Spike (Aces MC Series Book 3) (16 page)

I looked around the apartment making sure I had packed
everything before walking over to Angel. I bent down and placed a light kiss on
her forehead. She stirred slightly, getting comfortable on the sofa, "Umm
Spike!" she mumbled in her sleep.
Fucking hell, what I wouldn't give to be inside her head at this moment in time
to see exactly what she was dreaming about. My cock twitched again and I knew
that I needed to go before I did something stupid.
I took the spare key from my key ring and placed it with the note, and left the
apartment making sure that the door was secure.

"Ramsey," I said with a nod of the head.
"Thanks for coming over so quickly." He smiled and got off his
motorcycle to walk over to me. "I want you to stay out of sight and if you
see this man, call me and make sure he doesn't go anywhere near Angel." I
used the name I had given her so that he understood my intentions.
Ramsey nodded his head indicating that he understood what I was saying and the
implications as I passed him the photograph I had of Angel's husband. What
shocked me when I first saw his photograph was how average he was. He was of an
average height and equally same build. Another photo that CJ had included was a
family photo which was taken from his facebook page. To the untrained eye they
looked like the average happy family but on closer inspection you could see
that Angel's smile never met her eyes and the children looked almost solemn
with dark circles around their eyes. I scrunched the photo in my hand out of
anger and stuffed into my pocket.
Ignoring Ramsey's glances, I eagerly got on to my motorcycle and drove off at
speed, I needed to calm down before I did myself an injury but I had to put
some distance between myself and Angel before I claimed her and forced myself
into her life, to make sure I could keep her safe.

I returned to Waltham Abbey later that evening but went to
the shop rather than going back home. I needed some space and had a sofa bed in
the back room of the shop for such reasons as this. I set up the bed, taking
some blankets out of the cupboard so that I wouldn't be cold and changed out of
my clothes. The quietness gave me time to think, I knew she wanted me and I'm
sure her kids liked me but I just needed to bide my time and let her come to that
decision by herself. The one thing I wanted was for her to realise that she
wanted me, not because I could protect her although that came with any
relationship but because she wanted me, she cared enough to drop her barriers
and trust me to be part of their lives. I lay quietly and closed my eyes
considering my next move when sleep took hold of me.

Vera wasn't in, I banged as hard as I could on the wooden
door but she didn't answer. Cautiously I made my way back down the street
making sure that I stayed in the shadows so that I couldn't be seen. I was
unsure of what to do, I needed to get help for Helen but there was no one
around, I just hoped that mum and dad would come home soon.
As I got closer to the house I noticed that the front door was open and
listened carefully to see if I could hear the men. I waited for what seemed
like forever but I needed to be sure or the bad men may hurt me as well.
I was getting cold, the wetness of my pyjama bottoms wasn't helping and I
started to shiver. I turned to look at the open door again and plucked up the courage
to quietly walk up the steps to the house feeling the coldness below my feet. I
peeked into the hallway and noticed that the house had been ransacked with furniture
and papers scattered everywhere. I stepped over the debris that littered the
floor trying to not make a sound as I tried to find Helen.

On entering the living room I heard an unfamiliar sound
coming from where the table had been over turned. I gasped as I saw Helen
covered in blood, holding her neck with her right hand trying to apply pressure
to the wound. The gurgling sound indicated that she didn't have long and I
rushed to her side to see if I could do anything to help, although knowing deep
down that it would be futile. Helen lifted her left hand to touch the side of
my face and gently caressed my cheek wiping a tear that had unknowingly fallen from
my eye. I quickly leaned into her embrace feeling comfort once more from the
only person that made me feel safe and then it was gone. I opened my eyes to
see Helen's arm drop to the floor as the life had left her body.

I don't know how long I sat there, staring at her
lifeless body willing for her to wake but knew deep down that she had passed
and had gone to a better place. It was getting cold so I quickly got one of the
curtains that were on the floor having been torn down during the burglary, and
placed it over myself and Helen as I snuggled against her body. She was cold
and getting colder but I wanted to be close, I needed to be close to her to
still feel that connection.

"Spike, wake up!"
"No I'm staying, you can't make me leave her!"
"Shhh Spike, it's Ink you're having a bad dream."
"No it's your fault you weren't here to protect us, you're never here
to protect us!"
I felt an arm wrap around my body and the instant soothing of my head as I
came around from my dream and opened my eyes.
Ink's confused expression but caring eyes instantly made me feel better as my
heart rate returned to its natural rhythm as I took in my familiar
surroundings.
Ink continued to sooth my head holding me close to reassure me as she laid on
the bed, "It's okay Spike," Ink said quietly.
I sighed as I pulled away and propped myself up on my elbows, "Sorry babe."
"You don't have to apologise to me Spike, you've seen me at my
worse," she said with small smile. "Do you want to talk about it? I'm
assuming you were dreaming about Helen."
I laid back down resting an arm over my face, "Not really but I probably
should. I fucking moaned at Duke the other day for bottling things up, now look
at me."
Ink tried to get comfortable on the bed, which was made difficult because of
her cast but she manoeuvred and eventually settled down.
"It wasn't your fault Spike. You were a child, you couldn't have protected
her against two men."
I nodded my head as I'd only recently come to terms with this but it was the
desire to protect that was eating me up. I knew that my childhood and those
chains of events shaped me into the man I am today and I was proud of how I'd
turned out all things considered. That was partly down to Diesel's parents for
taking me in and the determination I had to not repeat history by turning into
my father.
"I know that but the dreams have been more frequent since your ordeal and
I'm now dealing with some shit regarding Angel and it's messing with my head."
Ink raised her eyebrows surprised by the name I'd given Louise but kept quiet encouraging
me to continue. "I just want her to tell me how she feels. I've given her
space, I've played the long game and I've been a total gentleman but now I want
to know if I'm wasting my time."
"She's been through a lot."
"And I know that believe me but it's difficult Ink. Look how Diesel acted
with you," she sniggered. "He met you, he fell hard for you and he
claimed you, that's how we roll. If you don't act quickly someone will come
along and snap your bird up from under your nose before you've even
realised."
"Oooh, I love alpha Spike," she sniggered taking the piss. I shot her
a look narrowing my eyes. "She likes you Spike we can all see it but she's
trying to protect her kids from any more heartache. That's her priority and
once she realises the threat from her husband has gone, she will start lowering
that barrier and snap you up."
"I hope so Ink!"
"Trust me with this beautiful face, how could she possibly resist!"
She giggled whilst grabbing my cheek and shaking it vigorously.

"What the fuck!" Diesel asked standing in the doorway.
"Oh get over yourself, I'm having a midlife crises." I stated as I
sat up.
Diesel walked over to Ink to help her off the bed as she was struggling because
of her arm.
"You're twenty-eight!" he stated as Ink tried to stifle her laughter.
"Leave him alone, he's in love."
"So why are you here alone looking miserable?" Diesel asked as he
raised his eyebrows.
He had a good point and I shrugged at his comment.
"Do you need a lesson in love?" Diesel looked at me with a grin,
"You go alpha, you throw your woman over your shoulder like this," he
bent down and grabbed Ink around her waist and put her on his shoulder mindful
of her arm. "And then you take her into your cave to show her a good
time." He winked at me as Ink's giggles and shrieks filled the room as he
headed to the bathroom slamming the door behind him.
I threw a pillow at the door, "I don't want to listen to you two doing
it!" I quickly got out of bed and took my clothes off the chair to get
dressed in the shop, I really didn't want to hear them shagging, I wanted to
hear Angel making the noises that were already coming from beyond the bathroom
door.

Louise

"But what do you mean you don't think this place is
suitable for us, we have nowhere else to go!" I sobbed as Nancy explained
that they had made other arrangements for me.
Some of the women and the security guard from last night had complained that a
member of a local motorcycle gang had been hanging around, referring to Spike.
The manager was also angry that I had stayed out last night but I tried to explain
the situation to no avail, she wasn't interested and stated that I was taking
up valuable space that could possibly go to another women.
That statement hurt me to the core. In the eight years that I was in a
relationship with Liam, I had never once asked for help and here I was on my
knee's begging for support and it felt like I was being tossed aside for
building a friendship with someone who didn't fit their perfect mould.

"We've found you a two bedroom furnished apartment
which is a ten minute walk from Epping high street, you can move into it on
Monday. It's run by a housing association but the rent will be covered by your
benefits while you sort yourself out and look for a job."
I wiped my nose on the hanky Spike had given me and breathed in his scent as I
nodded my head understanding what she had just told me. She was right, I had no
business bringing Spike around here and making the other women feel
uncomfortable, I just didn't think it would be a problem if he was only
dropping us off outside but I wasn't aware of the hostility against the club
and therefore its members.
Nancy slowly stood and made her way gingerly around the table to perch herself
on the chair in front of me, "You'll still have the support of the refuge
and you are welcome to continue to use our facilities, you just need to make
sure that man doesn't come near the building again."
Her statement annoyed me, Spike was one of the kindest most caring people I had
ever met. I stood abruptly, I didn't want to lose my temper in front of them
but I was annoyed, "Can I stay here until Monday or do you need me to
leave now?" I asked in a harsh tone.
She smiled but looked a little uneasy, "We are happy for you and the
children to stay until Monday but..."
"I get it, but you don't want Spike anywhere near the place."
She nodded her head and placed her hands on her lap, "I hope you
understand."
I stood and opened the door to the office as two sets of blue eyes looked at me,
"Is everything okay mummy?" Devon asked getting up from the chair to
give me a hug.
"I'm fine baby why do you ask?"
"We heard you shout at the lady." Tommy said looking sad.
I rested my hands on their shoulders as I directed them out of the building and
across the road in the direction of the park, "It wasn't shouting Tommy it
was excitement because we've got a new home," I looked between them trying
to express as much excitement as I could possibly muster considering the
circumstances. "From Monday we don't have to stay in the hotel anymore
because we'll have our own home, just me and you and you." I said pointing
to them.
"No daddy?" Tommy asked with watery eyes.
I bent down to give him a hug, "No daddy, I promise."
"But what about Spike, is Spike moving in with us?" Devon asked
excitedly.
"Spike has his own place Devon," she was relentless at times.
"But could he stay at ours sometimes?" she asked looking at me
hopefully.
"Why don't you go and play on the apparatus, so I can tell Amy and Spike
the good news."
Devon nodded dramatically as she grabbed for Tommy's hand to direct him to the
climbing frame.
I sat on the bench and pulled out my phone.

Thanks for last night. I'm sorry that you felt you had
to leave. You could've stayed.

I was surprised to wake this morning to find that Spike had
left. He'd explained in his note that he had to be at work early but I had a
nagging feeling that it was for a different reason. It didn't take him long to
respond.

Wouldn't have trusted myself ;-) What you up to?

I sniggered at his response. I wanted him, I really did and
I was about to tell him how I felt last night when we were interrupted by Devon
which was probably for the best.

I've just been told that I have to leave the refuge on
Monday. Apparently my boyfriend is scaring the women! They've arranged a two bed
apartment for me in Epping.

Do I have competition? lol
P.S. Are you happy?

I liked the fact that we could have banter, this is
something that I could never do with Liam even when he was in a good mood. I
thought about my response and decided to be a little cheeky.

I think you'd like him. He's considerate and
trustworthy. He enjoys spending time with the children and I think he cares for
me. He wants to take things slow and he is prepared to give me the space I need
:P
P.S. Happy? I'll get there eventually.

Getting away from Liam was the first step in order for me to
be happy, somewhere safe for my children to live was second on the list. I had
a few more steps but I was moving in the right direction.