Page 16 of Spider
“That your Surge married us.”
He stopped chewing a moment and stared.After he’d swallowed, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box.He set it on the table, then reached into his pocket and pulled out something shiny.My eyes went wide as he slid a solid silver band onto his ring finger.When he opened the box and I saw a silver band with sparkling diamonds across the top, I couldn’t hold back my gasp.
“If it’s not the right size, they said they can resize it for you,” Spider said.“But to answer your question, no, I’m not angry.I’d already claimed you, and in my world that’s pretty much the same thing.Except once a biker claims you, there’s no divorce, no going back.It’s a forever kind of thing.What Surge did, that’s just paperwork to make it legal in the eyes of the law.”
My hand trembled as he grasped it and slid the ring onto my finger.
“Now everyone will know you’re claimed even if they don’t see your ink, which you’ll be getting soon, or your cut, which should be ready by tomorrow.You’re mine, Luciana.Forever.”
Tears gathered in my eyes as I gazed at the ring, and his hand holding mine.Nothing could have prepared me for the emotions welling inside me.No one had ever wanted me, but he did.A sob escaped me and then another.When Spider pulled me into his arms, it wasn’t long before I soaked his shirt with my tears.He rubbed my back and let me cry.I clung to him, wondering how I had gotten lucky enough to be given to a man like him, and hoping I never had to let him go.
Chapter Five
Spider
It had been so damn long since I’d had a woman in my bed.I smoothed Luciana’s hair back from her face, admiring her profile as she slept soundly.After she’d cried yesterday, I’d urged her to finish her food before insisting she had a nap.She’d seemed embarrassed over her breakdown, but after everything she’d been through it was a miracle she hadn’t bawled her eyes out sooner.She was stronger than she gave herself credit for, and I hoped one day she’d see it.
The diamonds on her finger twinkled in the sunlight peeking through the blinds.She was mine.Not just my old lady, but my wife, thanks to Surge.To me, it was just a legality.Once I’d claimed her, that was it.Didn’t matter if she shared my name or not, she was mine.I couldn’t remember a time I’d ever felt as protective of someone, or rather over a woman, as I felt over Luciana.I wanted to slay all her dragons, but mostly I wanted to bury her father six feet deep.After torturing the shit out of him.I didn’t know what Casper had planned for Mateo Gomez, but I wanted in on it.
I left a note on the nightstand so Luciana wouldn’t wake up and worry when she couldn’t find me, then I put on my cut, pocketed my phone, and grabbed my keys.I’d never bothered locking my doors inside the compound, but with a pregnant woman under my roof --my woman-- I made sure the house was locked up before I left.My Harley rumbled as I started the engine and drove to the front gates.A Prospect was already there with one of the trucks, as well as Hornet, Slider, and Bear.If I hadn’t set up this deal weeks ago, I’d have canceled the damn thing so I could focus on other shit like Mateo Gomez and whether or not he was a threat to my club and my woman.I had a hard time believing he was willingly giving up his daughters, even if he thought he was getting an alliance out of it.
Teller opened the gates, and we pulled through with me taking point.Bear was to my right and half a length behind, then the truck, with Hornet and Slider pulling up the rear.We hit the highway and headed out of town.The pick-up location was outside St.Louis in a spot no one knew about.No one still living at any rate, except my club and now the Quiet Killers.Getting mixed up with organized crime groups was always dicey, but these guys were the new go-between for several arms dealers.Since D.C.A.would only deal with me, thanks to my government connections, providing them with quality guns was a top priority for my club.The Deadly Cobra Association only hired the best assassins, ex-special ops, and other men you didn’t want to meet in a dark alley.They were the government’s go-to when their military elite got into a bind, or their hands were tied with red tape and a situation needed to be handled immediately.
We were only on the road about an hour before I pulled down a dirt road that looked more like an accident than a true pathway.I slowed my bike, avoiding the pony-sized potholes, and drove through the wooded land, keeping an eye out for trouble.In the clearing ahead, there were two SUVs and a truck.The men waiting were armed, dark glasses hiding their eyes from view.My gut clenched as I came to a stop about four yards away, Bear pulling up next to me.
“What do you think, Pres?”he asked.
“I’m not getting any bad vibes.From what I’ve heard, these guys are legit and wouldn’t want to fuck up this deal.”
Bear nodded.We moved in closer and dismounted from our bikes when we were about ten feet away.The truck behind me stopped as well, and I heard Philip get out.The bag of cash was clutched in his hand and I gave him a nod.He walked forward and set it down in front of Miguel Juarez, my contact with Quiet Killers, before backing away.With a snap of his fingers, Miguel had two of his guys sifting through the bag.
“It’s all here,” one of them confirmed.
I followed Miguel to the truck and motioned for my guys to unload the crates in back.Two crates of M4’s and another of CZ 75B’s.The head of D.C.A.’s lead tactical team would be very pleased.Mason Parkes could probably get this shit himself, but he was like me and buried up to his neck in fucking paperwork when he wasn’t actively kicking the shit out of someone.It was just easier for him to hire me to handle it, and I appreciated the business.D.C.A.was privately funded and money wasn’t an issue for them.
“Appreciate it,” I said, shaking Miguel’s hand.
“If they want more, or need something else, let me know.I can get my hands on just about anything,” Miguel said.“Or perhaps you’d like something with a bit more power.”
I smirked.“What makes you think I don’t have enough firepower already?”
“No such thing as enough,” Miguel said.“I’ll be in touch.”
We pulled away and hit the road, keeping a constant watch for trouble.The firstpophad me tensing and trying to find the source.With the second, I felt a searing pain my shoulder.Fucking hell!Bear started firing back as I sped up and left him behind, the truck with our cargo right on my ass.I heard more gunfire and the sound of shots hitting metal.The dumbasses were shooting the fucking truck full of guns!Whoever these guys were, they weren’t overly intelligent.Hornet slid up next to me, motioned that he was going to cover the rear, then fell back.
We raced back toward the compound, but I could feel myself growing weaker.The blood had soaked my shirt and covered my arm, but it seemed like it was through and through.I grunted as another round slammed into me, this one lodging in my fucking back.Enough of this shit!
I motioned for Philip and Hornet to keep going, and I slowed down.Drawing my gun from my waistband, I opened fire on the assholes trying to steal our cargo.Three rapid fire shots took one out, his bike skidding across the road.He didn’t get up, so I focused on another while Bear handled a third.I didn’t know how many there had been to start, but we were down to four.After another moment, we’d managed to take them all out, but not before I saw their cuts.Chaos Killers MC.Those fucking idiots were a Goddamn menace.Caused a shit ton of trouble for everyone, but thankfully they were too damn stupid to do much other than piss off my club and others in the southern states.They only had one chapter in this area, and with some luck, we’d wipe that one out before it had a chance to spread like a fucking virus.
“Pres, you need to pull over,” Bear said.
I shook my head and kept going.It made my vision swim a moment, but I pushed through the pain.When we reached the compound, Teller opened the gates.I brought my bike to a halt just outside the clubhouse, then fell off like a pansy ass.Motherfucker!
“Someone get Dread,” Bear said as he knelt next to me.
Everything was spinning and getting darker.I fought to keep my eyes open, to stay present.Luciana needed me.I didn’t have time for this shit, and I wouldnotpass out like some Goddamn pussy in front of my club.I groaned as Bear and Shooter lifted me, carrying me into the clubhouse.They started for the hallway to the back rooms, but I stopped them.If Luciana came here, I didn’t want to be in the room where I’d taken the club whores.
“Stop.”My command came out weaker than I’d have liked.
