Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
SPIDER
Shutting her out and making her my enemy wasn’t working. If anything, it just riled me up and made me want her more. I thought maybe I should just fuck her—a one-time, scratch that itch type of fuck—but something tells me that once wouldn’t be enough. I wanted her to hate me. I wanted her to punish me for what I had done, for what I had caused. Her life could be so different. Acid’s life could have been different. Seeing her last night, laid out on the floor like that, it made my blood boil into a rage I have never felt before. I could kill that motherfucker all over again.
She makes a little whimper in her sleep. I lean up on my elbow and look over at her. Her face is scrunched up like she’s in pain. “No,” she mumbles as her body starts twitching. “No,” she says again. I lift her slightly so that her head is resting on the crook of my shoulder. She groans and rolls over, pressing her body against mine, draping her arm across my stomach.
“Well, it’s a good job those are big couches,” Queenie mutters as she walks past with bags of shopping.
“Shit,” I sigh.
Nova lifts her head, her eyes barely open. She looks around before she looks back at me. It takes her a moment to realise she’s cuddled into me. Her cheeks instantly turn pink when the realisation hits.
“Oh fuck,” she breathes. I can’t help it, I laugh. “It’s not funny. What if someone saw and they thought…? Well, what if they thought?—”
“Thought what, sweetheart? No one will think shit. It will be me getting the shit. You were assaulted last night. Not one person here will think anything happened. They will just think I am taking advantage,” I assure her.
“For fuck’s sake, Spider. The poor girl was attacked last night. You couldn’t give her 24 hours to recover?!” Star snaps as she walks in with Enzo on her hip.
“Point proven.” I smirk. Star sits down on the opposite couch. “How are you doing after last night, darlin’?” I ask, directing my words at Star.
She shrugs. “You know me by now, Spider. No point in dwelling over shit. Just got to move on.”
“It ain’t ever easy killing a man, darlin’. Especially when that killing dredges up shit from the past,” I point out.
Nova gets up and sits next to Star, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. I get up and take Enzo from Star, letting them have this moment. Nova pulls her into a tight hug, neither of them saying anything, because they don’t need to. They have a mutual understanding of what happened.
Enzo stares up at me, and I smile at him as his chubby little fingers try to grab my spider tattoo on the side of my neck. “You ain’t getting that off, little man,” I tell him. He frowns and slaps his chubby hand on my neck. I laugh. “Fuck, just like your mamma.”
“Like I go around slapping people,” Star defends, coming to take Enzo from me.
“Not physically no, but darlin’, your mouth packs a fucking punch.” I laugh as she walks into the kitchen, flipping me off.
“Right, I suppose I should go and make breakfast,” Nova says standing.
I grab my T-shirt and put it on. “Not today. I’m taking you for breakfast,” I tell her.
Nova stares at me like I’ve just asked her the toughest math equation. “Why?” she asks, confused.
“Because you had shit last night, because I’m hungry, and because you need to eat too,” I add as I lace up my boots.
“Okay, but why?” she asks again, staring at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.
“Because I’m hungry, because you need food, and no one expects you to cook today,” I reiterate.
She stands there just staring at me, not moving. “Sweetheart,” I call out.
“Huh?” she asks, dazed.
“Go and fucking get dressed. I’m taking you out for breakfast,” I affirm.
“Okay,” she mutters, still staring at me like I’ve got an ulterior motive.
I nod, smiling as she walks off down the hall.
“So, is that the plan then? Show her the real you, the decent you, and hope she falls madly in love with you? Or are you in it just to charm her into your bed?” Star asks.
Turning around, I face her. “Jesus, how are you always there?” I sigh. “I just thought it would be nice to take her to breakfast, that is all.” I shrug.
“Hhm.” Star gives me a look. “I’m just saying that one minute you’re practically pulling on her pigtails and pushing her over, and the next you’re fluttering your eyelashes. So, you either have a split personality disorder that we didn’t know about, or you want to get freaky,” she states.
“Where is Enzo?” I ask.
“Don’t change the subject. He’s sat in his high chair in the kitchen with Queenie,” she states sharply.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “For a while, I didn’t feel like I deserved her kindness, so I was a dick. Do I think she’s hot? Of course she fucking is. I’m not blind. But Acid was my brother long before this club, and that’s a level of disrespect I ain’t comfortable with,” I state.
Star walks up to me and places a kiss on my cheek, then gives me a little slap. “You are worthy of her kindness, her love, and anything else that she decides to give you. Don’t ever think you are not worthy,” she affirms. “Now, I’m going to go feed my son, or at least watch him throw food around the place. Enjoy your breakfast, and if you are going to Lizzie’s, grab me one of their smores muffins.” She winks before walking back into the kitchen.
A few minutes pass and Nova comes out wearing a long black boho skirt that sits low on her hips, and a crochet halter top that stops just above her belly button. Her blonde hair is long and wavy, draped over one shoulder.
“Ready?” she asks, breaking me out of my daze.
“Er, yeah. You alright to ride in that?” I ask, gesturing to the skirt. She nods, smiling.
I hand her the helmet to put on and once it’s fastened, she gathers up her skirt and climbs on behind me. As she wraps her arms around my waist, I tense.
“Oh, sorry,” she apologises, placing her hands on my shoulders instead.
I start the bike and ride. I can feel her fingers digging in as I increase my speed. I smile as we turn into the bend, feeling her thighs clamping tightly around me. I reach down and place my hand on her thigh, stroking my thumb back and forth, feeling her relax a little. I don’t remove my hand. Instead, I keep it there for the remainder of the ride.
Coming to a stop outside of Lizzie’s Diner, Nova climbs off and begins unbuckling her helmet. Her fingers are shaking, and after I get off the bike I take over. I unclasp it and lift it from her head.
She smiles. “Thanks,” she says sheepishly.
“Come on, you have to try Lizzie’s pancakes,” I say, taking her hand in mine. I lead her inside, and the bell above the door chimes as we enter.
Lizzie’s head pops up from behind the counter. “Take your seat, Spider. I will be there in 2 shakes of a witch’s tit,” she calls out.
I laugh and take a seat in my usual booth, with Nova sitting opposite me. I hand her the menu to look at, even though I am going to order for her. She smiles as she looks over the menu, her eyes taking in all the different choices.
Lizzie comes over, carrying her coffee pot. “Coffee?” she asks.
“Always, darlin’,” I say as I slide my mug across to her.
“Um, do you have any green tea?” Nova asks.
“Sure do.” Lizzie smiles. “I will get that for you. Do you know what you will be having?”
“Yeah. We will both have the breakfast specials please, darlin’,” I state. Nova raises her brow. “Trust me, you’ll love it,” I assure her.
“Okay. I will be back with your green tea,” Lizzie states, smiling before walking off.
“So, I guess you come often?” Nova asks.
“Sweetheart, in more ways than one,” I tease, winking. Nova laughs, shaking her head. “Yeah, been coming here for years. Acid, too,” I add.
Nova smiles. “Tell me more about my brother. What’s he like? Does he have a favourite band? Movie? Or foods? What food does he hate?” she asks, leaning her face on her hands, waiting for me to answer.
“He likes Metallica and System of a Down. Bands like that, but those are the ones he plays the most.” I pause, trying to think of a movie. I smile. “When we broke out of the home, some old dear gave us some money because she felt sorry for us. We helped carry her shopping for her,” I state. “Anyway, we went to the market and got some food. We were fucking starving. Never felt hunger like it. We saw that the cinema was showing a range of different movies cheap, so we went and watched The Lost Boys.” I smile at the memory. “We used the last of our money and it probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but for once we wanted to live a little like everyone else.” I sigh.
“So, that’s his favourite film? Is it good?” Nova asks.
It’s my turn to give her a look. “You’ve never seen The Lost Boys?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “Nope.”
“Fuck me. Then I will have to make sure you watch it. We should have realised then that we would end up joining an MC. Vampires on motorcycles, living by their own laws, living freely. Man, it was all we wanted,” I say before taking a swig of my coffee.
Nova looks at me with soft eyes. “I’m glad you had each other,” she says softly, and that guilt I had buried resurfaces.
I clear my throat. “He isn’t fussy with food. We couldn’t be in that place. So the pair of us both appreciated whatever we got. He is a sucker for a doughnut though. Fucker could eat them all day, every day.”
Lizzie comes back over with Nova’s green tea. “There you go.” She smiles.
“Thanks darlin’, how are things?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “Well, you know, ticking over. Got the lunch special later; my famous lasagne and garlic bread.”
“Damn, reckon you could save me a bit if I come back tomorrow?” I plead.
“I can’t promise. It’s my favourite, too. Plus, I am not here tomorrow. I’ve got a concert to go to.” She smiles.
“Who are you seeing?” I ask.
“Alanis Morissette. I can’t wait! I’ve been listening to her since I was an angry hormonal teen. Nothing like a bit of feminine rage,” Lizzie jokes. Nova laughs, nodding along. “So, as Spider is an uncultured dumbass with no manners, who might you be?” Lizzie asks, giving me a wink. “Only joking darlin’, you know I love you, just not as much as Austin Butler.”
“I’m Nova. Acid is my brother,” Nova says, choking back her laughter.
“Now you mention it, I can see the resemblance. Can’t you?” Lizzie asks me.
I shake my head. “Fuck no. Nova is stunning, and Acid is an ugly fucker.”
“Ha, well you ain’t no oil painting, sweetheart.” Lizzie snorts. “But you have one thing right. You are stunning. Clearly you got given all the good looks and Acid got the…” Lizzie pauses for a moment. “The well endowed family genes.” She sighs.
“For fuck’s sake,” I groan.
Lizzie swats me around the head with her cloth. “Oh, shut it, you know it was just a drunken fumble.” Lizzie pauses as she leans closer to Nova. “It was just a kiss and maybe a little oral fumble. I mean, I nearly chocked to death on it. Your brother should be proud,” she adds. “But that was a long time ago. We are just mates now. What’s a blowie and a fingering between friends?” She shrugs.
I look at Nova and see her shoulders are shaking as she covers her face while she literally cries with laughter.
“I don’t think I want my sausages now,” I mutter.
Lizzie swats me again around the back of the head with her cloth. “Oh, stop being a baby. We are all adults.” The bell for the kitchen dings. “That’s my cue. Nice meeting you, Nova. Come back with your brother next time.” She winks before walking off.
“Oh my god,” Nova says, laughing as she wipes the tears from her face. “I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard in forever.” She sighs.
Seeing her laughing like that, so carefree, ignites something inside me. Something I’ve never felt before, and something I have no right in feeling.