Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
NOVA
Walking past, I see Spider sat in a room on his own, just staring straight ahead, looking lost in his own thoughts. I am not sure why I do it, because he clearly doesn’t like me. I walk in, tapping lightly on the door so not to startle him. His head whips in my direction, and his angry gaze instantly makes me regret my decision.
“Are you okay?” I ask softly.
Spider doesn’t answer. He just stands and faces me, his eyes searing through mine. He walks towards me, like a predator hunting their prey. I stumble back until my back hits the wall. He slams the door shut before he pins his body to mine, caging me in against the wall. My heart races so fast in my chest, it feels like it’s about to explode.
“Why are you here?” he asks, his voice low and threatening.
“I told you. I’m looking for Nash,” I answer, my voice shaking.
His eyes assess me as he leans in, his cheek brushing against mine. He inhales, breathing in my scent. “Liar,” he growls.
“I’m not lying!” I snap, feeling the last fleeting bit of bravery I have. I shove at his chest and he stumbles back briefly, but before I can move away from him, his hand is around my throat, pinning me back against the wall.
“I know you’re lying,” he grits through his teeth.
“How? I don’t even know you,” I retort.
“Because your family is fucking dead,” he seethes.
I squint my eyes, assessing him. “How do you know that?” I ask. His jaw is gripped tight, his eyes burning into mine. I panic. Does he know? Does he work for him? Is he an associate of his? Did Acid search for me and find out? But if he did that, then he would have come for me. He wouldn’t have left me there. Would he?
“Fuck!” he roars before stepping back, gripping his hair tight through his hands.
I don’t move. Watching him, I can see him fighting some inner torment. “How do you know?” I repeat.
His cold pained gaze lands on mine. “I just know,” he states.
I step away from the wall. “My family are dead, but I’m not,” I clarify.
He shakes his head. “Until there is proof, I don’t believe a fucking thing you say,” he spits angrily.
I push my shoulders back. I’ve fought worse than Spider before. I need to stay here. I need their protection. I am not about to be bullied out of here. I have fought this hard to stay alive. I’m not about to give up now. I push my fear and panic down to the pit of my stomach and walk towards him. Stopping just in front of him, I square my shoulders.
“You can choose not to believe me, but know this. I have fought all my life to survive. I’m still fighting now. I won’t back down easily, so you can keep trying to bully me around, but from this moment on, I won’t be such a pushover. I’ve tried to be nice, and I’ve tried to understand where you are coming from, but no more. You know that all my family have died. How is that? Maybe it’s not me hiding the truth, but you,” I challenge. His jaw is clenched so tight I’m surprised it hasn’t snapped. Looking down, his hands are clenched into tight fists. “You going to hit me? Do it. I dare you,” I goad. Truthfully, I want to run. I want to cry and scream and run for the hills, but that’s the problem when you have nowhere else to go. It makes you fight for your survival. Standing up to Spider now, this is me fighting for my survival.
Spider takes a step forward, and I take a step back. His eyes are fixed on mine, but he doesn’t say anything. He just continues to step forward, forcing me to continuously step back, until he again has me pinned back against the wall.
“So, you’re alone. No family, no one to look out for you, no one to turn to when in trouble. Because that’s what you do when you need help. You turn to family,” he states. I try to keep my face expressionless, but he just smirks. “So, what kind of trouble are you in? What trouble are you bringing to my club?” he presses. He leans in, his lips lightly brushing my earlobe. “I bet I could find ways to make you tell me.”
I swallow, my mouth becoming dry. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. Opening my eyes, I meet his stare. “So, let’s see who cracks first,” I suggest. He pulls his head back slightly, his breath tickling my lips, his eyes searching mine. “I want to know how you knew about my family,” I state. “Whoever breaks first confesses all,” I challenge.
His gaze alights as he glides his tongue teasingly along his bottom lip. “Who would have thought this kitten has claws?” He leans in closer, our lips millimetres apart, our breaths mingling. “It’s game on, sweetheart,” he says smiling, before quickly stepping back. He opens the door and walks out, leaving me reeling.
“Maybe we shouldn’t follow them,” Josie sighs next to me in the truck.
Maggie spins around from the front passenger seat. “I’ve been dying to know where they go. They won’t speak of it in front us, but they always exchange looks. It’s like they have a stupid code.” She huffs.
“What if Josie is right? I mean, we could be encroaching on their bonking time,” Dixie adds.
I raise my brow and look at her. “She means bonding. It happens, you’ll get used to it,” Star says from the driver’s seat, wearing a pair of night vision goggles.
“Um, do you think it’s safe to be driving at night with no lights on?” I point out.
“Of course, I have night vision,” Star says, like I’m the silly one for asking the question.
“Hold up, hold up. They’re turning into the old tyre factory,” Maggie states, pointing ahead.
“Why? That closed down months ago,” Josie states as Star follows them.
“There are lots of people here,” I point out. Star pulls the truck over and parks it out of sight. We sit and watch them all get off their bikes and walk inside.
“Right, come on,” Star says as she removes her seat belt. We all follow as we pile out of the truck.
“Don’t worry, we do this a lot. It always works out okay,” Dixie says as she smiles up at me. “We’ve only got into a fight once before,” she adds.
“You got into a fight?” I ask. Dixie just laughs and hooks her arm through mine, leading me inside the old factory.
Loud music echoes off the walls and there are people everywhere. We creep through the crowd and huddle in the corner where the MC won’t spot us. “What do you think is going on?” Maggie asks, trying to peer over people.
“I don’t know. I can’t see,” Star says, trying to crane her neck.
Suddenly the music changes, the lights dim, and a man’s voice comes on. “Ladies, gentlemen, all you beautiful people! Except you Gary, because you’ve got a face only a mother could love,” he says. Everyone laughs before he continues. “Now, I know it’s a surprise that I announced tonight. 2 fights in one week is insane. It can’t be done I hear you say! Well, I have done it. So, kiss my boots and lick my fucking asshole, because tonight I bring you a fresh new challenger. One that has been causing a stir all the way from the big city! Please welcome the one, the only SLEDGEHAMMER!” he yells, causing everyone to cheer and clap.
“Back here. Climb up, because you can see better then,” Star says, yanking me back. We climb up onto the ledge that is overlooking everyone, watching as a muscled guy with tattoos walks into a circle that everyone has formed. We spot the brothers on the opposite side, their attention focused on the fighter.
I frown as I look at each of the brothers. “Hey where is—” I ask but I’m cut off as the guy in the circle starts introducing the next fighter.
“He’s back again. For a second time this week, he graces us with his presence. He hasn’t lost a fight yet; the man, the warrior, the fucking legend SPIDER!” he yells into the mic. The crowd go wild, chanting his name as he enters the circle.
“Holy shit, Spider is fighting,” Maggie blurts out next to me.
The guys signal and a bell rings out as the fight begins. It’s brutal. The sounds of their hits landing, the skin on their knuckles split, and blood and sweat covers the Sledgehammer’s body. Spider’s cut above his eye has opened up again, causing blood to run down his face. They break at the end of the first round, but I don’t take my eyes off Spider. He’s fighting like none of us are here, like he’s programmed, fighting like a machine. His body is covered in a sheen of sweat, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he grabs a bottle of beer and drinks it in one go.
The bell for round two rings and they are at it again. My nerves are on edge as Spider takes a few hits and stumbles, but then something changes in him. Like a switch, he’s steady on his feet and he is launching his entire body. His fists slam into the side of Sledgehammer’s face. Stunned and dazed, Spider continues his assault, landing punch after punch.
“Go on Spider, fucking slaughter him!” Star yells, getting carried away.
Maggie yanks her back, telling her to be quiet, but it’s too late, because even over the noise of the crowd, Ghost hears his ol’ lady’s voice. His gaze snaps up and pins Star.
“Oh shit,” Star mutters.
I feel my top being pulled, but my eyes are transfixed on Spider. He swings his fist back, slamming one final time into the side of Sledgehammer’s face. He’s out cold before he even hits the ground. Spider stands over him, his chest heaving as the guy on the mic grabs Spider’s wrist and holds it up in the air, declaring him the winner. The sound around me dies out as Spider looks to Ghost, before following Ghost’s line of sight to us. His eyes land on mine and I know I sound crazy when I say it, but I swear I can feel his gaze on me.
“Come on, we need to go now,” Star says, again breaking me from my trance.
We all run, squeezing through the crowd as we try to get out and back to the truck as fast as we can. I don’t know why, because clearly they’ve spotted us. I’m not sure how we are going to explain our way out of this. As we get near the entrance, a guy grabs my arm, pulling back and separating me from the others.
“Hey beautiful, where’s the fire?” He smiles. I try to yank my arm free from his grip, but he doesn’t let go.
“Let go of me,” I demand.
He smiles as he leans in. “I will let you go once you’ve given me a kiss,” he says as he puckers his lips.
I lean away. “Get the fuck off me,” I snap.
“Oh, come on, lighten up. Or maybe there are ways I could lighten you up?” he asks, grabbing my behind with his other hand.
I try and fight him to let go. “Get off me!” I protest, trying to look around for the others, but I can’t see them. They’ve gone without me.
“The lady said to get off,” a deep voice says from behind me.
I turn and see a shirtless, sweaty and bloodied Spider stood glaring at the guy who has hold of me. The guy lets go of me and I lose my balance, falling to the floor. Spider swings his fist out and smashes it into the guy’s face. He falls to the floor beside me, and I gasp as Spider holds out his hand for me. I place my hand in his as he helps me to my feet. The crowd surround us, and as I place my hands on his chest to steady myself, I quickly realise after a second where my hands are and I quickly snatch them away.
Spider smirks as he takes my hand in his. He leads me through the cheering crowd to outside where a berated Star is stood sulking while Ghost chastises her.
I pull my hand free from Spider’s and stand in front of Star. “It was my fault,” I lie.
Ghost raises his brow. “Your fault?” he counters.
“Yeah, I had heard about these fights and wanted to check them out. I had no idea you guys would be here,” I lie again.
“You like bare knuckle boxing?” Ghost presses.
I nod. “Uh-huh. I just love it when they knock them out with a, erm…” I pause, looking at Josie and Maggie who are pointing up, doing a scissor action with their fingers. “The um, sky cut,” I say, smiling.
The other brothers cough back a chuckle. Ghost however pinches the bridge of his nose, exasperated. “Everyone home, now,” Ghost orders.