Page 35 of Nines's Time

Clearing my throat, I nod at the laptop. “Nines asked me to look into a number that keeps calling Meadow.”

“Find anything so far?”

“No,” I answer. “It’s got to be a burner, but I can ping a location for it, though it’s taking me longer since the transmission of the call is bounced from one tower to another.”

“You’ll figure it out.” That’s my dad for you. He might be a badass motherfucker when it comes to anyone else, but his family, not so much. Can’t say I blame him, either, and I always said I wanted to be like him growing up.

“Well, that’s only one thing, but I’ve found more on Johnathan, and you’re not gonna believe this shit.” I pull up the information I’d found not even twenty minutes ago.

“What’s that?”

I turn the screen for him to see it. “It’s a life insurance policy. One for Meadow.” My gut twists, and I have this sickening feeling of dread overtaking me. “Johnathan took out a policy on Meadow when she was seventeen, but that’s not all,” I say and change the screen to the next. “The boyfriend I found out she had, she was sold to him. When she ran away from home, a bounty was put out to find her.”

“That’s got to be why Gavril refused to talk about any of this.” Sniper scoffs and leans back in his seat. “He was keeping shit quiet for her. It’s why he agreed for her to move her. That man is protective of her and has checked in with me and Blow several times to see how she’s doing. I’m willing to bet Meadow doesn’t even know about the bounty.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she doesn’t, but although the bounty is still out there, Johnnyboy isn’t. Someone offed him a couple years back. And I’m sure you can take a wild guess as to who.”

“Gavril.”

“You got it,” I grunt and return to the life insurance policy. “I’m going to do something about blocking out the bounty on Meadow, but we’ve got to do something about Johnathan.”

“What are y’all talking about?” Blow mutters, joining us, holding one of the triplets.

“Where are the other two?” I smirk.

“Storm has them.” He motions to the baby. “Phoenix was cranky and wouldn’t stop fussing until I picked him up.”

I swallow, nervous about the very thought of it being me soon enough, and I pray like fuck it’s not more than one kid. I don’t think I can handle it. Inwardly, I shake myself and shove the thoughts back before filling Blow in on what I’ve found so far.

“We need to fill Nines in on this,” Blow says, letting out a harsh breath. “He needs to know this shit.”

“Give the two of them today,” Sniper suggests. “After yesterday, they need a day of no bullshit. Tomorrow, we’ll call him and tell him, then get his ass back to the clubhouse.”

“Exactly. Until Johnathan is taken care of, Meadow needs to be protected at all costs,” Blow agrees. “I have a feeling that if something happens to her, we could all lose Nines.”

“Why do you think that?” I ask, cocking a brow.

“Because when he lost his dad, he spiraled. What do you think he’ll do if he loses his heart?”

Fuck me, Blow’s got a point. A man loses his heart, he’s nothing more than a shell, a soulless motherfucker who’ll kill anything that gets in his way. Like Calyx. I’ve heard about what he’s done to men who get on his bad side. He has no problem slitting a man’s throat and watching them bleed. Then again, knowing what my own woman went through, I don’t have a problem with it either. But I still have her whereas he doesn’t have his woman.

For Nines and Meadow both, we’ve got to find this motherfucker and end him before it’s too late.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

MEADOW

It’s been a few days since we left the clubhouse and Nines has kept the two of us secluded away in his house. The other day, after everything, Nines took me out on his bike, and we rode for hours on end. When we got back to his place, I rode Nines in a completely different way.

I never thought a sexual experience could be as wonderful as the two of us share, but nothing’s like it. Just this morning, I woke with Nines between my legs, his mouth devouring me. After, I returned the favor by going down on him. I didn’t think I could handle doing it, however, Nines’s pleasure spurred me on, and I enjoyed it.

Being just him and me in his house, he stayed in sweats, and I wore only one of his shirts. This meant Nines got to take me repeatedly on the couch, the floor, the shower, and definitely on the bed. My body aches in all the right places, and I can’t help but crave more from him.

Unfortunately, that can’t happen. I need to get back to my boutique and open it up. I also have dresses to finish, and Rain to show around. I’d already been closed for too many days. While making breakfast, I’d started to tell Nines when his phone rang. Since then, he’s been on it, pacing around on the back porch. I haven’t been able to hear anything, just muffled words.

Whatever’s going on can’t be good. It’s my only assumption from Nines’s stiff posture. My phone rings from its spot on the counter, and it dawns on me, I didn’t put it there. Nines must have. Has he answered it? Does he know who’s calling me?

I reach for it with a shaky hand and pick it up. I stare at the screen and then look out onto the deck. I suck in a breath and answer my phone, not wanting to but this has to stop. All of it.

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