Chapter Four
This wasn’t the first water fight that Sally had been part of, and she knew it wouldn’t be her last either. Standing tall, she reached for Tabitha’s hand, and then Drew’s, and they stood, glaring at the adults. Whizz and Lacey were together, water guns aimed, ready to take a shot.
“You’re going to hit poor kids?” Darcy asked. She tutted. “I guess we’re the real winners.”
“Our daughter is challenging us,” Emily said.
“We can’t have that.” Blaine folded his arms.
Lash burst out laughing. “Get ’round the back. You’ll see a table set up, and then we’ll see who the real winners are.”
Sally rushed with the kids, Drew was there by her side helping her, and they quickly grabbed the necessary equipment. It had taken her a long time to get used to moving around with her prosthetic. If it had been late in the day, she wouldn’t have been able to join in as it tended to hurt like hell. Now, though, she was fine.
“Are parties always like this?” he asked.
“Not always but when it’s a family get-together, there’s always a lot of fun. This is not my first rodeo,” she said, winking at him. “Can you handle being on the kids’ side?”
“You’re not a kid.”
“I am.” She licked her lips. “You want to Prospect for the club.”
Drew smiled. “You heard.”
“My mom told me. Why, Drew?”
“I want to. I like it here, Sally. You can’t tell me this isn’t fun.”
She grabbed his arm. The other kids were loading up, and Lash hadn’t started the countdown yet. “This isn’t a game.”
“Do you think I’m playing around?”
“I don’t know what you’re doing, Drew. People die with this club. They’ve buried people.”
Drew covered her hand with his own. “I know you’re struggling right now with this, and I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to be upset about what I wanted to do. This has nothing to do with you. I love coming to the club. I love being here.” He shrugged. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No. I don’t want you to leave.” This was hard for her. Did he have feelings for her? Everyone said he did, but he never spoke of it, and when she was with him, no lines were crossed. They were friends.
“Then how about we have some fun? I’ve got to wait for the club to decide if they’ll accept me.”
“They’ll have you cleaning shitty toilets, and cleaning up used condoms.” She tried to think of everything and anything that would make him see reason.
“I can handle it.”
“But, your parents.”
“My parents don’t own me, Sally. They never have.”
“Your injury?”
“Doesn’t define me.” He cupped her cheek, and it was the first time he’d taken touch to a personal level like that.
Quickly, he pulled his hand away.
Lash began the countdown, and she couldn’t talk. Her body felt frozen.
“I can handle everything, Sally. Have a little faith in me. I was a jerk, a posh boy, and all that shit, but I’m not that anymore.”
“One!”
It was on.
Drew grabbed her arm, and they quickly moved out. She saw that Simon had Tabitha. Anthony was with Miles and Daisy. There were groups of them. Michael and Darcy were together.
Licking her lips, she looked over the edge that Drew had moved them to.
Getting ready, she saw Killer coming close. Standing up, she shot water at Killer, and quickly moved.
The fight was on once again. She got lost in the mess of water, and the craziness. Tabitha and Simon attacked Devil and Tiny, who were on the hunt.
Throughout it all, she had lost Drew, and as she rounded a corner, she was suddenly grabbed and pressed against the wall. Before she could scream or do anything, lips pressed on hers, and she wrapped her arms around Steven’s shoulders. Sinking her fingers into his hair, she moaned, feeling him against her. He kissed down to her neck, sucking on her pulse, and it made her ache, reminding her of the pleasure he’d given her.
“Remember who you belong to.”
Within the next second he was gone, and she stared at open space. Her lips tingled from his kiss, and she was panting.
Closing her eyes, she tried to gather her wits, knowing something was going to have to give. Neither of them could keep going on like this.
She couldn’t stay here forever. She rounded the corner, and shot her water gun, drenching her mother and then her father. She rushed past them, going for cover, and that was where she found Drew.
Nodding at each other, they were perched ready, and they lifted up over the edge, throwing the last of their water with all of their might. Once they were done, Sally followed closely behind Drew as they took cover, and she lowered down to the ground as Drew fell behind a large wall. It overlooked the full yard outside of the clubhouse. She knew without a doubt that there were some bodies buried on the land, but she wasn’t about to tell Drew about them.
His hand was on her stomach, and they were both laughing. “That was so fun,” he said. “I’ve not had fun like that in a long time. You know what, I’ve never had fun like that at all.”
She was laughing. “You need to come to the clubhouse more often. You’ll see we’re just a bunch of kids at heart.” Sally turned her head, and jerked as Drew pressed his lips against hers. The touch was so unexpected that it had her still, unable to do or say anything. His lips were harder, and as he pulled away, he looked at her.
There were no words, and she was feeling … so much. She couldn’t even focus right now, and it was making her sick to her stomach.
“I’m here. I want you, and I’m not going to let him take you from me without a fight.” He cupped her cheek. “I saw him kiss you, and I saw the way you kissed him. I won’t tell Whizz, but I’m not giving up without a fight.”
“Drew, there’s no fight.”
“All you’ve had is him. I’m not going to give up, not now, not ever.” He kissed her again, and then stood. “You deserve choices, and I’m not going anywhere.”
****
“I got you something,” Simon said.
Tabitha giggled, at the same time she squeezed out her hair. “You don’t have to get me anything, Simon. I’m fine.” She pulled out the band keeping her other bunch of hair up, and then gave that a squeeze. The kids had totally lost this time with the water fight, but that was fine. They’d win one soon. No one beat The Skulls’ kids. That’s what they were. She glanced across the play area and saw Anthony brushing out Daisy’s hair. Her best friend was trying to reach for the brush, but Anthony kept it out of reach.
“I wanted to give you something so that every time you saw it, you’d remember me.”
“I’m not going to forget you. We talk all the time.” She rested her damp head on his shoulder.
“Please, take it.” He held out a box that she saw had been hand-created with a card. Taking it, she opened the lid as she knew he wanted her to do this. She saw a silver chain, and there in the center was the insignia of Chaos Bleeds. “I know you’re part of The Skulls, but you’re always going to be my girl.” She stared at the necklace. It was delicate, and as she lifted it over her head to rest on her chest, she looked at it. He was right. It did remind her of him.
“It’s really pretty.”
“Do you think you could wear that for me all the time?”
“Yeah. My dad will pitch a fit, but I love it.” The Skulls was the only club she was ever going to be part of, and she knew there was going to come a time when she’d have to make a choice. The Skulls were her family.
Simon took the box and then her hand. “We’re only here for a couple of days.”
She rested her chin on his shoulder.
“It’s hard leaving,” he said.
They were nearly twelve years old now, and she knew that he loved her without a doubt. Whenever he did come to visit, he’d always get moody because he’d have to leave her again.
“We’ll write all the time like always. I love reading what you’re doing, and I do think it’s great that you kick ass with bullies.” She stared down at their hands and snuggled against him. “You’re going to be my big bear.”
He turned and stroked a curl behind her ear. This time, he lingered, caressing her cheek.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing. I just like being with you.”
She laughed. “I’d drive you crazy in school. Daisy’s always having to remind me to keep my head down and focus. I’m always looking out of the window, thinking of other things. School is so boring. Now they’re talking about what you want to be when you grow up? I don’t know. Older, I guess.”
“I’m going to take my dad’s place. Chaos Bleeds is going to need a hero someday.” Simon pushed his chest out. “That’s going to be me. Total badass.”
She couldn’t stop laughing. Pulling out of his hold, she stared at him, popping the gum she’d been chewing. “You’re not a badass.”
He stood up, and she took a step back. “I am.”
Tabitha shook her head. He was finally smiling again, and she liked that. She hated it when he was sad.
“What are you two doing?” her father, Tiny, asked.
“Nothing,” Tabitha said. “But The Skulls rule, Chaos Bleeds … drool.” She winked at Simon, letting him know she was doing this on purpose.
“That’s my girl!” Eva, her mother, called out.
While Simon looked toward where their parents were, Tabitha took a step toward him, and placed a hand on his chest. She didn’t know if he felt that spark or whatever it was when she touched him, but she felt it all the time. It was like a constant hum between them.
Moving toward his ear, she whispered the words. “Tag, you’re it.”
Reluctantly, she pulled away, and began running away from Simon. He gave her a couple of seconds, and she ran around the swings, watching as several of The Skulls were now facing off with the Chaos Bleeds. Simon wasn’t interested in anyone else though. He was on the other side of the swings, and she smiled at him. “You’re not going to chase anyone else.”
“No one else I want to chase.”
This just made her smile beam at him. She couldn’t help it. Simon made her feel even more alive. As she rushed one way, Simon followed, and she quickly changed direction, running across the park, and heading toward the small garden that Angel liked to maintain while she was there.
She didn’t get far as Simon grabbed her, and spun her around. They both collapsed on the ground, and she was laughing as he landed beside her.
“Tag.”
“You caught me.”
Simon stared into her eyes, and it almost made her forget to breathe. “I’ll always catch you, Tabby. You’ll never have to fall again, and if you ever do, I’ll be there with you.”
Silence fell between them, and she was breathing hard as she stared at him. Simon always offered her the world, and her mother had told her to be careful. There was only so much that she could do. She was a Skull, and Simon a Chaos Bleeds, but she loved him. She didn’t care what her parents said. She knew she was in love with Simon, and no matter what, she belonged to him.
“Food!”
The spell was broken. Simon stood, and held his hand out. She took it, knowing she always would, no matter what.
****
Steven sat at the table. Church would be happening any second now, and he just wanted to get it over with. He was done with all the bullshit. Having Drew sniffing around his girl was driving him crazy, and he wanted to fuck that piece of shit up.
Tapping his fingers on the table, he stared down at the gavel. He’d worked damned hard to get where he was today. His devotion was to The Skulls. Always would be, and his love of Sally, that had taken him by surprise.
He remembered Lash warning him after he handed her a jacket when she was just a kid. She’d never seemed like a kid to him though. He remembered her age, but when he looked into her eyes, those held a sorrow that no man would ever forget. She was hurting deep down inside, and that kind of pain wasn’t going to go away.
Over the years she’d grown, and now she was in college, and that pain at times was still there, but it wasn’t as dark. She smiled now a lot more easily, and he hoped that he helped with that.
After discovering she had a crush on him, he smiled. She’d been so embarrassed that she’d told him straight out that she didn’t. He didn’t know what changed. When it stopped being a crush, and him just accepting it because he was cool, to finally looking at her, and seeing that she was a beautiful woman, inside and out.
Moments like today when she was on the kids’ side, it was like a jolt, a reminder that he was older than she was by ten years, that he was on the other side, the grownup side. Whizz would fucking hurt him, but the pain of the beating that Whizz would give him didn’t bother him.
Steven could take any kind of pain, and even enjoy it. No, what he didn’t like was everything else he had to face. The reality of what this could mean for The Skulls. He’d been warned in the past that Sally was too young, that she’d been through so much. One day she’d find someone, but not now. Her parents were being overprotective.
“You’re here,” Drew said, pulling Steven out of his thoughts, and he saw the punk ass kid who’d been on the other side with her.
“This is a private place. This is church where they’re all going to decide if you have a right to even sniff the shit on their shoe.” Steven stood up, and glared at him. “What the fuck do you want?”
Drew stared at him. “I know that you think she’s yours, and that you’ve got a higher claim.”
“The mistake you’re making right now is thinking you stand a chance.” Steven pressed his knuckles to the table, and leaned on it. “You’ve got no idea what you’re dealing with, pretty boy.”
He’d not come into the room. “You’re probably right. I don’t understand what she sees in you. I’ve very rarely seen her laugh or smile when she’s with you. Do you even know what her favorite color is? What her favorite movie is?”
Steven rounded the table, and stared at Drew. “If you have a point to all of this, make it.”
“The Skulls are a family. They’re a brotherhood.”
“You’re going to threaten me? Ask me to stand down because of Whizz.”
“No. Whizz likes me. He knows I’ll take care of his girl no matter what.” Drew glanced around the table. “I’m not wanting to join just because I’m in love with Sally.”
Steven growled. He couldn’t help it.
“I want to join you guys because I want to be part of it. If I have to clean up shitty toilets, or wipe your asses, or even fucking kiss them, I’ll do it. With regards to Sally, I do love her. I love her more than anything in the world.”
“You’re making a big mistake if you think you can take her from me.” Steven had never wanted anything more than Sally, and even though it was going to be a fight with Whizz, he’d do it gladly for her.
Drew laughed. “You know I’m probably fighting a losing battle. Sally told me that there’s no fight. She belongs to you, so I know it’s going to be tough, and you know what? I’ll lose. I think I know I’ll lose, but I’ve never been a quitter. Even when my knee began to play up. When each run became just a little harder, and deep down, I knew I was done for. I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. I’m not going to back down even though the odds are not in my favor. Sally only knows you, and she needs to realize that there’s more people out there, and I’m it. She has a choice.”
Steven stared at him. He wouldn’t lie. He was impressed that the fucker hadn’t just caved and left. Stepping forward so that he was in Drew’s face, he saw the other guy didn’t back down. “If you think that speech is going to stop me, you’re wrong. You become a Prospect, I will make you earn your fucking badge, and know this. When Sally is my old lady, and she will be, you’re going to have to look at her every single day of the week, and know that you lost.”
“I’m made of strong stuff, Steven.” Drew patted him on the chest. “May the best man win.”
Lash cleared his throat. “Is there a reason you two pussies are blocking my room, or are you about to give the whole club a show in sucking dick?”
“Nah, we’re good.” Steven smirked at Drew. “There’ll be enough dick sucking later on.” He stepped back, but he didn’t for a second give Drew his back. There was something about the fucker that always had him on edge.
In the beginning, he’d always thought it was because of Drew’s attention to Sally, but it was something more.
Steven didn’t believe for a second that he posed Sally any threat. Drew could have hurt her every single chance that he got, and yet he hadn’t.
“Are you done pissing off the new potential Prospect?” Lash asked.
“Nope. I’m not even close,” he said, taking his seat once again.
“Are you going to vote against him joining?”
“Nope. Fucker can learn his place.”
Lash stared at him, arms folded. “There are times I think you’re a stupid fucker, and then I have to wonder.”
“I’m the one that helped your old lady, remember that.”
“I don’t forget, Steven. Never have.” Lash stared at him.
“I would die for every single person in the club, Lash. That I promise you.”
Tiny had been the Prez for the longest time, but he’d stepped down, handing the gavel to Lash, giving him a chance. Lash had then demanded that they take a vote. All of the brothers, himself included, didn’t want Lash to step down. He was a good leader, a brilliant Prez.
“That would be the Prospects as well, Steven. Everyone likes Drew. He’s got skills, and he’s ready.”
“Are you sure you know everything about him?”
“I know everything I need to know,” Lash said. “I’ve had Whizz do a full check on him. If Drew takes a shit, I know about it. You think I’d let just anyone near my club, inside it, breathing the same air as my woman? Angel, my kids, my club, you’re what I think about all the time. Don’t question me again. I’d also advise that you don’t question Whizz when it comes to the safety of his daughter. He’ll kill you.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Conversation ceased as the rest of the brothers took their seats. He listened to the updates on the gym, the salon, and the club’s other investments. Ned Walker wanted them to also consider doing some gun runs, but Lash said that it was off the table. Everyone was in agreement. Their time of looking over their shoulder never ceased, but none of them were interested in getting mixed back into a pool of sharks. There were enough crews around that The Skulls no longer needed to deal in that shit. So long as the club remained clean, their lives would be free from harm, and that was exactly the way he liked it.
The toy shop was discussed as well. Baker wanted somewhere for Millie to set up shop after her sister burned it to the ground.
“Angel’s looking for places. She’s found a couple of areas, but none of them are close to Fort Wills. We’ll find something.”
Now was the vote on Drew. Lash did the whole introduction, and it made Steven wonder if they’d taken this long debating him being a Prospect. Clearly, they had to. They did it for all Prospects. He wondered what they’d thought of him. It couldn’t have been bad because he got the right to Prospect for the club.
The vote was taken, and Steven was the one that kept his hand down the longest. In the end, he put his hand up. Drew was a Prospect for The Skulls.