Page 47 of Acid

RHEA

Yesterday wasthe most insane day I think I’ve ever experienced. With Oliver being taken, even for those short moments, it haunted me. I had checked on him every five minutes last night. I’d made sure the windows were locked when I sent him to bed, and then when Star told me about Rage and his collection, I almost wanted to throw up at the thought, but when she explained a little about him, I got it. Well, sort of. I wasn’t about to say I understood him, but I got it. Although, I wondered how Dixie could live in the same house with all of that there, but each to their own. As long as he wasn’t about to sew them all together and try and make a Frankenstein, then I guess he just had an avid interest into the human body. I mean, I’m sure colleges are full of corpses for their medical students. Either way, Rage had shown he was nothing but loving and protective of Dixie and the club. I wasn’t about to judge him, even though it freaked me out.

Today was a new day. Well, that’s what I kept telling myself. Oliver was starting his new school, and we were moving into our new apartment. As I stood with Oliver hugging him close, a part of me was still terrified to let him go.

“Darlin’, you’re going to suffocate the kid.” Acid laughs.

“Right,” I sigh, plastering a smile on my face and letting Oliver go. I kiss his cheek, to which he scowls at me and wipes it off.

“Mom, you can’t be hugging and kissing me at school. It’s embarrassing,” he complains.

“Sorry, I promise I won’t do it again. Now, have you got everything?” I ask.

“Yes,” he sighs.

“Okay, well go on then. I will be here waiting at the end of the day to pick you up, and then we can walk back to our new place.” I smile.

“I don’t get why we have to move. I like living at the club,” he whines.

Acid steps in on my behalf. “Because the club ain’t a place to live. It’s temporary. You need a proper home, kid. It doesn’t mean there won’t be sleepovers at the club, but you need a steady home. You can’t be doing your homework while Enzo is crying or there’s a cookout going on.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a twenty, handing it to Oliver. “Now, there’s twenty. Make it last the week, be good for your mom, do your homework and shit, and I will give you another twenty next week. Start flunking in class, or your mom tells me you’ve been a little shit, I ain’t paying you a fucking penny. Understand?” Acid warns.

Oliver smiles and nods his head.

“Language,” I whisper when I notice other parents overhear Acid’s potty mouth.

Acid looks around and shrugs. “I don’t give a fuck. I can say what I want.”

I cover face my face and let out a small laugh and sigh. “Okay, go have a great first day and I will see you later.” I smile at Oliver who is laughing at Acid as he turns to walk away. I watch as a couple of kids walk up to him and point back to Acid.

“I still think it’s a bit much for us to bring him on a motorbike,” I say as I watch him go in.

“The guys wanted to be here, and trust me, it sets a standard to all the other little fuckers in here that he is not to be messed with,” he counters as we turn around. Spider, Scar, Beast, Hawk, and even Rage had come with us on their bikes to escort Oliver to school. I rode on the back of Scar’s bike while Oliver rode on the back of Acid’s. I go to get on the back of Scar’s bike when Acid calls me.

“Darlin’, get your ass on my bike,” he demands.

I turn and look at him. “Why?” I ask.

“Because I’m taking you to your new apartment.” He smiles.

“I don’t mind taking you,” Scar adds.

Acid shakes his head. “Pres wants you and the others to help load the furniture into the shop. You’ve got to go pick up the truck first,” Acid informs him.

Scar shrugs. “Still no bother to drop you there on the way.”

I smile at Scar and give him a quick peck on the cheek. “You are too kind Scar, but it’s not fair to make you go out of your way when you’re already helping me.”

“Only for you, Rhea.” He smiles and nods.

I smile back before climbing on to the back of Acid’s bike. He hands me the helmet and he waits while I fasten it on. Acid places his hand on my thigh, giving it a firm squeeze. I catch Scar’s gaze narrowing in on Acid’s hand.

“Ready darlin’?” he asks.

“Ready,” I answer, wrapping my arms around his waist as he rides off.

I unlockthe door and enter the code Ghost gave me into the alarm system. Walking in, my eyes are wide as I take in the studio. It’s small and compact with only three stations for tattooing. The bare brick and rustic wood reception makes it feel welcoming yet edgy.

“This is beautiful,” I breathe. Walking through to the back I pass a small toilet and kitchen area. As I walk up the stairs to the apartment, I use the other key to unlock it, feeling Acid behind me the whole way. He keeps quiet, just letting me take it all in.

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