Page 36 of Snagged By Hook

She would keep Brent away from her daughter the only guaranteed way, kill him.

Hook may not be in love with her, but she had zero doubts that he was smitten with June. Hell, the whole club was. She could think of no better family for her than Hook and the Bastards. Her daughter probably wouldn’t be allowed to date until she was in menopause, but Nova could live with that.

Now that the club had a way to contact Brent, she just had to get that number and give him a call. Arrogant bastard that he was, he always thought he was smarter than everyone else. He’d come running, thinking she’d fuck him again; she didn’t doubt that.

The thought caused her to shiver. After being with Hook, she couldn’t imagine being with another man. He had truly ruined her for others.

“You ready, babe? I bet Flower is vibrating with excitement after seeing all the decorations.”

“Decorations? Is that what you call hijacking a semi-truck full of party supplies?”

He placed a hand at the small of her back and opened the door. “Besides, she probably couldn’t see the decorations for all the gigantic, wrapped boxes with bows on them. You guys really went all out.”

“Oh, please. She deserves that and more.”

They made their way out to the party, which had started without them, if the sounds of Taylor Swift were any indication.

“But for the record,” he whispered in her ear. “This is us toned down. Wait until you see our balls-to-the-wall mode.”

Nova stood there, leaning against Hook, and watched her daughter. In moments like this, all seemed right with the world. Her daughter was dancing, surrounded by big-ass bikers. Watching Squatch, Croon, and Santa shaking it off was comical. A sight she thought couldn’t get any funnier until Hook squealed like a schoolgirl. “Oooh, this one’s my favorite.”

He ran into the fray and scooped June into his arms and danced with her like she was his own blood. Everyone on the sidelines cheered and hollered, Devin the loudest.

Except Heidi. She was busy taunting the three men shaking it off to the beat with her phone in their faces. “You thought your video of Zom and me covered in Doritos went viral, wait until everyone gets a load of you three Swifties.”

Nova could watch her daughter’s happiness all day, but she had a mission if she wanted her to stay that way. Weaving around the makeshift dance floor, she made a beeline to Virus first.

“Not a Swifty?” she asked.

“Actually, I am.” He shook his arm at her. Hidden among the leather bands and steel cuffs was a small beaded bracelet proclaiming him a Swifty 4 Life. “Just got some work to do is all.” Something about his tone spoke volumes. A note of sadness mixed with regret tinged his words.

“Um, hold up. You can’t just casually show me that like it was nothing.” She snatched his arm back, or rather, he allowed her to snatch it. “Who made this for you?”

“A ray of pure sunshine.”

“Really? I’m gonna need more than that.” She crossed her arms.

“You know, you’re starting to act like him. I guess that’s what happens when people pair up. It’s like owners who start to look like their dogs. Or is it the other way around?” His smirk wasone she’d learned by spending a little time with the guys over the past several weeks.

Deflection.

There was a story there.

When she didn’t respond, he sighed and patted the couch next to him. She sat.

“That’s what I called her, SunRae. So, see, I wasn’t as evasive as your inquiring mind thought. You were just listening on a different frequency.”

“What happened?” she found herself asking before she thought better of it.

Virus looked her in her eyes with so much regret, it hurt her heart to see it.

“Me. I happened.” With that, he turned back to his computer.

Nova sat silently, not wanting to pry. She knew the pain when someone scratched at an emotional scab and caused it to bleed.

“Now, what is it you want? I know you didn’t come just for my sparkling personality and witty conversation.”

“What makes you think I want something?”

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