Acid (Black Hearts MC #7)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

RHEA

“What’s got you all flustered?” Star asks as I walk back into the main bar seating area.

I sit down, stunned by the vision of what I’ve just seen burned into my memory. “Uh, I’ve just seen Acid naked,” I blurt out.

Star throws her head back laughing. “Girl, has it really been that long for you? I’ve seen most of these assholes naked. They don’t give a shit. I swear, if it wasn’t for Ghost growling at them to put some fucking clothes on, then there would be dicks for days,” she states.

Suddenly there’s a thump on the side of the sofa. Star looks over the back of it, smiling. “Who’s a clever boy! Where’s Daddy?” she coos. I look over and see Enzo sat in one of those baby walker things, although this one has shaped around him like a motorbike. He blows raspberries and screeches excitedly.

“Da-da!” he babbles.

“Yeah baby, where is he?” Star smiles.

He looks around until he spots him over the other side, then like his legs are possessed. He speeds across the room and slams into Ghost’s legs. Ghost grunts, stopping his conversation with the rest of the guys as he looks down to see Enzo, and that stone cold exterior vanishes in an instant as he bends down and picks him up in his big, tattooed arms. Enzo screeches and bounces in his arms, slapping his little chubby hands on Ghost’s chest. Ghost places a gentle kiss on his head and Enzo rests his little head on Ghost’s shoulder.

“Jesus, if that isn’t the cutest thing I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is,” I state, looking at Star who is still watching Ghost and Enzo with such love and adoration pouring from her.

“Okay, I’m going to need some cheese, meat, and pickles now,” Belle sighs as she walks over and flops down on the opposite couch. She puts her feet up and rests her hand on her growing bump.

We turn our attention back to her. “How are you feeling?” I ask.

She huffs. “Like a fat ballooned whale, and now that the nausea seems to be easing, I have raging acid reflux. But I all want is a cheese and meat platter with pickles. Jars and jars of pickles.” She groans. “Which is great for acid reflux,” she adds sarcastically.

Somewhere, as if she had been summoned, we hear Queenie yell, “On it!” She then storms off into the kitchen.

“Can I adopt her?” Belle asks.

Beast walks over with a large glass of milk for Belle and places it down on the table. “Extra ice cold milk, darlin’,” he says before kissing her on the head. He places his ginormous hand on her bump, caressing it softly. “Just got to go and meet the Satan’s, so will be back in an hour or so,” he states.

With that, Ghost walks over with Enzo in his arms. He leans down and hands him over to Star, all while kissing her passionately. Enzo grabs both their faces in his chubby hands, breaking their kiss. Ghost smiles and kisses the top of Enzo’s head.

“Won’t be too long,” he states to Star.

She nods. “Be careful,” she warns. He gives her a wink.

All the brothers begin to file in, and Maggie, Josie, Dixie, and Nova all come over and sit with us. Acid walks out, all freshly showered and dressed. I can’t help but appreciate his body in those clothes; black ripped jeans, a white T-shirt that fits tightly across his broad shoulders and chest, and his club’s cut. He smiles and laughs while talking with the rest of the brothers, but when his blue eyes land on mine I can feel my cheeks heat, I’ve been caught ogling him. I turn back around and all the ol’ ladies’ eyes are on me smiling before their gazes flicker behind me and I know that Acid is there.

“You going to be okay, Rhea?” he asks.

“Oh yeah, all good,” I answer too quickly and rushed. I wince, keeping my face forward so he can’t see.

“Okay, Mama,” he says in a deep voice. I feel his hand on the back of my neck, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Try not to let this lot get you into trouble,” he states, giving my neck an extra squeeze before he lets go and walks off.

I sit there rigid, my cheeks feeling hotter than fire. He’s never had this effect on me before. Apparently, all it took was me seeing him naked.

“Okay, what the hell have I missed?” Maggie asks, sitting forward on her chair.

I shake my head. “Nothing. Nothing at all,” I reply, my voice wavering.

“For god sake, she saw him naked,” Star sighs.

“Oh, is that it? I know you’ve got a kid, but you ain’t seen a dick before or something?” Belle asks.

I cover my face. “Can we at least wait until they have all gone before we discuss this?” I hiss, wishing the ground would just swallow me up.

They all file out one by one and the club goes quiet apart from Oliver playing on his computer game and the couple of prospects that are left. “Okay, spill,” Josie demands, holding Maisy in her arms fast asleep.

“There is nothing to tell. I just was overcome with emotion at him buying that for Oliver, that I just had to say thank you. I was so inside my head that I just walked into his room, and he was in the shower. I guess if I wasn’t so overwhelmed I would be a reasonable human being and wait for him to be done, but I didn’t. I stormed right in here, and that shower curtain is barely frosted, so I could pretty much see everything, and it wasn’t just seeing his dick that made me flustered. It was the fact he was...” I pause to make sure Oliver isn’t listening to me. “Hard,” I state quietly.

They each exchange a look before they all laugh. Little Maisy jolts in her sleep at the sudden noise. “I don’t think you are prepared for living with bikers, honey.” Star snorts.

“I think I’m going to be sick.” Nova mock gags at the mention of her brother’s dick.

Once their laughter dies down, Dixie leans forward. “Look, I’m probably the most pruned person here,” she states.

“Prudish,” Maggie corrects.

Dixie continues. “I didn’t handle all the nakedness very well, but I just know it’s them. You’ll get used to it. I mean, Belle saw Spider forking a woman when she came looking for Beast one night,” Dixie states.

I glance at Nova with wide eyes, but she just waves it off. “Before me,” she clarifies.

I nod, my mouth hung open. “I think it was Spider that had a pool cue up his ass too from one party,” Dixie adds.

“Yeah, that was Spider,” Belle clarifies.

“To clarify again, this was before me,” Nova adds again.

“When I first met them all, they were at the strip club that they owned, and I worked at it. They would all be getting sucked off in front of each other. I mean, it’s tamed it down a little for them now, as they have us, and let’s be honest, apart from Rage, bless his heart, they were all massive sluts.” Star laughs.

“Well, I mean, who wouldn’t be when you have women literally at the club just for that,” Josie points out.

“I mean, could you imagine a women’s only biker club or gang having men there just to fuck them?” Maggie asks, laughing.

“I swear, if there was ever an MC like that, those women should be fucking heroes,” Star asserts.

Queenie walks out with a huge tray full of sliced meats, cheese, pickles, and crusty bread, and places it on the small coffee table in front of us all. “Who’s a hero?” she asks.

“If there was a women’s biker club that had male bunnies,” Belle states, sliding forward to tuck into the food. “God, that’s delicious. Thanks Queenie,” she mumbles around a mouthful of cheese.

“Oh, there already is one,” Queenie states, placing her hands on her hips.

We all turn and look at her wide eyed. “Where?” Star asks.

“I’m not sure now, but when I was younger there were a group of ol’ ladies that had been beaten and abused by their men. Can’t remember what club they were from.” She pauses for a minute to try and remember them. “Anyway, I had asked them for help at one point for your beautiful mom,” she says, looking at Maggie. “And they offered us to join them. They were new then.” She smiles. “But something happened, and they moved away, some kind of trouble or something. So, no idea if they are still a thing,” she answers.

“What were they called?” Josie asks.

“Savage Sisters, bonded together from asshole husbands. Well, bonded over killing their men more like.” Queenie snorts.

“Jesus, what fucking icons,” Star says in awe.

We all nod. I don’t know each of their stories, but for them to agree with Star, for us all to think the same thing, that those women sound fucking epic, I know they must have all experienced some kind of wronging from men. It gave me hope that they have found their happiness, that they have found a decent man to love and adore them. No matter how scary the men of this club looked, for their women and their family, they loved, protected, and cared beyond anyone could imagine.

“How are you feeling now? Do you need any more painkillers?” Queenie asks, breaking me out of my thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, I’m okay.” I smile.

I catch Dixie eying me. “What were you thinking about?” she asks.

I debate if I should say what I was thinking. Would it make me sound pathetic, but I figured they would get it. “That you, the guys give me some kind of hope. That there are some decent men out there. That even though your men look like they could kill anyone without a second thought, they are probably… No, they are the most genuine, caring men I’ve ever met.” I sigh. I’m met with silence, and feeling awkward, I laugh it off. “Ignore me, I sound pitiful. It’s just that you’ve given me hope. Not right now, as I still have that ‘hate all men’ feeling in my soul, but one day, maybe.” I look at each of them, and I see all their eyes are on me, not saying a word. “Jesus, someone say something,” I protest.

Star smiles wide, a glint sparkling in her eyes. “Oh god help us, she’s got that look about her,” Queenie sighs.

Dixie groans while the others exchange a knowing look. “What?” I ask, looking at them.

Maggie sits forward. “Anytime that Star gets that look, that glint in her eye, it means she’s planning something that will no doubt piss the guys off,” she states.

“Who said that what I’m thinking will get us in trouble?” Star defends. “I was just thinking that when she is ready, wouldn’t it be nice to go out? Like to a club. We should have a girls’ night. No men,” she adds.

Josie raises a questionable brow. “And that’s it? No ulterior motives?”

Star feigns innocence. “I’m hurt by your accusations.”

“Yeah, right. Although, I will say that even though they tend to end in disaster, they are always fun.” Maggie smirks.

“See!” Star points out.

Belle sits there eating. “Well,” she says between mouthfuls. “Whatever this event is that you’re planning, I’m out. Too fat and too tired for your excitement.”

“Fair enough, you are excused.” Star nods. “But come on, I’m a mom now. Josie, Rhea, and soon-to-be Belle. It’s only a matter of time until Maggie and Dixie get pregnant, then we’ll hardly get out at all,” Star whines.

“Firstly, there is no way on hell’s earth that I am getting pregnant anytime soon,” Maggie says adamantly. “No offence, Queenie.”

Queenie shrugs. “No offence taken. I know that you’ll give me grand-babies when the time comes.” Maggie smiles and nods, although I get the feeling children are not on her list of things that she wants in her life.

“So, when will this night out be? Because as much as you guys are warning me that this could end in trouble, a part of me really wants to go out and let off some steam. I haven’t been out with friends in...” I pause. “Well, I’ve never been out with friends before. I’ve been in a relationship, had Oliver, and then there was the ex who was controlling me with his fists,” I sigh. They all look at each other, a sympathetic gaze in their eyes. I wave my hand and shake my head. “Please God, no more sympathetic looks, no more. I’m sorry, I don’t want to hear any more about it. I want to move on with my life, move on with my son’s life, and never look back. So, I’m going to need this night out. I’m going to need to let my hair down to be, well, just a normal woman. I’ve never been a woman, and I’ve never been just a girl out with her friends.” Again, they have the sympathetic look in their eyes. I smile. “Now that you can have a sympathetic look for that, I’m going to make you feel guilty, if that is what is going to make all of you take me on apparently a night I will never forget.” I wait for their response.

“For fuck’s sake, now we’ve got to go on a girls’ night out,” Maggie states.

“Fine, even I will come. As long as we go somewhere that has food,” Belle adds. Star’s smile widens. “And what about you Josie?” she asks.

Josie rolls her eyes. “Fine, I’m in. Just let’s make it back in one piece with no fights and no one getting shot.”

Nova chokes on her drink. My eyes go wide, and I look at Star. “Someone got shot?”

Star shrugs, looking away. “You know what it’s like these days, everyone’s got guns. Someone’s bound to get shot, right?” she says, letting out a little nervous laughter. “So, Dixie, you in?” she asks, quickly diverting the conversation.

Dixie nods. “Sure, I’m happy to be the designated driver again,” she states.

“How about we just get a taxi this time?” Maggie suggests.

Star’s eyes light up. “No, no, let’s hire a limo!” she says excitedly. “That way you can drink Dixie, if you want to have a drink. It can be a real night and we can all let our hair down and have some fun.” She looks to Belle with sympathetic eyes. “Well, as much fun as you can have with food.”

Bell shrugs. “Meh,” she grunts. “I’m not complaining. This is the first time I’ve been able to eat and keep food down, so I’m making the most of it. By the time this baby is born, my ass will be so big you’ll need to make the doorway wider.” She snorts with laughter.

“Something tells me Beast wouldn’t care if your ass got bigger. I reckon he’d probably like it even more,” Maggie points out.

“Men are all about the tits and ass.” Nova nods in agreement.

“Nova, you’re in, right?” Star clarifies.

She nods. “I’m in. A bit like Rhea, I’ve never been out with friends. You know, apart from last time,” she says, wincing.

“Seriously, what happened on the last night out?” I press.

“Just a dickhead guy thinking he could get away with drugging and raping me,” Nova states casually. My mouth hangs open, not quite sure what to say. “Don’t worry, he didn’t get very far. Thanks to Spider.” She smiles.

I place my hand across my heart and reach for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I… Is it weird if I say that maybe because of past trauma, that is why I feel so comfortable here? So relaxed?” I ask.

“Maybe you are right. I mean, it’s probably why the guys have all bonded so well. Why they have this club, the brotherhood. I mean, I know Spider and Acid grew their bond, their brotherhood, in that evil kid’s home, but maybe you are right. Maybe that’s why we feel settled. This is our family,” Nova states.

I keep my expression neutral as her statement settles within me. Evil kids home. I knew Acid hadn’t had a great upbringing. He had briefly mentioned it, but I had no idea that he didn’t even have his parents.

Star cuddles a sleeping Enzo into her chest. She looks down on him and smiles, placing a soft kiss on his head. “So, girls’ night, in a few weeks. You keep it to yourselves, not a word to any of the men,” she says in a quieter voice, so not to disturb Enzo. We all nod, although I don’t have a man I could spill to. She looks up at Queenie. “And that means you not interfering this time, too,” she warns.

Queenie smirks. “What? It paid off. Are they not happily together?” She smirks before bending down and takes Enzo in her arms. “I will put him down for you while you plan this thing that I know nothing about because I was busy putting Enzo in his cot.” She winks over her shoulder as she walks off.

Star goes to open her mouth, but Maggie beats her to it “Already booked the limo. It will pick us up from the mall 3 weeks from today at 3pm,” Maggie states, tapping away on her phone.

“I will call Nina at the store and tell her what’s happening. She can have outfits ready for us. I just need to tell her all our sizes,” Josie states.

“I can book us in at the salon for hair and make-up,” Belle adds. “Oh, and a foot massage.” She groans.

“I can bring us some baked nibbles to eat while we are in the salon,” Nova offers.

“I’m not sure how I am going to do this without telling Rage. He gets really testicular if he doesn’t know where I am,” she sighs like a lovesick puppy.

“Particular?” I ask, frowning.

Star pats my leg and nods. “But that’s the beauty of it. He will know where you are. We will be at the mall. That is not a lie,” Star points out.

“But what about after? When it rolls through to the evening and the mall will be closed. What then? What do we say then?” Maggie points out.

Star opens her mouth to say something but pauses. “I’ve got it!” she claps, making baby Maisy jump in her sleep. She winces. “Sorry,” she whispers. “What if I ask Rose to be our cover?” she states.

“We could say we are all attending one of her sisters’ charity fundraiser things, a Gala,” Star suggests.

“But what if Ghost speaks to Rip between now and then and he confirms there is no Gala?” Belle points out.

Star pulls out her phone and scrolls for a minute. “Well ladies, then I guess we are luckier than a prostitute getting the all clear for the clap, because Daisy, Rose’s sister, is in fact having a Charity Gala in 3 weeks’ time. Admittedly, it’s not the same night, but they won’t talk dates, just simple about the upcoming gala. And if he finds out, we can play dumb and say we got the dates wrong,” she says, smiling like she’s solved the world’s problems.

“Or I could just change the booking for the limo, and we actually go out on the same night as the Gala?” Maggie asks, raising a brow.

Star clicks her fingers and points to Maggie. “Yes that, do that,” she asserts.

“Do we have a name for this covert night out?” I ask.

“Gno,” Josie says, smiling.

“Huh?” Dixie asks, confused.

Star’s smile widens. “As in Gyno appointment. But what you mean is g-n-o, aka girls’ night out. But when we say gno, the guys will ignore what we are saying, thinking we are talking about our vagina appointments,” Star explains, laughing.

We all laugh and nod our heads. Star places her hand out in the centre. “Covert gno on three,” she says. We all place our hands on top of hers and chant gno in unison.