Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
SCAR
“Jesus Christ, I couldn’t eat another fucking bite,” I groan as I pat my full belly. Since I’ve been back, Queenie has done nothing but cook and try and feed me what feels like every five minutes.
“I’m just happy to have you home, and I want you back up to normal strength,” Queenie sighs, squeezing my shoulder.
Ghost had kept most of the club away for a couple of days. He’d said that after seeing the state of me, I needed to rest and fucking eat. One hug from Beast and he would snap me in two. I didn’t protest. I just wanted to sleep.
“How you feeling, tough guy?” Star asks as she pulls the chair out beside me and takes a seat.
I turn my gaze to her and give her a soft smile. “I’m good, now that I’m home, darlin’,” I tell her.
She gives me a small timid smile before placing her hand on mine. “You know I don’t do emotions often.” She pauses. “And I’m not religious in any way. However, I prayed every fucking night that you would be okay. That you would come home.” Her voice cracks with emotion and as her eyes land on mine, my chest aches. “We all prayed. It wasn’t the same with you not here,” she adds as her eyes flicker to Ghost.
I clear my throat and nod in understanding. “Is, er...” I pause. “Is she okay?” I ask.
I don’t need to clarify who I am talking about. Star knows. “Rhea is good. She misses you though,” she adds.
I rub my face with my free hand, not wanting to lose the touch and comfort from Star’s. “Shit, I don’t want to cause trouble for Acid,” I add.
Star rolls her eyes. “You ain’t going to cause shit. You fucking sacrificed your life for him. For them. I mean, he isn’t about to let you hump her till dawn, but he isn’t stupid.”
I smirk. “You sure he isn’t going to let me hump her till dawn?” I mock.
She lets out a laugh. “Good to see some of that old Scar is coming back, and when you have your strength, I know for a fact the bunnies have been giving Ghost a hard time. They miss you. Forget a three-way. I reckon you got your very own hareem waiting for you.” She winks.
I lift her hand and place a gentle kiss on the back of it. “You always know the right thing to say to cheer me up.” I smirk.
She’s about to open her mouth, but Ghost cuts her off. “I know you’ve been near death, and we haven’t seen you in months, but if your mouth touches my woman again, I will cut it off,” he warns.
I can’t help it. I laugh. “Fuck Pres, now that’s a welcome home.” I cough back my laughter.
Ghost’s eyes alight with amusement, but the moment is cut short by a loud rumbling of bikes. His gaze flickers to the window behind me and he smiles. “Looks like the brothers have had enough of waiting.”
Star releases my hand as I stand and walk to the door. Warmth and anxiety swirls in my gut as I step outside into the parking lot, unable to contain the smile on my face.
“Fuck!” Beast yells, being the first to get off his bike. He strides towards me. “Fuck, brother,” he mutters, concern flashing in his eyes. It’s the same concern I saw in Ghost’s and Spider’s eyes when they picked me up. Beast pulls me into one of his bear hugs, slapping me hard on my back.
I wince. “Easy,” I cough.
He releases me, his eyes filling with fury. “We will fucking skin him alive for what he’s fucking put you through,” Beast seethes. I nod, not giving a direct response.
Cash comes over next, trying his best to mask his concern. He must have been pre-warned from his mom. We clasp hands and pull each other in for a hug. “Damn good to see you,” he affirms, squeezing my shoulder.
Cash steps to the side, and Spider smirks as our gazes meet. “Looking better already,” he points out.
I mock, flicking my hair. “I know.” I laugh, fluttering my lashes.
Spider bends over laughing. “Fucking shithead,” he snorts.
I laugh, but it quickly dies when I see Rage stood there, his face solemn. “You look like shit,” he states bluntly.
I smile and nod. “Months of being starved and beaten will do that to you,” I retort.
“I’m going to kill them. I’m going to remove every inch of their flesh slowly. I will make sure they die a slow and fucking painful death for what they have done to you,” Rage threatens.
Hawk walks up beside Rage and claps him on the shoulder. “Remember what we said about keeping it light?” He smirks, rolling his eyes.
I laugh. “It’s good to see you guys.” Hawk hugs me, smacking a loud kiss on my cheek as he pauses. He laughs as I shove him off. Rage simply pats my shoulder. I’m even surprised by that contact from Rage. He really must care.
Lastly, Acid walks up to me with his hands in his jean pockets.
“We will give you guys a minute,” Hawk suggests.
I don’t turn around or respond. My gaze is fixed on Acid.
“It’s good to see you, brother,” he states, his voice thick, laced with guilt. My lips tip up at the edge as I stand there, the air awkward between us. “What you did for me, for Rhea.” He pauses, looking off into the distance. “Honestly brother, I want to thank you, grovel at your fucking feet for what you have done, while in the same breath I want to knock you the fuck out for such a reckless fucking move.”
“What I’m about to say may make things more awkward, but I’ve got to fucking say it. I did it for her,” I state bluntly. He doesn’t even flinch at my words. Instead, he smiles and nods. “I couldn’t bare it seeing her so fucking destroyed. She was...” I pause, sighing. “It was destroying her. I couldn’t sit back and let that continue. You would have done exactly the same,” I point out.
Acid nods in agreement. “You are right, I would have,” Acid adds. “There is one thing I’ve got to make clear. She is mine, and I won’t share her with you,” he states in a sharp tone.
My smile widens and I shake my head. “I ain’t back for her. Hell, I knew back then when I made the decision she was in love with you. Not me, and as much as I wish it was me, I ain’t going to do shit, brother. She made her choice, and I respect that.” Acid’s shoulders sag with relief. Neither of us knew how we were going to be with each other, how this situation would play out. “That ain’t to say that if you hurt her, I will make my fucking move,” I joke. Acid laughs as he steps into my space and yanks me into a tight hug. I slap his back.
“Now you’re skinny as shit, can you still handle your liquor? Because we need to fucking celebrate,” Acid states, draping his arm over my shoulder as we walk inside.
“I think one drink and I will be on my fucking ass,” I laugh.
“Excellent! Let’s get fucked,” he yells.
He wasn’t wrong. The drinks were flowing, and Queenie was drafted in to babysit all the kids at Ghost’s and Star’s house, as that was deemed the most secure place. Ghost wasn’t taking any risks since I had been gone, and he’d upped his security on his place. He’d even gotten an electric fence and motion censored cameras around the property. From listening to the other brothers, their place wasn’t too dissimilar.
I was being cautious with my drinking. My body was still not completely back to normal and I was taking it easy. The ol’ ladies all showed up one by one. I didn’t need to turn around to know when Rhea arrived. After I heard her choke back a sob, I turned around on the bar stool, stopping my conversation with Hawk to see her stood there. Tears were brimming in her eyes, and fuck she looked as beautiful as I remember.
I gave her a small smile. “Hey beautiful,” I greet softly. Acid stands beside her, giving her neck a gentle reassuring squeeze. He whispers something in her ear and she breaks our gaze to look at him, her eyes soft and full of love. She smiles up at him, and if I needed a reminder that she loves him and not me, that confirms it. Acid places a kiss on the top of her head and she nods and steps towards me, wringing her hands nervously in front of her. I can’t help but laugh at how nervous she is. What the fuck has she got to be nervous about?!
“Scar, I—” she whimpers. I cut her off by snatching her into my arms and yanking her to me. She wraps her arms around my waist, burying her face in my chest as her body shakes with sobs. Leaning down, I rest my face against hers. Acid may feel uneasy about this, but right now I don’t give a fuck. I need this.
“It’s okay sweetheart, it’s all okay,” I assure her. Breathing her in, feeling her body pressed against mine again, I expect the same feelings to arise from before, but they don’t. The feelings are different. I love her, but I thought having her close like this, that breathing her in would stir something else in me, too. Leaning down, I place a kiss on the top of her head, and she takes a step back, wiping her cheeks as she beams up at me.
“I am so happy you are here. You’re really here,” she breathes, like she doesn’t quite believe her own eyes.
I return her smile. “I am here.” I look past her, checking that Acid isn’t about to hand me my ass, because if I hugged Star like that Ghost would most likely have his blade to my throat. Acid gives me a nod, showing that he understands.
Rhea sniffs back her tears. “Er, can we talk?” she stutters.
I nod. “Sure sweetheart, but make sure your man knows. I don’t want him getting the wrong idea. I know how excited you are to see me,” I say, winking teasingly at her.
She lets out a small laugh. “He knows,” she adds. I nod and gesture for her to lead the way. She walks us over to the couches on the other side of the bar, far away enough from others that they can’t eavesdrop, but in sight to assure Acid that nothing else would happen. She looks down at her hands. “Scar, about us.” She pauses. I burst out laughing and her head shoots up, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open in shock.
“Sweetheart, there ain’t no us. I thought that was made very clear a long fucking time ago. I know you love Acid and not me,” I remind her.
“No!” she snaps. That has me shutting my mouth. “No, I mean, yes I love Acid, but I love you, too. It’s just a different love.” She sighs, scrunching up her face at her words. “God, that sounds so lame. I mean, I care for you a lot, and maybe if I hadn’t known Acid, if I hadn’t fallen for him, then we would have, you know.” She sighs. “I’m making this so much worse.”
I reach over and take her hand in mine. “Sweetheart, you don’t need to go over this. I know how you feel because I feel it, and sure, if Acid hadn’t already won your fucking heart over long before my dick was buried in you, I may have stood a chance.”
“I, I didn’t love Acid like that before we—” she began.
“Sweetheart, you loved him,” I said, cutting her off. “You just didn’t admit it to yourself, and he did the same. Don’t feel guilty, and don’t feel bad about how you feel. I just wanted you to be happy, and you are happy, right?” I arch my brow. She smiles brightly and nods. “Then I’m fucking happy, but if you change your mind and fancy a ride, you know where to find me,” I tease, breaking the tension.
She laughs and shakes her head. I look at her, really look at her, taking in her soft lips, the way her eyes sparkle when she laughs, and I still feel that pang of pain in the pit of my stomach. It’s just not as painful as it once was. Maybe it’s easing because I was away, or maybe it was something else, someone else. My thoughts drift to Elsie, to the way she cared for me, her smile, her gentle touch. I wonder if she’s okay. Hell, I pray that whatever she said to her family, they bought the bait.
“Hey, where did you go?” Rhea asks.
I blink, snapping myself out of my thoughts. I smile. “Just wondering if a friend is okay.” I shrug.
Rhea eyes me sceptically. “She helped you get out?” I nod. She smiles. “Well, if you speak to her, tell her thank you from me, from all of us.”
I don’t tell her that I probably won’t ever see her again. I just nod.
Star calls Rhea over and she smiles before leaning over and placing a feather light kiss on my cheek. “I’m happy your home,” she whispers.