Page 49 of Spider

Panting, I frown, looking at Ghost as he types on his phone. Looking back to Acid, I hold out my hand. He looks down at my hand before he places his hand in mine and I pull him in for a tight hug, each of us slapping the other on the back.

“I’m sorry, brother,” I mutter. Acid pats my back.

“Brothers for life, formed in the depths of hell,” Acid says quietly.

We turn to Ghost. “What is it?” I ask.

He doesn’t look up from his phone. “Doesn’t matter. Right now we just need to fucking go.”

I grab Acid and myself another towel before we follow Ghost out to our bikes. We ride back to the club, none of us quite knowing what to expect when we get there. As we arrive, I notice a truck parked up. Queenie, Star, and Maggie are stood in front of the door, their arms crossed, talking to Dean and 2 of his men.I get off my bike and storm over, as does Ghost, Acid, Hawk, and Rage. The girls eyes go wide when they see the state of Acid and I, but I ignore them.

Standing in front of them, I face Dean. “You lost?” I ask.

Dean’s eyes glint with mirth when he takes in my battered state. “We are here for my girlfriend. I was told she was staying here. Blonde hair, blue eyes, great ass,” he says with a smirk.

I catch Hawk holding Acid back out of the corner of my eye. I shake my head. “Sorry, don’t know anyone of that description.”

Dean nods. “That so? Because I could have sworn it was your bike I saw her on the back of just a few weeks ago,” he adds.

I shrug. “You must have just got my bike confused with someone else’s.”

Dean holds up his hands. “You’re right, my mistake. Let me leave you my card, just in case you see her. I would appreciate a call. She isn’t well, and I just want her home safe,” he says as he hands over the card.

I take it and nod, fighting every urge within me to pull my gun from its holster and shoot him straight between the eyes.

“Ladies, it was lovely chatting with you. Should you ever need work, please call me. I would happily help put you to work,” he sneers.

“I’d rather work for Jack the fucking Ripper than you!” Star snaps.

Ghost steps forward and I place my hand on his chest, stopping him from losing his shit. “I think it’s best you leave immediately. Disrespecting the President of an MC’s ol’ lady is a dangerous and fucking stupid thing to do. We’ve answered your questions, now fucking leave,” I growl.

Dean nods. “We are leaving,” he says before he walks away and climbs into the back of his truck. Hawk and Rage pull their guns from their holsters, making sure that they are visible to Dean as he leaves.

“You good? He hurt you? Threaten you?” I hear Ghost ask Star while my eyes are pinned on Dean’s truck, watching as it leaves the compound.

“We are fine,” Star assures him.

Once the truck is out of sight, I turn to Star. “Where is she?” I ask.

“Inside hiding,” she sighs.

I turn and move quickly, entering the club. I look around. “Nova,” I call out. No answer. I storm down the hall to where her room was and open the door, seeing her curled up in the corner of her bed. Her petrified gaze lands on me, “Sweetheart, he’s gone,” I assure her.

She scrambles across the bed to me, and I sit with her on my lap. “I can’t go back to that life,” she sobs, tucking her face into the crook of my neck.

“Shh, it’s okay. He’s gone,” I tell her softly, stroking her hair. I kiss the top of her head. “I’ve got you. I won’t let anyone hurt you,” I promise her. Hearing movement in the doorway, I look up and see Acid stood there watching us. Nova lifts her head, her eyes red from crying and her tearstained cheeks is like a kick in the gut.

“Sorry,” she whispers.

I give her a small smile before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. My lips linger for just a moment. “I’ve got to go,” I rasp out as I lift her gently off my lap. I stand, not saying another word as I make my way past Acid. I walk straight into the bar and grab a bottle of whiskey.

“Where are you going?” Maggie asks.

I don’t answer. I just walk out of the club and march across the lot to the garage. Unlocking the door, I walk in and close it behind me. Unscrewing the lid, I gulp down a quarter of the bottle, coughing as it burns. I sit down on a stack of tires anddrink some more, waiting for the alcohol to block out the pain I’m in.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

NOVA

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