Page 17 of Goose's Wren

I look around with my heart pounding.My eyes are stinging as I try not to fall apart in front of all of them but it’s too late for that.I’ve already shattered.

“I have nowhere to go,” I whisper.“No money.No clothes.No idea what the hell I’m supposed to do next.”

My eyes flick back to Goose.

And for the first time in my life, I let him see the truth.The fear, the exhaustion, the weight I’ve been carrying for way too long.

And all I can think is...what now?

Goose

She’s standing there in the middle of the parking lot like her whole world just collapsed and hell, maybe it did.Wren’s shoulders are tight, her face a mix of fury and fear.She’s afraid he’ll kill her.

And she’s right.I saw it in that bastard’s eyes when he spit blood at her.He’s not just high and mean...he’s dangerous.And she’s been living in that hell, hiding behind a mask so no one would see.

Not anymore.

I take a step forward, slow and sure, until I’m right in front of her.She’s still trembling, her chin tilted up like she’s trying to hold on to her pride even as everything falls apart around her.

“Wren,” I say in a low, firm voice.“You’ll come with me.”

Her eyes widen.“Goose, no.I’ll figure it out...”

“No.”I shut that shit down before she can even finish.“You need a place.I got space.That’s it.”

She opens her mouth to argue again, but I raise a brow, not in the mood to play nice.

“I’m not asking.”

She stares at me for a second too long, like she’s trying to gauge how serious I am.I let her see all of it.The hard line I’ve drawn.The part of me that’s not walking away.

Finally, she lets out a breath and looks away.“I don’t have much.Just some clothes, a few notebooks...He won’t be there right away.He’ll be too busy getting high or running his mouth somewhere.”

“Then we go now,” I say.“Grab what you need before he shows.”

Prez steps up beside me, nodding once.“Sprocket, Gear,” he calls out without looking back, “you’re riding behind them.Make sure there’s no trouble.”

The twins nod and peel off from the group, already heading for their bikes.

Wren’s gaze flicks between all of us...me, Timber, the rest of the club and I see it click for her.This isn’t just me stepping in.It’s the whole damn brotherhood.

“We don’t let people hurt what’s ours,” Prez says simply, then gives her a pointed look.“And you’ve always been one of us, Wren.Even if you didn’t know it.”

She swallows hard and whispers, “Okay.”

I turn to lead her toward my bike, fists still aching from earlier and heart pounding with something I haven’t felt in a long time.

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