Page 9 of Spider (Hades Abyss MC #1)

He returned, my bag clutched in his hand, and he passed it to me.

While I dressed, he finished getting ready.

I cast my gaze his way a few times, watching as he put something in his hair and beard.

He combed his beard with a small wooden comb, then put on cologne.

Spider came back into the bedroom and slipped on his cut.

By then I’d finished dressing and had my hair pulled up in a messy knot.

I really wanted to get it cut. My father had never permitted me to do such a thing, saying it devalued me.

Spider looked down at my shoes and shook his head. I stared at the flats but didn’t see anything wrong with them. I lifted my gaze to his.

“When you’re not pregnant and able to ride on a bike, you’ll need boots. For now, we’ll just find you some things that will be comfortable during your pregnancy.”

My hand went to my belly and my heartbeat stalled a moment.

He’d mentioned that keeping the baby was my decision, but that was before he’d claimed me.

What if he didn’t want the child? I could understand if that was the case.

He’d purposely removed any chance he had of creating life again.

If his son was older than me, would he want to start over?

“Luciana,” he said softly.

I looked up.

“What’s going through your mind right now?” he asked.

“You claimed me.”

He nodded.

“But the baby…”

Spider took three steps and pulled me into his arms. “The baby is yours, and since you’re mine, that makes the kid mine too. Doesn’t matter if I created him or not.”

“Could be a girl,” I said.

“Then I’ll buy more guns and ammo.”

I snuggled against him. “You said you didn’t want more kids.”

“I didn’t. And at my age, I figured those days were behind me, even if I hadn’t gotten a vasectomy.

Luciana, just because you and I didn’t make the baby together, doesn’t mean I will treat it different.

I’m the only dad that kid will ever know, and as far as I’m concerned, you never have to tell him, or her, that I’m not their biological father. I’ll leave that decision up to you.”

“I don’t know what I ever did to deserve someone like you,” I murmured, holding him tighter.

“I’m no prize.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree.”

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Come on. We’ll take the club SUV for now. I’ll have to get a vehicle that’s just for you and the baby, but this one will work for now.”

I stumbled as he tugged me toward the front of the house.

A vehicle for us? Was he going to hire a driver too?

I’d never driven anywhere in my life, hadn’t been permitted to do something like that.

Looking back, I had to admit it was most likely because my father feared I’d have a better chance at escaping.

It hadn’t occurred to me when I was younger, and I’d have never left my sisters behind.

I’d tell him later. If he brought up buying a car again, I’d tell him that I didn’t know how to drive. There was no point in buying a vehicle for me. Even if I were able to learn, I wouldn’t want to try it while I was pregnant, and after I’d have the baby to think about.

Spider helped me into the SUV before climbing into the driver’s seat. He stopped in front of the clubhouse and reached out to pat my thigh.

“Wait here, sweetheart. Just going to round up a few of the guys to come with us. I’m not taking any chances with your safety.”

I nodded and watched as he got out and disappeared into the building.

The minutes ticked by and he didn’t return.

A tap on the window startled me, my hand going to my throat as I jumped.

I looked over at the Prospect who had scared Violeta so badly even though he hadn’t done anything other than stare.

My hand shook as I pressed the button to open the window a little.

Not enough he could reach me, but so I could hear him.

“The Pres said I scared you earlier. I wanted to apologize.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and took a step back. “Name’s Teller. You need anything, let me know. Promise I’m not going to hurt you or your sister.”

I gave him a slight nod and watched as he backed up even more before turning and walking off.

My heart was hammering in my chest when Spider came back.

One of the men who had been at the airstrip was with them.

His cut had Fangs stitched on it. The others I didn’t recognize, but then I hadn’t been focused on them when I’d interrupted the meeting before.

Spider got into the car, and the other men climbed onto their motorcycles.

“I’m bringing Fangs, Shooter, and Knox with me,” he said. “I asked the Prospects to stay behind this time. They’re all younger and I didn’t want them causing a panic attack. I’ll introduce you to everyone later.”

“What about Violeta? She’ll need things,” I reminded him.

“Rocket already has it handled. She wanted to buy her stuff online and have it overnighted. Also spoke to Surge about the issue of your last name. He assured me it would be handled by tonight, although I’m not entirely sure I trust the look in his eyes when he said it.

Don’t be surprised if you end up with some God-awful name like Sparkles or something. ”

I blinked at him. He was joking, wasn’t he? The look he cast my way told me no, he clearly wasn’t joking. Not even a little. Well, I had said that anything other than Gomez was perfectly fine. Looked like I’d be tested on that whenever I found out my new name.

“He’s arranging for an ID as well, so while we’re out I need to send him a picture of you. Just a headshot, and he said he can alter it as needed.”

“An ID? Don’t I need to go somewhere for that? Have papers that prove I’m permitted in this country?”

Spider shifted in his seat.

“About that… You technically don’t have permission to be here.

Casper brought you into the country illegally, but he’s working on obtaining the proper paperwork.

He has Surge, Wire, and Shade all helping make you, Violeta, and Sofia one hundred percent legal.

But as of this very moment? The fewer people know about you the better. ”

I nodded, a heavy weight settling in my stomach.

If his government came for me, wanted to return me to Colombia and my father, there wasn’t a single thing Spider could do to stop it from happening.

Maybe leaving the compound wasn’t such a good idea, but it was too late.

Spider pulled into a parking space in front of a long line of stores and shut off the engine.

“This is where we’re shopping?” I asked.

The shop in front of us had a window display of women’s clothing, but I could tell they were well-made and likely not on the cheaper side.

I didn’t know how much money Spider had, but he’d admitted he wasn’t as rich as my father.

I didn’t want him spending a fortune on clothes.

“Did you notice the sign?” he asked, pointing to the top of the store.

Little Momma . A maternity shop? I looked at the window display again and realized the mannequins did have baby bumps.

I was barely showing right now, but with less stress in my life and regular meals?

It was a good possibility that I would get bigger a lot faster now.

I didn’t know for certain how far along I was, but my guess was about four months.

Spider led the way inside, the other men following.

Fangs came into the store with us, and the other two remained outside, keeping watch.

The woman working the counter and the other helping a customer both stopped and stared, their jaws dropping a little.

I looked at Spider, letting my gaze trail from his head to his boots.

I didn’t know what those women saw when they looked at him, but I was starting to feel that familiar tingle that meant I wanted him.

Only Spider had ever made me feel like that.

“May I be of assistance?” the older blonde lady asked, smiling at Spider. She looked old enough to be my mother, and I didn’t like the look in her eyes. She wanted him. “Something for your… daughter?”

Spider opened his mouth to answer when Fangs’ phone and his both dinged with a message. They looked at their phones, and my stomach clenched, hoping it wasn’t bad news. Spider’s eyebrow arched and he shared a look with the other man.

“His wife,” Fangs said, looking about two seconds from laughing his ass off.

Wife? I stared at Spider until he showed me his phone.

Congrats. You’re married and she’s now Luciana Storme. You asked for a name change, so you got one. And since I had to work my ass off to make it all legit, that means she’s a legal US citizen too .

The message was from Surge.

“He can do that?” I asked.

“My money is on Wire planting the idea,” Fangs said. “But yes, he can and he did. So congrats, mamacita . You’re married to this asshole.”

“Wife?” the blonde lady asked, her head swinging from Spider to me and back again.

“Yep. My wife,” he said, pulling me against his side and curving his arm around my waist. If he was pissed that were married in the eyes of his government, he wasn’t showing it. “She needs some maternity clothes. If you have a problem with that, we’ll take our business elsewhere.”

The woman opened and shut her mouth several times. The younger one from behind the counter hurried over, stepping in front of the blonde lady.

“I apologize for Diane. My name’s Tawny and I’ll be happy to help your wife find some new outfits.” The woman smiled at me. “Do you know what you’re looking for?”

“Something comfortable,” I said. I’d worn enough dresses in my life that I didn’t care if I never saw another one.

She nodded. “Well, you look to be a size medium.” She stopped and eyed my breasts, which had gotten bigger with my pregnancy. “Or maybe a large. Let’s see what we have available. You can try on anything you like.”

I followed after her and looked over my shoulder, seeing a scowl on Spider’s face as he glared at the older woman.

If she had any sense, she’d make herself scarce.

I certainly wouldn’t want to offend the gruff biker, and I’d seen the softer side of him.

After a moment she moved on, but I noticed her watching me, a look of hostility on her face with her pinched lips and flashing eyes.

“Ignore her,” Tawny whispered. “She’s seen the club around town and has been drooling over your husband since she got here about six months ago. She’s just pissed he’s taken and by someone way prettier and younger than her. Way to go, by the way.”

“Way to go?” I asked.

She nodded. “Older men are so hot. Think you could hook me up with the hottie who came in with you? He’s not a silver fox like your husband, but he has potential.”

“You want me to hook you up with Fangs? Like a date, or…” I was trying not to be rude, but I had to wonder if Tawny was even eighteen. She didn’t look it, but then I’d always sucked at judging someone’s age.

“A date would be awesome,” Tawny said.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Tawny smiled widely and helped me gather so many clothes the dressing room looked like it might explode.

Spider and Fangs never uttered a word of complaint, even though it took me over an hour to figure out what I wanted to buy.

I was even able to change into one of my new outfits before we left the store, and I noticed that Diane was miraculously absent.

We shopped at several more stores, picking up everything I would need, from underthings to shoes and bathroom items. Spider vanished at one point, leaving me with Fangs and the others, but he wasn’t gone long.

When I couldn’t shop another moment, my feet and back aching from all the walking, Spider ordered food to go at the diner before driving us back to the compound.

He had one of the Prospects carry my bags into the house while he led me into the kitchen, gently pushing me down into a chair.

After we each had a container of food in front of us, and each had a drink, he sat down, gave me a wink, then dug into his food.

“You’re not upset?” I asked.

“About what?” he asked between bites.

“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.