Acid (Black Hearts MC #7)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

RHEA

“Mom, get off me,” Oliver protests as I check his face, arms, and legs one more time.

“I’m just making sure that you’re okay.” I tell him, kissing his cheeks again.

He scrunches his face up in protest and tries to shove me off. “Mom! Cool it! I’m fine. You’re embarrassing me in front of the club,” he moans.

“Hey Olly, come and help me look after the little ones in the play area outside for a minute,” Queenie says as she takes the pram with both Enzo and Maisy in.

The guys all enter the bar area with serious looks on their faces.

“Uh-oh. This doesn’t look good,” Star mutters beside me. They stand there waiting for Queenie to leave with the kids and as soon as the door shuts behind her, Star speaks out, jumping in before they can. “So what, or who, are a threat to us this time? And I will speak for all of us when I say we are not locking down. Just give us all a gun to carry for our own safety until you kill whoever is the threat,” she sighs with exasperation.

“Woman, shut up and listen,” Ghost growls.

Star raises her perfect brow at him. He’s going to pay for that later. “My apologies, do continue, Casper.” She smiles.

“Oh boy,” Maggie murmurs.

Ghost’s jaw is set tight, the muscle ticking. He’s pissed. I’m not sure who my money is on to win this battle, but I wouldn’t want to be caught in the middle of it.

“My fight the other night, the guy died. His father is a man called Eugene. He’s a powerful man, a dangerous man,” Spider states.

“So what, he’s threatened the club? An eye for an eye?” Maggie asks casually, like it’s not scary that some bad guy wants revenge on the club.

I just look from her to the guys, my heart thumping in my chest. I’ve just got over my son being taken by my ex, and now I have to deal with someone wanting revenge on the club’ the club that I’m staying with, the club that is helping me. My palms begin to sweat.

“Truthfully, we don’t know what he wants yet, but you all need to be made aware, and you all need protection if you go anywhere,” Cash states.

“There is no arguing on this,” Beast adds, making a point of looking at Belle as she caresses her bump.

“Okay, so we’ll be careful, but if he’s made no threat yet, then why do we have to be on our guard?” Belle presses.

They exchange a look and Acid goes to speak, but it’s Scar that speaks first. “Because he hunted down and found Rhea’s ex.” My heart thumps louder in my chest through my ears as he continues. “He told him to kidnap Olly,” Scar adds, his eyes intently watching me.

I feel everyone’s eyes on me. My hands begin shake and my blood boils beneath my skin. “You mean to tell me that my son got taken from me today because you’ve pissed someone off?” I seethe.

“Rhea,” Acid starts, trying to calm me, but I hold my hand up stopping him.

“For the last couple of hours I have felt torture, pure and utter torture. It felt like my heart had been ripped from my chest. Even when we found him, even when I held him in my arms, my entire body had been riddled with guilt. Guilt that it’s my fault that my son got taken, that he was scared. All because of my decision of being with Joe, my decision that caused it,” I rant.

“I mean, if you look at it like that, then it’s still your fault as you chose to be friends with Acid,” Rage states, matter of factly.

“Rage, for fuck’s sake,” Acid sighs.

“No, he’s right,” I snap. “So, I’m making the decision to leave. No one can come after me or my son if we aren’t associated with you or your club,” I choke out, the words stinging as I say them.

“Rhea,” Star says softly.

I look down at her. “No, I’m sorry, I can’t. How are you not terrified something will happen to Enzo?” I turn to Josie. “Or Maisy?” I ask. I turn to Belle. “And your unborn child. What if something happens to you?” I point out.

Star stands. “We do get terrified, and all of us would lay down our lives for our children, but the difference with us is we know them. We know they will protect us no matter what. They will always protect us,” Star affirms.

“But how can they keep us all safe?” I counter. “What if this guy has like a thousand ninjas?”

Star’s lips twitch as she fights back a smile. “Did you see my knuckle dusters?”

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “Everything in me is telling me to run,” I state honestly.

Star drapes her arm over my shoulder. “Running ain’t ever done anyone any good.”

I give her a tight smile. I’m about to say something but I’m cut off.

“You can stay at my place. Away from the club,” Scar offers.

“You have a place outside here?” Ghost asks.

Scar nods. “I’ve just rented it,” he states.

“Why have you rented a place?” Hawk asks, frowning at him.

“So I can take women back. I don’t like to bring women back here all the time because of Olly, so I rented a place for a few months.” Scar shrugs.

“Jesus, do you think you could disinfect it before she goes to stay there?” Star asks, scrunching up her nose.

Scar ignores her and continues. “It’s in an apartment complex. You have to know a code to even get into the building. It’s secure and it’s not far from Olly’s school, so you can drive him to school.”

“She’s safe here,” Acid states firmly.

“How many bedrooms?” Maggie asks Scar.

“Just one,” Scar answers.

“Rhea, you can stay above the new tattoo studio. The place has its own alarm system and one of us or the prospects can crash down in the shop to keep you safe,” Ghost interjects. I’m thankful for his input because I was feeling like whatever I decided would have caused tension.

“Thank you, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to insult your club. It’s just with everything today, and this...” I sigh.

Star’s arm is still draped over my shoulder. “Don’t apologise for wanting to protect your son,” she states. “And with you living above the tattoo place, we can still go ahead with the opening, right?” Star asks Ghost in a hopeful tone.

“With conditions,” he states sharply.

I look to him. “Conditions?”

He gives a sharp nod. “Anyone you want to employ, we can check them out and give them a full background check. Then when the shop is open, it is by appointment only. They give their full name and address when booking and bring ID when they arrive for their booking. If they ask why, you just make out it’s some new government thing.”

“When?” I ask, feeling bad for sounding so desperate to get away from here, especially after all they’ve done for me. All I can think is that maybe whoever this guy is, he will realise I’m of no importance to them when I’m living and working at the tattoo studio. I would merely be an employee.

“We can move you in there tomorrow. Star has already had some furniture delivered there. Anything else you need, we can get for you,” Ghost assures me.

“Thank you. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for all that you’ve done. I just...” Pausing, I try to find the right words.

“You just want to protect your son,” Ghost says, finishing the sentence for me.

I nod and give him a small smile.

Tensions ease a little until Dixie asks a question. “Rage, have you been collecting again?” she asks, her voice so soft and gentle. Never in a million years would I imagine her and Rage being together, but they just work. Rage’s lips twitch and Dixie sighs. “Look, I know I said I was okay with this, that as thong as no lives were taken that it was harmless, but...” She pauses. We all stand there, silently waiting for her to continue, no one mentioning to her the word she wrongly said. “One day, I would like to start a family. Maybe at first, we could get a pet and see how that goes. But I mean, we couldn’t even get a dog because well, what if they got into your collection? I don’t fancy walking in to find our dog gnawing on a foot.” She sighs.

My mouth hangs open and Star gives my arm a little squeeze. I look at her and she simply shakes her head no with a look.

“A dog,” Rage counters.

Dixie shrugs. “That’s just a suggestion.”

“I want a big dog,” Rage continues.

Dixie stands and closes the distance to him. She wraps her arms around his middle and he looks down on her petite frame. “Then let’s go down to the shelter.” She smiles up at him.

The love pouring form Rage as he looks down at Dixie melts my heart. Even after hearing a little about whatever his freaky hobby is. He places a gentle kiss on her lips.

“You need to move your collection,” she says across his lips.

“Done,” he agrees before he takes her hand in his and they walk out of the club.

We all stand there for a moment. “What just happened?” Josie asks confused.

“Well, I’d say they’re getting a dog, and knowing Rage, it will be the biggest and ugliest bastard at the shelter,” Hawk answers.

“What does he collect?” I ask. Everyone exchanges a look. “What?” I ask.

“I will tell you after a nice strong drink,” Star says before leading me toward the bar.

“I don’t want a drink,” I protest.

“It’s not for you, it’s for me,” she states.