Making the Cut (Sons of Templar MC #1)(78)

Black tarantulas scampered out of the box and crawled up my arms, I continued screaming as I swatted them off and tried and get as far away from the box as possible at the same time. The door crashed open and Dwayne entered the store gun drawn. He took one look at me and his eyes flared.

“Get them off!” I screamed, feeling them crawling through my hair. He was at my side in seconds, hands in my hair and at my arms getting the last of those creatures off me before stomping on them.

“Outside now.” He barked.

You didn’t have to tell me twice. I darted out the door, pulling at my clothes with him following close behind.

He looked me over quickly. “You okay?”

“Um…” I stuttered, unable to process what just happened. I couldn’t stop running my hands up my arms, I could still feel them on me.

“Cade? Get down here, now. The Spiders paid a visit to Gwen’s store, sent a message.” Dwayne talked into his phone, eying me up and down like I might faint at any moment. Luckily I was a girl from the country, and had a brother who liked to gross me out. I was staying conscious.

“Gwen are you okay sweetheart?” Evan from next door approached me looking worried. “We heard you scream, what happened?”

“Um…I had some unwelcome visitors.” I told him, restraining a hysterical laugh, only half paying attention. My mind was on other things, like the reality of another dangerous gang setting their sights on me. Again.

“Gwen!” Luke ran towards me, gun drawn. I noticed a couple of people had approached obviously hearing the commotion. I didn’t realize my scream had been that loud, and how was it that Luke was always around when something shitty happened to me? Don’t get me wrong I was glad, but I couldn’t be the only person in this town who got in these situations. Okay maybe I might be the only person in this town who got a box of eight legged devils delivered to them, but he had speeding tickets to write or drug rings to bust.

I watched Luke take me in, then glare at Dwayne who had just got off the phone.

“What happened?” His face was a mask of concern, his eyes darted around looking for threats, they settled on Dwayne again for a second before he put his gun away.

“Well, I got a delivery.” I began, feeling aware of the amount of people around. “Um, and it contained insects of the eight legged variety. Not at all like the delivery of shoes I was expecting.” I answered, giggling at the ridiculousness of it all.

Luke’s hissed. “The Spiders.” He returned his glare to Dwayne, who ignored him. He started running his arms up my own, eyes searching. I tried to pulled them away, but he caught my wrist.

“What are you doing?” I asked angrily, in any other situation I wouldn’t mind being felt up by a hot guy, if I wasn’t madly in love with another hot guy that was. Luke stepped closer, looking like he was going to get between us.

Dwayne didn’t glance up. “Looking for bites.” He grunted and my stomach dropped. I didn’t think of that. Were tarantulas poisonous? Did my first aid kit have anti venom? I didn’t think so.

“Bites?” Luke repeated quietly.

The roar of Harleys, and what looked like the whole club, approaching, drowned out any further conversation. Cade all but threw his bike on the sidewalk, sprinting over to our little huddle. His eyes darkened seeing Luke, but his concern for me obviously trumped a macho man showdown. Cade pushed both Dwayne and Luke out of the way and grabbed me, inspecting me as if he was expecting stab wounds. He seemed satisfied with my lack of bleeding because he drew me into his shoulder.

“What the f*ck happened?” He barked at Dwayne as the rest of the club approached.

Dwayne’s jaw got tight. “Heard Gwen scream, went in and she was covered in f*cking tarantulas.”

I heard some of the men curse behind me, and felt the air turn electric.

“Was just looking for bites when you arrived.” Dwayne continued and I heard a sharp indrawn breath from Cade. He roughly pulled me to arms length, running his hands up my arms as Dwayne had been doing before.

“You feel a sting anywhere baby?” His eyes didn’t leave my body and his voice was laced with barely restrained fury.

I shook myself out of my mental fog and took stock of my body. I felt like I was about to throw up, I could still feel them in my hair, but no pain.

“No, no sting.” I answered quietly, shivering. “Are you sure you got them all Dwayne?” I ran my hands through my hair quickly, hoping not to encounter any creepy crawlies.

“You’re good babe.” He grunted.

Luke appeared in front of me, eyeing the bikers with distaste. I noticed that a couple more cops had joined the party, standing slightly back, hands on their weapons.

“Gwen, do you want to come down to the station? Make a statement?” He asked firmly, eyes on me. I opened my mouth to answer but Cade bet me to it.

“That’s not happening, she’s on the back of my bike I’ll take her somewhere to keep her safe.” Cades arms settled around me, and I felt safe already.

“She will be safer at a police station than anywhere else in this town.” Luke bit out not looking at Cade. “Gwen?” He questioned expectantly.

I suddenly felt a lot of eyes on me. The men were waiting for me to answer and reality hit me, what I said would determine if my loyalty lay with the club, if I trusted them to deal with the problem.