Then Max walks in ruffling his long dark hair after taking off his bike helmet. He's a handsome kid, looks just like Tate. He's also tall for a ten-year-old, not overly but he'll be a big guy when he's older. He's gonna be packed full of muscle, he already looks like he works out, which is crazy given his age. But I can tell he's an active kid.
He's halfway through a glass of water before he notices me standing there. Slowly, he brings the glass away from his mouth and places it on the counter, his eyes haven't left mine yet. He's a cautious kid, I'll give him that.
“Max, this is Nova,” Lynette tells him excitedly.
“So you found her, then.” Wow, it wasn't even a question, and there was so much disinterest in his words it made me shiver. I can already see he doesn't like me, and that's disheartening.
“Hey!” Even I jump when Jett yells at him. The kid doesn't even look bothered. But then he's probably used to Jett yelling at him. “Dad has longed for this day for fifteen years, longer than you've been alive, you little shit! Our sister is finally home, so show her some damn respect!”
He should take a leaf out of his own book. He's giving Max a hard time for being a brat, yet he's an ignorant prick and won't even look at me.
“Max,” he turns to look at my father – our father. “Remember what I told you about Nova?” He nods his head, his long hair falling in his eyes. “Well, after all this time, she came to find us.” Max just shrugs his shoulders and takes off to his room, I'm guessing.
I sigh to myself. My dad wraps his arm around my shoulder and hugs me to him. Sophie giggles at me and it makes me smile, at least she doesn't hate me.
“We're back!”
“That'll be Willow and VJ.” Great, more people to hate me.
The boy that enters the den this time is tall, like, really tall for a twelve-year-old. He looks like a sixteen-year-old! He is the absolute image of Jett, of my dad. Unlike his little brother, he doesn't look like a skater/emo. He looks like a biker in the making, jeans, wife beater, biker boots. He eyes are a piercing blue, and he has a real sense of power about him. God help us all when he's of age.
God help us because I can already see his going to be just like me. A little bit of a psychopath.
I'll explain later.
While Lynette is busy whispering to whom I imagine is Willow, VJ is eyeing me in a way that is totally inappropriate. Of course, he doesn't know who the hell I am, but he's definitely a ladies man. Already! He's so handsome, he's going to leave broken hearts all over the place.
With a smirk, he holds his hand out to me. With a chuckle, I shake it. But he goes one further, the little charmer, he kisses my hand and winks at me. “I'm VJ. It's nice to meet you...?”
I open my mouth to speak but the heavy chuckles from my dad and Jett stop me. “Dude,” Jett is almost hysterical with laughter. “You're hitting on your own sister!”
I can't help laughing, his bright eyes are so wide. “Nova?” I nod slightly. His eyes shoot to our father. “You found her?”
“She found us, son.”
He looks at me for a moment, his eyes never leaving mine. He's going to run from me like Max did... Nope, I was wrong. He rushes toward me and wraps his arms around me tightly. I look at my dad for a second, I feel a little emotional. He winks at me. I wrap my arms around my little brother and hold him for a moment. God, he's taller than I am!
Willow comes rushing over and wraps her arms around me, telling me how she can't believe I'm finally here, how she's missed me. And I have a vague memory of her and I playing as children.
So this is my family. I only hope me being here doesn't end in disaster. I won't let anything happen to any of them, and that's a fact.
“There's something about that girl.” Ghost says before knocking back his scotch. Nova is sitting in a booth over from us with a couple of the women who belonged to Gunner and Ripper.
Since she walked into our lives a week ago, she'd made firm friends with Eileen, Ripper's girl, and Tonya, Gunner's wife. Gunner is the only one of us who's married apart from the Prez, Blackjack, Red, and Stryker. Even the older members of our MC aren't married. But then Gunner fell in love with Tonya within days of meeting her. He patched her just three days later and married her a month into their relationship.
Now, three years later, they're happier than I've ever seen two people. I don't believe in the whole love and marriage crap myself, but each to his own. How fucked up is that when I want nothin' more than to meet a woman I can make mine?
I don't know what's wrong with me lately. I feel like a damned idiot. But I've wanted a family of my own since my parents were killed. Yes, I have my brother, he means more to me than I think he actually knows. But he's the only blood relative I have in the world. I want my own family. A woman I can call my own, a kid who'll call me dad.
I won't just settle for any woman out there, I want to love her, I want her to love me. And I won't risk getting any woman pregnant until I know for sure she's mine.
“What are you talkin' about?” I ask him.
“I've seen her somewhere before.”
“Have you?” I ask nonchalantly.
He can't have seen her before, none of us even knew she existed until last week. Okay, I knew she existed but I hadn't seen her since she was a little girl. Everyone believed the Prez's daughter was dead. Then she walks in here looking so fuckin' hot I've done nothing but think about fucking her little pussy for hours on end since. I'd have her riding my dick like her fuckin' life depended on it. I'd wreck that pussy like you wouldn't believe. But, as it is, I can't touch her. Prez would tear me a new asshole and then some.
“This is going to sound insane,” Whatever Ghost says usually does. “But do you remember the stories about The Exorcist?”
“The film?”
“No, dickhead!” He snaps, causing me to laugh. “The guy who wipes out scum for a huge price. There's never any trace, no evidence of what he's done but for the rosary beads he leaves behind on his victims’ bodies.”
I nod.
Of course, I've heard of him. Who hasn't? He's smart, quick, never leaves a trace he's even been there. His victims are taken out in the worst way. Some are even tortured to death. I've killed in my time, once or twice... Or fifty times. But nothing like that guy. The man is crazy and then some. And not one person has ever been able to find him.
There are no photographs of him. No one knows his real name or age, where he really comes from. Nothing. It is known that he's the best in his field. If he wants you dead, you'll be dead fast. There's no way to stop him once the wheels have been set in motion. It's said that whoever you contact to hire this guy asks you once and once only if you're sure you want to go ahead. Because once you tell him yes, there is no way back. Even if you change your mind.
That and you need a literal fortune to hire this guy.
Put it this way, I wouldn't want him coming after me.
Not that I'd know he was after me. It's said that his victim don't even know what's hit them. He could be the man next to them on a bus, in a bar, they could even be talking to him like an old friend and they wouldn't know he was about to end their lives.
He can get into any place he wants without being seen. Going on lockdown wouldn't help even a club as big as this one. It wouldn't save us from him if wanted us dead.
I pity the little people of the world. I don't even think the local mob would be safe from this guy.
“They say no one has ever seen him.”
“I know this. But if that's the case how the hell does anyone hire him?” That's the question that has bugged me for months. If no one's seen the guy or ever actually spoken to him personally, how does anyone hire him?
Because he doesn't post anything online, not even subtly. Believe me, people have checked time and time again. The mob have had the best men in the business looking for this guy. On the streets, internet, even by word of mouth. Nothing has ever come up.
Either the guy is a phantom or he's smarter than an
y other person around.
Could be an asset to the right person.
“Through her.” Ghost points to Nova. I turn to look at her. She's laughing with the girls. That beautiful smile of hers drives me crazy with want for her. Why is it I want her so damn much more than I've ever wanted another woman? Maybe it's because I can't have her. Yeah, that must be it.
I turn to look at Ghost. The man's lost it. She's just twenty-two years old. Yeah, she’s confident but she's no killer’s bitch. “Are you insane? She's just a girl, man.”
“A dangerous one. Do you remember when Hammer hired a guy to take out those who killed his girl?” I nod. I do remember. Of course, I do. How could any of us forget?
Hammer was all set to kill the whole state he was so angry. Hammer is a good man, my brother. Cindy was everything to him. She was kidnapped a couple years ago and killed in retaliation for us killing a member of the Sons of Hades. An MC that we've had trouble with for a couple years now.
“Hammer hired The Exorcist to do the job.”
“He did?” That I didn't know. Okay, I knew he'd hired someone to do the job, but I had no idea who he'd hired. Shepard had forbidden him from hiring anyone. But, of course, he found out, but Hammer wouldn't say who it was, no matter what Shepard did to him. And trust me, he didn't let Hammer off easily.
Man's a lunatic. Runs in the blood. So how could he keep such a thing from me of all people? I'm his brother by blood, for fuck sake!
“How in the hell did he manage that?”
“I don't know. Some guy made all the arrangements. I went with Hammer to meet with the person who collects the information for the guy. That person was her,” He points at Nova. “She was wearing a disguise but it was definitely her.”
“Maybe you're mistaken. Look at her, she doesn't look like the kind of girl who'd get involved with something like that.”
He suddenly bursts out laughing. “Come on, Tank. If you look close enough in her eyes you'll see a very dangerous young lady.”
“Don't be ridiculous!” She's not dangerous, she's barely a woman!
“When have I ever been wrong?”
“True.” He never has, not when it counts. He goes with his gut.
“You know what that means, though, right?” I shrug. “We can use it to our advantage.”
“If she does work with him, he must trust her. There's no way she'd go against him and give up his identity.” There's no way she'd be working with him if that guy thought for a second she'd give him up. He'd have to trust her with his life.
Like I said, she's barely a woman, this Exorcist person has been going for a few years, there's no way she'd be working with him that long.
All of this is a moot point. Ghost has it wrong no matter how he tries to justify this.
“I wouldn't ask her to. The point is, with her on our side, we could be untouchable. We need to make her see working for us is better than letting some other MC realize who she is and use her against us.”
“No one will realize who she is, Ghost. You've got this wrong, I know you have. But in case you haven't, keep your mouth shut.”
“Sure.” He smirks behind his glass of scotch.
Anything could happen in this life. I've seen it a million times. But I can't do this right now. I need to get out of here. I can't be in the same room with Nova when I need to get my dick wet. And I really fuckin' do right now. I have the worst case of blue balls.
“Right.” I knock back my drink and slam the glass down on the table in front of me. “I've got places to be.” Yeah, I do, strip club. There's a pussy with my name on it.
“I'm going to have a little chat with Miss Nova.”
I don't answer him. I'm not interested in what he does right now. I have better things to do than chase bullshit. Nova has nothing to do with this Exorcist guy. I know that and I think the quicker Ghost gets this shit off his chest the better. Before Shepard finds out what he's been saying about his little girl.
“Nova!” He yells her name as I get up to walk away. “Come over here!” I watch her roll her eyes at him and get out of her seat. “You staying for this?”
Not that I want to stay for this, but I don't think leaving her alone with him, even in this crowded bar, would be a good idea right now. Ghost can be a little intimidating not to mention hot-headed at times. If he upsets her in any way I'll kill him, then the Prez will dig him up and kill him all over again.
“What do you want?” She practically snaps at him. She doesn't like him at all. She's a feisty little thing, fuckin' sexy as hell in those tight jeans.
I groan inwardly as I check out her tight ass. God kill me now. This is fuckin' killing me. I've never wanted a woman as much as I want this one.
What the fuck does this little girl have that's so damn special?
Sure, her body is beyond hot, tight, lick and fuckable, she has eyes so blue they mesmerize a man to the point he doesn't realize he's staring at her. It's like she has some weird power over me, makes me feel like I've taken a shit load of drugs that render me useless. I can't even move when I look in her eyes. But more than that, there's something about her, something I can't put my finger on just yet.
I need to get away from her, stay the hell away from her at all costs. I know she's gonna be around a lot now she's back in Shepard's life, but that doesn't mean I have to be around her. Jett's my best friend, my brother from another mother, but he ain't had much to do with her either since she's been back. It's fuck all to do with me why, but it helps that she's not hanging around him all the time. Don't think I could if she did. And me and Jett not together every day? Don't make any fuckin' sense in my world. We've been friends our entire lives, we'll be friends until the day we die.
“Take a seat.” Ghost tips his head toward the seat in between mine and his. She rolls her eyes and sits down like a petulant child.
Man, she looks hot today. Hell, she looks hot every day. But when she wears tight jeans, and I do mean tight, all I can think about is sinking my teeth into that peach shaped ass of hers. All I can think about is ripping her clothes off and licking every inch of her or sinking my dick so deep into her tight body that she feels it in her throat.
Well, stop fuckin' thinking about it, fuck face!
“So, you gonna tell me what you want? Because I was kinda busy over there.” She tilts her head towards the girls, who are watching us closely.
“I need a little help.”
“With?” She folds her arms around her gorgeous body and my eyes follow the movement.
Only way a fucker like me is gonna be able to stay away from a girl like this is to have his fuckin' eyes gouged out and his hands cut off. Maybe his dick too. Might just happen if I don't keep my goddamn eyes off her.
“Contacting The Exorcist.” She looks at him for a moment. She looks confused and then amused. “Surely you remember me?”
“Should I?”
I watch Ghost lean forward in his seat, resting his arms on the table. “We met once. You collected some information from a friend of ours.”
“Is that right?” I watch a smirk creep across her pretty face. She's mocking him. Serves him right, this is fuckin' ridiculous. “And who is this friend of yours?”
“Hammer. You collected information and payment for The Exorcist's help with a job he needed doing. Now, tell me, Nova. How does a girl like you get involved with a man like that?”
She smirks, trying not to laugh out loud. I wish he could hear himself right now, it's no wonder she's laughing at him, he sounds ridiculous. “You have me mistaken for someone else. I've never heard of this Exorcist person. The name alone is ridiculous.”
“I know it's you.”
She smiles while getting out of her seat. “I think somebody spends too much time watching action movies. I'm not who you think I am. If I was I'd watch what I said. You wouldn't want the wrong person finding out what you've been saying.” Ghost's eyes widen a little, she's spooked him. Nova smirks, and I'm wondering if she really is hid
ing something.
Don't be stupid, Tank. Ghost started this stupid shit and Nova finished it. If she spooked him, he deserved it. You know him, he can be a real prick sometimes. It's about time somebody put the little shit in his place. Just so happened to be this little slip of a girl.
“Now, don't do anything stupid, Ghost.”
“What the hell is it you think I'm gonna do?”
“Don't go telling people what you think you know. You have it so very wrong. But that kind of thing could lead to bad things for all of us, and I know you don't want that.”
Ghost smirks. “You won't bring hell down on this club, your family is here.”
I watch Nova lean down, hands pressed into the table as she stares at Ghost. “You have no idea of the things I would do. But I don't know this Exorcist person, and I have no interest in finding out who he might be. But I've heard the stories, just as you have. You ought not to mess in things that don't concern you, Ghost. You should know that by now.”
Ghost leans back in his seat, arms around his big chest, smirk on his face.
I wipe my hand over my face. This idiot is just loving antagonizing Nova. She's not a weak woman, any idiot can see that, but she is just a woman. She doesn't need Ghost riling her like this.
Is he so stupid to believe that if Shepard finds out he won't beat his ass into next week?
Shepard is a crazy son of a bitch, and if he finds out about this it won't lead to good things.
Then there's Jett. He might have a chip on his shoulder right now, why, none of us know. But Nova is still his little sister and he would kill any man who upset her.
This prick just can't seem to let it go, though.
“I know it's you. I am never wrong, and I will find the proof I need. Once I do, I'll take it to Shepard. What do you think he'll do when he knows his little girl works for the best assassin there is?”
“What do you think he'll do when I tell him one of his men is harassing me?” She cocks her eyebrow at him. He swallows visibly. He knows what will happen, we all do. “Now, I've got places to be.” She turns to look at me. “Will you walk me out please?”
The One I Need Page 4
