Page 63 of Nova

"You fuckin' cunt!" Creep's voice carries from the front of the building.

Knowing the likelihood my gunshots were heard by the bastard inside, the three of us move around stacked boxes, rushing to the front of the salon, stopping dead in my tracks when I see the gangly son of a bitch hovering above Promise, holding his head as he points the barrel of his gun at my woman, who has Piper shielded behind her back.

"You'll pay for that, bitch," he sneers, kicking away a large glass bowl at his feet.

That's my girl.

But then, Promise catches sight of me trying to inch my way forward without being detected. Her eye movement causes the already tweaked out motherfucker to turn his head. "Oh, hell, look who showed up to the party." His lips turn up in an evil smirk. "Must be my lucky day," he laughs maniacally. "I get to kill you and fuck your pretty little girl here." He looks back at Promise, pressing the barrel of his gun against her forehead. Then his head swings back in my direction, locking eyes with me. "But first, I think I 'll let you watch your whore die."

The fucker shouldn't have taken his eyes off my woman. Using the narrow window of opportunity, I watch Promise as she brings her arm up, hitting his hand away. I hear the sound of his gun firing as I surge forward, closing the several yards between him and myself, and tackle him to the ground. Losing his grip on the gun in his hand, it skids across the tiled floor. Before he has the opportunity to put up a fight, I have him pinned against the wall, the barrel of my gun is pressed firmly against his chest, and my hand wrapped around his throat.

He laughs.

The motherfucker laughs as my hand tightens, restricting his breathing. "Must be my lucky day," I use his words.

"You don't have the balls," his strangled voice croaks and the cords in my neck tighten. "Kill me, asshole." He forces the breaths past his compressed windpipe.

"Nova, the others are here. We need to go before someone calls the law." From the corner of my eye, I notice Fender and Kiwi making their way over.

"Daddy." Piper's scared voice causes me to look to my side, where she's being held by Promise, her eyes filled with fear. I chance a look around finding Riggs with Luna, and Wick and Tequila consoling Sydney, London and Sadie.

Shit.

I won't kill a man in front of my daughter. "It's going to be okay, baby girl," I assure her, then look at Tequila. She's kneeled beside Promise's friends, who is bleeding from a cut on her head. "Tequila," I call to her, and she looks over her shoulder. "Get them out of here. Take them back to the clubhouse and get a hold of Doc."

"Cain." Promise stands as Tequila helps Sadie off the floor. I don't look at her. Not now. She and my daughter don't deserve to see murder in my eyes. "Promise. Go with Tequila."

"Don't..." her voice shakes, and I know what she wants to say, but she doesn't. There are things a man is willing to do. Some things he is ready to sacrifice to keep the ones he loves safe. The tone of her voice hints at those things I'm capable of. Instead, I hear her sigh, as she moves away, with my daughter tucked at her side.

Once the women are no longer in sight, my brother joins me. "Luna?" I ask.

"She's okay. Shaken, but not harmed."

"And him?" I ask about the motherfucker in my grasp, who begins to struggle, and I squeeze, putting more force on his windpipe, watching his eyes bulge from the pressure.

"Your call," Riggs tells me.

My eyes narrow and twisted thoughts manifest in my mind. I want him to suffer before I end his sorry existence. "Take him with us."

Kiwi and Fender flank both sides of me. Reaching into a duffle bag he's carrying at his side, Kiwi produces a roll of duct tape, ripping a strip off, then slapping it across the bastard's mouth. From there, I finally drop my weapon and release my hold on his scrawny neck. I take a couple of steps back, watching as they bind his hands behind his back. Not once does he resist. The entire time the asshole stares me down. He knows his time is coming.

With nothing to transport the motherfucker back to our compound, we opted to fish in the asshole's pockets for his keys. Shoving him in the back of the van he intended to use for my daughter, I slam the back doors shut. Needing to be with my daughter and my woman, I turn to my brother, who already knows.

"Go. I'll wrap shit up here."

With no words, I jog back to my bike, parked down the street.

In no time, I'm at the clubhouse and bursting through the front door to find the women seated on one of the sofas. I rush to them, falling to my knees, then pull them close. I hold my girls for several seconds before pulling back to get a good look at them. Tears stain Piper's face, and it guts me. "I'm so sorry, Bean. Shit. I'm so fuckin' sorry." Guilt eats at me because she was in harm's way once more.

"I'm okay, Daddy. I'm not hurt. Scared a little, but I'm okay." Her palm touches my cheek.

And I'm supposed to be the strong one.

I brush the hair from her face, kissing her cheek, then lift my eyes to Promise quietly sitting beside her. That's when I get a closer look at her, and the deep purple welt on her cheek. My insides coil with rage. Her hand lifts, touching her face. "It doesn't hurt much, but my wrist hurts like hell." My eyes fall to her lap. Reaching out, I carefully inspect her wrist, and Promise winces, sucking in a sharp breath.

"Shit, babe. Doc will be here soon. She'll take a look at it." Grippin' her chin lightly, I guide her lips to mine, kissing her. The distant roar of motorcycles lets us all know the rest of the men have arrived. I hate leaving Piper and Promise. "I got to go."

"I know," Promise says, her expression one of understanding. As I stand, Promise takes my hand, and I look down at her. "Don't worry about us. I've got this," my woman assures me.

With the women being cared for by Payton and Josie, I walk away. Once outside, I watch as Teagan drives her souped-up Jeep through the gate. She pulls her car to a stop, and rolls her window down, hiding her eyes behind sunglasses. "Nova." She turns the vehicle off and climbs out. Going to her back door, she opens it, retrieving her bag from the backseat.

"Take care of my girls, Doc."

"You got it," she responds.

My brothers are waiting for me to make it across the property. I had in mind to have a little fun with the bastard before offing him, but all I can think about is getting back to my girls. Pulling my gun, I walk past my brothers, flinging the heavy metal door of the shed open. My target sits on a wooden chair, in the center of the room, with his arms bound behind his back and his ankles tied to the bottom chair legs. I rip the tape from his lips, taking half of his mustache with it.

He roars from the sharp pain it must have caused, and blood rises to the surface of his skin where flesh is missing. "Why don't you kill me, motherfucker—go on—do it you…"

He doesn't get to finish the final words he'll ever speak again. Raising my weapon, I aim, pulling the trigger. A single bullet ends his worthless life, and I feel nothing but satisfaction.

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