will be checking on you every hour; I have a room through that door,” he said, pointing to the door he had come out off to the side of the room. The doctor pulled a syringe out of his pocket and shot it into the IV.

“I want you to rest and not worry about anything. You are safe here,” he said as I closed my eyes. “You both are.” It was the last thing I heard before sleep took me.

I DROVE GAELover to Lord’s house to make surehe would be okay staying with them. Sophia let me know that I would need a car seat for Gael, but she would pick one up for me this evening when she went to get Gael some stuff. Thank fuck for Sophia.

I walked back into the clubhouse and needed to talk to Tildie and check on Reader. I went to Tildie’s room and knocked. I sucked at this sort of shit and should probably let Shadow handle it, but Brooke was mine, so I needed to take care of this.

Even if she didn’t know it yet.

“It’s open,” I heard Reader call out.