Page 51 of Nova

"No, shit?" I'm genuinely surprised.

"Yeah—today," Riggs declares, and the rest of us exchange looks across the table.

"Where?" I ask.

"They're waiting on me to decide." Riggs leans back in his chair once more. "We need a safe place. Not the clubhouse, but still on our grounds."

"The whole damn city is our turf," Wick proclaims, crossing his arms over his chest.

"True. But we don't need our business in the streets either," Riggs tells him.

"What about the bar?" I cock my head. "We're closed all day, and it will be private enough to keep shit low key," I suggest.

Riggs nods, running his hand down his beard, as he thinks. "The rest of you cool with that?" he asks our brothers.

After a beat, everyone agrees to Twisted Throttle being ground zero for the two clubs to have words. "Alright. I'll make a call. Everyone hang here. We all ride out together."

It doesn't take long for word to get back to us that Hell's Punishers will meet us at Twisted Throttle at noon, which is an hour from now. Filing out of the clubhouse, Riggs, Wick, Fender, Kiwi, Everest, and I mount our bikes. The vibration from all six Harleys as we rev our engines energizes us, getting us jacked up for what could come.

Sliding my shades over my eyes, my brother rolls out first, and the rest of us pull into formation as we hit the city streets, causing a few heads to turn as we pass by some of the shops that are always open. A few short minutes later, we're parking our bikes in front of the bar. I spot Luna sitting out on the balcony above us with Aria as we maneuver inside the building and wave. Luna waves back, pointing for my niece to look down in my direction. When she spots me, she clasps her hands together. "She's getting so big," I say to my brother, who watches the exchange.

"Like a weed." He smiles at his family. Luna blows him a kiss before standing from her seat, and she and Aria disappear into their home above the bar. "Come on. Let's have a drink before company arrives," he claps me on the back.

Inside, Fender goes behind the bar, grabbing several beers from the ice cooler and a bottle of whiskey from the top shelf, handing them to Everest who takes them to one of the center tables where we gather. Seconds later, Fender sits several glasses down, sliding one to each of us. The bottles pass around the table, everyone pouring themselves a shot. I fill my shot glass to the rim, lift it to my lips, and throw my head back. The heat from the alcohol as it wets my mouth and slides down my throat acts like gasoline to a flame. We have no idea which way this meeting will go, but we are all prepared in case shit hits the fan. I, for one, want answers. One way or another, I want their man to pay for his actions.

Silence falls as the minutes tick by. Not one of us speaking, as we sip on our beers. The bar becomes so quiet I can hear the slight ticking from the neon sign hanging on the wall as it flickers. We shift in our seats the moment we hear the distinct rumble of bikes approaching, the noise becoming louder with every breath I take. Riggs stays seated as the rest of us stand. Like finely tuned soldiers, we check our weapons, before the roar of engines is right outside the bar.

Once more, silence falls. Everest is at the door in a few strides, ready to greet our guest. He opens the door and the light from outside floods inside the darkened bar room. A minute later, a large frame eclipses the entrance. Instantly I recognize the man from the evening Piper was attacked as the biker Riggs brawled. He strolls toward us, his eyes scanning the room before landing on my brother. Four more of his members follow close behind as they enter the bar. Everest closes the door and stays at his post.

"Riggs?" The burly biker directs his words to our Prez.

Riggs nods. "Crow?" and the guy nods his reply. "Have a seat." Crow pulls the chair from the table, sitting across from my brother. Riggs grabs an extra glass sitting on the table and reaches for the whiskey. "Drink?"

"I won't say no," Crow says, his eyes shifting to me, then back to Riggs. "Twins, huh?" he questions as he accepts the drink.

"My brother, Nova," he tells him, pouring a shot. Crows eyes shoot my way, lingering for a beat. His gaze begins to get under my skin, pissing me off. Wick must sense my mood change, and places his hand on my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze.

"Before this meetin' goes any further, I'd like to clear a few things up." Crow places his glass in front of him after downing it. "What happened to the young girl the other week should never have taken place."

"You're damn right about that, motherfucker," I lunge forward, but Wick stops me. "Your brother," I growl, "would have raped my daughter if I hadn't gotten to her when I did." The tension in my neck increases as my anger doubles.

"What Creep did was apprehensible, and when he's found, he will pay."

"You're damn right he will. I'll see to it that he rots in hell," I threaten.

My brother, levelheaded as he is, doesn't waver after my outburst. "Glad to know we're on the same page when it comes to your man." Riggs levels Crow with a hardened stare. "I also didn't miss the fact you said when he is found."

"We haven't seen hide nor hair of him since he bonded out of jail. I also heard about the shit he pulled soon after." Crow's eyes cut to mine. "The scare he put into your woman, and the threat made toward you and your club has nothin' to do with Hell's Punishers." He then settles his attention back on my brother. "My club has no quarrels with The Kings of Retribution, and I'd like to keep it that way."

"And the reason you're still in my city?" Riggs demands to know.

"To find my brother before he makes another mistake, which may cost more than his life. To stop him from starting a war," Crow admits, leaving us all lost for words.

"Damn." Riggs leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. "That has to be a hard pill to swallow, givin' up your own brother like that."

Crow is willing to give up his brother to keep the peace?I can't even begin to imagine what type of relationship the two of them have. I don't care how fucking pissed I get at my brother. I could never turn my back on him.Whatever. I brush the thoughts from my head. Crows family shit is not my problem. Getting my hands on his brother and making him pay is.

"Look. Don't get me wrong. He's my blood, but me and him," Crow shakes his head, "we're far from family." He sighs, running his hand through his hair. "Creep has been a fuck up for a long time—most of his life to be precise, but him puttin' his hands on a woman, attempting to take something from her like that, my club won't tolerate and I won't stand behind."

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