Page 1 of Nova

1

Nova

My eyes pop open at the sound of my phone vibrating against the surface of the nightstand. With my face still plastered against my pillow, I grab my phone, turn it over, and peer at the dimly lit screen. "Shit." Something or someone set off the security alarm at the clubhouse. Throwing the sheet to the side, I climb out of bed. Crossing my bedroom, I grab the pair of jeans I stripped out of a few hours ago, slide them on, and grab a shirt from the basket of folded clean clothes Piper left sitting on a chair nearby.

My phone rings. Swiping the screen, I answer the call. "Talk to me," I tell my brother, Riggs, as I shrug my cut on over my shoulders, then step into my loosely laced leather boots I toed off just outside the master bathroom.

"I need you to ride out and check on things. Momma and munchkin both have low-grade fevers. I'd go, but I've been up since we closed the bar, and need to be here."

I remember those days. Minus the wife part. "Already on it," I inform him and make my way down the hall, stopping long enough to open Piper's bedroom door, checking on her before heading out. "Have you heard from Everest?" I ask knowing he is the only one at the clubhouse other than Payton and Josie. Usually, Fender would be there too, and I wouldn't have to worry about a walkthrough, but he's out of town. In Nashville, to be precise, handling some personal shit to do with his family.

"Yeah. He's got the place on lockdown until you arrive, just in case."

I nod. Safety first. With Everest being alone with the women, it's wise that he waits for backup. The club has gone through too much shit over the past year to risk him checking out the property alone. Wars between gangs have been brewing in the Crescent City over the past few months. Crime is at an all-time high. Gang violence is running rampant, polluting the streets with drugs and death. "Take care of your family, brother. I'll shoot you a text once I get there and check things out."

"Stay safe."

"Always," I respond before disconnecting the call and sliding my phone into my pocket.

Once downstairs, I walk into the kitchen, taking a moment to write a note for my daughter on the dry erase board hanging on the refrigerator door, letting her know I ran to the clubhouse and that I would be home soon. I smile as I writeI love you Beanat the bottom. Sometimes I can't believe how much time has gone by, and think about how little she once was and the young woman she is growing up to be.

Disarming the security system, I open the door leading to the garage, then close it behind me after stepping out. Punching in the code, I secure my home and the single person of value, still asleep in her bed upstairs. As the garage door lifts open, I mount my bike. A custom black chopper, with kick-ass airbrushed blue flames fanning down the gas tank. It's just one of three bikes I own.

The horsepower of the engine thunders as I bring her to life and pull down the driveway. Rolling to a stop, I wait for the garage door to lower completely before taking off down the long road and watch my house disappear in my side mirror.

Out here, where I live, it's as dark as night can get. As loud as my bike's engine purrs, I can still hear the calming peaceful sounds of the bayou. Eventually, I pass my Pop's place, and the home my brother and I grew up in. Once Piper came into my life, I knew raising her out here, where my soul always feels at peace, was the best choice to make.

The muggy air whips at my face as I travel down the road, and memories of the years gone by invade my headspace. My brother was always the driven one. He knew what he wanted in life from an early age and excelled at everything he set out to do. Including following in my Pop's footsteps and joining the military. For me, it wasn't always that black and white. I was restless and a little unfocused. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, never satisfied, or wanting to settle. That was, until Piper came into my life, and I became the Enforcer for The Kings of Retribution MC. My grandmother once told me I had a little touch of my mother in me. A gypsy soul. That I was born a free spirit. I'd like to say that not having my mother in my life didn't bother me, but that would be a lie. A part of me is broken from her abandoning my brother and me. Not to take away from my grandparents. They did the best they could, and until this day, I'm still amazed by the strength, love, and devotion they gave us. They helped shape me into the man I am today.

Increasing my speed, the early morning air hits my skin a little harder, and I breathe it deep into my lungs, reenergizing my system.

Before long, I'm taking the exit to downtown, winding through the city as she sleeps, slowing as I turn onto the frontage road near the clubhouse. In the distance, I catch two dim lights near the fence line closest to the river on the far side of our property. Bringing my bike to a stop, I pull my phone from the inside of my cut, swipe the screen, and pull up Everest's number.

"Hey, brother."

"We have ourselves a couple of trespassers by the shed near the river."

"Where are you now?"

Cutting my bike's engine, I throw the kickstand down. "Down the road. I don't want these assholes to get away." Dismounting my bike, I take a look around before squatting and opening a concealed compartment, retrieving a loaded Glock. "You come up on them from the front side and I'll come in from the back. I don't want them to have anywhere to run beside the mighty Mississippi." Ending the call, I stand, tuck my phone away, and slide my weapon into the back waistband of my jeans.

It takes only a few moments to get to the edge of our property, then I proceed to follow the fenceline until happening upon the spot our visitors entered, along with fence cutters laying on the ground. Instead of going further, I wiggle my large frame through the barely big enough opening, covering my ass in mud, and ripping a hole in my jeans along the way. "Dammit." I get to my feet.

Reaching behind my back, I grab my gun and stealthily make my way toward the dumb fucks who decided it would be a good idea to enter Kings property. It's not long before I catch sight of Everest's massive frame moving along the side of the clubhouse, staying in the shadows.

Peering around the corner of the shed, I find two dipshits trying to gain entrance into the building, with one guy standing on the other's shoulders, trying to crawl through the high narrow window. Still in the shadows, with only the moonlight shining on my face, I raise my arm. "You are some dumbass motherfuckers." The sound of my voice startles the guy holding his friend, and he bolts, leaving his accomplice hanging with only his ass and legs exposed. Unfortunately for him, he smacks right into Everest, bouncing off his solid chest.

"What the fuck dude?" the guy dangling from the window harshly whispers. Taking a few steps forward, I reach up, grab the scrawny shit by the back of his pants, and yank him from the window. His sorry ass falls to the muddy ground like a sack of potatoes. The moment he looks up and sees me hovering above him, with the barrel of my gun pointing at his face, his eyes widen with fear.

"Get the fuck up," I order, and he slowly stands on wobbly legs. I look to Everest who has the other guy by the nape of his neck, and the barrel of his weapon pressed firmly against his ribcage. "What do you say we show these two what they were after?" I do nothing to hide my smirk. Nodding, Everest leads the way, keeping his hold of one guy as I plant my palm between the shoulder blades of his friend, shoving him forward. "Move it."

The rusty hinges on the heavy metal door squeak as it swings open. Flipping the switch on the wall, the fluorescent overhead lights flicker on, illuminating the inside of the shed. The two punks take a good look around. Everest and I push them into the center of the room, finally getting a good look at their faces. "Fuckin' hell." They're just kids. "You two look young enough to have your mommas still wipin' your asses."

"Fuck you," the older looking of the two spits, his voice cracking.

"Do you even realize who's property you broke into?" I ask them.

"We know who you are, and we don't give two shits." The little asshole juts out his chin, balling his fists at his sides. I take in his attire, noticing the gang colors he's wearing, and his friend standing beside him, mute, is wearing the same.

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