Page 65 of Acid

Scar looks at me and gives me a soft, sad smile. “It will be alright, darlin’.” He winks. A sob escapes me as he turns his attention back to Eugene. “You’ve hurt him,” he says, gesturing to Spider. “What I’m offering you is myself, a prisoner. Doing that means you have a hold over the club. They will not risk coming to get me, if it means my life is on the line. They come to get me, you kill me,” Scar says with a cold tone in his voice.

“Scar, no!” I wail.

“How do I know I have your club’s word on this?” Eugene asks sceptically. “Forgive me for not trusting you right now while you’re all stood here with guns aimed at me and my men’s heads,” he seethes.

Scar looks to Ghost, and a silent exchange passes between them. Ghosts grits his teeth. “You have my word,” he spits out, and it’s like each word is acid in his mouth.

Scar nods before he removes his cut and turns, handing it to Ghost. I shake my head as I cradle Acid in my lap. Tears endlessly fall down my cheeks. “Scar,” I croak, pleading with him not to do this. Eugene gives a nod to his men as they move for Scar. He gives me a small smile, but his eyes pour with love and affection. His words from earlier echo through my mind.

“No man would lay down his life for you, for your happiness, if he didn’t love you.”

My heart shatters for him. I run to him, even though there is gun pointed at me, even with Eugene’s men holding him on either side of his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him tight.

“I’m so sorry, please don’t do this,” I whisper in his ear. “You don’t need to do this,” I plead. He yanks his arms free and wraps his arms around me, holding me tight.

He places a soft kiss on my cheek before he leans down, placing his lips at my ear. “In a different world we may have been together, but I knew from the first night he loved you. I knewyou loved him, and until he confessed, I was going to take every opportunity I could to try and change your mind.” I sniff.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

“Don’t be, I had fun trying,” he says. The men yank him back and out of my arms, and I stumble back. “Be happy darlin’, and look after him,” he says with a wink as they drag him off.

“Star, Rhea, get the fuck out of here now,” Ghost orders through gritted teeth. I am about to protest, to say I’m not leaving Acid, but Star grabs my hand and yanks me away.

We stand outside, waiting by their bikes. Star holds me in her arms, rubbing her hand up and down my back. “It’s all my fault,” I state.

She grabs my shoulder and pushes me back. “In no way is this your fault. None of it. Scar will be okay. They aren’t going to kill him, and until they can figure out a way to free him, he will survive,” she says, trying to reassure me but it doesn’t ease the guilt swimming around my stomach. We hear footsteps and turn to see Hawk and Beast carrying out Acid.

“His pulse is weak we need to fucking move now,” Hawk barks. Star and I follow them to the truck. Star jumps in the driver’s seat, and I jump in the back with Acid, cradling his head in my lap. I pray that he makes it because if he doesn’t, I don’t think my heart will survive.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

RHEA

Acid has hadtwo emergency operations to control the internal bleeding from the stab wounds. A broken leg, dislocated shoulder, 80 stitches to his face, 3 cracked ribs, and a hairline fracture to the back of his skull. Eight days I’ve been sat by his side refusing to move. Ghost and Star have been looking after Oliver for me, bringing him to the hospital after school every day. Lizzie from the diner has sent food up for me and the brothers have all took it in turns to visit and keep watch, much to the staff at the hospital’s dismay. I caught Happ, the prospect, a few times trying and failing to chat up a few nurses. They seemed drawn to Tiny, maybe it was his size, I don’t know, but poor Bambi didn’t get a look in.

“Mom, I got a B on my maths,” Oliver says cheerfully as he walks in, followed by Star.

I turn to face him and smile wide. “That’s amazing!” I praise.

“Can I tell Acid?” he asks, pointing to Acid who is laid there attached to machines.

“Sure, the doctors said talking to him is good,” I tell him before kissing the top of his head. Ever since Acid has been in hospital, Oliver hasn’t once protested when I hug or kiss him. I think it’s his way of comforting me.

I move to Star who is stood by the door. we watch on as Oliver tells Acid about his grade. “Any word on Scar?” I ask.

Star shakes her head no. I exhale a long breath. “We will get him out, I promise,” she assures.

I nod. I don’t doubt them. I’ve learned that they will do whatever it takes for the ones they care about. Their family. “Spider came by earlier,” I tell her.

“How is he?” Star asks.

I shrug. “I don’t think he’s been sleeping. Nova said he can’t get past the guilt he feels. He isn’t eating or sleeping.”

“See? This is why you need to wake you ass up!” Star yells to Acid.

Oliver just laughs at her and shakes his head like she’s insane. “Right, come on. Let’s go get a muffin and a soda and do your homework. Then you can come back down,” Star orders.

I pull her into a hug. “Thank you,” I whisper. Without hers and Ghost’s help, with Oliver, with all of it, I would be lost, and Oliver wouldn’t be handling this situation as well as he has.

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