Page 31 of Nines's Time

“Maybe not, but I’ve learned that the past always has a way of coming back to bite you on the ass when you least expect it. I’m not one for surprises, and I don’t want to be dealing with any more than I have to.” Sniper has this disgruntled look about him as he talks and when he does people listen. I listen and find myself understanding him.

I can definitely see his point since it seems that it’s already happening to me. This morning, I woke up with several messages from the unknown number demanding me to answer them or suffer the consequences. I don’t want to run again, but I have a feeling I will end up having to do just that.

“I’ve got a question,” the guy introduced as Lucky speaks up, his gaze on me. “You knew this was where Johnathan and Libby were from, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I confirm.

“Why’d you move here then?”

“It’s the one place . . . it’s the one place he said he’d never come near again. That it’s a hellhole he won’t step foot within fifty miles of,” I answer and glance around the table. “I never understood that.”

“Probably because he knew I’d find out if he were here. He might be able to lie over a phone call, but I’d have seen the truth in his eyes,” Sniper grinds out, slamming his fist on the table before lifting it to press against his mouth as he leans back in his chair. “I should have looked deeper into him. Should have went to him and questioned him in person. Fuck.”

Blinking in Sniper’s direction, I swallow, shoving back my nervousness, and blurt out a question that comes to mind. “If you know who my father is, can you tell me his name?”

Sniper winces and pulls his phone out of his pocket. “Better for you to see for yourself,” he says and lifts the phone to his ear. A moment goes by before he speaks again. “Calyx, you should come to the clubhouse. We’ve got shit to talk about.” He hangs up and tosses his phone on the table. “He’ll be here. I give him maybe ten minutes or so and all hell is gonna break loose.”

“Um, why?”

I don’t understand why all hell would break loose when he gets here.

“‘Cause once he sees you, Meadow, he’s gonna know right off you’re Libby’s daughter,” Sniper retorts and cocks his head slightly. “And staring at you now, I can see Calyx in you too.”

Well, I didn’t expect any of that.

* * *

Like Sniper said, all hell was about to break loose. But I did get the chance to speak to Rain within the time it took for this newcomer to arrive. I asked her if she would like a job at the boutique, and she agreed, saying she’d be in tomorrow to start.

Now, I hold my breath as Nines holds me close.

“Don’t worry, Buttercup, remember I’m right here.”

I nod at Nines’s assurance, but I just want to run and hide in a corner. If not for him, I think that’s exactly what I would do. There’s no way I’d be able to handle facing anything like this without him.

The doors are thrown open, and immediately, I feel the need to shrink as small as I can at the sight of the mammoth man who steps inside. He’s nothing like I would picture Libby with. He’s huge, standing at maybe six-foot-four with arms wide. He looks like a weightlifter on steroids.

“Calyx,” Sniper greets the other man, holding out a hand.

“Sniper.” Calyx clasps hands and grins. Thankfully he hasn’t seen me yet, and I get a good look at him. Though he’s huge, like a giant, I have to say he’s a beautiful man, even with the scar running through his eyebrow. Calyx looks to Nerd and his grin brightens. “Damn, if it ain’t my godson.”

“Calyx.” Nerd snorts and shakes his head while moving forward so they can embrace each other in a man hug. It’s a beautiful sight. It really is. “Wish it was under better circumstances. Well, in some ways, it is. But . . .”

“What’s going on?” Calyx demands, the smile wiping away from his lips.

Sniper nods, and Nines urges me to step forward as he moves with me. Calyx’s eyes turn in my direction, and I hold my breath as he stares at me, his gaze narrowing and his body tensing.

“What the fuck is this shit?” he snarls. “Who the fuck is this?”

“Libby’s daughter,” Sniper answers, “and yours.”

“The fuck she’s mine.”

I flinch and turn more into Nines at the harsh tone of Calyx’s voice.

“Calyx,” Nerd scolds, “a lot of shit has come to light, and you ain’t gonna like any of what we’ve uncovered. But look at her for yourself. You’ll see she’s Libby’s.”

“Maybe so, but if Libby were carrying my kid, she wouldn’t have fuckin’ run off and disappeared the way she did, now would she?”

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