Page 18 of Nines's Time

“Know you, Nines, something else happened with Meadow.”

“What’s this about Meadow?” Sniper demands.

“Someone needs to explain this whole thing to me about Meadow altogether,” Nerd commands. With him being from the original charter, he technically can demand we do as he says by the bylaws. But he’s not one for causing problems, and neither are we.

Sighing, I glance around the table and meet each man’s gaze. “I’m taking Meadow out on the bike tomorrow.”

“And?” Sniper urges.

“Her and I exchanged numbers. She texted me right as I got to the clubhouse and tried to cancel on me. I texted back, telling her we were going out tomorrow.She said something about me finding someone better, and it pissed me off. So, I called her and told her that she wasn’t worthless, and I was going to prove it to her. She then hung up on me, but I could tell she was crying.”

Sniper nods and braces his arms on the table. “Rain and I went to see her. I asked her if Libby was her mom. She confirmed that she was and that she was dead.”

“She tell you more?” Blow asks.

“No, she didn’t seem to want to talk about any of it,” Sniper answers. “Keys was able to find her birth certificate. It’s got Johnathan’s name on it.”

“Johnathan? As in your cousin?” Nerd quirks a brow, looking at his dad with a strange expression.

“Yeah.” He nods and releases a breath. “What I don’t get, though, is I asked Johnathan a long time ago if he’d seen Libby or heard from her, and he said he hadn’t.”

“Keys looking deeper into it?” Lucky questions.

“I’ll look deeper into it. He’s got y’all’s other shit,” Nerd states, clenching his teeth. “I’ve got my shit, and I’ll find out what’s going on. This is my cousin we’re talking about, and I knew nothing of her existence until Dad called. I’m not leaving until I know what the hell happened.”

I nod in agreement. “I don’t know what she’s been through, but from the haunted look in her eyes and the way Gavril seems to protect her, she’s been through the fires of hell.”

“She’s gonna be hard to break through to,” Sniper mutters, his eyes locking with mine. “Not gonna be easy taking her shit on.”

“I got all the time in the world.” I shrug, knowing it’s the truth.

Meadow’s not like other women. She’s special and has a vulnerability surrounding her that makes a man want to wrap his arms around her and protect her from the world. And I intend to be that man. I just have to show her that, and hopefully, she’ll know I mean what I say and do where she’s concerned.

CHAPTERTWELVE

MEADOW

I can’t help but keep looking at the time. It’s nearly closing, and Nines is picking me up to take me out on his bike. I’ve already looked in the mirror over a hundred times throughout the day, hoping what I’m wearing is okay.

This morning I picked a pair of super faded jeans that have rips at the kneecaps, the bottoms flared slightly but not drastically, and they perfectly conform to my butt and hips. The top I matched to it is a simple T-shirt with wings on the back that have a quote written along the spine. The front of the tee has a small emblem on the right side of my chest. I totally loved it at first sight and ordered it online. It’s nothing like what I carry in my boutique though I’ve thought about doing something similar. The meaning behind the sayings always means something important and meaningful. I put on combat boots that I used to wear all the time at the bar working for Gavril.

I thought the entire ensemble looked great, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous as hell about going out with Nines.I’m scared to death, to be honest. After what happened yesterday and hanging up on him, I don’t know what to expect. Men don’t like to be hung up on or ignored. I just don’t want to be hurt by him when he comes to pick me up, though a part of me feels he wouldn’t do anything to hurt me. Not with the way he spoke.

My phone chimes, letting me know I have a message. At the same time, I hear the sounds of a rumbling coming close to the shop. I’ve learned since moving here those sounds are a common thing. Those of the club pass through here often, and so do others who aren’t part of a club and just ride for the fun of it.

I grab my phone and glance at the screen to see an unknown number on the display. I furrow my brow, a sense of dread overcoming me as I swipe my finger across the screen and open the message to read it. Fear consumes me at the words, and I quickly close out of the message, shaking my head. I drop the device on the counter and step away from it. But the damage is already done. The words seared in my brain. This can’t be happening. After all these years. Why now?

Trembling in fear, I try to get a hold of my breathing and don’t hear the bell over the door or anyone coming into the boutique.

“Hey, Buttercup.”

At the voice, I scream and nearly jump out of my skin as I whirl around to face Nines, my hand clutching at my chest.

“Jesus, Meadow,” he says softly, eyeing me closely. “You okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Swallowing back the fear, I take a deep breath and nod. “I . . . I’m okay.” I breathe through the words getting my bearings. Nines is here. I’m safe. Gavril told me I would be safe with those within the Devil’s Riot MC. That they wouldn’t hurt me.

Nines steps closer and reaches out to cup the side of my face. “You’re not okay, Buttercup. I can see it in your eyes you’re freaked. What’s got you nervous? Me?”

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