Chapter Nine
“You want me to what?” Lash asked.
Tiny stared across his desk at the man he truly believed would be perfect to take over The Skulls. “When this shit with Gonzalez is over and in a few years’ time I want you to take over. It’s time for me to step down.”
“You’ve got to be shitting me. There’s no way you’re stepping down. You’re not old, Tiny. The Skulls are yours.”
He shook his head.
“The Skulls are not mine. I helped set this place up with Mikey and Alex. I don’t intend for it all to die when I do.”
“You’ve got years to go yet before you give it all up.” Lash stood and started to pace his office. “This is insane.”
“You’re good for the club. You’re loyal, hardworking, and the men respect you. Far as I’m concerned you’ve got everything to make this club yours. Angel, she’s a good woman and will be perfect to help you.”
Lash burst out laughing. “The women would tear her apart.”
“Then you don’t know your woman. She’s growing, maturing, Lash. Angel is ready for this, as are you. The Skulls, it’s going to be yours.”
“What about Murphy and Tate?”
“I love my daughter and I know Murphy will care for her, but this life is not for her.”
“You’re crazy, Tiny. There has to be another man out there. What about Miles?”
“Miles is three years old, Lash. He’s not going to be running the club anytime soon, and I’m not going to spend the next twenty years waiting for him to take over.” Tiny had thought this over long and hard. Eva was in agreement with him even though she agreed with Lash that Tiny wasn’t old enough to step down. “How about this? You take over until Miles is ready to take over.”
“I’ve got to talk with my woman. I don’t think she’s going to like this.”
Tiny shrugged. “Do what you need to do but know I’m not changing my mind. You’ll make a brilliant president.”
Lash shook his head. “I think you need to have your head examined. I married one of the sweetest, most submissive women around and you think we’ll be a good couple to take over the running of the club? Do you know how crazy that sounds?”
“Angel jumped in front of Zero and took three bullets. She was courageous, and I’m not denying that she’s not sweet, but she loves you and will do everything to help you out. This is what a club needs. A good man to make it work along with a good woman to keep everyone in line.” Tiny stood up. “You’ve got what it takes.”
“Fucking insane,” Lash said, leaving the room.
Tiny remembered the shock that came over him when he realized how many men he was responsible for. Years ago he’d been young, younger than Lash when The Skulls was born. He had Mickey by his side along with other good men who all wanted The Skulls to work.
Opening the desk drawer, he shoved some envelopes aside to see the main photograph taken years ago as they opened the clubhouse. He was standing beside Mickey with Patricia in front of him. Alex was on his other side, and several other men were dotted around him. They were the original men in the group.
Leaving The Skulls to the right man was important to him. Lash was loyal and perfect for the job.
Putting the photo back in the drawer, he walked out of his office toward the main bar. He found Whizz typing away at the computer.
“Hey,” Tiny said, signaling to Ink to pour him a drink.
“Hey.” Whizz didn’t look up from the computer.
“What’s going on with you?”
Whizz paused and looked up from his laptop. “Nothing, why?”
“Well, you were whistling yesterday, and now you’re all serious again. Also, it has been a long time since I saw you sat at the bar looking at your laptop. You’re usually cooped away upstairs in your room. Are you doing okay?”
Tiny watched as he closed the laptop.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Whizz tapped his fingers on the bar. Tiny caught sight of the scar in the center of his hand from the knife that had been slammed through the skin and bone. The horrors that Whizz went through had kept them all up at night.
“I’m sure. I met someone, but it was just a chance meeting. At least, I think it was a chance meeting. Do you know anyone by the name of Lacey?” Whizz asked.
“Who?” Butch asked. The other brother was passing by the bar as Whizz spoke.
“It’s nothing. I’m sure I’m just going insane.” Whizz took a sip of his water.
“When did you meet this woman?” Butch took a step closer, folding his arms.
Tiny watched, not liking one bit the way Butch went on the defensive.
“What’s it to you?” Tiny asked.
“With everything going on, I don’t think it’s good for us to let new people in.” Butch wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“We just voted in three prospects. Should I kick them out because of the Gonzalez shit?” Tiny asked, standing up.
“Look, there’s no need for you all to start fucking shouting. I met a woman in a café, and for once it meant something. That’s all. No Gonzalez shit, or anything else. Geez, can’t a guy just have a chance meeting with a woman anymore?” Whizz stormed off, leaving the conflict.
“What’s up your ass?” Tiny asked.
“Nothing is up my ass,” Butch said.
“Really? You’ve been acting strangely since you got back. Whizz finds someone who has him whistling and looking like a proper human being and you’re downing him. Start thinking before you speak, as otherwise we’re all going to start having a serious problem.” Tiny stood up and headed out into the compound toward his bike. He found Zero, Killer, and Nash hanging around, smoking.
“Hey, guys, how are you doing?” Tiny asked.
“Is it true you’re going to propose Lash to have the gavel?” Nash asked.
“Yeah, he’s the best man for the job. I’m too old for this shit, and in a few years’ time I’m going to be stepping down for good. Spend some time with Eva and the kids.” He took a cigarette that Zero offered. “Do you boys have a problem with that?”
“I don’t.” Killer was the first to speak up.
“Me neither.”
Nash nodded. “He’s a good man, and he’ll be good for the club. The rules will stick with him around.”
“That’s the point. The Skulls will remain the same. We’ll all still vote on prospects, and we’ll even vote on the new leader. I just want you to know who I believe is right to take over the club.”
“I have to say I’m relieved, and I bet Prue will be, too. The thought of Tate, highly strung as she is, taking over from Eva scared the shit out of me. I’m telling you, Prue and Tate could start a third world fucking war. It’s a job to keep them apart.” As he was talking Zero was smiling, clearly happy with his woman.
“I love my daughter, but she doesn’t have what it takes. I’ll be talking to her soon enough. How did you hear about Lash taking over?” Tiny asked, curious. He’d only just spoken to him, and already some of the club knew.
“Angel was in the pantry about to start making some food, and we heard Lash talking with her. He’s not very good at whispering.”
Inhaling on his cigarette, Tiny thought about what they said. Once he finished his cigarette, he walked into the clubhouse in search of Angel. The scent of garlic met his senses, and he followed the smell through to the kitchen. The men had a variety of reasons why they all loved Angel, and her cooking was one of them.
She was standing at the stove, her blonde hair pinned above her head, and she was humming as she stirred a sauce.
Moving into the room, he leaned against the counter.
“Hey, Tiny,” she said, offering him one of her sweet smiles. In the early days of Angel with Lash, he hadn’t believed or trusted it. There was no way someone as sweet as Angel would ever be able to live with a tough guy like Lash. He’d been mistaken, and the couple had proven how wrong everyone was.
“Lash has told you what I’ve got planned.”
She paused in her stirring. “He’s told me.”
“What do you think?”
Angel glanced at him. “I don’t think either of us is ready for such a responsibility.” She went back to stirring with a frown on her face.
“But you’re not afraid of what I want you guys to do in taking over the club.”
Her blue eyes stared at him. “I’m not afraid of what you want us to do, but I don’t think now is the right time for a vote or takeover. Lash only tells me so much. He doesn’t want to worry me.”
Gash interrupted the moment as he walked in.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, nodding at Angel then at him. “Wow, something smells good.”
Angel was staring at Gash with curiosity. Tiny looked between the two wondering what was going on.
Shaking his head, Tiny left the room knowing there was no point in starting something. He couldn’t argue with what Angel said, but he didn’t exactly agree with it either. Leaving the clubhouse completely, Tiny climbed on his bike and headed toward his woman. There was nothing else for him to do, and Devil was waiting around for wedding news. The Chaos Bleeds crew would need to be heading back home soon, as otherwise it was going to get cramped and way too busy.
Stopping by the florist shop, he entered to find Cheryl working with Alex and Matthew sitting behind the counter.
“Hey, Tiny,” Cheryl said.
Smiling, he walked up to the counter. Leaning over he found Alex playing trains with his son. “I see you’ve never lost interest in trains after all.”
Alex chuckled. “When all this is over I’m going to head to Vegas for a few weeks to settle some things before coming back for good.”
“This time you’re really going to stay?” Tiny asked.
“Yeah, the city life is great, but I’m done with it. I’m gathering everything together to work here.” Alex reached out to ruffle Matthew’s head. “I’m not going to be the absent father.”
“What can I get you?” Cheryl asked, standing behind the counter with a smile.
“Anything Eva likes. I’m going home to surprise her.”
“I can help you with that.” Cheryl walked toward the large selection of roses. “Eva loves roses, but she doesn’t have any one selection. She loves them all.”
He watched her start to arrange multiple flowers into a large bouquet. When it was done, she tied the stems with a bow.
“Here you go. If you’re wanting to get on Eva’s good side I’d suggest adding chocolate to that.” She took his money and placed the amount in the till.
“For once I’ve not pissed her off. I’ll get her the chocolates because she deserves it.”
Cheryl handed him change and placed the flowers in his hands.
“What’s going on with Butch?” Tiny asked, taking the flowers. Alex looked up from playing to shoot him a glare.
“Nothing.” Cheryl’s hands started to shake, and her cheeks went a bright red.
“Really? I saw him this morning, and I could have sworn something was off about him.” He pocketed the change, curious about the way she looked.
“No, nothing. He’s completely fine. Nothing new or shocking to report.” She took a step back almost tripping over Alex as she did. Alex caught her with his hands on her hips to steady her.
Something was off there, but he didn’t know what it was. Even Alex looked concerned.
“Sorry, I guess it was just me. I’ll see you around.” He took the flowers and headed out of the shop.
All thoughts of Butch and whatever was wrong with him fled his mind as he thought about Eva. She was going to spend the rest of the day with him, and tonight when the kids were in bed, he was going to fuck her and fuck her good.
****
Gash peeled back the banana conscious of Angel’s gaze on him. He didn’t know why she was staring, but it was starting to bug him. Yes, she was a sweet, sexy woman and he could see why Lash had fallen for her. Who wouldn’t? But the point was, if she was so sweet and sexy, why did she keep looking at him?
Biting into the soft flesh of his fresh fruit, he returned her gaze. She started to look down his body then back up again.
Seriously? He’d seen her with Lash and knew this woman wasn’t the kind of woman to stray. Why was she staring at him then?
He’d been trapped inside four walls with no women for over five years. Angel was beautiful, and he wouldn’t have any problem banging her.
“What?” he asked, not liking his own thought. He snapped the word out so she didn’t have a choice but to answer.
She jerked, turning those big blues eyes on him.
“You keep staring at me as if you want to fuck me. I’m tired of it and I like Lash, but there’s only so much eye fucking I can take.”
The way her face instantly changed, Gash knew he’d gotten it wrong.
“I don’t want to have sex with you. Far from it.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel and threw it at him. “Ew, how could you think that? I know some other women cheat on their husbands, but I’m not one of them. Don’t ever make that mistake with me. I love Lash, and I don’t want any other man but him.”
Okay, he was way off base and knew it.
“Sorry, babe, look at it from my point of view. You were giving me some serious eye action. I was simply responding to it.”
“Well, don’t. There’s nothing going on, and you can stop thinking there is.” She stepped up close to him, taking the towel.
“Then why are you staring at me if you don’t want to fuck me?”
“You’ve been in prison for five years, and I know you’ve had to take care of yourself. Lash told me that prison life isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. You have to fight back to show who is in control.”
“Lash tells you a lot,” Gash said.
There was fire in this woman’s eyes, a need to prove herself. He knew there was a reason he liked her.
“He answers my questions, but he doesn’t tell me club business. I don’t need to know what goes on. I’m his woman. I’m not a club member. I was staring at you because I’ve been thinking about asking you for a favor. A non-sexual favor that I need you to keep between us,” she said.
His curiosity was piqued. “Not even Lash?”
“Especially not Lash.”
“Okay, what do you need that’s so secret you don’t even want Lash to know?”
She took a step back and ran her fingers through her hair. The blonde locks glistened in the sun spilling into the room. The dress she wore molded to her sexy, beautiful curves. Lash was a really lucky man.
None of the sweet-butts he’d fucked had left him feeling content. Their bodies were so thin that he was scared to let loose and give them a hard fucking. He needed someone to fuck hard and know they could take what he could give.
“I want you to teach me how to take care of myself.”
Gash had been expecting something a lot different.
“What?”
“The club used to teach us all how to take care of ourselves. It stopped with every new enemy we’ve met. The training, it stopped. Lash didn’t like me going, but I want to learn how to protect myself.”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t like this. Lash has a reason for doing what he does.”
“Yes, he does. He loves me, and he doesn’t want to think that I could be hurt.”
Gash made to move away, but Angel grabbed his arm and placed his fingers inside her shirt. His cock was not as good as his brain, and he responded to the feel of her silky skin. There was no interest in her eyes at all. In fact, she was treating him like nothing more than a girly friend. This woman couldn’t be for real. All of the women he’d been with were all about greed and sex. Angel was pure deep into her soul. Lash had picked himself a good woman.
“Do you feel that?” she asked.
What was he supposed to be feeling? A few inches lower and he’d have her entire tit in his palm.
“Erm, what am I supposed to be feeling?”
“I got shot three times because I stepped in front of Zero. I’ve been attacked and hurt during my time in The Skulls. I don’t want to be the reason Lash loses it.” She released his hand, and it took every ounce of strength inside Gash to remove his fingers. “He can’t be there to protect me every hour of every day. It’s not fair to anyone, and it certainly isn’t fair to me.”
“What happened when you got shot?”
“I almost died. I was told that I flat-lined on the operating table. Lash had to be sedated. He was destroying the hospital, and he wouldn’t calm down. He lost his mind. For all of our sakes, I need to learn how to protect myself. I’m not asking you to teach me how to wield a knife or fire a gun. If you could simply tell me a few pointers that will help, then I’ll be grateful. Please, I really need this to help my man.”
He stared at her knowing he should turn her down. This was between her and Lash. Thinking about his other brother, he knew it would be hard for him to let Angel go through something like this. Lash was completely devoted to Angel, but she made a valid argument.
“If I agree to this then you’ve got to do everything I say,” he said.
“I’ll do everything you say in a non-sexual way. I just want you to know I’m not going to sleep with you or anything. I love Lash.”
“Then he’s a lucky guy. There’s a lot of women out there who wouldn’t care and sleep with whoever the hell they wanted.”
“I’m not most women. I took my vows to Lash, and I take them seriously. No other man will ever know me in the bedroom. My love for Lash is why I’m asking for your help. I want to be able to protect myself when he’s not around. Will you help me?”
“Yes, I’ll help you.”
Gash didn’t know why he’d help her, but he did have a lot of respect for her. Lash was a lucky man.
****
The following day Eva was sat at the clubhouse while Rose watched over the children. The strain in Rose and Hardy’s relationship had started to show. They hadn’t turned back up at the clubhouse for a few days. Eva was worried about them and asked Tiny to phone them back so she could see for herself that they were fine.
“So, I was thinking we could have a peach wedding,” Cheryl said.
“No, Sasha needs a white wedding. She was a virgin until she spent the night with me,” Pussy said. He sat on the back of the sofa stroking Sasha’s hair. Glancing at Sasha, Eva saw the other woman blush.
“Most women were virgins before they were alone with you,” Prue said.
“I’m a one woman man, but I’m not going to budge on this. I know your cherry was popped a long time ago, Cheryl, but I promised Sasha a white wedding.”
A lot of the men sitting around the main clubhouse room were smiling.
Eva sat with the women in the hope of getting the arrangements for the wedding complete. It would only be a matter of time before Devil and his crew made their way back home. Gonzalez hadn’t made any appearance apart from the destruction of Patricia’s grave, and everything was returning to normal. She knew Tiny was taking out Gonzalez’s men one by one. They were doing it slowly and quietly. There was no other way to do it other than that. None of them had any hope of surviving if they went in all guns blazing.
She’d gone shopping yesterday and hadn’t spent the whole time looking over her shoulder. It was nice and gave her a chance to relax her.
“You didn’t promise me anything other than a wedding,” Sasha said.
“Baby, I want you to come to me all in white. I know you’re not a virgin anymore, but you came to me that way.”
A few chuckles echoed in the room.
“Pussy, filter,” Sasha said.
“But I don’t want to filter.” Pussy leaned down, brushing kisses along her jaw. He turned her head and claimed her lips.
Feeling like a voyeur, Eva averted her eyes. She found her gaze focused on Hardy as he held a cup of coffee in his hands, staring outside at his wife. The pain was still there.
Placing the magazines down, she got to her feet and walked over to him.
He glanced at her before returning his gaze outside. Rose was sitting on the swing staring at the kids as they played. Her full red hair was tied back, taming the strands. She wore a pair of jeans and a large shirt that covered her body from sight. Rose didn’t look anything like the woman Eva had come to know.
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“We’ll be fine. We’re always fine.”
Hardy didn’t sound so sure.
“You cheated on her.”
He closed his eyes, drawing in a shaky breath.
“Yes, I cheated on her over ten years ago. We were both young, and I was a fucking idiot. I’ve lived with that mistake once every year. I thought we were getting past that. We would visit their graves outside of town together, and we were getting close to each other. I don’t know what happened this time. I usually spend the day with her, making love, and telling her how sorry I was. This year, I had to go to the club. We’ve not been the same since. She’s withdrawing from me.”
He tapped the edge of his cup, folding his arms over his chest but holding his empty cup away from him.
“Have you talked?” Eva asked.
“Not much. We’re in separate bedrooms at the moment. There’s nothing I can do or say to reach her.”
“Was she worth it?”
“Who?”
“The sweet-butt you fucked. Was she worth it?”
“No, she wasn’t worth it at all.” He laughed even though the emotion didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m completely, absolutely in love with that woman, and yet I fucked up. We’re never going to get past this.”
“Will you cheat on her again?”
He shook his head. “I won’t look at another woman. I’ve seen the sweet-butts trying to have a go to see if I’d go with them. It’s not going to happen. I love Rose. I made one mistake. I’m not going to make it again.”
Hardy walked away, leaving her alone.
She looked over toward the table to see the women were still laughing and giggling. Butch was typing something on his cell phone, and Tiny was watching him. Eva didn’t want to know what was going on between them. She didn’t believe what they were doing. It was too dangerous.
Leaving the clubhouse, she walked toward Rose.
“Hi,” Rose said.
“Hi,” Eva replied, sitting on the swing beside her. “How are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay. I’m going to get there. It’s just going to take time.” Rose held onto the swing and started to move backward and forwards.
“Do you love Hardy?”
“Yes. I love him. I love him so much that it hurts to know what he did.” Rose stopped talking.
She watched the other woman take a few indrawn breaths.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want. I won’t hold it against you.”
“No, it’s okay. I know Hardy is worried about me. This is the longest time I’ve kept him at arms’-length. I moved into the spare bedroom.”
“You were both strong. What happened?”
Eva had admired the strong connection between the couple. Rose was completely devoted to Hardy and vice versa. Finding out it wasn’t the case, shocked Eva.
“With everything that’s been happening with the girls losing kids and the attacks, I started to think about everything that happened before. It opened up a wound I thought had healed over, the wound he created. I guess I was wrong.”
Kicking off the pavement, Eva started to swing backward and forward. Rose followed suit.
“Do you think you’re going to divorce him?”
“I don’t know. Part of me thinks it’s best, and another part of me hates the thought of leaving him. I love him. It has been ten years. I shouldn’t be holding it against him.”
Watching the children play, Eva waited for the other woman to talk.
“What do you think I should do?” Rose asked.
Glancing at her, Eva shook her head. “No, this is not my decision. I’m not going to tell you what to do. Hardy is your man. This decision is yours to make.”
“You’re not helping me.”
Eva chuckled. “This is not something to help you with. This is between you and Hardy. It may have been ten years since it happened, but it’s still raw. You’re going to have to decide what to do.”
For several moments neither of them talked.
“I’m scared,” Rose said.
“Of what?”
“Making the wrong decision and living to regret it. There are times we’re together that I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else but him. I love him, Eva.”
“Then you’re going to have to make it work. I know it’s difficult. Love and life are always difficult.”
Stopping the swing from moving, Eva saw Hardy making his way toward them.
“They’re waiting for you,” he said.
Nodding, she gave Rose a smile then turned away. “Take care of her,” she said as she passed Hardy.
Entering the clubhouse, she found Tiny waiting for her.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
She went into his arms, loving the heat and warmth of him as he surrounded her. “I honestly don’t know. They’ve got a lot of pain to live through. She may divorce him.”
“It seems crazy, doesn’t it? Two people we thought were deeply in love are slowly crumbling around us.”
Eva couldn’t argue with him. “Come on, let’s go and finish making wedding plans.”
“These plans can be put into effect after we kill Gonzalez.”
“I know.”
“You’re not angry with what we’re doing?” he asked.
Glancing behind her to see Hardy embracing his woman, Eva knew Tiny had a lot to deal with. “No, I don’t have a problem. You’ll do what is good for the club, and I’ll trust what you do rather than anyone else.”
She pushed past him walking into the club to finish making plans. When was Gonzalez going to make his move? She was getting tired of waiting.