Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
NOVA
I don’t know why I expected anything else. I’ve never had a good experience with men and Spider has just confirmed that all men are toxic.
I didn’t dare go back out and join them for breakfast. Once all the food was done, I returned to my room, feeling embarrassed. How could I be so stupid to let a man, another criminal for that matter, make me feel like that? I am supposed to be here to see my brother, to reconnect. Not get swept away by good looking guys who ride bikes, and if last night’s hallway entertainment is anything to go by, he clearly knows how to fuck.
I slap my palm to my forehead. “Stupid, stupid bitch,” I chastise myself. I suppose the only highlight is that it hasn’t gone anywhere. Maybe I just felt a connection to Spider because of Nash? Maybe it’s because he provoked me, pushed me until I snapped? A knock at my door quickly has me snapping out of my self-pity. “Yeah?” I call out.
The door opens and all the women pile in with the babies. I frown, feeling confused as they cram themselves in, closing the door behind them. “Er, what’s going on?” I ask.
“This is an invention,” Dixie states.
“Huh?” I ask, still confused.
“An intervention,” Maggie corrects.
I shake my head. “But what for? I’m fine,” I state.
Star hands me Enzo and he immediately grabs a handful of my hair, yanking it hard. I wince. “Aww, just like your daddy,” Star coos as she begins to untangle his chubby little hand.
Maggie snorts with a laugh, shaking her head. “Right, we are here for an intervention. Star told us what Spider did.” I glare at Star. She swore she wouldn’t tell anyone. “Don’t be mad. We aren’t telling the guys, because well...” Maggie pauses. “That won’t help anyone, but we talked and decided you needed an intervention,” she states happily.
“Thanks, but I’m still confused on what exactly this intervention is for?” I ask.
“Yourself,” Queenie states. I raise my brow, still not understanding where they are coming from. “We at some point or another have been belittled, spoken down to, treated like shit, or received violence or otherwise by a man,” she states.
“Oh, but Spider wasn’t any of that,” I start defending.
“He was a jackass. He said some nasty shit, and believe me, he will not be getting any of my peach cobbler for at least a week,” Queenie asserts.
“To clarify, that is not a euphemism.” Star smirks. “She actually means her peach cobbler.”
Queenie rolls her eyes, smiling. “The point is you are already in a vulnerable situation, and he should not be messing with your emotions or saying the vile things he said,” Queenie tuts.
“So, we are taking you out!” Josie says excitedly.
“Singles night at Club Becks,” Belle beams.
I shake my head no. “Er, that’s nice of you and all, but I have decided I’m not interested in finding a man right now.”
Star places her hand on mine. “We will be with you the entire time. We will not let a shit head even approach you. See us as your bouncers. If they ain’t got big dicks or a bigger bank balance, they ain’t getting anywhere near you,” she assures me.
I laugh and sigh. “Fine, but just saying, my ex Dean had a tiny dick and a huge amount of money. Look how that turned out,” I point out.
Star nods. “Okay, fine. We will require a full name, and then we can social media check them.”
“Okay, I give up. When are we going?” I ask, caving in. I’ve never experienced a date before, so maybe it will be good for me to experience a night out with the girls.
“Not until 7 tonight, so we all better start getting ready,” Star suggests as she stands with Enzo.
“It’s midday,” I point out.
“Exactly, so get in the shower,” Star orders.
“It doesn’t take me hours to shower,” I argue.
“When was the last time you waxed?” Star asks.
I shrug. “I shave usually.”
“We will be back with the waxing kit. Strip off and get on all fours,” Star instructs before she walks out.
“Wait, what?” I call out.
“It will be fine,” Dixie assures me, squeezing my arm before she follows everyone else out of the room.
What the fuck have I just agreed to?
Sat in a booth at this Club Becks, some of the brothers of the club are sat in the booth directly next to us. So far people are giving us a wide birth, as the scary intimidating bikers next to us are not exactly giving off welcome vibes. Although my skin feels softer than a newborn baby, there isn’t a single part of my body that hasn’t been waxed. Well, apart from the hair on my head.
“Do they really have to be here?” I ask Star.
“Yeah. Last time we got into a brawl, Ghost insisted on it. He’s such a drama queen sometimes. It was all fine. I had my brass knuckle dusters,” she tuts, rolling her eyes.
I’m not sure if I was right by being more scared of the guys or the women. I sigh and stand. “I’m going to the toilet,” I state, standing. Scar stands to follow me. “I am going to the bathroom,” I explain.
He holds his hands up, “Just following orders, darlin’,” he explains.
I roll my eyes and go anyway. When I’m done, I open the door to see Scar pre-occupied chatting to some woman. I smile and begin to walk back to our table, but somehow manage to trip and land on the floor with a thud.
“Ow!” I groan.
“I thought I was clumsy,” a guy says, smiling as he holds his hand out for me. I take it and smile as he pulls me to my feet. “Wow, you’re even more beautiful upright as you are sprawled out,” he compliments.
I raise my eyebrow. “I think you’ve got that chat up line the wrong way round. Usually, it’s more beautiful when sprawled out.” I laugh.
He laughs. “Shit, I’ve always been a smooth talker. Richard,” he says, holding his hand out for mine.
I smile, placing my hand in his. “Nova.” I smile.
He doesn’t let go of my hand. He just strokes his thumb back and forth. “Can I get you a drink?” he asks.
“Just a soda, thanks.” I nod. He places his hand on the small of my back and guides me to the bar. I look around for the others to signal I’m fine, but as I look around, I see Star and Maggie lining men up. Maggie is taking pictures on her phone, Dixie and Josie have their phones out looking like they are doing research, and Belle, well she’s currently sat on Beast’s lap making out.
“Everything okay?” he asks as he hands me my drink.
I nod. “Yeah,” I answer. “Do you mind if I just tell my friends that I’m okay? I went to the toilet and haven’t returned, so I don’t want them to worry,” I state before taking a sip of my drink.
“Sure.” He smiles.
I just hope he’s still smiling when he sees who my friends are and doesn’t run away scared.
As we approach, Star looks up, her eyes going from me to Richard behind me. She smiles and nods before turning to the line of men. “Okay sorry, position has been filled, but we have your details if anything should come up. Thank you!” she yells.
“Are you pimping me out?” I ask her.
“No! Of course not. I merely set up a thorough interview process. Dixie and Josie were checking their socials, while Maggie took their picture, just in case one turned out to be a rapist or a murderer.” She shrugs.
I laugh and shake my head. “Seriously. And what exactly was Belle’s role?” I smirk.
Star looks around to see Belle and Beast making out in the next booth. “She was supposed to keep the guys distracted, but I think she got carried away.” Star laughs before turning her attention back to Richard. “So, who are you?” she asks bluntly.
“Richard. Nice to meet you,” he says, holding his hand out for Star to shake.
“No offence, but I don’t shake strangers hands, because for all I know you could have just had a piss and not washed your hands. I have a baby at home, and I don’t like to bring back random germs to him,” she states, her hands on her hips as she looks him up and down. “So, what is it you do?” she asks.
Richard looks uncomfortable as I glug my drink. “Er, I work for a small law firm.” He smiles.
Star nods smiling, but her smile falters when she looks past Richard. “For fuck’s sake,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. I lean to look behind us and my eyes land on Spider. I give Star a what the fuck look, and she holds her hands up defensively. “Hey, I didn’t tell him we were coming here,” she defends. “So Richard, you’re a lawyer then?” Star continues probing him.
“Er, no,” he answers sheepishly.
“A legal secretary?” she asks.
His eyes look to the floor. “Not exactly,” he mutters.
Star frowns. “Ah, you’re an apprentice trainee lawyer?” she asks. Richard shakes his head no. We both frown, confused. “Well, what the hell do you do there?” Star snaps.
“I’m the cleaner,” he answers.
Star throws her hands up. “Well then, good night Richard. I’m sure you’re a lovely guy, but with that wage, it isn’t going to be enough to support her or the children.” She sighs.
“You’ve got kids?” he asks me.
I shake my head no. “No, I don’t. Come on, let’s sit over here. I don’t care what you earn,” I state. He’s a good looking guy and he has a job. It doesn’t bother me what he does.
“Oh come on, we agreed big dick and bigger bank account. I’m just saying that if his bank account is that small, how small is his pecker?!” she yells.
We sit down at a small table in the corner. “I am so sorry for that. They are just overprotective of me,” I try to explain.
“No, I get it. It’s good you have people looking out for you like that.” He smiles.
I sigh, feeling relieved. He is calm, quiet and gentle. He is everything Spider is not. We talk for a while and after he buys us another drink, we talk some more. It’s nice and easy. I start to feel a bit heady, so he offers to come with me for some fresh air. As we get outside, he guides me around to the back of the building where it’s even more quiet.
“Better?” he asks.
I grasp my head in my hands, feeling like the floor is moving. I hold my hand out to try and steady myself.
“Easy. Here, let me help you sit down,” he says as he helps me to sit down on the floor. Everything is still moving. I can’t focus.
“Could you get my friends? I, I don’t feel, rrrright,” I slur.
Richard tucks my hair back behind my ear. “You will feel so much better soon,” he whispers in my ear as he pushes on my shoulders, forcing me to lie down. I can’t fight. I feel too weak and uncoordinated.
I shake my head. “No, no, please, no,” I mumble.
He positions himself between my legs and begins to shove my dress up to my waist. He roughly yanks my clean underwear off. “I promise you will enjoy this. Just relax and enjoy it,” he says as he rips my dress at the bust, freeing my breasts and groping them roughly.
“No, n-n-no,” I murmur as I feel him trying to unzip his pants.
“I’m going to fuck you now, then I’m going to fuck your tight ass,” he pants excitedly.
“Nooo,” I slur. I try to push him off, but my arms are too weak. He just grabs them and pins them above my head.
“You mother fucking cunt!” I hear a deep voice bellow. Richard is yanked off me, and I try to lift my head, but it’s no use. I try to move, but my entire body is too limp. I hear grunting, and when I finally manage to move my head slightly, I see Spider lifting his boot and stomping it down on Richard over and over. “You rape women! You sick fucking cunt!” he roars. Eventually he stops, spitting on Richard, his chest heavy. Blood is splattered across his white T-shirt, and as his eyes land on mine, he comes to me and kneels at my side “Fuck,” he rasps. “Alright sweetheart, I’ve got you,” he says. He quickly pulls down my dress, making sure I’m covered, before he strokes my face.
I try to give him a grateful smile. “Thank you,” I slur.
He swallows and nods, placing a soft affectionate kiss on my forehead before he scoops me up in his arms. He pauses, giving Richard one last kick to the head as he walks past him.
As Spider walks through the parking lot, Star and the others come running over. “Oh my fucking god, what happened?” Star asks.
“She’s been drugged. Fucker is around the back,” Spider spits out angrily.
“Motherfucker!” Star fumes. I’m not sure what she does, but it has everyone in a panic. As Spider climbs into the back of the truck still holding me, several gun shots ring out. Spider cradles me in his arms, his concerned gaze searching my face.
“I’m so fucking sorry, sweetheart,” he rasps while his thumb strokes my face.