Journey (Soulless Kings MC: Marble Falls, TX #2)

25. Journey

CHAPTER 25

JOURNEY

I’m here now.

“For the love of God, would you sit down?”

After taking Crow back to the clubhouse, Wren and I hopped on my bike and came to her apartment. We’re gonna stay here tonight, where she's most comfortable. Today was a big day, and it’s bound to catch up with her at some point.

“Sorry,” I mumble as I sit on the couch next to her.

“Journey, I’m doing my best not to fall apart,” she says. “But you pacing for the last half hour isn’t helping.”

“You’re right.” I pull her onto my lap and wrap my arms around her waist. “What can I do to make it easier?”

Wren slides her arms around my neck. “I can think of a few things.”

She presses her mouth to mine, sliding her tongue along the seam of my lips. I open up for her, reveling in her minty taste.

My hands find their way under her leggings, and I palm her ass cheeks. She grinds her hips, but before I can stand and carry her to the bedroom, she pulls away and grins.

“That’s gonna have to wait,” she purrs.

“Cock tease,” I accuse, adjusting myself.

“I’ll make the wait worth it, but…”

“But what?”

“Can we talk first?” she asks tentatively.

“We can do whatever you want.”

Wren crawls off my lap and moves to sit so she can face me, curling her legs beneath me.

“I was really scared this morning at the prison,” she blurts.

“I know you were, but you did great.”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“How is it that you turned out to be as amazing as you are?” I ask, genuinely curious. “You could’ve easily let all of the obstacles you’ve faced weigh you down, but you didn’t.”

She shrugs. “I never really thought about it, I guess. Nothing can erase what he did to my mom and brother or change how my mind chose to cope, so I deal with it the best I can.”

“Stone was right about one thing.”

She stiffens. “What?”

“You sure do have a brass set on you,” I say with a grin.

“I wanted to slap him when he said that, but you beat me to the punch… literally.” Wren takes a few deep breaths. “Did you notice that I didn’t switch?” she finally asks.

“I did.”

“Why do you think that is? I mean, that whole visit was one giant trigger.”

“Why do you think you didn’t?” I counter.

She rests her head on the back of the couch and thinks for a moment. “As scared as I was, I knew you wouldn’t let anything bad happen. And if you couldn’t stop it, Crow would’ve.”

“We will always have your back.”

“We really could work, couldn’t we?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” I jest, tapping the tip of her nose.

“I can’t promise you won’t have to keep telling me.”

“I can do you one better. I’ll keep showing you.”

“Do you think my dad will make another move soon?” she asks, getting serious.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I think he’s cocky enough to try, but smart enough to wait for the perfect time.”

“Which is when?”

“Never,” I assure her. “We’re ready, Wren. Whenever he chooses to strike, we’re always gonna be ready.”

“What if he tries something here? He knows where I live.”

“He might.” I level my gaze on her. “Maybe you should move into the clubhouse with me.”

I expect her to think about it, but she immediately shakes her head. “No. I can’t, Journey. Don’t get me wrong, everyone is great, but it’s a lot for me to try to deal with on a daily basis.”

“I could move in here, if that would make you feel better,” I suggest.

“I love my apartment, but it’s too small for two people.”

“Sounds like you’re not opposed to the idea of us living together.”

“I’m not, not really. It just needs to be the right circumstances.”

“And those would be?”

“Well, a bigger place for one. A house that’s closer to the clubhouse and where I can have an art studio would be good.” She sits a little straighter. “Oh, and a big yard. I’d love to get a dog.”

“When you dive in, you dive all the way down to the bottom of the deep end,” I tease.

Wren shrugs. “Go big or go home, I guess. I’m not saying I want to buy a house and get hitched or anything. But we could rent something together. That way, we’d both have an out if things go bad.”

“Ah, there’s the skepticism I’ve grown accustomed to.”

“I don’t mean to be a downer, but this is a big step for both of us. I’ve never opened up to someone like I have with you, and I’d feel better knowing that you’re not trapped. Besides, what happens if one of my alters decides they hate you? I mean, I can’t control that.”

“That won’t happen, but I get what you’re saying.” I rub my fingers over her arm, watching as goosebumps break out across her flesh. “While we’re on the subject… Can you tell me about your alters?”

“That’s a loaded question, but sure, I’ll try.”

“If you’re uncomfort?—”

“It’s not that. I’m just not familiar with all of them. Some I’m aware of, but others I only know about because Dr. Young has told me about them.”

“So, which ones are you aware of?”

“Well, there’s Drew, who’s pretty quiet most of the time and very artistic. He’ll work on my illustrations when he comes to the front,” she explains. “Then there’s Vixen and Mavis. Both of them are sluts, and I’ve had more than one awkward encounter because of them.”

The thought of her out in the wild as a slut sends jealousy coursing through my veins, but I say nothing about it. It’s not her fault. “I met Mavis,” I tell her. “At Ballinger’s. That’s what led me to dig a little deeper into you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yep. She’s a trip.”

“She’s something, yeah.” Wren shakes her head. “Anyway… There’s Dotty, CJ, Autumn, Mimi, and Rose. I’ve heard all of them at one point or another. And when I come back to the front, it’s pretty easy to tell which of them I am, based on how I’m dressed or what I’m drinking. Sometimes, I look like a schoolmarm and am drinking tea, and other times I’m wearing clothes for a teenage boy and drinking Mt. Dew.”

“That’s wild.”

“Tell me about it,” she huffs. “I hate tea, and I feel like I’m suffocating when I come to wearing a blouse buttoned all the way to the top.”

“Okay, so those are the ones you’re aware of. What about the ones you're not?”

“Dr. Young has told me about Peg, who seems to be like the dorm parent. She rules the roost, so to speak. Then there’s Kirby and Annie, two young kids who are best friends, and?—”

“Aaron.”

Wren’s eyes widen. “Please tell me you only know him because of something you read.”

“Nope,” I admit. “I met him the day you came to the shop to confront me about going to your therapist’s office.”

“Oh my God,” she breathes. “Did he hurt you? Dr. Young told me he’s violent.”

“Wren, sweetheart, look at me. I’m me, and he’s physically you. He didn’t hurt me. He sure tried, though. I think it pissed him off that he couldn’t.”

“That sounds about right. He’s tried to strangle Dr. Young before. I don’t know what specifically triggers him, but I’m never aware of him beyond a voice in my head sometimes.”

“I think he’s dubbed himself your protector. That’s the impression I got. And I don’t think he’s appeared since I told him I was taking over that role.”

“Huh.”

“Maybe that alter has been resolved,” I suggest.

“How do you know about that?”

“I’ve done a lot of research since I learned that you have Dissociative Identity Disorder.”

“Really?”

“Of course. How else am I going to know what to expect or how to help you?”

“Where have you been my whole life?” she asks dreamily.

“Doesn’t matter where I’ve been, only that I’m here now.”