Ready For Love?

Chapter 33

Reid certainly made up for our interruption when we got back to his room.

I was exhausted and only vaguely registered Reid saying something about a meeting or something the next morning. I think I mumbled a reply before I went back to sleep. When I woke up again, I was embarrassed to say it was past one! Past one!!! And I still had to force myself out of bed.

I went and had a shower before going to find food. That’s when I saw my neck. Really?! How old is he? Old enough to leave three very distinctive hickeys that were going to need makeup.

He was so lucky he wasn’t here right now.

I had my shower and went down to the kitchen to see if I could finally get my keys as well as some food. I needed to head back to my sisters and I still had a few museums on my list.

And lets be honest, I need some time to walk around by myself and clear my head.

“OK beautiful girl, I love your enthusiasm, but you have to leave the kitchen at some time,” I joked before giving Fire a hug.

She rolled her eyes with a smirk. “I’m just makin’ some lunch, Momma Bear. Sit, I’ll make you a sandwich.”

“That would be great. Need a drink?”

“Yeah just a water. Oh, and yes, I’m making Basket a sandwich before you see him in the common room.” She gave me a smug look.

I couldn’t help but laugh as I walked out into the common room to get the water… and see Basket.

The room was quite bare compared to normal, so it was easy to spot him sitting on a couch with the TV going. There were two brothers, a sister and Telula sitting with them. Look at me getting good with the lingo!

Surprisingly, Telula was in jeans and a crop top, so much better. Damn, I’m old and sound so judgmental. Not good!

“Hey everyone!” I called out before grabbing the water and chatting to the bar chic… whose name escapes me. I’ve met so many people here but still feel bad that I can’t remember her name.

Everyone greeted me back in some sort of way, but all certainly had to mention Bear somewhere in their greeting. They really do love their nicknames.

I went and gave Basket some water as well. “How you doing today sweetie?”

“Yeah… OK today. Meet the drugged-up club…” He introduced me to everyone he was sitting with until he got to Telula. “And you know Telula, she wishes she had PTSD, but we can’t all be that lucky.”

I love his sense of humor. “Well, it’s lovely to meet you all. Do any of you want some water as well?”

“No Bear. You sit down, I’ll grab them.” Telula jumped up. “Trust me, the tip Beast gave me last night was more than enough to make me your server for the rest of the week.” She giggled before heading to the bar.

Well, at least she had no hard feelings about last night… not that she should anyway.

Fire brought out sandwiches for all of us. I’d never actually had a turkey sandwich before. I must admit it was nice… except for that pesky tomato. That horrible thing was removed quickly.

“OK. Now I need to go and annoy Viking for my keys. Thank you again for lunch, and it was lovely to meet you all again.”

“Where you goin’?” Telula asked with an easy smile as she handed out the waters.

“First to my sisters to drop my things back there and put on some washing, and then I was thinking the h*******t museum.”

“What about Rip?” Basket smirked.

“He’s busy and has my number. He can contact me when he’s available like a big boy.” I smiled innocently back.

“He said he would meet us at the museum.” Venom appeared, crossing his arms.

Definitely turned stupid from Reid’s d**k because I should be very intimidated by Venom right now. Everything about him screams ‘don’t f**k with me’, yet I roll my eyes at him and cross my own arms.

“Us?”

“Yep! You forgot about Satans Tribe?” He really wasn’t one for emotion.

“Yes, I heard they are lovely and give out roses and kisses on the cheek to old ladies.” That had everyone’s laughter echoing around the room. “Surely the threat is over.”

“Not happening Bear. Go get your stuff. Truck is out the front. There will be three of us taking you.”

I seriously wanted to whine and stamp my foot like my little Eth has done many a time. Addie was always smarter. She always went into bargaining first before she would go to the whining or anger.

“Enough room for one more?” Basket surprised me.

“Yeah, why not. Two more?” The woman, Havoc, started to slowly get up.

I really did want to do that h*******t museum on my own for a reason. I’m emotional at the best of times, at a place like that… I’m going to be a sobbing mess.

I have tried so hard over the last 5 years to keep my emotions in check. Yes, I’ve cried with my kids. I’ve told them it's normal to cry and never once made them think that showing emotion is bad.

BUT, and it is a very big BUT, as their mother, I couldn’t fall apart. I couldn’t be in bed for the next 10 years crying about what could have been, what we had lost and how the most amazing man had been taken from us.

I cried in front of them and then screamed and really let it out in my pillow when they were asleep. My poor pillows were beaten, thrown, screamed into, cried on and once again beaten to get all my frustrations out.

And with Reid... I’m worried that it will take one sad story and all these emotions will bubble over, and I’m NOT doing that in front of them.

Also, I honestly don’t know what Basket and Havoc have been through. There could be triggers in there and I don’t want to do that to them.

“Well, if you all want to come. Is there some sort of Beach esplanade or something we can go and walk along for a while instead? Maybe have ice cream and just take in some sights and fresh air instead?”

Venom seemed to think about that for a moment before he looked over at Bones, who seemed to understand as he stood up and called Scruff to grab his stuff as well.

So, it ended up being eleven of us. Four in one truck, four in another and three on bikes.

They all waited outside for me to drop my stuff off at my sisters and put the washing on. I thought about not packing more clothes and trying to be stubborn… because I’m a 39-year-old woman who should be safe at my sisters now and not be babysat by a bunch of bikers… but I am in a country I don’t know, and I really have to be reasonable here.

Venom took the new bag of clothes and put them in the truck bed with a smirk. Now he shows emotions, just to rub it in my face.

We went to a place with a long esplanade and sights so it was actually really nice and still gave me the breathing space I needed. Even though they were all there and we spoke for most of it.

It really was nice to talk to adults again.

Reid POV

“Turns out it’s not the Italians. We were completely off the mark. It’s this new cartel that’s suddenly shown up. Although, we now know they have somehow gone under the radar for f*****g years!”

Sitting there, I went through all the information again.

What we thought we knew was wrong. How close we thought we were, we were wrong. And this also meant trying to wrap things up quickly in case I had to chase Annie back to Australia, was not going to happen.

I would make it work though. I had to make it work.

We went through different strategies and ideas and decided to contact some connections in some of the other alphabet agencies.

By the time I left, I just needed some time in the gym before I saw my Annie.

I knew they were out for a walk instead of the museum and actually got Basket and the others out of the compound.

Venom told me how he could tell Annie was contemplating not getting more clothes. He knew exactly what was going through her mind.

I probably should have felt bad, but I needed her safe and I needed her back in my bed tonight. And I also had a big day planned for us tomorrow.