Page 42 of Spider

I stare right back at him. One thing I’ve never been able to do with Nash is lie. “It wasn’t supposed to happen,” I say, pausing, waiting for his reaction.

Acid’s jaw clenches tight. “Of all the fucking people, never would I have thought you would fucking disrespect me like that, and behind my fucking BACK!” he roars.

I don’t react. I deserve everything he throws at me.

Acid swings his right fist forward, hitting me across the cheek. My fists clench as I fight my natural reaction to fight back. He swings again and again, and I take hit after hit to the face until I fall to the floor. Acid bends down and grabs me by the scruff of the neck. “Fight back, you son of a bitch,” he seethes as he hits me again.

Nova screams, coming to my aid as I lay in a heap on the floor. Her hands shake as she tries to comfort me. It’s short lived before she’s dragged out of the way by Beast and Hawk.

“Come on darlin’, out of the way. They’ve got to have this,” Beast explains to her.

“Get to your feet,” Acid growls. I groan as I slowly get to my feet and stand there, waiting for the next hit. “I thought for all these years she was fucking dead. I mourned her. I buried the guilt, and in 24 hours I find out that not only she is alive, but that you’ve been fucking her. My best friend, my fucking brother!” he fumes, swinging his fist and again, hitting me straight in the nose. I feel the crack as his fist collides and I fall back, landing on the floor with a thud. Acid rears his booted foot back and kicks me hard in the gut.

I groan and curl up, trying to protect my ribs.

“Enough!” Ghost yells.

Acid pauses. “No, no Pres. It’s not enough. It will never be enough!” Acid spits.

“It’s enough because I say it’s fucking enough. This is my club, and it’s my fucking rules. You want to continue the fight, then ring Rev and get him to set that shit up, but I will not have you fucking killing another brother on my fucking land!” Ghost barks.

“Get off me,” Nova cries, fighting Beast’s and Hawk’s grip. They release her and she comes running over to me, tears streaming down her face. “Why didn’t you fight back and defend yourself?” she sobs.

I don’t answer her. I just groan as I struggle to my feet and stare at Acid through my swelling eye. “I will call Rev and set it up,” I state. Acid nods. I turn around and shuffle my way to my bike, not wanting to stay here. It’s a struggle to get on it but I just about manage it.

“Why would you do this? What does this solve?” I hear Nova ask Acid.

“You wouldn’t understand,” he answers.

“No, I wouldn’t, because its fucking barbaric,” she snaps.

Star and the other ol’ ladies guide Nova back inside. Acid gives me one last look before he turns and walks back towards the fire pit.

Scar walks up to me. “You shouldn’t have told him,” he states.

I shake my head. “I can’t lie to him. Even if I had lied, he would have known. He knows me too well.” I sigh. “Thanks though for taking the rap, when you didn’t deserve it,” I add as I start the bike up.

Scar nods. “It’s what brothers are for.” He shrugs.

I give him a nod before I pull off and ride to my house, choosing to give Acid and Nova some much needed distance.

I stayed away from the club for 3 days straight, giving them time, but more so, I needed to heal a little. I hated the quiet house. The silence reminded me of how fucking lonely I was without my brothers. They were my family, and I had risked it all for one person.

My outdoor camera signals movement. I frown as I set down the whiskey bottle, and as I get up to look at the screen, I see Nova stood there with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Go home, Nova,” I say into the intercom.

She jumps a little at the sound of my voice. “I’m not staying. I just want to talk,” she pleads.

I sigh and go and open the front door. Glancing behind her, I see the truck parked up. “Star in the truck?” I ask.

Nova smiles and nods. I shake my head. “Sweetheart, it’s 1 am. Do you think Ghost won’t lose his shit when he finds her missing?” I point out.

“Probably.” She smiles a sad smile. “Look, I just wanted you to know that I’ve spoken to Acid and told him it was all my fault. I said that I led you on and that if he hurts you again, I’m leaving and never coming back,” she states.

“Darlin’,” I sigh.

“No, I mean it. I’m the reason for all of this mess. I didn’t understand the whole severity of it until I saw him attack Scar. I still don’t understand it, but Star has educated me on club rules and how certain things are important.” She sighs.

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