Page 20 of Scar

Spider bends over laughing. “Fucking shithead,” he snorts.

I laugh, but it quickly dies when I see Rage stood there, his face solemn. “You look like shit,” he states bluntly.

I smile and nod. “Months of being starved and beaten will do that to you,” I retort.

“I’m going to kill them. I’m going to remove every inch of their flesh slowly. I will make sure they die a slow and fucking painful death for what they have done to you,” Rage threatens.

Hawk walks up beside Rage and claps him on the shoulder. “Remember what we said about keeping it light?” He smirks, rolling his eyes.

I laugh. “It’s good to see you guys.” Hawk hugs me, smacking a loud kiss on my cheek as he pauses. He laughs as I shove him off. Rage simply pats my shoulder. I’m even surprised by that contact from Rage. He really must care.

Lastly, Acid walks up to me with his hands in his jean pockets.

“We will give you guys a minute,” Hawk suggests.

I don’t turn around or respond. My gaze is fixed on Acid.

“It’s good to see you, brother,” he states, his voice thick, laced with guilt. My lips tip up at the edge as I stand there, the air awkward between us. “What you did for me, for Rhea.” He pauses, looking off into the distance. “Honestly brother, I want to thank you, grovel at your fucking feet for what you have done, while in the same breath I want to knock you the fuck out for such a reckless fucking move.”

“What I’m about to say may make things more awkward, but I’ve got to fucking say it. I did it for her,” I state bluntly. He doesn’t even flinch at my words. Instead, he smiles and nods. “I couldn’t bare it seeing her so fucking destroyed. She was...” I pause, sighing. “It was destroying her. I couldn’t sit back and let that continue. You would have done exactly the same,” I point out.

Acid nods in agreement. “You are right, I would have,” Acid adds. “There is one thing I’ve got to make clear. She is mine, and I won’t share her with you,” he states in a sharp tone.

My smile widens and I shake my head. “I ain’t back for her. Hell, I knew back then when I made the decision she was in love with you. Not me, and as much as I wish it was me, I ain’t going to do shit, brother. She made her choice, and I respect that.” Acid’s shoulders sag with relief. Neither of us knew how we were going to be with each other, how this situation would play out. “That ain’t to say that if you hurt her, I will make my fucking move,” I joke. Acid laughs as he steps into my space and yanks me into a tight hug. I slap his back.

“Now you’re skinny as shit, can you still handle your liquor? Because we need to fucking celebrate,” Acid states, draping his arm over my shoulder as we walk inside.

“I think one drink and I will be on my fucking ass,” I laugh.

“Excellent! Let’s get fucked,” he yells.

He wasn’t wrong.The drinks were flowing, and Queenie was drafted in to babysit all the kids at Ghost’s and Star’s house, as that was deemed the most secure place. Ghost wasn’t taking any risks since I had been gone, and he’d upped his security on his place. He’d even gotten an electric fence and motion censored cameras around the property. From listening to the other brothers, their place wasn’t too dissimilar.

I was being cautious with my drinking. My body was still not completely back to normal and I was taking it easy. The ol’ ladies all showed up one by one. I didn’t need to turn around to know when Rhea arrived. After I heard her choke back a sob, I turned around on the bar stool, stopping my conversation with Hawk to see her stood there. Tears were brimming in her eyes, and fuck she looked as beautiful as I remember.

I gave her a small smile. “Hey beautiful,” I greet softly. Acid stands beside her, giving her neck a gentle reassuring squeeze. He whispers something in her ear and she breaks our gaze to look at him, her eyes soft and full of love. She smiles up at him, and if I needed a reminder that she loves him and not me, that confirms it. Acid places a kiss on the top of her head and she nods and steps towards me, wringing her hands nervously in front of her. I can’t help but laugh at how nervous she is. What the fuck has she got to be nervous about?!

“Scar, I—” she whimpers. I cut her off by snatching her into my arms and yanking her to me. She wraps her arms around my waist, burying her face in my chest as her body shakes with sobs.Leaning down, I rest my face against hers. Acid may feel uneasy about this, but right now I don’t give a fuck. I need this.

“It’s okay sweetheart, it’s all okay,” I assure her. Breathing her in, feeling her body pressed against mine again, I expect the same feelings to arise from before, but they don’t. The feelings are different. I love her, but I thought having her close like this, that breathing her in would stir something else in me, too. Leaning down, I place a kiss on the top of her head, and she takes a step back, wiping her cheeks as she beams up at me.

“I am so happy you are here. You’re really here,” she breathes, like she doesn’t quite believe her own eyes.

I return her smile. “I am here.” I look past her, checking that Acid isn’t about to hand me my ass, because if I hugged Star like that Ghost would most likely have his blade to my throat. Acid gives me a nod, showing that he understands.

Rhea sniffs back her tears. “Er, can we talk?” she stutters.

I nod. “Sure sweetheart, but make sure your man knows. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea. I know how excited you are to see me,” I say, winking teasingly at her.

She lets out a small laugh. “He knows,” she adds. I nod and gesture for her to lead the way. She walks us over to the couches on the other side of the bar, far away enough from others that they can’t eavesdrop, but in sight to assure Acid that nothing else would happen. She looks down at her hands. “Scar, about us.” She pauses. I burst out laughing and her head shoots up, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open in shock.

“Sweetheart, there ain’t no us. I thought that was made very clear a long fucking time ago. I know you love Acid and not me,” I remind her.

“No!” she snaps. That has me shutting my mouth. “No, I mean, yes I love Acid, but I love you, too. It’s just a different love.” She sighs, scrunching up her face at her words. “God, that sounds so lame. I mean, I care for you a lot, and maybe if I hadn’tknown Acid, if I hadn’t fallen for him, then we would have, you know.” She sighs. “I’m making this so much worse.”

I reach over and take her hand in mine. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to go over this. I know how you feel because I feel it, and sure, if Acid hadn’t already won your fucking heart over long before my dick was buried in you, I may have stood a chance.”

“I, I didn’t love Acid like that before we—” she began.

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