EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2017 Sam Crescent

ISBN: 978-1-77339-379-7

Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

Editor: Karyn White

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.  No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

STEVEN

The Skulls, 15

Sam Crescent

Copyright © 2017

Prologue

Steven took a sip of his whiskey, allowing the music drifting from the jukebox in the corner to slowly calm and relax him. He was waiting for a special someone to enter the shitty-looking bar. This was the next man on his kill list. The precious list he’d gotten from Lola. She wasn’t even part of The Skulls MC, but was in fact part of their closest allies, Chaos Bleeds. He’d needed the information fast and Whizz wouldn’t give it to him, so he’d had to make sure he went to someone who would keep his secret.

Lola understood what he was doing, so she’d given him the list with the promise that she wouldn’t say anything to Whizz, even though they were close friends.

Tapping his fingers on the counter, Steven thought about Sally, and the beautiful woman she had turned into. Like always, those thoughts changed, and he remembered the broken, scared girl that he had seen Whizz and Lacey bring home. She had been adopted as a teenager, and she’d had so much pain in her eyes it had threatened to break him apart simply looking at her, but look at her he did.

Over the last couple of years, he’d done nothing but watch as she flourished under The Skulls’ care. Lacey and Whizz became more than two people who’d taken her in out of compassion. They became her parents, and Sally had found a family. He’d seen that.

Then he’d seen the strength inside her when she’d lost her left leg from the knee down from being shot. She was one of the strongest women he’d ever known, and being part of The Skulls, he knew a lot of the old ladies. Angel was another strong one.

Sally, though, she was different. She belonged to him.

Whizz had warned him away from her, and told him that he wanted a better life for Sally. What Whizz didn’t know was that Steven wasn’t going to let Sally go. He’d had to watch her leave for college with that fucker, Drew, some injured star who was going to have a career on the pitch, who no longer had that chance.

Whatever. Sally was his, would always be his, and that’s because unlike every other man, he loved her deep inside.

“I don’t recognize your face here,” the bartender said.

“I’m not a regular, but you can do me a favor. Does this man frequent this place?” Steven asked, holding up a picture of a man that was on his list.

“Yeah, his name’s Dawg. Why?”

Steven pulled out an envelope filled with cash. “Because me and Dawg are going to have a little party, and you’re not going to call the cops. Get rid of your customers and I’ll double that money for you. You won’t even miss the clients.”

The bartender licked his lips, but didn’t ask any questions. Within twenty minutes they were gone, and the only person in the bar with him was the bartender.

“Can I ask that you try and contain the damage?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll clean up all my mess.” He finished off the shot and nodded for a refill.

Time passed, and Steven didn’t mind. He had the patience of a saint. Finally, the popular Dawg decided to enter.

Steven didn’t turn toward him.

“Wow, Ben, this place is fucking dead tonight,” Dawg said.

Steven kept on eye on the bartender to see if he gave anything away.

“Slow night, Dawg. Usual?”

“Yeah.”

Good man.

“I don’t recognize you here.” Dawg gave Steven a shove.

“I’m new.” He stared at the man, wondering how often the fucker had hurt Sally. He was one of the last men who’d had her before Whizz and Lacey had. She had told him once that she wasn’t a virgin, wasn’t pure or innocent. That had been taken from her. He was going to make sure those fuckers didn’t breathe another day.

“Well, you’ve come to a shitty place. But then again, everything about life is shitty. Clearly you’re in the wrong place.”

“Actually, I’m in the right place.” Steven finished off his whiskey and turned to the guy who had hurt Sally. He knew without a doubt that he had hurt her as there had also been a hospital admittance. This bastard had beaten Sally, and then accused her of stealing and other shit. Tilting his head to the side, Steven said, “I wonder if you even remember her.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

Steven slammed down a picture of Sally. He watched the man as he picked it up, going a little pale as he recognized her. “Has the whore began spewing her lies to the first dick that will have her? Always spreading her legs for any—”

Steven wanted it to be longer, to feel more justice at what he’d done. Hearing the vile, disgusting words coming from the prick’s mouth, he had enough. Grabbing the blade out of his pocket, he embedded it into the man’s throat, slamming the head down on the counter.

“That ‘whore’ is my woman, and I know the truth, you disgusting fucker. Make your peace with the devil, because you’re rotting in hell.” He twisted the knife, relishing the gurgle and the blood that was being spilled.

Only when the man stopped jerking and was still did Steven pulling his blade out. Lifting the dead body over his shoulder, he carried it out, dumping it in the back of his truck. When he entered the bar again, he had the cleaning products at the ready, and while humming, cleaned away his mess.

The bartender’s mouth was wide open. Slapping down another envelope, Steven winked, and made his way toward the door.

“Do you need to use my bar again?” the man asked.

Steven looked back at him.

“You got any beefs you need to deal with, come back here any time. I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Steven hummed as he left the bar, and climbed into the truck. Before he headed back to Fort Wills he needed to bury the body, and then it was on to the next man on his list.

He pulled it out of the inside pocket of his jacket, and smiled, crossing off Dawg’s name. It was certainly an interesting way to spend his evenings.

Burying the body was easy to do, and so was cleaning his truck. There was no way he’d have his woman sitting in a truck covered with the blood of the scum that hurt her. With each person he killed, Steven felt a sense of peace wash over him. Most of the men were old and alone. A couple of the women were spiteful, but that was fine. He didn’t have any problem killing mean women.

After several hours, he finally arrived back at the clubhouse. Killer was outside, having a rare smoke.

“You’re out late. Decided to be a rebel?” Steven asked.

“Nah, I thought I’d see what had you going all hours of the day and night.” Killer threw his cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out. “I know what you’re doing.”

Steven stared at him and waited. He wasn’t about to speak up. “Oh, yeah, and what exactly am I doing?”

“You’re doing what I’d do. Sally’s past is out there, and you’re intent on hunting them down, killing each and every one.” Killer moved toward him. The guy was huge, like a fucking bear, and even though he’d settled down and now had a couple of kids, that hadn’t taken anything away from him. He was still a threat, still a killer inside. “It’s not smart.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

He went to go past, but Killer grabbed his arm. Steven had witnessed Killer throwing men around as if they weighed nothing.

“You better get your fucking hand off me,” Steven said.

“It’s not going to change anything what you’re doing,” Killer said. “This is going to throw a whole lot of dark shit on the club if you’re not careful.”

“No one is going to know shit.”

“No? All it will take is a dumb fucking detective to see the one connection between all of them. Sally. They’ll come here, and then what’re you going to do?”

“No one’s going to report them missing.” Steven shook off his arm. “Because no one even cares that they are.”

He left Killer glaring at him, but he didn’t care. This was what he had to do. Killer didn’t understand that.

Entering the clubhouse, he went straight toward his room, closing and locking the door. He closed his eyes, counted to ten and then twenty. He kept on counting until the rage finally began to dissipate.

This was what he had to do, and no one was going to stop him. Every single brother who was with an old lady would do exactly the same. They’d fight for their woman, and that was what he was doing, fighting.

Chapter One

“Ouch!” Sally winced and grabbed her finger, looking at the line of blood that began to seep up.

“Paper cuts are the worst,” Drew said, sitting beside her.

She sucked her finger into her mouth, and smiled at Drew. “Hey, you,” she said. “I didn’t think you were going to show.”

“Why wouldn’t I show?”

“Hello, you said your family kept wanting you to stay away from that rotten Skulls girl.” Sally put on her best man voice, which had Drew laughing.

“Damn, you’re a hoot, you know that.”

“You’re calling me an owl?”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He smiled at her, and then down at her notebook, which had a heading in the center titled Future. “What’s that about?”

“Nothing.” She closed the book, and smiled at him. “You’re changing the subject. Was there a girl waiting for you?”

He sighed. “Yes, there was. She’s supposed to be some daughter of a businessman. A friend of my father’s. I don’t know.”

“Was she cute?” She took a sip of her water, and looked at Drew.

“They’re all cute, Sally. All cute, all beautiful. They just keep throwing them at me. I want to tell them that I’m gay.”

“But you’re not.”

“I know. I hoped they’d stop throwing girls at me.”

Sally laughed. “They’ll throw boys at you then. That would be so much fun to see. ‘Here you go, son, here’s a boy. We’re totally into the gay community and all that now’.” She winked at him.

“It’s sad what I think they’ll go to just to further their wealth.”

Sally took another sip of her drink. This was a long-running joke between them. They were unusual friends. She was the adopted daughter of the feared MC, The Skulls. He was the son of a rich man. Never would she have seen them forming any kind of friendship, but between their injuries, they had.

She stared down at her leg, the one that had a prosthetic attached to it. She had spent months learning to walk on it, and if she got too tired, she had to rely on crutches.

“Hey, why aren’t you smiling?” Drew said, reaching out to tuck some of her hair away. “I totally love this color. The purple makes you stand out in a crowd.”

“I got Mom to dye it for me. It made her feel better after nearly burning down the house, and color always makes her happy. She doesn’t like to conform like that.” She picked up a curl, and twirled it between her fingers. “Pretty neat, huh.”

“Like I said, you stand out in a crowd. I saw you a mile away.”

“Good.” Steven hadn’t seen her hair yet, but she’d not seen him in some time. It was kind of strange her feelings for him. They had kissed. It had been one kiss, but at the same time, it had felt wrong and right. She’d felt like she was breaking some kind of law kissing him. It had taken her a few days to be able to look at her dad, Whizz. He didn’t notice though. He’d been too busy dealing with Lola in Piston County to notice.

She didn’t mind though. Whizz didn’t need to know anything right now. He had other worries on his mind.

“Are you okay?” Drew asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She didn’t want to talk to Drew about Steven or about the kiss they’d shared.

“You know I’m here if you ever need to talk about anything. Anything at all.”

She stared at him for the longest time. “You’re a good friend, Drew.”

Sadness filled his eyes, and she hated being the one to put it there. They’d never crossed that barrier between friends, but she had a feeling that he wanted to. It was one of those things that she was thankful they’d never discussed. He shared everything with her, from the troubles with his parents to the fact that he missed playing ball so much. She’d tell him about her leg, and other things, but never her past. She never went back beyond Lacey and Whizz adopting her. They were her parents, and no one was going to take them away from her.

“Have you told your parents that you’re thinking of changing courses?”

“Not yet, I’m undecided still.” She had intended to become a social worker, or work in the fostering service. What she wanted to do was to be able to find people that suffered like she had to get them moved quickly. It had been a great feeling to think that she’d be able to help, unlike the people that couldn’t help her.

She’d had a nightmare of it, being moved from foster home to foster home. There had been times when she’d been happy, but of course that would always come to an end. The nightmares, she always had to do something drastic to get moved on, and that hurt her more than anything.

The nightmares no longer plagued her, which was a blessing in one way, as she got to sleep. There used to be times that she woke up in the middle of the night, and wondered what the hell she was doing and where she was. She’d be sure someone was in her room, watching her. No one ever was. But now the memories were the worst. No one could help her forget what it was like, and how it felt to be used just to get food. She didn’t know if she’d rather have the nightmares than her memories. Remembering her past was something she hated more than anything.

Placing a hand on her stomach, she grabbed the bottle of water and took a sip.

“You’ve gone pale. I don’t think this sunshine is for you.”

“It’s totally fine. Honestly, I’m just in crazy town at the moment. I’m confused. I’ve got the summer to figure everything out, and I don’t know what to do. I can’t think in this heat.”

“No one can think in this heat.” He stood and removed his shirt, and Sally glanced up at him, and heat filled her cheeks. Drew was a good-looking guy, there was no doubt about it. She’d heard many of the girls on campus were crazy about him, always saying stuff like they wanted to get under him, and other gross things she didn’t want to think about. She tended to ignore that, and just focus on everything else.

Yes, he was a guy, and she was a girl. They were best friends. That was all. She had never given him any reason to believe they could be something more, and he’d not said anything to her about feeling any differently.

Glancing across the park, she saw a group of girls giggling. She rolled her eyes. “You’ve got a fan club.”

Drew sat back down, and glanced over at them. “High school girls? Please, I’ve always been into college chicks.”

“You’re bad. Did you go with Lindsey yet? She was pouting the last time I saw her, and she wouldn’t say anything to me.”

“Lindsey and I have an understanding, and she thought she could change my mind. It’s not going to happen.”

She shrugged. “That’s vague.”

“I know, but you’re not really interested in my love life.”

Wrinkling her nose, she shook her head. “You’re right, I’m not.”

When a car horn sounded, she looked up in time to see Fighter there waiting. He’d been a recent Prospect who had finally made it full-blown member of The Skulls. “I’ve got to go. That’s my ride.”

“Wait, I thought I was taking you home?”

“No, you were at your parents’, remember? You said you didn’t know if you’d be able to make it, and I should get someone to take me home as backup just in case.” She put her stuff away in her bag, and then began to stand. When she hadn’t gotten her balance, and was about to topple, Drew caught her.

“Whoa, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” He had hold of her arms. She took a deep breath. “Maybe the heat is really getting to me.”

Drew didn’t let her go. She glanced over to see Fighter watching them intently. She gave him a wave, and he nodded toward her. He’d gotten out of the car, and she knew he’d done it to assist if she needed help. This was why she loved The Skulls so much. They were all her family, and no matter what, she never wanted to leave them or Fort Wills.

“Here let me grab this.” Drew grabbed her bag, and then he was helping her move across the park toward the car.

“I think my leg has gone a little stiff.” She winced as the prosthetic seemed to cut into her knee. It was hurting and rubbing raw, but she didn’t want anyone to see her in pain.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Drew asked when she got to the car. Fighter took her bag from Drew.

“I can help her,” Fighter said. “You can go on home, momma’s boy.”

Sally rolled her eyes. “Will you stop with all the name calling?”

“You weren’t out there when she needed someone. I was.”

“Okay, can we just focus right now, please? Seriously, there’s not a competition. I’m fine. I’m heading home. Call me if you need anything, Drew,” she said, climbing into the car. She hoped that they’d just leave each other alone.

For several seconds they just stared at each other, and then Drew said his goodbyes and left.

“Did you need to do that?” she asked.

Fighter climbed behind the wheel and glanced at her. “That kid is in love with you.”

“No, he’s not.” He couldn’t be in love with her. He couldn’t. “He’s my friend, and I’ve never given him cause to believe that we’re going to be anything different.”

They headed back home, and she was pleased about that. She was starting to get a bad headache now.

“I really appreciate you coming and getting me.”

“I told you, anytime you need a ride, call.”

She nodded, and rubbed her knee.

“Is it hurting?”

“It’s letting me know I’m in for a rough couple of hours, that’s all. I’ll rest. It’ll be fine.”

It wasn’t long before they were outside her parents’ house. “Thank you, Fighter.”

Climbing out of the car, she smiled as Fighter also got out and grabbed her bag. “Thank you.”

“Do you need help inside?”

“No, I’m okay.” She didn’t look back until she was inside, and she could give him a wave.

Lacey, Whizz, and Daisy were at the clubhouse so she had the house to herself this evening. She did intend to veg out on the sofa, but right now, a shower was what she wanted more than anything.

****

Steven didn’t say a word as he looked at her. She hadn’t turned around yet, but this was the first time he’d seen her in a couple of weeks.

When she did turn around, she saw him, screamed, and nearly collapsed in a heap. If he hadn’t reached out for her and caught her, she’d have fallen to the floor.

“What the hell! I thought you were a burglar or something!” When she was on her feet, she slapped his hand. “What the hell were you doing?”

“Waiting for you to turn around to see me. I thought you’d like that.”

She glared at him. “I was supposed to have the entire house to myself. I’ve not seen you in days, Steven, and when I did you gave me a damn wave and walked away.” She looked down at his hands on her and pulled away.

The glare that she was giving him was so cute.

“I can’t talk to you right now. You just nearly gave me a damn heart attack.” She pushed past him, and began to make her way upstairs. He watched her ass, and knew without a doubt that she was hurting.

Gritting his teeth, Steven ran fingers through his hair, annoyed with himself. When she had made it clear of the stairs, he waited, listening for her. Glancing across the hall, he stared at the family picture that Lacey had been determined for them to have. Whizz and Lacey stood behind Daisy and Sally. Whizz had a hand on Sally’s shoulder, an arm around Lacey, and Daisy was sitting on Sally’s lap. They looked like a weird family, but that was exactly what they were.

“If you think for a second that I’m going to stand by and let you near my daughter you’ve got another think coming. She deserves better than this, better than us, and she’s going to get to live her life the way she sees fit.”

That had been Whizz’s only warning to him a few months ago, for which he’d gotten Lash to be mediator between them. Whizz was taking his type of parenting way too far. Steven respected it, even if he didn’t agree with it. Lash had told him to wait and give Whizz time. Ever since Sally lost her leg, Whizz had been overprotective of her, and for a good reason. Steven should listen to Whizz, but his heart was with that woman upstairs, and he wasn’t going to leave her, nor was he going to stop loving her.

When his cell phone began to ring, she paused on the step, and he gritted his teeth. He had no choice but to answer it. Picking it up, he accepted the call, and saw it was from Lola, Sinner’s woman, and the Chaos Bleeds’ version of Whizz.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“Devil is starting to ask questions, and I don’t like it.”

“I told you to remove all traces to you.”

“Yeah, well, he stopped by for a surprise visit, and guess what, I was surprised. I don’t know what to do anymore, Steven. I can’t give you any more details now. You’re going to have to stop.”

“There was more from that list?” Steven asked, glancing up the stairs.

He heard the static over the phone, and knew he wasn’t going to like this. “I found one of the buried statements that Sally gave as a child, Steven. It’s … detailed and not good. One of her foster parents used to pass her around among his friends. They would have fun with her, and then lock her in a cage until they were ready to use her again.”

“What the fuck! What happened to get that buried, Lola?”

Silence met his answer, and he knew in his heart the reason.

“The fucker was part of the parties that abused Sally, wasn’t he?” he asked. This just made it worse to Steven. The man who was supposed to be investigating the abusive bastards was in fact part of it.

“Steven, we need to stop this.”

“I made a vow before myself, and before God, that I would send those motherfuckers to hell.”

“You’re not religious,” she said.

He gritted his teeth. Sally, the woman he loved, had been through hell, and he was going to make sure that no one ever came near her again.

“Send me the bastard’s details.”

“No,” Lola said. “I told you, I can’t. This will come back to both clubs, and we’ve already caused enough mess. This guy … he’s in law enforcement. Please, give this up.”

Before he could say anything else, she hung up the phone. Steven stared at it, and wanted nothing more than to destroy another phone. Instead, he placed it in his pocket. There were several pictures he had on his phone that kept him sane.

Walking up the stairs, he knew where Sally’s room was, and glanced inside. She was rubbing her knee. The prosthetic was on the floor. Her eyes were closed, and he didn’t like the pain on her face, not one bit.

All thought of revenge in that moment disappeared as his only focus was on Sally. He entered her private bathroom and began to run her a bath.

“What are you doing?” Sally asked seconds later.

He looked toward the door to find her staring at him. “I’m going to run you a bath. And you’re going to relax.” He made sure there were bubbles, and that the water was nice and warm. “There, it should be perfect for you.”

She looked at the bath and then at him. “I need to get undressed.”

Steven stared into her eyes and took a step toward her.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to help you.” He reached out toward her, and she caught his hands. The clattering sound reminded him that she was on her crutches, and now she had him for balance. The crutches didn’t bother him, nor did her missing leg. She was a survivor, a fighter, and he loved her all the more for it.

“I’m not ready.” Her voice was shaky, and it broke his heart.

“I know. Nothing is going to happen here, Sally. Just a bath. That is all this is.”

“All it is?” she asked, laughing, muttering something beneath her breath.

“What did you say?” he asked.

“I’ve heard it before.” His hands fisted and he wanted to hurt everyone again. “Why do I feel this way with you? Why do I feel like I have to tell you every single one of my secrets?”

“You don’t have to. I’m here if you need me.”

“Fighter says that Drew is in love with me.”

“Fighter’s right.”

“I didn’t do anything to help that. I don’t … I’m … I’m confused.” She frowned as she looked at him. “Do I have to stop hanging around Drew?” He was the only true friend she’d ever known. All of her life she’d wanted to connect, to have a friend like him. The thought of letting him go … hurt. She didn’t want to be selfish and hurt him, though.

Steven knew she didn’t do anything to encourage Drew’s feelings, or the club’s protectiveness. He was sure a couple of the brothers held a little crush and a soft spot for Sally. She had that way about her that was similar to Angel, Lash’s old lady, but also a strength that let everyone know she couldn’t be messed with. Also, she was a beautiful woman, no doubt about it.

“Your hair totally rocks,” he said, stroking a curl back from her face.

“Thank you.” She glanced down at her hair before looking at him again. With her gaze on him, she went for the top button of her shirt. He waited as she pulled the shirt off her body, revealing a plain white bra. It covered everything as it was a padded cup, but it didn’t detract from her tits. She was a fuller woman. Since losing the leg, she had lost a little weight. He had seen it falling off her.

Lacey had also voiced her worries about Sally’s weight loss. He thought she was beautiful no matter what, but in the past year it seemed to have steadied out. From what he’d been told, Sally was struggling with the new future ahead of her.

Moving his hands to her hips, he heard her gasp. She didn’t push him away as she opened the belt of her jeans, and began to wiggle it down.

He helped her into the bath, and took a seat on the toilet. The bubbles that were in the tub covered her enough so that she was able to remove her bra and panties. He took them from her, noticing her shaking hand. “You don’t have to be nervous about me. I won’t do anything to you.”

“I know. You’re, erm, you’re the first guy I’ve gotten undressed in front of. As you can see, I won’t be giving any lap dances any time soon.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

“Is it ugly?” she asked. The question seeming to come out of the blue.

“Is what ugly?”

“My knee? Do you find it unattractive? Do you look at other women and like the set that they’ve got?”

Steven laughed. When he saw the tears in her eyes, he knew it was the wrong thing to do.

Chapter Two

Leaning back in the tub, Sally tried to control her feelings. It was really fucking hard. Why did he laugh? Was it because she was so stupid to ask? This was why she enjoyed being around Drew. He never brought any attention to her leg, or make her feel aware of it. In fact, when she was with him, it was the last thing she thought about. He made her laugh so much.

In that moment, she missed him, and wished she’d not come home to this empty house, or even to Steven.

He got up from the toilet and knelt beside the tub.

She wasn’t afraid of him. Even as she was getting undressed, he made her aware that she was a woman, and he made her ache. This was the difference between Drew and Steven. Drew made her laugh. Steven, he made her feel everything. There was no pause when it came to him. Staring into his eyes, she waited to see what he’d say, and still he said nothing for the longest time. He reached into the bath and grabbed her hand, locking their fingers together.

Staring at their hands, she saw how different they were. Steven’s were a little darker tanned than hers, from being out in the sunlight. She rarely ventured outside into the sun unless she had to. His hand also seemed to show his age. Her nails were bitten down as it was one of her coping mechanisms, biting her nails. She’d never grown out of it, not even as a kid.

“Your leg doesn’t even register to me, Sally. It means so little to me because it’s all part of who you are, and you’re what matters. I don’t look at other women because I don’t see them. I only see you, and I think you’re beautiful.”

“I wasn’t looking for compliments.”

“I know.”

“If Whizz catches you here, he’s going to kill you.”

“I also know that,” he said with a smile. It was the cheeky smile she had first seen on him that had made her attracted to him years ago. He’d always been sweet to her, and that had been a big deal to her at the time.

She had tried to not have feelings for him, or for her crush to mean anything. He could have anyone he wanted. Angel had shown her a picture of what he’d been like before he was part of The Skulls. He’d been so thin. None of his muscles had grown, and he’d seemed awkward, his messy blond hair falling all over the place. Now his body had filled out. His arms were so thick that she didn’t think for a second she could get her hands around them. His blue eyes sparkled with life and a playfulness that she rarely saw anymore.

“Do you have feelings for Drew?” he asked.

“No. I don’t know. It’s complicated. He’s my best friend.”

“Sometimes best friends have feelings for one another.”

She frowned. “We can’t do this, can we?”

“We can do anything we want to do, Sally. No one can stop us. You’re a fully grown woman.”

“But … my dad, Whizz, he’s not going to be happy. He told me that he doesn’t want me to pick a club brother or anyone. I’m … I don’t know what to do.”

“Do what your heart tells you to do.”

She wanted him, and that was the problem. She didn’t want to be with anyone else, but she also didn’t want to hurt her dad. He’d come for her, and given her a life she never for a second thought she deserved.

Pulling her hand away from him, she sank down into the water. Steven didn’t go. He rested his head on his hands, observing her. “You need to do what you’re happy with, Sally. Nothing more.”

“Why did you come here?” she asked. “You kiss me, and then you leave. When I see you, you wave, and you don’t talk to me anymore. I’ve texted you, asking everything I can think of to try and make some sense of it all, and I’m confused. You confuse me.”

“I’ve been taking care of some business.”

“Club business?”

He hesitated. “Personal business. It was important for me to do this.”

She didn’t like that, especially as it felt like he was holding something back.

“I don’t like you hanging around Drew, but I also know you’re friends with him. I’m not going to ask you to stop.”

“Oh. Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say. Steven confused her. Part of her had hoped that her feelings for him had remained in the friend category. Of course, that hadn’t happened.

He laughed. “Do you remember when this was easy? When you were just a kid, and none of this mattered?”

“You wouldn’t be in my bathroom if I was just a kid.”

“Very true. I don’t like leaving you behind.”

Sally sighed. They were back to that. She didn’t want to break her father’s trust, but she also didn’t want to let Steven go. “I’m thinking of changing my courses at college.” This was a much safer topic than anything else.

“You can do that?”

“Yeah, I’ve been talking to a few of my professors, and they think I should be able to make a change depending on the area I want to move on.”

“Social work isn’t for you?”

She shook her head. “No. It’s fine thinking that as someone who has been through the system that you’d be able to handle anything, the truth is I don’t know what I can handle.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself.”

“Could I walk away though? Could I let a girl go through what I know can happen? I just see myself getting thrown in jail because I broke the law and didn’t go through the proper channels. I was known for being a liar, Steven. That stuff is hard to shake, and when no one is listening to you, it gets so lonely.”

“I’ll always listen to you, and remember that what would be different is you’ll have The Skulls at your back.”

“You’re not above the law.” She thought about Gash. Even though he’d killed a lot of people, it had been a bogus charge of rape and murder that had put him in jail. It had all been false.

“We’re not above the law, I know that, but you see, we can help you. You’ll never be alone again.” He held his hand up, and she stared at it for several seconds before placing hers on top. Locking their fingers together, she felt whole when he touched her. It was the first time she had ever felt anything at all. She liked that feeling more than anything else. “You’ll always have me.”

“Thank you.”

He took her hand, and pressed a kiss to her wrist. “Let me know when you’re ready to get out.”

“Where are you going?” she asked, watching him leave.

“I’m going to make you some of your favorite.”

“Angel’s hot chocolate?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve asked her for the recipe, and she won’t let me have it,” Sally said. “No one does hot chocolate like her.”

“That’s because I asked her not to give it to you.” Steven leaned against the doorframe.

He looked so manly standing like that. She rolled over and gripped the edge of the tub, smiling at him. “Why is that?”

“Because I want it to be special so that no one else can give you what I do.” He came forward, and dropped a kiss to her forehead. “Nice ass, baby.”

Before she could do anything, he was gone. Her cheeks were a bright red, and she sighed. This was what made it hard for her to give up Steven after everything her father had asked. Steven made her recognize that she was a woman, and he was the first person she had ever wanted to … go all the way with. It was a huge step, and one she wasn’t ready for, but when she did think about it, it was always Steven.

Drew was safe. She didn’t feel anything other than friendship with him. He didn’t make her think of sex.

She thought about it a lot as well. In the middle of the night when she woke up from a certain kind of dream, she’d be all hot and bothered, and it was only Steven that could make her feel, make her ache for him.

Sally didn’t linger in the tub. She didn’t want to. Washing her hair and body, she let the water soak away before climbing out. It wasn’t as easy as it used to be, but she had found over the past couple of years she’d gotten a lot of upper body strength, and was able to move herself quite easily. Reaching down for her crutches, she picked them up, and made her way into the bedroom. There, she sat on the edge of the bed, dried herself, and then grabbed a pair of shorts and a shirt. Strapping her prosthetic on, she glanced in the mirror, and quickly combed her hair. Feeling a little like herself again, she made her way downstairs.

Steven had removed his jacket, and she got to glimpse his heavily inked arms.

“You didn’t take your time,” he said, turning toward her.

Right now, this felt more natural. “I didn’t want to waste a chance of catching you making the hot chocolate.”

“I’m not going to be giving you any of my tricks.”

She chuckled, and took a seat at the kitchen counter, which had been completely remodeled since her mother nearly burnt it down. It was strange. At times, she saw them as her mom and dad. Then other times, they were Lacey and Whizz. She loved them both though, and that was never going to change.

****

After Steven served them both some hot chocolate, they took it into the sitting room. Steven grabbed the first movie he saw and pushed it into the player. He took a seat beside Sally, and they sat in silence as the adverts played, and then the movie started.

“This is nice,” Sally said, whispering.

“What is?”

“Sitting here, watching a movie.” He watched her jump as the telephone began to ring. She handed him her cup, and stood to go and answer it.

“Hello.” There was a pause. “I’m fine.” Another break. “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye.” She put the phone back into the cradle.

“Whizz?”

“Yeah. He wanted to make sure that all the doors are locked, and the windows are on the latch, and that I’m fine. He also asked if I wanted him to come and get me.”

“Do you want me to take you back to the club?”

“No. I’m fine. I’m not really into it at the moment.”

Steven sat back and tried to think over the past couple of years. Sally rarely stayed at the club, not since she got shot in the leg.

“You know it’s safe now.”

“Don’t, Steven.”

“You’re not going to the club because you don’t feel safe.”

“I visit the club all the time, Steven. It’s not that, okay? I just … I like having some quiet time. I used to have it all the time, but something changed.”

“You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you,” he said.

She chuckled. “I know.” She took her hot chocolate from him and snuggled up close.

Steven wrapped his arm around her, stroking a thumb down her arm.

Drinking his own hot chocolate, he stared at the screen becoming aware of Sally pressed against him. The shirt she wore didn’t hide the fact she wasn’t wearing a bra.

The movie got steamy just like it had to when he was having difficulty right about now. Sally wasn’t a girl anymore. She was a woman, and they’d always had this thing between them. He’d kissed her, for God’s sake, and it had been the only touch he’d had from a woman in years.

Yes, he’d been celibate for a long time now, and it was fucking killing him.

Her hand landed on his leg, and he glanced down at it, wondering if she’d done it on purpose.

Stroking her arm, he stared at the screen.

“Does it always feel like they make it look?” she asked.

He glanced down at her. Her eyes were dilated, and her lips were slick from her licking them. He’d never thought brown eyes were all that attractive until he looked at hers. They were so clear, so beautiful, and she belonged to him. He knew it deep in his soul that she was his, and no one was ever going to take her away from him. Moving his hand up to her neck, he stroked across the pulse, which was pounding.

“It depends on the person you’re with. There are some really shit lovers out there.”

“Shit lovers? You sound like Adam.”

“The brother is rubbing off on me. I can’t help it.”

She sighed. “I like what you’re doing.”

His cock was pressing against the front of his jeans. He turned, cupping her cheek and tilting her head back.

Running a thumb across her bottom lip, he watched as she opened her mouth, and then he couldn’t resist. Closing the small distance, he pressed his lips against hers.

The moment she moaned, he held the back of her head, and kissed her, gently at first, letting her get used to the feel of his lips against hers. Only when she was ready did he run his tongue across, and as she opened her mouth, he plunged inside. She stroked his tongue against hers, deepening the kiss. The hand on her leg went to his arm, and she held him. He didn’t want to let her go, but she moved, keeping her left leg on the floor, and changing position so that he was between her thighs.

Steven stopped, and pulled away, staring into her eyes.

“I love it when you kiss me like that,” she said.

“Like what?”

“Like I’m the only one in the world to you.”

“You are.” He stroked her cheek. “You have no idea at all what you mean to me.”

“Can you make it feel good?” she asked.

“Sally—”

“I want to know what it’s like. I … please, Steven.”

“You’re not ready.”

“I’m asking you to show me how good it can be. Don’t tell me I’m not ready. I’m not ready to go all the way yet, but you can’t tell me that all there has to be is full-blown sex?”

“No, there’s not. There’s so much more.”

“Then show me.”

He nodded, even though he knew he shouldn’t. “I didn’t come here for this. I came here to be with you.”

“I know. I like you being with me, and I trust you, which is why I’m asking.” She placed a hand on his chest right over his heart, and glided it down. He knew where it was heading, but he didn’t stop her.

When she cupped his dick, he closed his eyes. The pleasure rushed over him just from her tentative touch.

“Is this because of me?”

“Yes. There’s no one else here to help me feel that way. That’s all you, Sally.”

She let go of his cock, and took his hand, placing it on her chest. Steven watched as she moved it down. First to her breast, and he felt the weight of her as he cupped her tit, pinching her nipple. Down she moved, over her stomach, to her pussy. She held his hand above her mound, and finally, after seconds passed, she placed his hand at the apex of her thighs. She gasped as he rubbed her gently. The shorts she wore were light, and had slid down her thighs, still covering her pussy.

Moving his hand away from her, he stroked her knee before going down, but this time he passed her shorts, and still keeping an eye on her, he touched her naked pussy. “You’re a naughty girl, Sally. You’re not wearing any panties.”

His cock thickened, and he found it hard to focus on anything else but her. She was wet, soaking actually, and that surprised him. “Do you get like this a lot?”

“Yes. I think about you a lot.”

Steven smiled. He couldn’t help it, knowing that she thought of him, and it worked her up like this, especially as he felt the same way. They both meant a great deal to one another. It wasn’t just sex either.

Taking possession of her lips, he kissed her hard, breaking away to her neck. He sucked on her pulse. She arched up, grasping his arms as he teased through her slit at the same time.

“Do you think about me coming to you, Sally? Licking this little pussy, and then fucking you so hard that I’m the only person you can think of?”

“Steven,” she said, gasping his name.

He eased back and stared into her eyes. Sliding two fingers inside her pussy, he stroked her clit, watching her reaction as he did.

“I’m not going to let you come on my fingers, Sally. I’m just giving you a teaser of what’s to come.”

When she began to tense up, he pulled his fingers from her pussy, and sucked them into his mouth, tasting her.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to be licking your pussy, baby, I want to taste every single inch of you.” He couldn’t get enough of her already. She was his own drug of choice, and he knew that there wasn’t going to be any other woman for him.

He knelt up, and still with his gaze on hers, he began to remove her shorts. She didn’t stop him, but he saw she was a little nervous. “You want to stop this at any time, just say the word, and I’ll stop.”

“No. I want this.”

Steven wanted it as well, but he’d wait. When it came to Sally, she was worth waiting for.

With the shorts out of the way, she had pressed her thighs together. Putting his hands on her knees, he opened them, sliding between them. Then he pressed a kiss to her lips before moving down.

He held the lips of her sex, which had a neatly trimmed thatch of hair. Her clit was red, swollen, desperate for touch. Licking from her cunt up to her clit, he circled the bud, taking his time with her, getting her used to him.

The first lick had her gasping, and her body shaking.

Slowly, he got her used to the feel of his tongue. Even as she wriggled, he found her utter abandon breathtaking to witness. She was a beauty, and she couldn’t seem to help but close her eyes.

“That’s it, baby, give yourself to me.”

He licked her clit, sliding across, back and forth, and around, sucking the bud into his mouth, and then going down to plunge inside her. She cried out his name as he worked her pussy, wanting her to scream his name.

“Steven! Please! Yes!”

They were the only sounds he wanted to hear. Flicking his tongue all over her clit, he brought her to the crest of her orgasm. He held her, licking up her pussy as she came.

He loved the sound as it echoed off the walls.

When she came down, he pressed a kiss to her pussy, and then smiled up at her.

“That was amazing,” she said.

“That you can have any time. All you’ve got to do is ask.”

“Wouldn’t it be a bit rude?” she asked.

He shook his head. “Not for me. I want you, and I want to give you every kind of pleasure you can imagine.”

She licked her lips. “What about you?”

“Not tonight. This was about you.”

Chapter Three

Sally stood just outside of the clubhouse. It had been three days since she’d last seen Steven, and this was the part she hated more than anything. After he’d given her the best experience of her life, tucked her into bed, and stayed with her, he’d been gone. Not a single word from him. She’d been tempted to text him, but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. It wasn’t in her style. It never had been, and never would be.

“You’re just going to stay outside. You’re not going to come inside?” Angel asked. Sally turned to see the other woman, the old lady of Lash, the leader of The Skulls. Out of all of the women, Angel was the nicest. Tate was the biggest bitch, followed closely by Sally’s own mom. Well, her mother wasn’t a bitch. She just had an attitude about her, and that was always a big problem for a lot of people, not that it stopped them from visiting the salon that Lacey owned.

“Yeah, sorry. My mom called and said she needed my help.”

“It’s barbeque. All the kids are off, so it’s the perfect excuse to have a big party.”

“Oh.” Sally tried to be excited about that, but the truth was, she had been avoiding the parties for some time, and that hadn’t changed in the last few years. The parties were great, fun even, but they also brought her a lot of memories.

“Don’t look so happy,” Angel said, laughing. “The Chaos crew is coming.”

“Great.” So everyone was going to be back again. She didn’t know if she should be happy or sad about that. When they were all together, bad shit tended to happen. “Are my mom and dad inside?” Sally asked.

“Yep, they sure are.”

“I’m going to go and see them.”

Leaving Angel alone, she made her way inside. She passed the small play area the clubhouse had installed years ago.

“Sally, Sally, look what I can do.”

She turned to see Daisy on the swings. Her younger sister was kicking her legs up, getting higher and higher.

“I want to fly.”

Sally saw that Anthony, Angel’s oldest, was watching Daisy. The intent look on the boy’s face was something she was used to. Anthony was the quietest amongst the entire group, but that didn’t mean anything. Angel had been so worried that she had wanted to take him to a speech therapist. From that moment on, Anthony would spend a lot of time talking a mile a minute. When Sally had asked him why, he said he “didn’t need to talk to no weirdo.” It had been so funny, but it made her wonder exactly who Anthony was. All of the kids had seen her as the big sister for so long. Being the eldest of the kids, she’d known why they had looked up to her. Of course, that was all on Michael and Darcy now, the two kids that were in high school. Darcy was Blaine and Emily’s daughter. Michael was Alex and Cheryl’s son, but that had a whole lot of drama attached to it that Sally refused to get involved with. Everything was crazy at The Skulls, and at times hard to follow. She sometimes wondered if she should draw a little chart for herself to make sense of it all. Drew told her that they were all one big family, so it didn’t really matter.

“Be careful, Daisy. Don’t even think of trying to jump off,” she said, shouting to be heard.

“She won’t,” Anthony said.

Sally was just going to leave then, and made her way toward the kitchen. Lacey was inside arguing with Tate.

“You’ve been banned from the kitchen. You shouldn’t even be here,” Tate said, hands on her hips. “Get out.”

“I was grabbing a glass of water, bitch. Your father’s not the Prez anymore.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Tate asked.

Lacey took a step toward Tate, and Sally didn’t like it. “Mom, you called. I’m here.”

Instantly, the argument, or smackdown, came to a close. Sally smiled at Tate. “Hey, Tate.”

“Hey, Sally. Good to see you again.” Tate walked over and gave her a hug. “Don’t turn out like your mother.”

“I heard that, bitch!”

Sally laughed. “What was all that about?”

“Bitch doesn’t know when to keep her damn mouth shut. She keeps driving me insane, and I’m going to fuck her up.”

“You won’t do that.” Sally tucked some hair behind her ears.

“Do you like your hair?” Lacey asked.

“Yes. Drew said it looked great. I could be spotted in a crowd.”

“Just the look you were going for.”

“I wasn’t going for any look. I don’t want to be spotted in a crowd.”

Lacey shrugged. “You’re too cute to not.” She squeezed her chin. “So will you be inviting Drew?”

“You want me to? You think that’s a good idea?” Drew wasn’t part of The Skulls. He wasn’t even close family. His family wanted to be rid of The Skulls. That wasn’t going to happen. The Skulls were wanted in Fort Wills. They provided a great deal of employment. Also, the women loved having Lacey do their hair. Baker had also helped with the bakery as well that they’d invested in. The gym had become a place that had people visiting as well.

The town thrived with The Skulls. They helped invest, and also made the town safe. Of course, it didn’t help that they had a bit of a bad reputation. It wasn’t entirely their fault, but they did seem to attract trouble.

“Yes, invite him. I know Whizz likes him, and that’s a big deal to him.”

“He likes the fact that he’s not part of the club.”

“Did you know that Drew spoke to Lash?” Lacey asked.

“About what?”

“About joining the club.”

This had her freezing in place and turning toward her mother. “He did? When?”

“A couple of weeks ago. I know that Lash is thinking about it. Prospects all have to earn their patch. You know that.”

“I’ve got to go,” Sally said.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to talk to someone about something.” She was already moving away from the kitchen, and heading toward Lash’s office when she bumped into Killer. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Killer put his hands on her arms, to steady her. All of the club did that. At times, her prosthetic didn’t move with her, and she found herself stumbling. Of course that was enhanced when someone bumped into her. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Do you know if Lash is in his office?”

“I’m not sure. Knock and check.”

She nodded and moved past him.  Killer still stood, staring at her. “Is there anything else?”

She shook her head. “Nah, not at all. Everything is good.”

“You look like you want to say something to me.”

“No. It’s fine. Have you seen Steven?”

Heat filled her cheeks. She lied. “No, not recently. I better go and see Lash.”

She went to the office, and knocked on the door. Tapping her foot, she couldn’t believe how nervous she was.

Part of joining the club was the Prospects had to prove themselves. That was doing humiliating shit, and also fighting. The thought of Drew being pitted against Steven made her nervous. She didn’t want either of them fighting.

“Come in,” Lash said.

Entering the office, she saw Lash with a pair of glasses reading a sheet of paper. “Hey, Sally, what’s up?” he asked.

She took a seat at the table. “Drew.”

“Ah, what about him?”

“He wants to be a Prospect.”

“Yep, and I’ve got to put it to the table.”

“Don’t let him become one,” she said, taking a seat opposite his desk.

Lash sat back, staring at her. He removed his glasses, and rubbed at his eyes. “Why?”

“Think about it. His family would never allow something like that to happen. You know they won’t. They’ll make trouble.”

“I don’t give a shit about his family, Sally. We’ll be his family. I’ve told him to think long and hard about this.  We don’t accept half-assed shit. It’s all or nothing.”

“I can’t convince you to not let him join.”

Lash stared at her. “Is there a reason you don’t want him to join?”

“His injury. You’ll hurt him.”

She didn’t like the way he was looking her. “A lot of people seem to think I don’t pay attention to shit that is going on around me, and that is total utter bullshit. Don’t treat me like a fool, Sally. Now out with it.”

Gritting her teeth together, she didn’t want to say anything.

Lash got up from his chair, and rounded the desk. “I know about you and Steven.”

“Nothing is going on.” She spoke a little too fast, and it scared her.

“Don’t lie to me. Something is going on, and it has been for some time.”

“Nothing has happened.”

“Whatever goes on between brothers, it will stay between them. If Drew wants to join that is up to him, not me. I can bring his voice to the table, and give him a chance. If the brothers vote on it, he’s a Prospect. I’m not going to cut his chance because of you.” Lash looked at her. “Be careful with what happens there, Sally. You’re not a fool so don’t pretend to be one, but make it plain to one or both that you’re not interested. It’s not fair to be selfish like this.”

He went to his door, opening it up. She was so nervous it made her sick to her stomach. At the door, she stopped and looked at Lash. “Anthony’s like you, isn’t he? He doesn’t give a fuck about anyone unless it’s his family.”

He stared at her, and didn’t say a word.

Sally shook her head, and left his office. How he’d won a woman like Angel was beyond her.

****

Steven had a soda in his hand and watched the kids play. The barbeque was being set up, and he was aware of Sally. Every time she looked over at him, her cheeks would heat, and he knew without a doubt what she was thinking about, and he loved it.

He’d not seen her in a couple of days, and she hadn’t texted him either, which surprised him. He’d expected her to text him at least, but nothing.

“What is going on with you and Sally? No bullshit,” Lash asked, coming up behind him.

Taking a large sip of his soda, he stared at his Prez. “I don’t need to answer that.”

“Drew has asked for the chance to Prospect, and I was going to bring it up at church in a few hours. Sally just asked me to not let him join. Why is that?”

He glanced over at her, and she was looking at something Tabitha was showing her. The Chaos Bleeds crew was due to arrive any minute, and Tabitha’s attention would be taken by Simon.

“I don’t know. She probably thinks he’s too much of a pussy to make it here.”

Lash nodded. “You’re full of shit. She’s worried that you’re going to hurt her precious friend, and the way you look at her, I know.”

“I don’t look at her any way.” He went to take another drink, but Lash grabbed his arm. The grip of the Prez had him gritting his teeth at the pain that went up his arm.

“You lie to me again, and I will have you removed from the club, Steven. Angel likes you and remembers the sacrifice you gave, and that’s enough to her. Don’t make me upset my woman because you’re a fucking liar. Whizz doesn’t want you sniffing around his daughter, and I don’t want your bullshit.”

Steven stared at Lash. “When did you butt your nose in other people’s business?”

“The club is my business. You’re my business. That cut you’re wearing makes it so. You want to back away, and tell me to fuck off? Give me the damn cut, and get out.”

“You’re the Prez, not my dad.” Steven glared at him now. He was so angry he wanted to spit.

“I’m more important than your fucking father. Don’t create a divide in my club. I’ll be the one to fucking break it.”

Steven was about to tell him to stick the club up his ass, but just in time, the Chaos Bleeds crew arrived, stopping him from making a big mistake.

Lash walked away to cheer for the Chaos Bleeds crew. Steven hung back. His heart was racing, and he ran a hand down his face, to clear his fucking thoughts. This shit was fucked up.

Whizz had ordered him away from Sally. At first he’d asked him nicely, and when he’d not listened, Whizz had turned it into an order by going to Lash. Of course, Whizz did have authority as he was Sally’s dad. Steven didn’t like it. Never had he liked being ordered with what to do.

“Tabby!” Steven looked over to see Simon climbing out of the car, his excited squeal drawing everyone toward the two.

Tabitha left the playground where she’d been pushing Primrose and Bluebell on the swings and ran toward Simon. They collided, falling to the ground, and giggling as they did.

Tiny winced, and Eva held onto her husband’s hand.

Steven finished off his drink, and headed back into the kitchen to toss the drink into the trash, and to get something stronger.

As he was turning around, he saw that Drew had turned up. Glaring at the other man, he waited for the fucker to say something.

“Hey, I’m here to see Sally,” he said.

“She invite you?”

“Yeah. I got a text. She said something about there being a bit of a party, and that she wanted to know if I wished to come and have some fun.”

She’d text Drew but not him?

That pissed him off. “You really think you’ll make it as a Skull. You’ve got a fucked-up knee, and last time I checked, we don’t take on defects.”

He’d give it to Drew, the other guy didn’t back down. “I know you don’t want me here, and that’s fine. I’m not here for you. I’ve got a messed-up knee, but I’m strong.”

“Apart from running away. That shit you can’t do. Why don’t you do everyone a favor, and fuck off back to your parents? Go suck on your mother’s tit!”

Drew burst out laughing.

“Steven!”

He closed his eyes. There was Angel behind him. Great, just great.

“Drew, it’s great to see you. Sally’s outside.”

The punk ass nodded, and made his way past him, heading outside.

“I can’t believe you’d say something like that. Don’t you think that was mean?” Angel asked.

It sucked that Angel had heard him. “I don’t like him.”

“That doesn’t matter. What if Anthony had heard? Or one of the other kids? This is a family party. That vulgarity can be saved for when children aren’t at risk of being in earshot.”

Steven laughed. He couldn’t help it. “That’s all you care about. What the kids would hear.”

“I’m not stupid, Steven. I know you’ve all got a mean streak a mile long. I just expect something different from you all, I guess.”

Feeling utterly scolded, he watched her turn on her heel and leave. Fuck!

Moving toward the window, he watched as Drew entered the kids’ play area. Sally was sitting on one of the swings, and she smiled at Drew.

He’d been the one to claim her as his. There was no way he was going to get jealous of that asshole. Drew didn’t have anything on him.

Still, Drew moved behind her, and Sally held onto the swing handles. She let out a squeal as Drew pushed her, and to anyone looking on, they looked like the perfect couple, which pissed him off.

Drew pushed her up and up, and the smile on Sally’s face took his breath away. He wasn’t going to let that bastard win her. Sally was his. She came apart in his arms, and they had this thing between them that they couldn’t deny. He’d not been denying it, not even for a second. Drew grabbed the handle bars, and Sally collapsed back, laughing. Her legs were pressed together, and she wore a pair of jeans, which hid the prosthetic from view.

Leaving the kitchen, he started to mingle, aware of the kids moving closer to Sally and Drew.

He had a beer in his hand, and was watching them even as he spoke with Devil and Lexie.

No one needed him to talk, and he watched as Drew pushed Sally, Tabitha, and Daisy on the swings. He wore a fucking shirt and a pair of pants. He stood out like a sore thumb.

“So, let’s get this party started,” Lash said. He came out of the kitchen holding a giant water gun. “Run!”

The kids screamed as streams of water began to shoot out of the end. The windows opened, and Steven saw Angel, Eva, Sophia, and several of the club start to throw water bombs. The entire clubhouse backyard erupted in laughter, in giggles. Whatever conversations had been going on ceased as the fight kept on going.

When a water bomb hit him, it woke Steven up. Rushing behind a wall, he glanced toward the play area, Sally was leaning behind a shrub. Drew was there, and he had a hand on her stomach. Jealousy rushed over Steven. He had to deal with Whizz, and he needed to handle this fucker.

“This is so not fair! No one has let us have some water guns,” Sally said, screaming.

“Truce! Truce!” All of the kids shouted.

“Dad, no fair, we need to be able to defend ourselves,” Anthony said.

Steven watched as the kids stood up, one by one. It always amazed him that they were united as one. They were a defense on their own. Even Michael, who had been an outcast, and had the whole of the kids beating the shit out of him, was now part of the group.

Sally was on the side of the kids, and Steven was on the side of the adults. This was their divide. Could he get Whizz to look past it? Drew was on Sally’s side as he was the same age, whereas Steven was over ten years older. Whizz had seen him at his worst with the club whores, but he’d changed. Steven wasn’t the same man that he was then. The only thing he could do was prove to Whizz that he was the right man for Sally.

He really didn’t know how.

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.

Chapter Five

Sally turned the eggs in the pan, watching them slowly start to thicken and cook. She hated sloppy scrambled eggs. Most chefs would probably tell her that she had burned hers, and that they were too rubbery. She was strange like that. She loved hers with a bit of a browning all over. Totally wrong to some people, but she liked her stuff cooked.

“You’re deep in thought there,” Whizz said.

“Just making sure I’m overcooking my eggs.”

This had him laughing. “At least they’re not black. Lacey burns everything to a crisp.”

“I know. She even burned this kitchen to a crisp. You did good remodeling everything, and putting in the extra vents for smoke and stuff.”

“That woman burns toast. I had to do something. I think you guys leaving town, and spending some time with Lola was a shock. I expected to find you at the clubhouse, not here.”

“You did yell at her. She was upset, and she doesn’t like it when you scream.”

“I’m a bad husband.”

“Nah, you’re not. You were worried. It was a close call.” Her mom had set the fire in the kitchen. Fortunately, the fire crew had come before she burned the entire house to the ground.

“It’s been a while since we talked.”

“It has?” She glanced over to see him sitting at the counter.

“You know it has. Something is going on with you. Trust me to help you, Sally.”

“I’m fine, really.”

She finished her eggs and placed them in a bowl. Buttering a couple of slices of bread, she took a seat at the table. Whizz got up, and she listened as he fixed himself some coffee. Within seconds he was beside her, staring. She ate her food, and waited for him to speak.

“Are you happy here?” Whizz asked.

“What? Of course I’m happy. I wouldn’t not be happy.”

“No, I mean are you still happy to live here with me and Lacey? I know you’re older now, and I guess I’m waiting for you to say that you’re moving out.”

“Do you want me to move out?” she asked.

“No, no, damn, this is harder than the sex talk.”

“We didn’t have the sex talk. Mom took care of that one.”

“Yeah, that’s because she heard I was making a total screw-up of everything, just like I am now.”

She took another bite of her eggs, and waited for him to finish talking. It was kind of funny to watch as he stumbled all over himself. He couldn’t seem to help it, and she did find it hilarious. He was this big, tough biker, and yet he couldn’t seem to get his bearings when it came to her. She felt pity for Daisy.

Lacey told her that he was going to be doing the serious sex talk with Daisy seeing as she did it with her.

“You know I think you should have dealt with sons,” she said. “It would have been a whole lot easier.”

He took her hand. The contact startled her at first. “I love you, Sally. You’re my daughter in all the things that matter. If you asked for the world, I’d give it to you. I just want you to be happy.”

“I am, Dad. I am. I don’t want to leave.” She licked her lips. “I’m having … trouble right now.”

“What kind of trouble?”

You know, I’m in love with Steven, but he’s your club brother, oh, and now Drew is as well, and he kissed me.

“School. I no longer want to be a social worker. I don’t think I’ve got it inside me to do something like that.”

“Then what do you want to do? I know college is all about picking the right course for you. What do you want to do?” he asked.

“I don’t really know. I’ve got the summer to decide. I’m also working at the gym as well. I sent my application form last week, and I got the job.”

“Now that I do know about seeing as I was the one that approved your application,” Whizz said, releasing her hand. “I think you’re capable of doing whatever it is you need to do.”

“Thanks, Dad.” It was in moments like this that she really wished he was her biological father. Whizz was a good man, and she’d been lucky that they had found her. She’d been close to running away again, not wanting to be passed to another family.

“Drew made Prospect. He’s even got a special jacket, and he’s staying at the clubhouse as well.”

“That must thrill a lot of people.”

“He was unanimously voted in,” Whizz said.

“He was?” This did surprise her.

“It took Steven a little time to make up his mind, but he let him in.”

“Oh.”

She finished her breakfast, and walked back toward the sink, and began washing her dishes.

“I like Drew. He’s a good boy.”

“He’s in his early twenties. Simon, Miles, Michael, they’re all boys.” She dried her hands on the towel, and turned toward him.

“What?”

“Nothing. I … you’re all grown up.”

“Nothing is going to happen between Drew and me,” she said.

“Look, I know I asked for you not to have anything to do with the club brothers, but Drew, he’s your best friend. I’d understand if you’d want more with him. He’s a great guy. He was your friend long before he became a Skull.”

“Precisely. He’s my friend. Nothing will happen between us.”

“You spend a lot of time together.”

She licked her lips. “It doesn’t matter. Steven is Angel’s friend. They don’t sleep together.”

“If Steven even touched Angel, Lash would bury him. Not that Angel would allow anyone else to touch her. She’s all Lash’s, and he’s all hers.”

“I’m going to get ready for work.” She made her way upstairs to the bedroom and changed into the uniform that she had been given. The long pants hid her fake leg, and she tied her purple hair back.

The shirt she wore had the title of the gym, The Skulls Gym. It was kind of funny, really. The Skulls insignia was on the shirt. She liked it.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile to her lips. “Hey, welcome, here are your towels.”

She rolled her eyes. Her main job was going to be working at the reception desk. She could do this, and handle everything that was thrown at her.

The only other option was working in the clubhouse, cleaning. Not happening. She had seen how some of the brothers kept themselves. Some of them were just plain nasty.

There was a knock on the door, and Sally left her room, heading downstairs when Whizz answered it. Drew was on the other side. He wore his leather jacket.

“I’m here for Sally,” Drew said, which had her pausing on the steps.

“I’ve got work.” She spoke up before Whizz could say anything.

“I’m your ride to work.”

“Oh, right. Okay.” This wasn’t going to be uncomfortable at all. Grabbing her jacket, she passed Whizz, placing a kiss on his cheek. “See you later.”

“Will do. Don’t work too hard.”

This had her laughing. “You make a really bad business owner. You’re supposed to tell me to work harder.”

They both laughed. “Yeah, well, everyone else can work hard. You’re my daughter. Sit around all day with your feet up.”

There was no chance of that happening, and they both knew it.

Drew opened the car door, and she paused, staring at him. “What do you think?”

“I’m surprised they let you join.” She climbed into the car, not knowing what to do. This was awkward. They hadn’t talked since their kiss, nor had she texted him, even though he’d been texting her constantly. She didn’t know what to say to him.

He was her best friend. They had gotten close, and now it felt fucked-up and wrong. The line that neither of them had crossed before had now been crossed, and she didn’t know how to come back from that, or how best to deal with everything.

“I’m still me, Sally. Nothing has changed.”

“Of course everything has changed. You’re not just you. You’re part of the club, and when you’re Prospecting, that comes first. It will always come first. Do you think it’s always like it was on the weekend? Friends, family, those kinds of get-togethers. The married men may not play games with the sweet-butts, but they are still there for those that like to play.”

“Are you jealous?”

No, she really wasn’t. “I hope you’re prepared for everything they’re going to ask of you. This isn’t like a game, or a match. This life, it means something to them, and it doesn’t matter to anyone else. What about your parents?”

“I’ve got an apartment that I’ve already rented, babe. Believe me, I’m already way ahead of you on that score. They’ve disowned me.”

“What?” She looked toward him. “I’m so sorry, Drew.”

“I’m not. I was tired of their bullshitting ways, Sally. You think this is a joke to me, but I can promise you, it’s not. This is who I am, and I want to be part of The Skulls. Sure, they’re loud, and they’re strong, and they don’t give a shit about what society thinks, and all that crap, but I want to be part of that. I’m tired of caring.”

“Okay.” She didn’t have anything else to say, and she didn’t want to bring up the kiss at all.

They traveled in silence, and she didn’t say a word. When he pulled up outside of the gym, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“I don’t regret the kiss,” he said, grabbing her arm.

This made her stop.

“I know you’re in love with Steven.”

She turned to look at him. “Please, don’t say anything else. I … I’ve got to go.”

Sally left, heading inside the gym. She welcomed the distraction of work.

****

Steven looked around the basement of The Skulls trying to help Angel find whatever it was she was looking for.

She’d already been through six boxes full of junk, and was now working on the next box.

“What exactly are you looking for?”

“I want to make a photo album.”

“Can’t you just buy that shit in the supermarket?” he asked.

“No, no, not make something. I have the book, but I want pictures.”

Steven frowned. “Why?”

Angel looked up. She pushed her hair off her face. Lacey had been practicing on all of them, and her blonde roots were starting to show through. It would explain why he found Lacey trying to convince her to go to the salon. Lash had entered and told Lacey to leave his wife alone.

“Why?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Because we’re all a family. Each and every one of us. We’ve lost people along the way, and we’ve gained so many people. This is my entire life. I hated it here when I was first forced into this. I didn’t want any part of it. I hated Lash, and I hated The Skulls. Now they’re my entire world. My babies, my love of all of you. I want to document that in case anything ever happens.”

Out of all of the women, Angel was the biggest surprise. She was the nicest woman he’d ever known, apart from Sally. Angel’s niceness had never been diminished. Her love, her ability to care and give, it brought something to the club. They had all been hardened criminals. Some of them had served time, Gash being the latest. A few minutes with Angel, and that darkness that seemed to fester in all of them dissipated. She had this calming effect on everyone around her.

They were able to see the good in a world that they had thought was not there.

“Lash said I would find everything here or at Tiny’s place. I’ve talked to Ned as well. He’s bringing some pictures. It’s going to be so funny seeing some cute pics of Eva as a baby.”

“I think you just need to look at Tab to see a baby version of Eva.”

Angel hummed. She went back to looking in the boxes. Steven was there as the heavy lifter. Lash asked him to keep an eye on Angel, to make sure she had everything she needed.

“Is everything okay between you and Lash?”

“Yeah, why?”

“I just, I was curious.”

“Oh, he doesn’t like me lifting heavy stuff or doing anything strenuous.” She dumped everything back in the boxes. “I can’t believe how much stuff is here. I thought it would have all burned in the fire.”

“The basement door kept it all safe and secure. It stinks, though.”

“Yeah, it does.” She opened one box, and then giggled. “Oh my, I wonder who forgot about this?”

Her cheeks had gone a bright shade of red.

“What is it?” Steven asked, curiosity getting the better of him as he moved toward her. She held up a long whip in one hand, and a set of fluffy cuffs.

“Is this what I think it is?” Angel asked.

“That depends. What do you think it is?”

“Oh my, Steven, are you blushing right now?”

“You should take a look in the mirror. You’re blushing enough for the both of us. I bet you don’t even know what it is.”

She threw her head back and laughed, and then a really grossed-out expression crossed her face.

“What is it?” Steven asked.

“I just realized that it’s stuffed in a box. What if someone had used it and not washed their stuff? Ew, I really need to wash my hands.” Angel was already heading out of the basement toward the nearest bathroom.

Grabbing the box, Steven made his way up to the main room. Several of the club brothers were there, and when he was sure no kids were around to see what was in the box, he opened it.

“So, Angel and I are looking at our old stuff. Anyone know who this belongs to?” Steven asked, upending the whole box.

“Steven, I can’t believe you did that,” Angel said, rushing forward. “I’m sorry, everyone. He’s not very good at these kinds of things.”

Suddenly, Adam, their British member, stood and made his way toward it. “Been looking for this stuff. I brought it with me, and Tiny said I could store it in the basement. Totally forgot about it. Sorry.”

“Oh my,” Angel said. “Erm, okay, there you go, all found.” She turned on her heel and made her way back toward the basement.

Steven followed but was laughing. “Whose did you think it was?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t think anyone would actually claim it, or at least in front of me.” She took her seat again, and he watched as she paused, pressing a palm to her head.

“Okay, something is going on now. What is it?” Steven asked.

“It’s nothing.”

He stared at her, not really convinced.

She sighed. “I’m pregnant again. That’s all, and the doctor has warned that I need to take it easy.” She reached into another box. “Lash is worried that our pregnancy is cursed, and I’ve told him time and time again not to worry.”

“You are cursed.”

“Look, I’ve been pregnant around the time that bad stuff happens. We’ve been clear for a while, so I don’t see anything going wrong. Now, do you want to tell me what is going on between you and Sally?” She pulled something out of a box, and turned to look at him. “You can’t deny that something is going on.”

“I’m not.”

“Then what is going on?”

Steven sat down, and stared at his friend. Angel, she had a way about her. “I love her.”

“Well anyone can see that.”

“I don’t think she does.”

“Sally’s got to deal with Whizz, and the possible fallout from that. Think of Devil and Tiny. Something bad could happen there.” She shrugged. “I think the biggest problem with the club at times is it doesn’t know when to think properly.”

“What do you mean?”

“This thing with you and Sally, it’s not really a big deal. If she stayed fifteen then I’d understand, but she’s a grown woman now. I was nineteen when I met Lash. There’s nine years between the two of us. I wouldn’t worry so much.”

“You’re not Whizz. You’ve not warned me away from her.”

“What does Sally want?”

“I don’t know. I think she feels guilty because she wants it, too, but Whizz has asked her not to.”

Angel looked at him. “It’s not that complicated. You need to talk to Whizz and Sally. Or better yet, talk to Lacey. She’ll bring Whizz around.”

Steven nodded. “What about Drew? He’s going to be around all the time now.”

“I know. I can only tell you that when the heart wants what it wants, no one can really stand in the way.” She held up a huge stash of photographs. “Found some stuff.”

Steven moved closer and saw one picture of Lash, Nash, and Tate. They couldn’t have been any older than ten.

“Anthony looks like him so much.”

“How is Anthony now?” Steven asked. “I know you were worried about his lack of talking.”

“He’s wonderful. He talks to me all the time now about what he does in school, and what he loves the most. He’ll even read to me while I’m cooking.”

The love on her face made him smile. “I’m glad.”

“I was so worried that something was wrong and that the club life was affecting him. I’m so happy it’s not.”

“Is the box full of photographs?”

“Yes, completely full.”

“Come on, then, let’s get out of this musty basement and somewhere fresh where you can look through everything to your heart’s content.”

Steven couldn’t do anything right now. He followed Angel around instead, grabbing her a drink, and helping out.

She would bend over backwards for every single member of the club. They all adored her, and she was his friend. Sitting at the table, he watched as Adam approached.

“Hey, Adam,” she said. Her cheeks were already a deep shade of pink.

“Hey, Angel, so, erm, I wanted to apologize for what you saw there. Totally inappropriate.”

Angel laughed. “Actually, I didn’t think so. Steven should be apologizing for showing it off to everyone. With it being summer vacation, kids are usually around and playing. He was lucky someone didn’t walk in.”

“I’d just let Adam explain everything to whoever saw it.”

She wrinkled her nose. “That would be … scary. Let them grow up first.”

Chapter Six

The first couple of days had gone fantastic at the gym. Sally liked to keep busy, and she didn’t want to sit around all day doing nothing. It also didn’t help her leg, as it seemed to make it harder to walk on the prosthetic after just sitting all day. Her therapist had told her on one of the last visits that her refusal to accept the prosthetic was what made it hard for her on some days.

Sally, in her act of rebellion, had told her she was full of shit and she could shove all of her bullshit up her ass. Afterward, she’d gone back and apologized, but had also told her that she was done talking about her feelings, and everything else.

Talking didn’t make anything better, and that was where she agreed with Lola about a lot of things. Sinner’s woman, Lola, had been taken by the two clubs’ enemy, known as Master. He was the one also responsible for taking Sally’s leg. She and Lola had found a friendship in their own pain. Sally knew about the kind of pain Lola had been through, and once had told her that at times it was easier to pretend nothing happened, but it didn’t mean pushing it aside was going to make it go away forever.

It was Fighter this time who picked her up and dropped her back at home. The table was already set. Whizz, Lacey, and Daisy were sitting around the table, and they all gave a round of applause when she entered.

“What’s the occasion?” she asked.

“You completed your very first full day of work,” Lacey said.

Sally looked at the food. It looked good. “Did you cook?”

“Not a chance,” Whizz said. “We all wanted to be able to live to see another day.”

Lacey tutted. “I won’t get any better if I don’t practice.”

“Yeah, your practice nearly cost us this house.”

“Again, that was an accident, and I have said sorry. Now, change of subject, how was work?” Lacey asked.

“It was good. I dealt with subscriptions, changed towels, and I even got to go and clean the massage area, which made me nervous.”

“Why?” Daisy asked. “Massages are supposed to be so relaxing.”

“Well, it’s just some silly stuff adults get up to, nothing to worry about.”

Daisy looked at her in shock. “Does this mean you’re an adult now?”

Sally smiled. “Yeah, I guess it does.”

“No, we need you on our team.”

“Sally will always be on your team,” Whizz said.

And this was part of the problem she had with Steven. They were part of this divide.

She needed to change subject again. “I love your hair, Daisy.”

Daisy reached for it, twirling the curls around her finger. “Anthony did it for me.”

Sally laughed. “He did?”

“Yep. I just had to sit still. Tabitha was talking to Simon on the phone, so there wasn’t much to do. He wanted me to read him a story as I did it, so I did.”

“I wonder what Lash has to say about that,” Whizz said.

They finished their food, and she and Daisy did the dishes. “Did I get Anthony into trouble?”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I asked how he did it, and he said he watched Lacey do it, and wanted to do it for me.”

Sally held her arms open, and Daisy hugged her tightly.

“You don’t have to worry about a thing, okay. You’re not in trouble, and you’ve not gotten anyone else into trouble.”

“Are you sure? I feel like I have.”

Sally giggled. “Nah, not at all.”

They finished the dishes, and Sally was tired. She said her goodnights to everyone and made her way upstairs.

The moment she entered her bedroom, she gasped. There on her bed was Steven. She closed the door, engaging the lock that Whizz had given her for privacy.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked. “They’re downstairs.” She made sure to whisper, not wanting to draw any attention.

“I’ve not seen you in a couple of days, and you don’t text anymore, not for a long time.”

She just stared at him, and then she closed the distance as he stood, and she threw her arms around him. Closing her eyes, she breathed in his scent, marveling at how good he felt. He sank his fingers into her hair, and then pulled back to press a kiss against her lips.

“I’ve been busy with the club, but I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”

Cupping his face, she traced a finger along his lips, and smiled. Whizz’s earlier conversation came back to her in that moment, and the smile she had faded.

“What is it?” Steven asked.

“Do you want me to move out of here?” Sally asked. “It could help us in a way. You wouldn’t have to sneak into my bedroom window, and you can visit me.”

They sat on the edge of the bed, and Steven held her hands. “What do you want to do?”

“I don’t know. This is … it’s complicated with us, but I think it could be a good thing. I can’t stay here forever, and now I’m working at the gym, and then we can have some space. It could be what we need.” Even if they did sneak around together. Maybe the time away from home was what she needed.

Steven shook his head. “No. I don’t want you to be away from your family, not to just be with me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. “I’ve got a place, and I’ll pick you up if you want, or I’ll meet you there.”

She stared at the key.

“We can have privacy there, and we don’t have to be quiet, or worry in case someone is listening outside the door.”

Sally took the key from him. “It’s kind of like a secret affair.”

“Not for long. I was talking to Angel today, and she gave me some advice.”

“Angel knows about us?”

“No, she doesn’t know about us, us.”

“Oh.” She stared at the key and held onto Steven’s hand. Suddenly, Drew’s touch came forward, and she knew she couldn’t keep it from him. “Drew kissed me,” she said, looking at Steven.

“When?”

“The day of the water fight. After you kissed me. I … I don’t … ugh … I’ve not encouraged him in any way. I’ve not even been around him apart from this morning when he dropped me off at home.” She got up off the bed, and began to pace the room, ignoring the bite of pain in her knee. Suddenly, she stopped, and turned toward him. “Do you see me as a kid?”

“I don’t. If I did I wouldn’t be inviting you to my place.”

“Is this just about sex?” she asked, holding it up. “Is that what you mean? When I’m there I have to have sex with you?”

Steven frowned. “No. It’s not.” He stood up, moving toward her, and cupped her face, tilting her head back. “With you it’s about so much more. Do you think I’ve pressured you into sex?”

“No, no, I’m sorry. Crap. I’m just … it’s been a long day, and with everything, I’m just feeling a little raw right now. I don’t know what to do. Just ignore me. I’m totally in the wrong right now.”

Time was always ticking, and decisions had to be made.

It wasn’t even a decision with Drew and Steven.

She was hurting because she felt like she’d lost a friend because in her heart, she loved Drew, but she didn’t love him in that way.

There was no one else for her to talk to, and she did feel so alone. If she talked to Lacey, then that would go to Whizz.

“I’m here for you, Sally, for everything.”

“I have no one to talk to, Steven. No one. I used to be able to talk to Drew about everything that I was thinking.”

“You can talk to me.”

She closed her eyes, not wanting him to see the tears. “It’s fine. I’m fine, everything is fine.”

“It’s not fine. You and I both know it’s not fine.”

Steven’s cell phone buzzed, and he released her long enough to check who was calling. “I’ve got to go. Please, don’t worry about anything. Will I, erm, will I see you tomorrow?”

She looked down at the key. “I don’t know. Will I see you?”

He pressed a kiss to her lips, and she melted again. “Yes, you will.”

Sally watched as he climbed out of her window, and she moved toward him, waiting for him to make it down safely. The key was thoughtful, and she placed it in her bag. Tomorrow she would use it to spend some time with him. Just recently, she felt like she rarely saw him, and that was the truth. She saw him more when she had just a crush on him.

After a quick shower, she got changed, and was sitting in bed when her cell phone buzzed.

She grabbed her cell and saw several messages from Steven, Drew, and the latest one was from Lola.

Lola: Hey, stranger, so you only want me when your house is nearly burned down.

Sally smiled.

Sally: It goes both ways. You’re too busy being all loved up by your man to care.

Maybe there was a friend out there after all.

****

Steven sat outside the old sheriff’s house again. He’d been there last night after Lola had told him the address. After she told him the details, and then said she was done, he’d asked her to do him a favor, and to be someone that Sally could talk to.

His woman was lonely, and it was all his fault, and of course Drew’s, but still, he felt responsible. She didn’t need to be alone right now, and Lola knew how to keep a secret.

What Steven didn’t understand was why she finally caved and gave him this address. She’d told him that she wouldn’t do any more, and even as he watched the sheriff’s house, something didn’t sit well with him.

Instead of going in and taking that fucker’s life, he’d waited and come back in the morning, but again, nothing seemed to speak to him.

He didn’t like it, and Lola wasn’t answering her phone. He wondered if she had decided to block his calls, and if so, why send him here first. None of it made any sense to him.

Heading back to Fort Wills, he made a quick stop to fill his bike, and then headed back toward the clubhouse where he saw Whizz working on his bike. It was rare to see the computer genius cleaning his bike or doing anything on it.

“Hey,” he said, climbing off his machine.

Whizz glanced up at him and nodded. “Hey, yourself. I heard what went down with Adam. I don’t know if I’d have been able to keep a straight face.”

“You should have seen Angel, man. She was struggling to deal. It was so funny.”

“At times I wonder how she’s going to deal with Anthony. Kid is growing up so fast.”

“Agreed.” Steven scratched the back of his head. “I’ve, erm, been sent some intel on a sheriff a few miles away. I was wondering if you could do me a favor and maybe look into it.”

Whizz stood, wiping his hands on the cloth. “What do you know?”

“That he was possibly involved in some kind of, erm, sex ring.”

“The fucker is still breathing.”

“I don’t know for sure what he’s done. But my gut is telling me something isn’t right. I was going to deal with it as well.” He pulled out the piece of paper with the name he’d written down, and handed it to Whizz.

Whizz looked at it, and then at Steven. “You know, I’m not fucking stupid.”

“Never said you were.”

“This name, I recognize it, and I’ve got a feeling this has to do with Sally.”

“I got the name through someone. I don’t know.”

Whizz folded his arms. “Are we going to go down that road of bullshit?” Whizz stared at him for the longest time, and then laughed. “Holy shit, you went to Lola, didn’t you? She’s the one who gave you this information.”

Steven stepped up to Whizz. “I’ve been taking care of some personal business.”

“Sally is not your business. You should keep that in mind.”

There was no laughter, no playful banter. “How about this for minding my own business? Sally gave a statement many years ago. It got buried before she was shoved back into another fucking home. Guess who buried that statement?”

This had Whizz pausing.

“Yeah, good old trusty sheriff buried that shit, and guess who Sally named as one of the men who used her!” Steven allowed that to sink in. Whizz didn’t show any sign of caring other than the clenching of the jaw. Whizz was an expert poker player. He didn’t give shit away, and when he was captured and tortured for days, he didn’t cave, not even when he was close to death.

Steven had the utmost respect for Whizz, which was why he found it hard with Sally as well. He loved her more than anything, wanted to be with her. He wanted her as his old lady. There was never going to be another person who would love, and devote his life to her the way Steven would, no doubt.

“Lacey asked me not to delve into Sally’s history, and this was at her own request. Sally wanted a fresh start, to be away from the animals that would have kept her trapped,” Whizz said.

“Pin it on me, Whizz. I don’t give a fuck. That bastard could have helped her, and as far as I know, he held her down and took his turn.” He couldn’t say the words, but they both knew what he meant. “Look, be pissed at me, I get it. I went behind your back. I spoke to Lola, and she helped me. Before I was given this guy’s name and details, she said no more. She couldn’t risk it. She didn’t like lying to you, or to the club, or whatnot. I got it. I even understood why. What changed her mind? She won’t talk to me, but I’ve got a feeling she’ll talk to you.”

Whizz didn’t say anything. Steven imagined it was what she’d found out. It would be the only reason Lola reached out and sent these details.

“I don’t want shit between us, Whizz.”

Again, Whizz remained silent. Steven had nothing more to say. He climbed on his bike, and headed back toward his apartment. His heart was racing as he’d spent a lot of time thinking about tonight with Sally. He’d spent a great deal of time on the road, and he was tired.

Sally had texted him to say she’d see him tonight and that she’d already told Whizz and Lacey that she was going to be staying with a friend. All he wanted to do now was get to his apartment, and to hold her.

He broke the speed limit, he was sure of it, on his mission to get to her as fast as he could. Most of the day had been spent thinking about her, and of course, thinking about the sheriff. He pushed all of those thoughts to the back of his mind.

Within thirty minutes he was there, parking his bike and entering the building. The elevator was taking too long, so he took the stairs two at a time to get to her. When he got to his door, he was a little out of breath, but he couldn’t wait another second.

Opening the door, he closed it behind him and entered his home. She wasn’t in his sitting room. The apartment wasn’t large, and as he turned, he saw her standing next to the table. She wore a long dress that molded to her curves, which were a size sixteen. He’d heard her telling Lacey a few weeks ago.

“Hey,” she said. She’d curled her purple hair, and it cascaded around her body. Her hands were clenched at her sides. He moved toward her and took her hand.

“You look so beautiful,” he said.

She breathed a sigh of relief. “That is so good. I was worried that you’d hate it.”

He chuckled. “One day you will realize that when it comes to you, there’s nothing I’d hate.” He pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“I picked up food on the way over here.” She pointed at the table. “Fighter was picking me up, and I told him I was spending some time with a friend. I took a cab here.”

“This is amazing,” he said.

“What is?”

He removed his leather cut, and then pulled her against him. “You came.”

“I did, and I wanted to spend some time with you, but I don’t want to talk about the club or about my parents, or anything like that. I’d like us to just talk, and to maybe have some fun. Do you think we could do that?”

“We can do whatever the hell you want.” He pushed some of her curls out of the way, and stroked her cheek.

“Good. How do you like Chinese?”

“Love it.”

She pulled out his chair, and sat opposite him. “Great, because I love lo mein more than anything else.”

“I remember. You’d growl at anyone who took it from you,” he said, sitting opposite her.

“It’s just so good, and to a point, it’s kind of healthy. It’s noodles.”

He burst out laughing. “You don’t have to worry about your figure. I think you’re perfect no matter what.”

Her cheeks glowed. “We’re not having sex.”

“Wow, how did you get from looking good to sex? Is your head in the gutter?”

She shook her head. “I’m not ready yet.”

“Sally, I’m not here for sex. I like being able to talk to you. We’ve not got any of the club looking at us, and we’re not whispering. Relax. I’m not going to pounce on you and demand shit. Beneath all the leather and ink, I’m a gentleman.”

He watched her visibly relax, and with it, he was able to.

****

“Daisy’s asleep. She’s out for the count,” Lacey said.

Whizz stopped looking at the file to smile over at his wife.

“Have you given it more thought?” she asked.

“You want to adopt another child? You really want to?”

She dropped down on the bed, and nodded. “Yes, I do. Sally’s getting older, and so is Daisy. I want us to have more kids, and everyone is getting pregnant.”

It was moments like this that reminded Whizz of how vulnerable his wife was. She really wanted to have a baby, and at times it really tore her apart. Whenever he saw her holding a newborn baby, which being in a club as big as theirs, was often, he saw the yearning in her eyes.

A little baby was the only thing they couldn’t have, and he hated that he failed her on that. He could give her a baby any time. The right money thrown at the right person, and they could have one by tomorrow. What Lacey really wanted was to have a baby herself. The damage those assholes caused her when she was a child had made it so she’d never have a child herself.

“We’ll go to the agency tomorrow. I promise.”

Lacey nodded. “We can provide a good home and love, Whizz. I know we can.”

“I know, baby. We will.” He’d give her anything.

She snuggled up against him, and he kissed the top of her head. “What are you doing?”

He sighed. “Steven … he gave me some information, and I can’t just ignore it.”

“What kind of info?”

Whizz paused. He didn’t want to keep this a secret from his wife, but he also didn’t see a way out of it. “It’s about Sally.”

“I told you not to look at that stuff, Whizz.”

“I know, I know, but I can’t not when Steven brought me something.”

“He’s been looking, hasn’t he?”

“You and I both know that Steven’s in love with Sally.”

They both sighed this time.

“I know he is, and I know she loves him. Did you really think she’d fall for Drew?” Lacey asked.

“I had hoped. I wanted her to have a life away from the club. Drew has a clean past, and he’d be good for her.”

“Why though? We know that the club is her home, her family.”

“The life she had. I just want her to know that I don’t expect her to pick a brother or anything. I wanted her to have whatever her heart desires, and if that’s Drew, then so be it.”

He loved Sally so much. She was his daughter, and he wanted the best for her. He was starting to see that maybe he’d been wrong. Steven was proving to him time and time again that he was the one right for her. Drew had the clean past and was the same age as Sally. He’d also seen how devoted Drew was to her. Steven loved her, but he didn’t have the clean past, or the same age. Whizz had seen the worst and the best of Steven.

“So what is all this?” Lacey asked, pointing at the computer.

“Someone from her past that I’m not liking all that much.” Everything he had discovered didn’t sit well with him. The biggest problem he had, this man was a sheriff, and they were a lot harder to bury without a trail.

****

“Our son is now curling hair,” Lash said.

Angel looked up from sticking a picture into the album she was making and burst out laughing. Her husband stood in the doorway of their bedroom. They were not at the clubhouse, and instead at their own home, which she loved. Anthony and Chloe were fast asleep. She had been lucky to have children that liked to sleep all night.

“No, he’s not curling hair. He was keeping Daisy company. Are you going to freak out about this?” She couldn’t stop laughing.

“It’s a girly thing to do.”

“Our son is not girly, and besides, we had this talk long ago when I asked you your thoughts if our son turned out to be gay.” She had seen something awful on the news at the time, and she had told Lash that she would love their children no matter what.

He’d told her straight that he didn’t care who they loved. His son was his son, and he would love him no matter what.

“I’m not, I just, do you think he has a thing for Daisy?” Lash asked, looking at her.

“My poor husband, are you freaking out that one day you’re going to be a grandfather? I can promise you, you’re a long way off.”

“It just seems two minutes ago he was a little baby, you know. Now he’s curling Daisy’s hair, and soon he’ll be smoking and then I’ll be warning him about sex.” Lash moved toward the bed, taking a seat beside her. He took hold of her hand. “When did we get old?”

“We’re not old. We’re mature, most of the time, I think. I don’t know. To a lot of people we’re old.”

Lash lay down on the bed beside her, and she lifted up the album she’d started on.

“This is the whole club?” he asked.

“Yeah, I found one of Patricia with Tate.” Patricia was Tiny’s first wife who’d died of cancer. “There’s you with Nash.” His brother.

She turned a page. “Me and you on our wedding day.”

Lash smiled. “That was one of the best days of my life.”

“I know.”

He placed a hand on her stomach, and she covered his with her own.

“I’m worried,” he said.

“Don’t be worried. I’m strong. I’m not fragile. I’m not going to break.” She pressed a kiss to his lips. “How is everything with the club?”

“Everything is fine.”

“And Drew, how’s he?” Angel asked. She knew that Steven would struggle having Drew there, especially as she knew they both had feelings for Sally.

“He’s doing great, which reminds me, I’ve had a headache with the fucking health department.”

Angel frowned. “Why?”

“A surprise inspection on the bakery. They didn’t find anything, but Baker called me up. Told me that Drew’s folks were watching. They could be trouble for the club.”

“We’ll handle it, Lash. We always do. You knew the moment that Drew became part of the club, even as a Prospect, it was going to cause trouble. His parents are too rich to not cause trouble.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Lash only ever showed his worried to her, and Angel loved him even more for it. Every night they would have these talks about the club, and he’d tell her everything, his worries, his concerns.

Closing the album, she placed it on the floor, and then turned to him. “Let me see if I can help you.” Pressing her lips against his, she ran her hand down his body. They’d been married a long time, and still the fire was as strong as ever.

Chapter Seven

Sally rolled over and smiled. Steven was beside her, and he was still sleeping. Last night after dinner, they had gone straight to bed, snuggled up, and not left the room. She had loved every second of it. Reaching out, she touched his cheek, running her thumb across his bottom lip.

“You’re staring,” he said.

“I can’t help it. You’re something to stare at.” He banded an arm around her and tugged her beneath him.

She let out a squeal, and at the same time, she laughed.

“This is where you truly belong,” Steven said.

Sally moved her thighs, and gasped as his cock pressed against her core. She was wearing pajamas and he was wearing boxers, but that wasn’t enough material to keep them separated.

“You’re beautiful.”

The compliments made her a little uncomfortable, but they always had. She trusted Steven.

“I want to kiss you.”

“Then do it.” She bit her lip, wanting his kiss more than anything else. He took possession of her mouth, but it wasn’t a forced kiss. It was tender, gentle. She closed her eyes, moaning as he held her hands above her head. His body next to hers felt so right.

He locked their fingers together, and Sally breathed him in.

“What do you have to do today?” he asked.

“I’ve got to work at the gym, but I’ll be here tonight.”

“I don’t want to leave this room.”

“Me neither. I don’t want to go anywhere.” Just once she wanted to pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist, and that it was only the two of them. Kissing him back, she moaned as his lips left hers, and began to trail down her neck, sucking on her pulse. Her body was on fire for him, and she didn’t want it to stop, not ever.

“You feel so good,” he said. He ran his hands down her body, and she tensed up as both of his hands moved down to her knees. Steven paused on her knee on the right leg, and she massaged the stump of the left. She closed her eyes. “You’re not ugly, Sally. You’re a fighter. A survivor, and I think that’s sexy.”

“I wanted to give up.”

“I know. Thankfully, you’ve got an entire family that won’t let you.”

This made her smile even wider. “You’re saying really nice things to me today.”

“I’ve got so much I want to say to you, but I can’t keep you here, can I?” His hands glided down to her hips, and then he was over her once again, his lips on hers. “You’ve got a job to do.”

“I’ll be available all weekend. I could be yours then.”

“You for an entire weekend. I can’t do this weekend, but in a couple of weekends I could organize for us both to be away?”

“I like that.” She stroked his arms, and smiled up at him. “I love being here with you. You make me feel so alive.”

“Good, that’s what I always wanted.” Steven kissed her again, and when his cell phone began to buzz, they both groaned. “That’s probably the club, needing my ass.”

Sally released him, rolling over, and rested her head in her hand. He grabbed his cell phone, and took a seat beside her. She wrapped her arms around his waist as he answered.

For the longest time, Steven didn’t talk. She couldn’t hear a word what anyone was saying.

“I’ll be there.”

He disconnected the call, and she felt the tension in him rise.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about. Just a club meeting is all.”

She tucked some hair behind her ear and looked at him. “You’re lying to me. I can tell. You’ve gone all quiet, and seriously deep in thought. Talk to me.”

Steven seemed to shake it off, and smiled at her. “It’s nothing really. Just wondering what it’s about. We’ve not had a church meeting in the middle of the week for some time, unless it’s serious.”

“Do I need to worry?”

“No, not at all.”

The moment was broken, and she turned to see it was getting close to her needing to be at work. “Will you be dropping me off?”

“Yeah, of course.”

When she made a move to get out of the bed, Steven caught her arm, holding her back. “You don’t need to go straight away.”

“I need to get dressed.”

“I don’t know what the meeting’s about. Lash was vague.”

This had her turning toward him. “Do you think it’s about us?”

“I don’t see a church meeting being called for that. I see more of a Whizz beating the crap out of me thing.” He laughed.

“I’m going to get dressed.” Sally took his hand giving it a squeeze. They were sneaking around behind her parents’ and the club’s back.

She didn’t like it, and she sure as hell didn’t want to keep doing it.

Once she was dressed, Steven had a couple of slices of toast and coffee ready for her. She finished her breakfast quickly, and then they were on the road in his car.

He dropped her off at work, promising to pick her up. She gave him a wave, and then made her way inside. Clocking in, she put her bag away and began to get started on the day ahead.

She was finishing setting up the reception desk when Luke Pearlman came to the front of the desk. He was one of the most requested personal trainers, and she’d heard he’d been the most complained about. She didn’t get it though. He was always nice.

“I figured I’d see how you were settling in,” he said.

“I’m doing great. It’s quite easy to get around, and the clients are nice.”

This had a snort coming from him.

“Is everything okay with you?” she asked.

“Yeah, everything is okay with me.” He sat on the desk, and she watched him take a lollipop, opening it up and sucking on the candy. “You know it doesn’t matter how good you are at any one thing. A woman and even a man wants what they want.”

She frowned. “I don’t know what you mean.” Sally didn’t have a clue why he was confiding in her, and if she was completely honest, she didn’t want to know.

“It’s like this, sweetheart. I’m the best at what I do because I have a real passion for helping people get to their goal. Their figure, their weight, even their confidence. If that is all they want. ‘Luke, I just want to feel good.’ I can help them. It’s what I do.”

“O-kay.”

“What I don’t want is conditions. I’m sorry I shouldn’t be telling this all to you, but you’re Whizz’s girl, and I’ve heard that you’re the kind of person someone can talk to.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

“The women and the men, the ones that keep telling lies about me, they’re wanting a bit of extra care. They go into the massage rooms, and they’re wanting me to fuck them as good as I work them out. I politely refuse. This is my job. I’m a professional, and they just complain about shit. Then they come and do the same old shit thinking I’m going to cave. Look at my schedule, look!”

She quickly pulled it up.

“Three of the five women I have today will try and get me to fuck them.” He shook his head. “I’m tempted to quit.”

“You can’t do that.”

He snorted. “Why not?”

“Well, you’ve got a contract, right, with The Skulls. Also, you can’t let them beat you down. They’ll win. This is what you love. If you love it here, then you shouldn’t be afraid.” Sally tapped her lip with the pen. “We’ve got security cameras in place. I know how they’re facing. If you want, I may be able to move them so that you’ve got the evidence to prove you’re not being untoward to them.”

Luke looked at her like she was an angel or something. “You’d do that?”

“Why not? I know some of the club thinks they’re bogus allegations.”

“Yes, if you’d do that, you’d be a lifesaver. Thank you.”

“No problem.”

Luke was already walking away with a spring in his step. Sally watched him leave, and then she looked at the screen. One of Luke’s appointments was Drew’s mother. Even though their friendship was slowly coming to an end, she didn’t want to see him miserable. His parents had been pressuring him for years, and if his mother was one of the people giving Luke a hard time, she saw a possible solution to his problem, and to Luke’s.

Thinking about Drew made her incredibly sad. She’d not texted him in a long time, and she pulled out her cell phone to read the messages.

Drew: I’m not sorry that I did what I did.

Drew: You need to know there are other fish in the sea.

Drew: Talk to me, Sally.

That last one made her smile for some reason.

Sally: I don’t want to hurt you. It has never been my intention to do so. You’re my best friend, but you want something I cannot give. For that, I am sorry, but I think it’s better this way. I don’t want to give you false hope.

She sent the message, and even as she did, there were tears in her eyes. She did love Drew. It just wasn’t enough for him.

****

When Steven got to the clubhouse, Whizz was outside. He looked … deadly. Maybe this would be a damn good day to die. He wasn’t sure, but he loved Sally with all of his heart. She was the only woman he wanted, and would be the only woman he ever loved. Climbing out of his car, he made his way over to Whizz.

“What’s going on?” Steven asked.

“You were right.”

“About what?”

“The sheriff. When I got his information up something didn’t sit right in my gut. Something was missing, and I had to keep hunting.” Whizz brought a file from behind his back, and handed it to him.

“What’s this?”

“Those are all the files that have mysteriously vanished.”

Steven opened it up, and then looked at Whizz. “Vanished.”

“Can you guess what files have vanished?” Whizz asked.

“Witness statements?”

“Not just any witness statements.”

His stomach twisted as he stared at Whizz. “Let me guess, young girls who talk about being … used.”

Steven didn’t want to read through the file, but what made him concerned was there were at least twenty pages in this file.

“Five of these girls are dead, suicide,” Whizz said. “What has me concerned, the latest witness statement went missing three weeks ago.”

“How did you find this out? Witness statements are handwritten?”

“They’re not the statements, Steven. They’re the details between foster kids, being admitted to the hospital, or finding an offense, and then being pushed back into the system.”

“Someone must see a link. They must.”

“It’s a small town. He’s the best guy they’ve got. Those witness statements are in his home.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. He has access to everything. He’s the sheriff.”

“If he’s the one who’s been present, someone else is writing the damn statements, Whizz. Shit like that don’t get covered up.”

“It does, if the person taking the statements is either on the payroll, or gets off on it. They make the statement from the kid, and then rewrite another one. You know it can be done.”

Steven ran a hand down his face. “This is fucking … is this what church is about?”

“Yes. I wanted you to know before we went in seeing as you’re the one that dealt with this, you brought it to me. I’ve spoken to Lola, and she confirmed that something didn’t sit right with her, so she went looking, and that kind of shit is what she found.”

Steven shook his head. “I had no idea it went this far, or the number of girls.”

“We’ve got to put a stop to this. For the girls that have already killed themselves, for those that have been struggling. We’ve got to end this shit.”

“I agree.” Steven stared down at the file and frowned. “Lola said to me that she read the witness statement from Sally. If they’re all handwritten, how?”

“She told me that when Sally’s statement was taken, someone else must have been working in the sheriff’s office. This one email was saved on a document. She believes it was going to be attached to a file. As you know, unless you know how, there’s always a trace of something. The file was deleted from the computer, but it’s not forgotten. Lola hacked the sheriff’s service, and found it. The fucker hadn’t even changed his devices in the past twenty years. I don’t know who the woman is, or what happened. I only know that statement didn’t get sent.”

“That’s how she knew something was going on.”

“Yes. Lola’s good.”

“You’re better.”

“I have experience. I’m just about following the breadcrumbs. I’m about finding a pattern. The moment you cross-reference stuff, you find that hole, and once you find that hole, then you have the breadcrumbs that people have left for you.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, and I don’t think I want to know.”

“It’s a bunch of technical numbers and shit.” Whizz slapped him on the arm. “Let’s head inside. I made sure Lash was okay to get you up to speed here. The others already know. We’ve got a certain someone who can possibly help us.”

Steven stared at Whizz.

“Be warned, Killer doesn’t like him.”

He frowned. Killer didn’t really like anyone, so he didn’t have the first clue what to expect when he entered the clubhouse church room. It certainly wasn’t to see one suited-up Michael Granito, Kelsey’s ex, who had brought a shit ton of problems to the club.

There had to be a good reason for him to be there.

“Do any of you want to tell me what that fucker is doing here?” Killer asked the moment the door closed.

“Nice to see you, too, Theodore. I see you’ve been taking care of Kelsey, and making a nice little family for yourself.”

Killer stood, glaring across at the asshole. “Give me one good reason why I should let you live right now!”

Michael burst out laughing. “You need me. I divorced Kelsey. You’re married to her. There’s no beef between us.”

“I called him,” Lash said.

“Why? We don’t need this prick.”

“Actually, you do. I’ve stayed in touch with Tiny, and then when the details of the club changed hands, I’ve kept in touch with Lash.”

Killer looked first at Tiny and then at Lash. “Is this a fucking joke?”

“It wasn’t behind your back. There was no need to say anything.”

“This is bullshit. After what that fucker did. He put my Kelsey and the entire club at risk.”

“I’ve done bad shit. I get that, but since we’ve been apart I’ve been working very closely with law enforcement,” Michael said. “I’m not here to cause you any trouble. I’m here to help.”

“That’s all he wants to do, Killer,” Lash said. “He wants to help, and everything we’ve discovered, we need to put this fucker to bed.”

“Give me his address and I’ll deal with the fucker,” Killer said.

Steven stood in the corner of the room, and watched as Killer and Michael went back and forth.

“You do realize that I work for the law. I’ve got contacts, and I help them.”

“Last time I checked I didn’t give a fuck what you’re doing, and I don’t care.”

“Killer, I know you don’t like this, and I’m all for settling problems and shit, but right now, this is bigger than us.” Lash and Killer shared a look. Steven didn’t want to be around when those two brothers got into it.

“Are you done?” Michael asked. “I get why I’m not exactly a great guest and all that, but I’ve left you alone for fucking years. Give me a break.”

“You got a wife yet?” Killer asked.

“No.”

“Kids?”

“No.”

“I’ll settle down when you do. Kelsey is mine.”

“I know, Killer.” Michael started chuckling. “We’re going around in circles, so I’m just going to get on with it. So for the past few years, I’ve been putting most of my investments into criminal detection services, mainly focused online.”

“You’re the one that keeps everything in check,” Whizz said.

“We try to. The rate of revenge porn, child grooming, and even snuff has been on the rise. I’ve been working tirelessly to bring it down.”

“That’s nearly impossible.” Whizz spoke up again.

“The key is to find it happening, and then to draw those people out, and make sure they don’t harm anyone. Your guy, the sheriff, there have been some questions about him in recent months.”

“Months?” Whizz asked. “What about fucking years?”

“Some of this stuff takes time. He’s not the only one on the radar, but he’s part of a bigger network. When Lash called me about this, I had no choice but to come here as soon as possible in order to ask for your help.”

“We don’t help people like you,” Killer said.

“Last time I checked, The Skulls were squeaky-clean. You’ve not been on the radar for some time,” Michael said.

“We’re never off the radar,” Lash said. “It’s part of being a club with a questionable past.”

“And this is where the deal comes in. I work closely with law enforcement who are willing to make a deal.”

“No,” Killer said.

“Listen to it first.” This came from Tiny. “Go on.”

“They’re willing to scrap everything. Every file, every little piece of data they have on The Skulls, get rid of it.”

“What do you want in return? Stuff like that is not easily wiped clean.”

“You’ve been clean nearly five years now. That shit that went down with Gash’s brother was the last time you guys were deep in it, and that wasn’t even your own fault.” Michael looked around the table. “It’s a pretty decent offer.”

“Yeah, before we decide on any details or anything. I want to know what you want.”

“We’re going to want The Skulls helping us out. We’re not talking using you and putting you in the line of fire. There are men, women, and children out there who need people to help them. I was hoping that when we need to protect someone, I mean an innocent someone, you’d consider helping. That’s what we want,” Michael said.

“What about witness protection? Don’t that shit help?” Hardy asked, speaking up for the first time.

“It does, but we all know people can be bought off. We all know you guys can’t be. You’re all tight. No one can get through your defense, and that’s what we need.” Michael paused. “I want you to think it over. I’ve booked a hotel close to here. We’ll talk more when I have your answer.”

“What about this fucked-up sheriff?” Steven asked.

“We’ll talk more when I know your answer.” With that, Michael left the room.

Silence fell around the table. Steven looked toward Lash, who had taken a step away from the table. He was rubbing the back of his head. They would go from criminals to heroes no matter if anyone ever knew.

Chapter Eight

Michael left the clubhouse alive, and that was more than he thought would ever be possible. He was just about to leave the main door, but stopped when he saw Kelsey standing there. She was smiling down at her son, who was walking beside her, and in her arms was another boy.

He stopped and looked at her. It had been a few years since he had last seen her. She still worked as a dental nurse but only part-time now because she had started a family.

When she looked up, the smile on her face slowly ebbed away.

“Hello, Kelsey,” he said.

“Michael? What are you doing here?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to cause trouble. I just came to do some business.”

“With The Skulls?”

“Yes, with them.” He reached out and stroked the kid’s cheek. “You’re happy.”

“Yes, I am. Wait, does Killer know you’re here?”

“He does.” He glanced back at the room. “Though he’s not too happy about this, and I can see you’re nervous.”

“I’m not nervous. It has just been a long time since I saw you, and a lot has changed.”

“You’re a married woman with a family,” he said.

“I am, yes. Very happy.”

He smiled, and he was so pleased to see that she’d found that happiness. “I’ve got to get going, Kelsey.” Without another glance at her, he climbed into his car, and headed toward the hotel room. Keeping in touch with The Skulls had been a hard decision for him to make. They had known of the mistakes he’d made, but with The Skulls coming away from their life of running drugs and guns, he’d wanted to reconnect. He believed they could be a lot of help, and after the last woman he failed to help, he’d been looking at alternative ways to help people live through hardships.

Pulling out his cell phone, he stared at the picture of a woman that he’d not been able to save. This was why he worked hard to catch the bastards that prey on the weak. He would make sure that nothing happened to innocent people again.

****

Later that day, Sally waited near the men’s changing room. When she saw Luke appearing, she gave him a wave and pointed for them to talk in a private spot.

“Tell me it worked.”

“It worked, and it did really well. I wanted to ask you a favor.”

“Anything. What about, erm, a copy?” he said. “Do Whizz or Lash know that I’m speaking the truth?”

She nodded. “Yes, they totally do. Honestly, it’s fine. They know that you’re innocent, and they’ve even got sound where one of the women said that they would continue to make your life hell if you didn’t comply and all that. What I wanted to ask is if I could take a copy to show the son of one of the women.” She held her hands together, waiting for his response.

“Why would you want to do that?” Luke asked.

“Let’s just say the son is having a hard time, and they keep pressuring him. This could help him. You’d be helping someone else. I wanted to ask you because obviously, you’re in the footage, and I didn’t want you to think I was using you or anything.”

“That’s fine. I’m all for it. Do you need a ride or anything?”

She shook her head. “No, no, I’m good. Thank you so much for this, and I’m glad we were able to resolve your little problem.” Sally left him alone and pulled her cell phone out, texting Drew. There was already a copy of the footage in her bag, and even though she was nervous about giving him this, she had to do it. They were friends, or at least she still wanted to be his friend, which made her so selfish. This could be the last thing she did for him.

Once she finished with her shift, she made her way outside, and saw Drew with the car, waiting for her. She had already sent a text to Steven to say she’d be late and for him to not worry.

“Hey, stranger,” he said.

“Hey.” Now she was nervous, and even though she wanted to give him a hug, she didn’t. “Can we go somewhere for coffee?”

“Sure, no problem. I’m really pleased you texted me. I was starting to worry there for a little bit.”

“There’s something I want to tell you, and then you can decide what you want to do with it.” She sat behind the wheel and watched as he started up the engine. He wore his leather cut. He looked so happy. “Do you like being with The Skulls?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s awesome.”

“What are you going to do when college starts again?”

“I’ve been talking with Lash about that, and he’s all for me going to college. I’ll stay there through the semester, and when it’s over, I’ll come back. He warned me my patch will take longer to earn, but it’s not impossible.”

She nodded, and took a deep breath.

“I don’t want you to hate me, Sally.”

“I don’t hate you, Drew. I couldn’t hate you.”

Silence fell between them, and for the first time ever it was uncomfortable. She tucked some of her hair behind her ears, and breathed a sigh of relief when he parked the car. Climbing out, they entered the coffee shop together, and Drew urged her to take a seat while he ordered for the two of them. He knew what she liked, so that wasn’t a problem.

Taking a seat, she checked her phone to see a message from Steven.

Steven: What’s up? Do you need a ride?

Sally: Nah, I just need to handle something. It’s fine.

Nothing came through for several seconds, and then when it did, she saw his question.

Steven: You’re with Drew, aren’t you?

She didn’t need to justify her actions, so she didn’t text him back. Drew came back to the table, and placed a coffee in front of her. “Thank you.”

“No, it’s the least I can do. I’ve been wanting to talk to you for some time.”

“Look, Drew, this isn’t about you becoming more, or anything like that. I don’t … I don’t see you that way. I never have. What I wanted to give you is this.” She held up a copy of the footage. It was on a USB key. “This is what you can use to get your mother off your back, and in doing so, your father as well.”

Drew frowned, and looked at the key. “Why will that help?”

“It has some interesting information on it, and believe me, I don’t think your mother wants it getting out.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Do you want me to tell you what’s on it?”

“Yeah, I do. It’s kind of scary. I’m worried it’s a horror movie or something.”

“I guess it depends on your perspective of what you consider a horror movie is.”

Drew stared at her. “Go on then, tell me.”

“It’s your mother propositioning and threatening one of the personal trainers at the gym. She goes into a lot of detail, and I doubt she’d want that known, especially how vicious she can be.”

His eyes had gone wide. “You’re shitting me?”

“No, I’m not. I thought you could use it.” She drank her coffee.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I hope it does what you want it to do.” Now she felt nothing but sadness. There was this divide between them, and she hated that more than anything else. She took a deep breath. “I can’t believe this is real. The leather jacket and stuff.”

He glanced down at his jacket. “I miss you,” he said.

She shook her head. “Don’t.”

“Look, can’t we go back?”

“There’s no way for us to go back.” She looked at him, and the pain in her head began to get a little thicker. She released a puff of air, and then looked at him. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“And I don’t want to lose your friendship, Sally.”

She licked her lips. “I love Steven. I’ve always loved him, and nothing is going to change that.” She saw the pain in his eyes, and it made tears come to her own. “See, I can’t … I can’t do this to you, Drew. I would never dream of doing this to you.” She wiped away her tears. “I care about you. I do, and I’m not going to make you be around me because you need to find someone else.”

“You’re my best friend.”

“And you’re mine.” This was so hard for her. She reached out and touched his hand. “I’ve got to go.” With that, she stood, and made her way out of the coffee shop. She quickly flagged down a cab and made her way toward Steven’s home.

Once she was there, she went up to his apartment, and as she was placing the key in the lock, Steven opened the door.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

When he opened his arms, she walked right into them, holding him close. “I told him that there would never be anyone but you, Steven.”

“And now you’re crying.”

“I just hurt my best friend. I think I should be allowed to cry even just for a little bit.”

Steven pulled her into the apartment. He closed the door behind her, and then they were sat on the sofa. She didn’t let him go, snuggling up against him.

“I expected you to come and cause trouble.”

“I’m not a total ogre. I know you needed time.”

“I know. I didn’t want this to happen, Steven. I didn’t want to hurt him, and now that I have, I … how do I come back from this?” She looked up at him.

He wiped the tears away, and smiled at her. “You did the right thing.”

“You’re only saying that because you don’t like Drew.”

“No. I’m saying that because it’s the truth. You didn’t string him along, nor did you make him think there was a chance for the two of you. No one is ever going to like what you said. No one. You told him that he’s not the one, and he wanted to be. If it was the other way around, I know I’d be pretty fucking devastated.”

She pressed her palms to her eyes, and began crying again. Steven pulled her close to him, kissing the top of her head.

“You can cry it out.”

“I hate this feeling.”

“Do you love him?” Steven asked.

“Only as a friend. I care about him.”

“Do you love me?”

She looked up. He’d asked the question slowly. She licked her lips, and nodded. “Yes. I love you.”

He smiled. “I love you, too.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. It was soft, gentle, and oh, so sweet.

“You confuse me,” she said.

“It makes a change for a man to be confusing his woman.”

“Am I your woman?” she asked.

“You know it. I wouldn’t be here with just anyone.”

She smiled. “Do you think I’m a bad person?”

“No. You’ve not got a bad bone in your body.” He stroked her arm, and they sat back for the longest time.

Only when her stomach began to growl, did she realize that it was getting late.

“Time to order,” he said.

He moved forward, and picked up three menus. “Chinese, Italian, or Mexican?”

“I want something hot and spicy today.”

“That’s my girl. You and I think alike.”

She went to pull away, but Steven caught her arm, and she turned toward him. “You can talk to me about anything, Sally. I mean that.”

“I know.”

“It won’t be like this forever.”

“The secrecy?” she asked.

“Yeah, we’ll tell Whizz, and then everything will be better.”

She hoped so. The last thing she wanted to be was a secret. All of her life that was exactly what she’d been. Someone’s secret. Just once, she wanted someone to have her, and be proud to be with her. The biggest problem right now was she didn’t know if Whizz could accept her and Steven’s relationship. For a little bit longer, she just wanted to enjoy what they had without anyone judging them.

****

Three weeks later

Lash didn’t want them to decide about it straight away. After Michael gave them the option of the deal, Lash requested more time, and The Skulls had several weeks to think it over. During that time, Steven went to so many churches as they all fleshed out exactly what it would mean to be working with Michael again.

In the beginning Killer couldn’t stand the idea of working with Kelsey’s ex, and was a straightforward no. Over the past few weeks they had been debating it, and today was decision day.

Steven glanced back at the empty bed, and wished that Sally had joined him. He’d wanted her in his arms today, but Whizz had asked her to be home, and there wasn’t much he could do about that.

Leaving his apartment, he made his way toward the clubhouse. Several of the cars and bikes were already in the parking lot. He climbed off his bike and sat on the wall, staring at the clubhouse. It had been a tough few days, but now was the final vote.

Biting his lip, his thoughts drifted to Sally.

They’d had three blissful weeks of her sneaking away to be with him at night. He loved having her in his arms, and watching her fall asleep. Of course, he just loved being around her, and they talked about everything and nothing. She was … the most special person he’d ever had the pleasure to know, and he wanted her in his life for the rest of their time together.

Fighter came out of the club, and walked toward him. Neither of them said a word as Fighter took a seat beside him.

“How ya been?” Fighter asked.

“Good. You?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’ve got some advice to ask you, and I don’t want you to take it personal or shit, but I need a straight answer.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“So, say you were supposed to pick up someone’s daughter, and when you got there, you find her taking a cab. You follow that cab to make sure she’s okay only to discover her meeting up with a club brother, and they share a passionate-as-fuck kiss before heading inside a building. Now, that wouldn’t usually bother me, only I know for a fact they’re sneaking around behind another brother’s back. Now tell me, brother, what would you do?”

Steven looked at Fighter, seeing the glare in his eyes. “You got a problem with me being with Sally?”

Fighter burst out laughing. “I’ve got no problem with you being with Sally. That woman has had it bad for you for a long time, and I’m happy to see her getting what she wants, and looking so damn happy about it. That’s not the problem. You’re sneaking around behind Whizz’s back. To me, that doesn’t bode well at all.”

“We’re not ready to say anything.”

“You’re using her like a club whor—”

Steven stood up and glared at him. “Don’t you fucking finish that. I’m not using her. Nothing has happened between us.”

“You’re telling me that all you’ve been doing is kissing her. Not what I saw, bro.”

“First of all, it’s none of your damn business, and second, I would never disrespect my woman. I love Sally. You hear me, I fucking love her. I love her company.”

Fighter glared at him. “We’re about to vote today on the future of the club. You’ve got to come clean to Whizz soon, or you’re going to be up fucking shit creek.”

With that, Fighter turned on his heel and walked away.

Fuck! Steven didn’t want to deal with this shit today because this was an important fucking decision. He’d agreed with Sally to keep this secret. All he wanted to do was drive to that fucker’s address, kill him, bury him six feet under, and be done with it.

He didn’t see a reason to linger outside anymore, so he headed into the main clubhouse. Several brothers were already sitting at the table, and Steven took his place. He rubbed at his eyes, feeling particularly tired. One day soon he’d tell Whizz, but today wasn’t that day. He’d asked Sally what she wanted to do, and she’d told him that she wasn’t ready.

Lash was already at the head of the table, and Steven saw the brother was deep in thought. This was a big fucking decision.

Gash entered, and the brother looked as tired as he felt. Over the next thirty minutes the brothers kept coming in. No one spoke a damn word.

What wasn’t normal was Whizz coming in last. “Sorry about that. Lacey and I have an appointment with an adoption agency.”

“How did it go?” Killer asked.

“We’ve been put forward for a little boy.” Whizz pulled out a picture, and placed it in the center of the table. “He’s been passed around three homes so far. No one has wanted him. Kid has asthma, which they’ve said can be expensive, and he suffers with panic attacks and night terrors. Lacey says he’s perfect.”

“Congratulations, brother,” Lash said. “I’m sure I’ll be babysitting along with the rest of the brothers.”

“I’d give Lacey whatever she wanted, you know. This is … one thing that I can’t give her. I can’t take away what those bastards did.”

They all knew what had happened to Lacey as a young girl. It had taken her ability to have children.

“I’m sorry, brother.”

Whizz held his hand up. “It’s fine.”

They all saw it wasn’t fine. Whizz was one of the hardest of all men, and he rarely showed any emotion about anything. This was a big deal for him, and it was where Whizz always felt like a failure.

“You’re a good dad,” Steven said. “You’re giving homes to kids who are not wanted. They don’t deserve to be thrown away like trash. Daisy, Sally, and from the look of this kid, that’s what’s happening. They’re not perfect, and you know what? They don’t need to be.”

Whizz nodded. “Thank you. I guess this is why I feel today is really important.”

“It is,” Lash said, looking at all of the brothers. “I know this is never where the club was supposed to go. Tiny made this club better. He wanted to protect his loved ones, the town, and to make sure bad shit doesn’t come here. For a long time, we’ve accomplished that, and we kept the law as far away as we could.”

“We can’t help it that the law likes to keep our faces on file. I think they do it to have them something to wank over,” Adam said.

Steven burst out laughing. “You think they’re getting their kicks looking at us.”

Adam placed a hand in front of his own face. “Who would turn this beauty down? I’m the shit!”

This had the whole club erupting in laughter.

“You’re right, we’re too damn pretty for them,” Killer said, laughing as well.

“I know that you’ve got problems with Michael, and they’re justified,” Lash said, looking at Killer.

“It doesn’t matter what I feel between me and Michael. There’s always going to be bad blood there, but I can handle this,” Killer said.

Lash nodded, sitting back. “I know we’ve all wanted to rush in and just vote this shit, and be done with it. I know all you’ve wanted to do is take that fucking sheriff down, but I spoke to Michael. This isn’t about us running in all guns blazing, and then coming out. I got him to put all of his cards on the table, and he says before they can go any further with the cop, he needs Sally to come clean about that witness statement. He needs cold, hard facts.”

Whizz instantly recoiled. “No, we cannot bring her into this.”

“We’re going to have to, brother,” Lash said.

“She didn’t want me digging into her past, Lash.”

“This is bigger than her, and I love her as well. She’s part of the club, and I will protect her with my life,” Lash said. “Michael has a plan, and it all depends on what we vote today.”

“This is a change of everything we’ve ever known,” Tiny said. “Ned says we’re being a bunch of pussies, and I told him to suck his own dick. I consider that bonding.”

A lot of brothers burst out laughing.

“Okay, let’s kick off and get this vote underway. The offer that Michael put on the table, wiping our slate clean, helping out with innocents, and only innocents, yea or nay.”

Around the table the club voted, and not a single person voted nay.

They were going to help, but for better or for worse, would remain to be seen.

Chapter Nine

Fluffing out her hair for what felt like the millionth time, Sally stared at her reflection in the mirror in Steven’s apartment. She’d gotten off early at the gym, and made her way to his apartment. This wasn’t a decision she had taken lightly, but that morning she had woken up alone in her room, and she just knew. She knew in her heart that she was ready, that she was going to be with him.

He was the only man she had ever loved, the only man she ever wanted to be with. Her hands were a little sweaty because she didn’t really know the proper protocol for getting a guy into bed.

Should she be really polite, and ask him first?

Was this too forward?

She didn’t know what to do or what to say, and she was so confused. Leaving the bedroom, she glanced down at her sheer negligee, and her hands clenched. What if this was the wrong way to go, and he thought she was being a bit too forward?

Cringing, she was about to turn back and change back into a pair of jeans and a shirt. The door rattled, and that took the chance to change right out of her hands. Standing by the dining room table, she placed a hand on her hip, while her other held the back of the chair.

You can do this.

This is easy, and is done all the time.

Stop shaking.

Steven closed the door, and his back was to her. When he turned around, he saw her and froze.

“So, erm, I had this crazy idea that I would surprise you today. I’m kind of panicking here, dressed like this. Is this too forward, or do I need to go and get changed? The last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable.”

“You could never make me uncomfortable,” he said.

“Good, good.”

He stared down her body, and the heat in his gaze made her shiver in all the right ways. “What’s this?” he asked, taking a step toward her.

“This is my way of trying to seduce you. The woman in the very fetching lingerie shop said that no man or woman could resist. I let her know that it was only a man I wanted, and that I didn’t know how to tell him that I was ready, and she said this would send that message clearly.”

She moved away from the table, and took a few steps toward him. Placing her hands on his chest, she ran them up, and pushed his jacket off his shoulders. The leather hit the floor with a thud.

“And I am … ready, Steven.”

He cupped her cheek, tilting her head back so he could stare into her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything else.” Before she had even finished her last word, his lips were on hers. His fingers sank into her hair, and she moaned, gripping his shirt as pleasure rushed through her body. She wanted him so much.

All she had been able to think about all day was getting to this moment, and him seeing that she desired him.

He’d been so patient with her, never once forcing what he wanted. Throughout the nights they shared, he held her. They talked about everything.

Steven broke the kiss, pressing his head against hers. “I can wait.”

She chuckled. “I can’t. Not anymore. I’m not going to change my mind.” She wanted him.

“I’ll go slow.”

“I’m not fragile, Steven. I won’t break.” She was ready, desperate to feel him. There was going to be no running away.

Tugging on his shirt, she pulled it up over his head, and off onto the floor. He had a lot of ink, and she traced the designs. His chest was rock-hard, full of muscles, and she glided down, going to the belt of his jeans.

Staring into his eyes, she tugged on the belt, and he took over, shoving his jeans down.

When she went to go for his boxers, he took her hand, placing it on his chest. His hands went to her hips, and he pulled her toward him so that they were pressed together.

“I’ve thought about this moment for a long time.”

“I’m not a virgin, Steven.”

“To me, you are. All the other times, they don’t matter. I’m your first in every single way that counts, and before we go on, I want to tell you that I love you. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He kissed her lips.

Tears filled her eyes. His declaration meant more than she had ever thought possible.

“You love me?”

“More than anything in this world. It has been you for a long time.”

“I love you, too, so much.” She wrapped her hands around his neck, and he moved them back, leading into his bedroom.

There was no rush to their movements. When the bed hit the back of her knees, she eased down on the bed, and once she was comfortable she flopped her upper body down, letting out a little huff as she did.

She giggled, followed by a moan as he pressed her down onto the mattress. His fingers went to her knees and glided up beneath the sexy negligee.

“This is driving me crazy,” he said. “It tempts me, showing everything and yet hiding it all. I can’t stand it.”

“Good. The woman at the shop said you wouldn’t be able to resist even if you wanted to put up a fight.” She went to her elbows, watching his hands as they disappeared beneath her negligee. Through the sheer fabric, she saw him cup her pussy. Closing her eyes, she gasped.

“No, you keep those eyes open, and you see who is touching you, loving you, wanting you.”

His fingers stroked the small thong that she wore. She didn’t think she’d like wearing the thong. For the longest time, she’d thought a piece of fabric against her ass wouldn’t be comfortable especially with the cheeks of her ass hanging out each side, but it didn’t bother her, not one bit.

As she moved, she’d felt sensual, sexy, as if the sight would tease Steven even more.

“You’re wet, baby.”

“I put something else on for you.” She pushed his hands away, and he frowned.

When she moved to get on her knees, her cheeks were on fire, but she lifted her negligee up, and she heard his indrawn breath. Her prosthetic wasn’t causing her much trouble tonight, which she was thankful for. “I thought you might like that.”

She glanced behind her, and his gaze was on her ass.

“Now that is a fucking beautiful sight, baby.” His hands went to her curvy butt, and she gasped as he spread the cheeks open, only to hear him groan once again. His finger traced the path of the string, going down her back, to her anus, and then slipping beneath the fabric, and plunging inside her core.

Sally cried out at the pleasure his touch was creating. He pulled his finger out, only to thrust back inside her again.

Gripping the sheets beneath her, she felt heady from the rush, the arousal.

“One day soon, I’m going to fuck you like this. I’m going to have you on your knees, open, ready to take my cock, and I’m going to fuck you so that you scream my name.”

He grabbed her hips, and flipped her over so that she was on her back. “That day is not today.” He eased the strap down her shoulder, and then her other, lowering them until they were close to letting her breasts pop free. “Tonight, I’m going to take my time, and I’m going to make love to you, showing you how good it can be between us.”

The negligee glided down, and she heard him hiss as he exposed her tits to his view. His gaze followed the path as he removed her negligee, pushing it to the floor. Next, he got rid of the thong. He gave her that wicked smile she loved so much. “I think I should keep these.”

She burst out laughing. “Don’t worry, I bought quite a few pairs.”

“You’re going to drive me crazy wondering, aren’t you?”

“You got that right. Every time you see me, you’re going to wonder if I’m wearing a thong, plain old panties, or maybe nothing at all.”

“You’d be that much of a tease?”

“For you I’d make an exception.” She chuckled and then moaned as he cupped her pussy. All laughter ceased as he slid a finger through her slit.

“Your pussy is so wet, baby. Have you been thinking about me?” he asked.

“Yes.” She gasped as he slid two fingers inside her this time. Closing her eyes, she thrust up, and then cried out as his thumb pressed against her pussy.

“I want you to look, Sally,” he said.

She opened her eyes, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.

****

Steven intended for her to be there, every single step of the way. There was not going to be a chance of her hiding, now or ever. She sat back on her elbows, and as her gaze left him, he ran his thumb across her clit, feeling her cunt tighten around him.

She was so wet and so tight. He wanted her to come, screaming his name as she did, before they did anything else. That was all he wanted from her, to hear the sounds of her pleasure.

“That feels so good.”

“I’m only just getting started, babe. I’m going to make you feel oh, so good.” He pulled his fingers from her pussy, and tasted her cream. He’d gladly lick her all day long. Steven helped her move up the bed, and he bunched up the pillows so that she could see everything that he did. “I want you to tell me what feels good, what you like, and tell me what you don’t.”

“O-okay.”

“You don’t need to be nervous. I want this to feel good for you.”

“It does feel good. Everything you do feels so good.”

He loved her smile, and her body, and her mind. He just loved her more than anything else.

“You’re so beautiful.” He pressed a kiss to her lips, and glided down, sucking on her pulse.

He didn’t stop there, taking one of her nipples into his mouth, followed by the other, sucking hard. She gripped the back of her head, moaning. He ran his hands down her body, going between her thighs, cupping her pussy, and playing with her clit. Down he went, kissing her rounded stomach, and down still until he was at her mound. Opening her lips, he gazed down at her clit, and then looked at Sally.

She was doing exactly as he ordered, watching him.

Sliding his tongue through her slit, he heard her gasp and moan. He released her pussy lips, pressing a single finger inside her, and then pulling out. He fucked her with his finger, feeling her grow even wetter.

“Do you like that, baby?” he asked.

“Yes, it feels good. I don’t want you to stop.” She whimpered as he pushed a second finger inside her, fucking a little harder.

Stroking her clit with his tongue, Steven watched her, seeing the flush begin to glow on her cheeks, and her lips seeming a little more swollen from his kisses. His cock pulsed inside his boxer briefs with the tip leaking pre-cum inside.

He didn’t stop though, and kept on licking her pussy.

His arousal was building, but he ignored his own needs and focused on hers.

“I love … your tongue, Steven. It feels amazing.” She licked her lips, and when he thought she was going to close her eyes, she’d open them, and watch. “I’m so close.”

“I want you to come all over my face, baby.”

As he spoke her cunt tightened around his finger, and he just knew she liked his dirty talk.

Thrusting harder inside her, he sucked her clit into his mouth. Flicking the bud, he watched her, tasted her, surrounded himself in the pleasure of her, and it was so damn good, everything that he needed and more.

She was his entire world, and he loved her more than anything else.

“Steven,” she said, crying his name out.

Her orgasm came unexpectedly and hard, riding her body. He flicked her clit, keeping her orgasm going at the same time as he fucked her pussy with his fingers, wanting her to enjoy it.

“Oh, wow,” she said, panting as she jerked up. She rode her orgasm hard, crying his name, screaming it in fact, and only when she grabbed his hand, halting his touch, did he press a kiss to her clit.

During her orgasm, she had closed her eyes, and now he waited for her to open them, keeping still.

Slowly, she did, and the smile on her lips would stay with him for the rest of his life. It was complete and total serenity. “That was amazing.”

“Good.” He kissed her pussy again, and then moved from between her legs.

“Don’t go,” she said. “I want us to go further.”

“We will. I’m just grabbing one of these.” He held up a condom, and he saw her nod.

“Oh.” She glanced down his body. “I’d like to see you.”

“You want to see my dick?”

“Yes. You’ve seen and touched and felt every single part of me. I want to see you now.”

He stood up and gave her a wicked grin. “I’ve got no problem with that.” Pushing his boxers down his thighs, he kicked them to one side, and wrapped his fingers around his cock. “Do you like what you see?”

A flush coated her cheeks, chest, and the tops of her breasts.

“You’re … big.”

“That’s what every guy wants to hear.” He tore into the packet, and was about to take the latex out, when he saw the nervousness in her eyes.

He moved toward the bed, kneeling beside her. “Touch me.”

“What?”

“Touch me.”

“I can’t do that.”

This made him laugh. “Baby, I belong to you. Every part of me is yours. You can touch me.” When she made no move to touch him, he took hold of her hand and placed it on his cock. “This is what you do to me. Seeing that thong against your cute ass, I thought I was going to blow just from the sight.” Her touch was uncertain at first, delicate even, as if she was afraid to reach out to him, and he didn’t like that.

Covering her hand with his own, he guided her with his touch, taking his time. He began at the base, working up to the top, and then down again. The caress started out slow, which he didn’t mind. Only when he was sure she was confident to touch him did he release her hand and let her get used to the feel of him.

Her hand was smaller than his, and he watched the heat in her eyes.

“Do you like what you feel?” he asked.

“Yes. You’re so soft, and yet, you’re rock-hard.”

“That’s what you do to me.” He moved a little closer and ran a hand up her thigh, cupping her cunt. “Being around you does this to me.”

She kept running her hands up and down his cock, and he was slowly losing control. It had been a long time since he’d been with anyone, and the only person he had wanted had been Sally.

“I’m not going to last much longer, babe.”

Sally pulled her hand away, and looked up at him. “Maybe another day I can watch as you come?”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

He took the latex out of the packet and rolled it over his cock. Never had he been so nervous in his life, but he wanted this to be perfect for her.

“I won’t break.”

Dropping a kiss to her lips, Steven stared into her eyes and saw she wanted this. They both did.

Gripping his condom-covered cock, he moved to her pussy, and then slowly began to sink inside her. His gaze returned to hers as inch by glorious inch, he filled her. Moving over her, he thrust the last bit inside her and heard her moan.

He held her tightly, never wanting to let her go.

She felt amazing, and he cupped her cheek, tilting her head back as he claimed possession of her mouth. “This makes you mine completely.”

“Yes, and you’re mine,” she said.

“You never have to doubt it.” He had been hers for as long as he could remember. Even when he tried to deny it, she’d been there.

He’d not been able to look at another woman when he finally realized his true feelings for her, nor had he wanted to. She was beautiful, his, and he loved her more than anything.

Her hands held him close as he began to rock inside her. He didn’t rush, wanting this to last, and for her to love every second of it.

“Tell me how you feel,” he asked, kissing her lips, her cheek, her neck.

“Amazing.”

“Do you have another word?”

“I can’t really think right now. I don’t want to think, I just want to feel.”

“I can live with that.” Moving inside her, he wrapped his hands around her body, holding her close. He kissed her, and took his time making love to her. She felt incredible in his arms, and Steven knew he was fucking lucky to have her there.

She was his, all his. Even now he couldn’t believe that after all this time, she actually belonged to him. He’d even give up the club if he had to. That was how much he wanted her, and he’d make sure Whizz knew that there wasn’t anyone else for Sally. She was his woman, and one day soon she would be his wife.

Reaching between them, he stroked her clit, bringing her to orgasm a second time, and feeling her come apart on his cock brought him to his own release. He cried out her name, knowing nothing was ever going to be the same again.

****

Angel stood close to the nursery, seeing Lash staring in at Chloe. When he closed the door, and went to Anthony’s room, she moved up behind him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she felt his hands go to hers, holding her.

Their son was spread-eagle on his bed, a book on his stomach, and she smiled.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong.”

“You can’t lie to me. You really do suck at it.”

“I’m just thinking about our babies.” He stepped back, closed the door, and pressed a hand to her stomach. “And our other baby.”

She held his hand, and smiled at him.

“The doctor said everything is good, and you need to stop worrying.”

“I’ll always worry about you, Angel. Always.”

She saw something was on his mind. “Talk to me, Lash.”

“It’s … the club … I’m always questioning myself. Am I making the right decisions? Should I have listened to Michael? Fuck, I can’t … I don’t know how Tiny coped.”

“I imagine he had these moments like you. You’re responsible for everyone. What do you think? Deep down in your heart?”

“I think it’s good for the club, and good for us all. I know Ned wanted us to go back to the gun trade, and I told him no.”

She was more than happy about that. Being without Lash scared her. She loved him so much, and she couldn’t imagine life without him. They had been through everything together, and now not being with each other was just wrong.

“There are other clubs that can do that kind of dirty work. I wanted out. I wanted us to be legit, and this opportunity with Michael, it gives us that. I want that.” Lash pulled her close, kissing the top of her head.

“Then what has you worried?”

“We need to bring Sally in. We’ve got to get her to talk about a guy from her past. We need more intel, and I don’t want her to relive a life that she’s been doing everything to avoid.”

Angel held his face, forcing him to look at her. “You’re good, Lash. You’re a good man, and don’t forget that. These moments of doubt are what make you a good person. If you didn’t doubt or reflect, you’d be a bad Prez. They rely on you to keep them safe. Remember that.”

He smiled. “Woman, you have a way with words.”

She winked at him. “I read the dictionary while I wait for you.” Pressing a kiss to his lips, she smiled. “Now, come to bed, and I’ll make sure you stop worrying.”

Chapter Ten

Sally gasped as Steven ran the soap over her body. She tilted her head up away from the spray of water as he continued to wash her body. It was the morning, and Saturday, so she didn’t have anywhere else to be.

“I can’t get enough of you,” he said, growling against her shoulder.

“I don’t want you to get enough of me.”

She smiled as his hand dipped down her stomach. The soap was already on the floor where he’d dropped it. He teased through her slit, stroking her clit as he nuzzled her neck. Closing her eyes, she opened her legs, and then glanced down to see him playing with her.

“Do you like that, baby? Do you like to see me touching you?”

“Yes. It feels so good. Please, don’t stop.”

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of stopping, ever.” He moved from her clit to plunge inside her.

“I need you.” She reached behind her to grasp his cock. The three times that she’d had him didn’t feel like enough, and she wanted him again. “Please.”

He kissed her shoulder, and reached out of the shower, grabbing the condom from the counter. She waited as he rolled the condom on, and moved her so that she was open. She wore the prosthetic, and was able to shower with it on. Sometimes though, if she’d been wearing it all day, she’d take a bath without it. When she was with Steven, she didn’t feel conscious of it. His response to her was heady, and she didn’t want to let him go.

His cock pressed against her opening, and she cried out as he plunged every single inch inside her, making her cry out his name for more.

“You’re so fucking beautiful. You feel so good wrapped around my cock. I love you, baby, fucking love you.”

He grabbed her hips, and she held onto the wall as he fucked her hard. One of his hands moved from her hips and stroked her clit, bringing her to orgasm. He didn’t stop with his thrusts, going deeper still.

She loved the feel of his dick inside her, and she never wanted him to stop.

“Come all over my cock, Sally. Come for me.”

He teased her pussy until she exploded, shouting his name as she came. She’d not even come down from her orgasm when he fucked her hard. Even as he did, she was sure he was holding a little bit back, but she didn’t mind. This was not a race, and she didn’t want to rush everything.

Steven bit down on her neck as he came. His cock pulsed inside her, filling the condom with his release as he did.

“That is the best morning I’ve ever had,” she said, laughing.

“The morning is not even near to being over.”

She loved his teasing. “I can’t wait to see what else you have in store.”

They finished showering, and Steven wanted to dry her body, and she couldn’t stop giggling as he rubbed the towel all over her.

“You just like getting a sneaky feel,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. He grabbed her naked ass, giving it a squeeze.

“It’s not a sneaky feel if you know all about it.”

“That is very true.” Kissing him again, she pulled away, reaching into her bag to pull out another thong. This one was black, and she saw him watching as she slid it up her legs, and then settle it against her mound and ass. Giving a little turn, she bent over. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re doing this on purpose to drive me crazy. How is a man supposed to focus like that?”

She chuckled as she grabbed her lace bra and put that on. Then she took several steps toward him. He had sat down on the edge of the bed. Taking his hand, she locked their fingers together. “I love being with you.”

“Good, because I’m not getting rid of you even if you beg me to.”

She hadn’t seen the playful side of Steven in some time. “Steven, there’s going to be a lot of things that I can’t do.”

“Name one of them,” he said.

“Wear heels. My therapist said that having a prosthetic didn’t stop me wearing them, but I have tried and I cannot do it at all. I’m not balanced.”

Steven stood. His hands going to her hips. “Do you really think I’m that shallow that I want to see you in heels?”

“Don’t you?”

He shook his head. “I don’t give a fuck about heels. It’s you that I love. So you won’t wear heels. It means I’ll always be taller than you, and I won’t be scared to death if you decide to take a little fall. I’d worry more about you than anything else.”

“You mean that?”

“Of course I do.” He kissed her lips. “Heels don’t make the woman, Sally. You’re the woman I love, and that is never going to change. You’re beautiful, smart, charming when you want to be, and I hate to break it to you, you’re pretty damn hot in the sack.”

“You think so?”

“I can’t get enough of you.” Just then, his stomach growled, and Sally pulled away.

“I can take care of that other need as well.” She moved away and pulled on an ankle length skirt and a crop top. It was still really hot outside. Tying her hair up onto her head in a messy bun, she headed for the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she took out some eggs, milk, and butter.

She heard Steven moving around his bedroom. The maple syrup she had gotten him was in the back of the fridge. She had discovered that he had a love of this stuff, and tended to use way more than he needed.

Since Lacey couldn’t cook, Sally had been the one in the kitchen, or Whizz, who could cook a few things. She’d been teaching Daisy when her sister wanted to learn. She had just put the cooled, melted butter into the pancake mix when her cell phone began to ring. Steven walked in at the same time, and took a seat. Seeing it was Whizz on the phone, she let Steven see that it was him.

“Hey, Dad, is everything okay?”

Steven took a seat at the counter but didn’t say a word.

“Hey, so there’s something going on at home, and Lacey and I would like you to come home.”

Sally frowned. “You want me to come home?”

“I know I’m being the uncool dad, and you have a life and all that, but we need to talk to you, and it’s not something that could be done over the phone.”

“Is it serious?”

“No, not serious. Will you come home?”

“Erm, sure, yeah. I’m just eating breakfast. I’ll be home in an hour or so.”

“Okay, great. Do you want me to come and pick you up?”

“No, no, that’s fine. I don’t need you to pick me up.” She said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. “That’s weird. He’s never usually wanted me to come home so early.”

“Did he say why?”

“No. It was important, and he didn’t want me talking about it over the phone.”

“I’ll take you home.”

She shook her head. “Do you want to tell him that we’re together?”

“Do you?”

“I don’t mind at all. Is something going on at the club?”

“It is,” Steven said. “Now isn’t a great time to tell him.”

She stared at him, getting that he was being vague. “Okay. We won’t tell him right now. Are you not allowed to tell me what’s going on with the club?”

“Pretty much. It’s club business, and I can’t say anything.”

“Okay then. You’re no help at all. We’ll eat breakfast, and then I’ll head on over there.”

The happy euphoria had been interrupted, and it no longer felt okay anymore. She didn’t like how it had changed, but there was nothing she could do.

After breakfast, Steven promised he’d clean up the mess, and then they were heading toward town. Her stomach was turning, and she didn’t like how she felt. Steven dropped her off in town, and then she took a cab the rest of the way home. The moment she pulled up to the front door, she saw a couple of cars in the driveway that gave her a moment to pause.

Paying the driver for the trip, she climbed out of the car and stared at the house. She had never been afraid to come home before, but for some bizarre reason, she couldn’t get away from the fact that something was wrong.

Steven had been different, Whizz had been different. Everyone she had ever known had all been different.

Get a grip.

It’s going to be okay.

Moving toward the front door, she entered her home and gripped the door handle. She wanted to run, but she closed the door and called out.

“Mom, Dad, I’m home.” After last night, this change in feeling left her feeling open, raw, exposed.

“We’re in here.”

She followed the sound of their voices. Entering the dining room, she saw her mom, dad, Lash, Tiny, and then a guy she didn’t recognize.

“What’s going on?”

“We need you to sit down,” Lacey said, patting the empty chair at the table.

Taking a seat, she looked down at Whizz and saw the guilt in his eyes. “Why do I feel someone has died?”

“No one has died. Everything is fine.”

“Have I done something wrong? I don’t talk about the club to anyone.”

“You’re not in trouble,” Lash said. “This is Michael Granito.” He pointed at the stranger in the room.

She frowned. “Kelsey’s ex?”

“Yes.”

“O-kay. Hello,” she said.

Michael leaned forward and smiled at her. She recognized that kind of smile. It was the kind that people gave to you when they were trying to reassure you but they wanted something in return. She’d seen it many times, on social workers, teachers, and other … people.

“Hey, Sally, you’re not in any trouble or in any danger.”

She had lowered her guard since being with The Skulls, but slowly, she felt it begin to rise up. When she was ready, prepared, she turned toward this Michael and stared him in the eye. “What do you want?”

“Some pressing evidence has come to light about a certain person, and we need your help to save other people.”

“Cut the bullshit. Just tell me.”

“Sally!” Lacey went to touch her arm, but she didn’t want the comfort.

Right now, she wasn’t Lacey and Whizz’s daughter. Within a matter of seconds from the way they were behaving, Michael’s look, she wasn’t Sally, The Skulls’ daughter. No, she was Sally, the girl that was difficult, the girl that could be passed around as if she were nothing. That girl couldn’t afford to let down her guard, to let anyone in.

“Lacey, it’s fine,” Whizz said.

“You went digging,” she said, staring at Michael. “I asked you not to dig. That was all I ever wanted from you. To not dig into a past that was only filled with nightmares. Nothing good can come of it.”

She didn’t look at Whizz. She couldn’t. His betrayal hurt, and so did Steven’s. They had both lied to her, and right now she was struggling to keep her shit together.

Knowing that Steven had lied, that he had let her come here without giving her a warning, or to even prepare for this kind of revelation—it hurt so much.

She had all of her memories, and she had dealt with each one, slowly putting them to sleep so they didn’t hurt her anymore. She wasn’t that weak girl who couldn’t do anything.

That girl had died, and now she was here, and they were making her aware of so much more.

Sally wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted to tell them all to fuck off, but she didn’t. Instead, she stared at Michael and waited.

He opened up the file on the table. They always had files. Little documents that told secrets of their lives. Mostly she ignored the stuff he had, and she stared at him, waiting.

“Do you recognize this man?” he asked.

She glanced down at the photo, and then looked up at him without saying a word. There was nothing for her to say.

“Sally, we need your help.”

****

Guilt ate at the soul and threatened to drown you in the deepest pit of despair. Steven had never known real misery, not really. He’d lost club brothers, been shot, hurt, and life had truly sucked, but right now he had guilt unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

Sally had known something was up, and instead of helping her, instead of giving her a chance, he’d let her walk into a minefield.

Staring down at his shot glass, he looked at the dark liquid, knowing it wouldn’t do to numb what he was feeling. It wasn’t even about him anymore. It was never about him. This was about Sally and what he’d done.

“You’re not looking so great,” Drew said, taking a seat beside him.

“I suggest you don’t talk to me right now.” He wasn’t in the right mind to deal with this fucker.

“Too bad, you’re the only one sitting at the bar I can talk about.”

“You got a problem with hearing right now?” Steven asked, glaring at Drew.

“Nope, but I wanted to let you know that I’m not going to fight this with Sally.”

This had Steven frowning. “What the fuck?”

“There’s no point. I don’t want to give up, but what’s the point in fighting? You won. She told me straight, and I always knew she didn’t really have feelings for me.”

“Then why risk your friendship? You and I both know she doesn’t want to hurt you,” Steven said. “She’s not cold, and you lost everything with her.”

“I wanted to see if she felt any differently if I admitted the truth to her. It didn’t work, and now I fucked everything up. I know that, and there’s nothing I can do.” Drew shrugged, but Steven saw the pain there.

“Don’t worry. You’re not the only brother who fell for another woman. Zero did with Nash’s old lady.”

“Zero had a thing for Sophia?”

“Yep. It was a big deal, too. Nearly cost the two brothers, and caused a shit storm in the club.” Steven shrugged. “Then he met Prue, and I don’t think he’s ever looked in Sophia’s direction again. Shit happens. You can’t help it.”

“I do love her,” Drew said.

“I know.” He knew what it was like to be pulled in by her smile, and then by her cheery self. After everything she’d been through, she shouldn’t be smiling or laughing, and yet she was. He loved her so damn much. “I can’t fault you for wanting to take her away.”

If he’d not been feeling so guilty right now, he wouldn’t be feeling this way.

“I better go. I’ve got some food runs to make with Angel, and I drew the short straw.”

“Angel’s a darling. Don’t fall for her either.”

This had Drew laughing, and he didn’t know why, but in the other man giving up, he actually had gained some respect for him.

Still, Steven would have never given up on Sally, not once.

“What’s got you at the bar drinking early?” Killer asked.

“Just got the need for a drink. Why are you so pissed?” Killer gave him a look, and Steven sighed. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. This shit with Michael, it won’t change anything.”

“Doesn’t mean I like it.”

“You don’t have to like it, Killer. She’s yours. You’ve got a couple of kids. You’re happy. I saw the way you two were at the barbeque the other week. You don’t have a problem at all.” He finished off the whiskey, and was about to take another when he stopped. He couldn’t drink, not right now. Putting the bottle down, he headed into the kitchen and started the kettle ready for some coffee.

He checked the time, and wondered how Sally was coping. How she was dealing with everything that was being talked about. He rubbed his temples, and poured himself a strong cup of coffee. Just the scent of it was enough to wake him up. One drink wasn’t going to make him drunk, but he was going to wait a couple of hours before heading back to his apartment. He needed to clean up the dishes that he’d promised Sally.

Before he’d joined her in the kitchen that morning, he’d been staring at his wardrobe. There was now a section with Sally’s stuff inside.

She had slowly been bringing her stuff to his place, and he had loved seeing her there. He wanted his space to become part of her, and for them both to find happiness together.

Reaching into his inside pocket, he pulled out the diamond ring that he’d picked up for her several months ago. He was all ready to make her his woman, but he’d not done it yet. Steven wanted her to have her life. It wouldn’t be long before she was heading back to college, and he wanted that for her.

He could wait a few more years, but they both knew who she belonged to. She was his in every single way that counted.

Drinking several cups of coffee, he played cards with a few of the club brothers, lost some cash, and after a couple of hours, he was ready to head back to his apartment. He said goodbye to everyone, and told Killer not to worry, and was on his bike heading back.

Entering his apartment, he had just shut the door when a vase smashed right next to his head, and he jerked back. Turning around, he reached for his gun and paused. There was Sally. Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears were falling down her face as she stared at him.

“You bastard!”

“Sally?” He went to take a step toward her, and she moved back, shaking her head.

“You knew. After everything that we’ve been through, all the promises that we made, you knew what that phone call was about. You knew why they wanted me to go home today, and you didn’t tell me.”

“It wasn’t my place.”

She grabbed a glass ball that she had given him several Christmases ago, and launched it at him. He moved again, and it shattered on the floor. “You knew!” She was yelling now. “You said that you loved me, and you lied. I asked that no one go looking into my past, and you did.”

Her hands were clenched at her sides, and she stared at him.

“Sally, you can help.”

“Don’t! Don’t even think for a second of trying to make me feel guilty about this. That was all in my past. It was done. It was over.”

“It’s not over.”

She shook her head. “Do you know what it’s like?”

“What?”

“To tell the truth your entire life but the people you were supposed to trust were believed over you? To have everyone be convinced that all that comes out of your mouth is lies?”

He saw the pain in her eyes, and it was killing him.

“Sally?”

“If you come near me, I will kill you,” she said.

The words were spoken firmly, but he saw that she meant them.

“I don’t want you to come near. I don’t even want to see you again.” It was then that he noticed the bag on the floor beside her.

She was leaving him.

“Sally…”

She shook her head. “I’m done. I’ve spoken to that guy, and I’ve told them everything they need to know, but I’m done. I’m heading back to campus. I’ve already called Drew, and he’s letting me stay in his apartment for the time being. I don’t want to see you, or hear from you. I want nothing to do with you.”

“I didn’t want it to go down this way.”

She moved toward him, and Steven reached out, taking her arm.

He shouldn’t have touched her.

She slapped him hard, over and over. His face, his arms, his chest, everything. She went nuts, and then she pulled away. Her hands covered her mouth, and he saw the pain in her eyes. She was in shock.

“You didn’t tell me. You made me face that shit alone, and I could have been warned. Don’t you fucking try to stop me or tell me I’m overreacting. If you had loved me enough, you’d have left everything alone, or you would have at least warned me.”

With that, she left his apartment.

Steven stood, glancing down at the floor, and then he chased after her, only to stop as Drew was climbing behind the wheel, taking her away from him.

He had fucked up in a big way.

Chapter Eleven

Sally dropped the bag in the center of the apartment, and all she wanted to do was cry. Drew was still there, and it was hard for her to hold everything in. She had become like the people who had hurt her. She’d lashed out at those she loved. Glancing down at her hands, she felt the tears well up, but they didn’t spill over. She had hit Steven. No matter how much pain she’d been in, she shouldn’t have become violent.

“I can quit,” he said. “I don’t have to be part of The Skulls.”

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she spun around to face him. “Why? You love it, don’t you?”

“You need me right now.”

“I’m not going to fall in love with you.”

Drew smiled. “Believe it or not, I don’t expect you to. I just don’t want you to be alone right now.”

She stared at her friend. When she had gotten up to leave, Whizz and Lacey had tried to stop her. She wouldn’t listen to them. On the way to Steven’s apartment, the anger had begun to build within her. She’d wanted blood; she’d wanted something.

Grabbing a bag, she’d dumped every single item she’d taken to his place inside. When she had waited for him to arrive, she had hoped that she was wrong, that he’d not known. The instant she saw him though, she knew.

“Steven loves you,” Drew said.

“Please, you cannot mention his name to me right now.”

Everything was hurting. The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt, and she’d felt a lot of it in her time.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” he asked.

She looked at him then, seeing her best friend with his concern. Even as she fought it, her face scrunched up, and the tears started to fall. “I have no one.”

Drew went to her, pulling her close, and even as she wanted to pull away, she needed his hug right now. She needed her best friend.

“You have me.”

She shook her head. “No, I don’t. I don’t have you anymore. I’ve not had you in a long time.”

He held her close even as she tried to pull away. “I fucked up. I know this, and I regret it, okay? I’d rather be your friend than not have you in my life. Okay. I’m crazy. I don’t have feelings for you at all, but please let me be your friend.”

Sally stopped fighting him. She was so tired, so upset, and so broken. After everything she had been through, nothing had prepared her for this. Growing up being passed from one household to another, and then being hurt by the people who were supposed to be taking care of her, she stopped feeling anything. The shitty life became the norm for her. Disappointment was a thing of the past.

Right now, she was hurting, she was sad, she was alone, and there was no one. The love of her life had let her go and be hurt by the very past she never wanted to hear about again. He’d not even warned her.

How could someone who claimed to love her allow that to happen? She didn’t know, nor did she understand, and she didn’t want to.

Pulling out of Drew’s arms, she forced a smile to her lips. “I’m fine. Everything is going to be fine.” First thing she was going to do now was to find a job to help support her. “What will the rent be?”

“Don’t even think about that right now.”

“Okay, well, when you need it let me know.” She pushed some of her hair off her face. “I’m going to go and get settled in.” She had stayed here a few times. Drew had always offered her a place at his apartment, and she always turned it down. She had a dorm room, and she’d wanted the whole college experience.

“I’m going to head back, and let Lash know I’ll be staying here the rest of the summer.”

“You’re not quitting, are you?” she asked.

“No, I’m not quitting. I’ve got things to do.”

She nodded, and didn’t say anything more. She wasn’t ready to talk.

Entering the spare bedroom, she smiled as she saw Drew’s housekeeper had made her up a bed. Putting her few things away, she grabbed her laptop, sat on the bed, and began to look for work. She was never one to be idle, and she didn’t want to start now.

This was not how she intended her summer to be, but right now, she didn’t see an alternative.

****

“You want to quit?” Lash asked.

Steven watched as Drew stood his ground. The guy had balls of steel, there was no denying that.

“No, I don’t. I took Sally to my apartment near the campus. She’s hurting, and I don’t want to lose my place at The Skulls, so I was hoping you’d give me the opportunity to protect her. To keep an eye on her.”

This was killing him, hearing Drew offer to take one of their places.

“What makes you think you qualify to take care of one of our own?” Lash asked.

“I’m the only one that she’s allowed near her. She’s upset, she’s hurting, but even though we’re having a few troubles, she still called me to help her. I’m her friend. I won’t let the club down.”

Steven gritted his teeth. He’d been called to church that night, and he was still reeling from the events of the day. Glancing over at Whizz, he saw the other brother wasn’t handling anything well.

“Whizz, do you have a problem with him taking care of her?” Lash asked.

“No, I don’t have a problem.” Whizz rubbed the back of his head. “What did she say? Did she say anything to you?”

Drew swallowed, glanced at the floor, took a deep breath, and turned toward Whizz. “She said that she was all alone.”

That hurt Whizz, and it hurt Steven.

Damn!

He had fucked up royally, and he was feeling it now.

“Do whatever you have to do to make her realize that she’s loved. Don’t let her … don’t let her hurt herself or anything.”

“She’s strong. She’s been through a lot.” Drew went to take his leather cut off, but Lash stalled him.

“No, that jacket is yours. This is your job for now.”

Drew nodded, and made his way outside of the clubhouse. Steven was close to the door, so he followed him out.

“How is she?” he asked.

No one was outside, and when Drew turned to face him, he saw the pain on his face. “She’s hurting right now. Everything is fucked up, and I don’t know how to fix it. What did you do? I know what I did, but I don’t know why she didn’t come to you.”

“I fucked up, that’s all you need to know.”

Drew gritted his teeth, and stepped toward him, and then back. “You know what, I get that Sally went through shit when she was younger. It doesn’t take a fucking genius to read between the lines. She was honest about a lot of stuff, and for everything else, I filled in the blanks. Keeping me in the dark about everything is not going to help me help her. I’m going to do the best I can to make her feel okay, but she won’t let me in, not now.”

Steven watched as Drew walked away. “Sally’s one request was that we didn’t go looking into her past.” This had Drew stopping, and turning toward him. “We broke that promise, and today I didn’t prepare her for a conversation that was going to hurt her. That’s what I’ve done, and it was bad enough that she told me she never wanted me to see her again.”

Drew stopped, closed his eyes, and Steven saw that he was breathing heavily. “She loves you, Steven. You’ll win her back.”

“Not if I can’t get her to stomach being around me.”

“This … conversation, is it dangerous? Will it get her killed?”

“No. We’re going to handle everything. You don’t need to worry about that. Just … let her know that I love her, more than anything, and that I’ll be waiting for her.”

Drew stepped to his car, reached in and wrote something down on a piece of paper before coming to hand it to him. “That’s my address. She’s there until college starts again.”

With that, Drew left, and Steven watched him go. Folding up the piece of paper, he placed it in his back pocket. He didn’t need it, would never need it. When it came to Sally, he’d already had Drew checked out. The moment he’d said that Sally was staying at his apartment, Steven had known where she was.

“What did he have to say?” Whizz asked, making Steven turn.

“That he’d keep an eye on her, protect her. What the hell happened?” Steven asked. Right now was not the time to be telling Whizz that he was in love with Sally, that he’d been sneaking behind his back.

“We fucked up. It was scary. I watched her withdraw from all of us. She just didn’t want anything to do with any of us. It was like the past years with us hadn’t happened, you know?”

“She went on the defensive?”

“Yep, and then none of us could reach her.” Whizz rubbed a hand down his face. “When it was over, she just got up and left. We tried to stop her, and she told us to back the fuck off. She looked so broken, so hurt, that I didn’t even question it. I just went right ahead and did what she wanted.”

Steven glanced toward the open fence of the parking lot. He would do anything to have Sally there with them.

“What shit is going to happen?” Steven asked.

“Michael’s heading back tonight. He’s going to give us the rundown on shit that is going on.”

“Okay.”

They were silent for several seconds. Steven didn’t have anything to say, and Whizz looked … broken.

“She’s never coming back,” Whizz said.

Steven shook his head. “She’ll come back. It’s not Sally’s way to leave forever.”

Whizz nodded, but he didn’t look convinced. “I’ve got to go. Lacey’s waiting for me.”

He watched his brother leave, and it killed a part of Steven to know that he didn’t help with this shit.

Heading back into his room in the clubhouse, he sat on the edge of the bed, and stared at his cell phone. Checking her number, he hesitated in calling her. He didn’t want to hurt her. All he’d wanted to do was help her, and to take away the monsters from her past.

Leaving her number for a moment, he checked through the photos. He’d taken so many when she hadn’t even known about it. Should he have done that shit, or was he wrong in that now as well?

Fuck! Everything was fucking fucked.

Steven couldn’t take it anymore, so he pressed her number, and placed his cell to his ear. It rang so many times before going to voice mail.

At first he hung up, and then knew the only way he’d be able to talk to her, for her to even begin to understand, would be if he told her truth, and talked to her.

Ringing her cell again, he waited, only this time when it went to voice mail, he didn’t hang up.

“Hey, baby. I know you fucking hate me right now, and believe me, I completely understand why. I’m a fucker and all that. I’m sure you can think of a gazillion names to call me, and I know I’ve called them myself all the time. You’re right. I shouldn’t have gone delving into your past. That was yours, and I breached that trust. I’m sorry that I did that and that you feel like I betrayed you. To you, I know that I did. There’s nothing for me to say other than I love you, and I only wanted to make everything better for you. This doesn’t take away what I did though.” He stopped and released a breath. “I love you more than anything else in the world, Sally. There’s never going to be anyone else for me, and I hope one day soon, you can forgive me.” He rubbed at his temple, not really sure what the hell to do. “I love you, baby, and I hope one day you can forgive. I’m here for you, always.”

He hung up his cell, and sat back, feeling defeated.

Chapter Twelve

The days passed, and with it, Sally’s anger dissipated and all that was left was disgust with herself. She had lashed out and hurt the man she loved. She had become violent. Now she didn’t know what to do, and because of that, she didn’t speak to any of The Skulls, the women or men. Even though Drew was there, he understood that she didn’t want to talk about anything. She just couldn’t bring herself to admit out loud her own feelings about what had taken place.

Angel called, and Sally ignored her.

Whizz and Lacey called, and she did the same with them.

She completely blanked them out of her life because it was easier than to let the revelations tear her apart. By the end of the first week, she had spent an hour listening to the messages, and at the end of it, she felt like the world’s biggest bitch. She was supposed to be better than this. That life was in her past. It wasn’t their fault, and she’d done this. She had hurt those closest to her, and it was destroying a part of her. Thinking about her own pain made her feel so fucking selfish. This was the longest she had gone without talking to anyone, and it was driving her crazy. She felt sick all the time, and hadn’t eaten much.

Her days were spent looking for work, which just didn’t come.

Sitting at the table, she sank her fingers into her hair, resting her elbows on the table, and her head in her hands. She had hit rock bottom, or at least that was how it felt.

They’d wanted to know about a sheriff, and about what went down. They’d wanted to know the woman who had taken her statement. Closing her eyes, the pictures that she’d been shown many years ago flashed across her mind.

“You tell anyone, and this is what is going to happen to you.”

The woman who had believed her initially had turned up dead. Sally would never forget those pictures for as long as she’d lived. That woman had taught her a great deal, the biggest thing being that the only person she could rely on was herself.

“Are you okay?” Drew asked, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She lifted her coffee to her lips, and took a sip. It was black, and she breathed in the scent, hoping it would open her up. “I need to go and take a shower.”

She stood up and left him alone, heading back into her room.

Her cell phone buzzed in her hand, and it made her freeze on the spot. Releasing a breath, she chanced a glance at the screen and saw it was Lola.

In the past week, the only people who’d tried to call her were The Skulls. Intrigued, she accepted the call.

“Hello,” Sally said.

“First, I’m not calling because Steven asked me to. I’ve not spoken to him for a few days, and I’m not calling because of him.”

“Okay.”

“I’m calling to see how you’re doing,” Lola said.

Sally sighed. “I don’t know anymore.”

“I’m going to be honest here, and tell you that I’m the one that helped Steven. He loves you so much, and because of everything that was going on, he wanted to get rid of the monsters from your past.”

“You knew?”

“Of course I knew about what you’d been through. I didn’t want to hurt you, and I knew what Steven and I were doing was wrong, but it was all in a place of love. I know you’re hurt and you’re upset, but I wanted to tell you that they couldn’t ignore this sheriff guy. You were gone, but the girls didn’t stop. Some of them killed themselves, and they all got a witness statement that claimed they were liars. We don’t know who at the department is making these statements, or hiding them is a better word, but he needs to be stopped, Sally.”

Sally stopped listening after that, and she closed her eyes. Michael had gone through some of the details but not all of it. All he’d wanted to know was what she remembered. He didn’t go into any other details. If he did then she couldn’t remember it. She’d been too furious. “The sheriff had a wife when I was there. She worked in the office for fun. She had this false smile, and false kind nature. I don’t know her name.”

“It doesn’t say that he’s married,” Lola said. “In fact, there’s not even a notice that he’s with anyone.”

“Either way, there’s someone who lives with him. I don’t know if he lied about it or something, but believe me, there was a woman there, and she was always by his side. It was kind of creepy how they were together. This is nearly ten years ago now.”

“I know. Thank you, Sally. Please tell me you’re going to forgive Steven soon. He loves you so much.”

“I’ll talk to you later.” She hung up the phone, and just stared at it. Tears filled her eyes because the truth was, she missed Steven so much. Each day it was harder for her to not just go back to him.

She’d lashed out, overreacted, and now she didn’t know what to do.

You know what you’ve become.

She held her head, feeling sick. Her stomach recoiled as she realized that after all the time of being the victim, she’d turned and lashed out at those closest to her. She’d become the abuser, the very thing she’d never wanted to be. With the revelation in her own mind, she felt like she’d been kicked in the gut. Lying back on her bed, she wondered what Steven was doing in that moment. Did he miss her as much as Lola said?

Everything had been perfect. Their time together, the love she felt for him, it had all been … right. She loved him more than anything. The crush she’d had on him in the early days had changed, gotten stronger, and now it was a consuming love that was threatening to crush her fragile heart.

“Are you okay?” Drew said, pulling her attention toward the door, which he’d opened partially. “I could hear you crying all the way outside, and I know you’re pissed at me, but please tell me you’re all right.”

“I’m fine.” She sobbed then. “No, I’m not fine. I love Steven, and I know I screwed up. I miss him so much, and I’m so angry at you for doing what you did. Why did you have to tell me that you loved me, and that you were going to fight for me? I’m not that important. I’m not a good person, Drew.” She was just like those people that abused her.

He moved toward the bed and sat down. She saw the pain in his eyes, and that only made her cry harder. Hiding her head beneath the pillow, she ignored him.

“You’re not a bad person, Sally. Far from it, and I regret telling you how I feel. I never, ever wanted you to feel like this.”

She sat up, and stared at him, feeling so damn raw, exposed, and open. “It hurts knowing that I can’t feel the same for you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, and I don’t want to hurt you.” She wiped her tears. “But I did, didn’t I? I hurt you, and yet you’re still here, being my best friend.”

Drew reached out and tucked a curl behind her ear. “I may love you, Sally, but you are my friend first. You’re the one I can talk to about everything, and I’ve come to realize that for as much as I’d love to hold you, kiss you, make love to you, I miss talking to you a lot more. I miss being around you, and having fun.” He took her hand, and it made her cry as she saw the tears in his eyes. “So I’m going to tell you that I will find a woman of my own who I will love way more than you.”

This had Sally laughing.

“And she’s going to make me feel good, and when I look at you, I’ll see my best friend again.”

“I never meant to hurt you. It’s always been Steven.”

“I know. He’s a good guy, and he keeps checking up on you.”

“He does?”

“Yes. He calls me every single day, morning, noon, and night.”

“What does he want?”

“He wants to make sure you’re happy. That you have everything you need. If you’re eating right.”

This made her smile.

“And he wants to know if you forgive him, Sally. He was acting in all the right places, and I know you didn’t want him to delve into your past. I get it. Our pasts are our own, and yours was filled with pain and loss. At least you know he was doing what he thought was right.”

He squeezed her hand, and she stared down at it. “I must look a mess.”

“I have to say, keep the running snot up and I really won’t love you for much longer. It’s so gross.”

She burst out laughing now.

“You’re not allowed to make fun of me.”

“I can. Steven can’t make fun, but I can. As best friend, that gives me a right above everyone and everything.”

She nodded, and sighed. “What do I do?”

“You do what you feel is right, and what you have to do. You can’t keep living like this, Sally. Slowly, it’s killing you, and that’s not fair.”

****

Killer had the baby bag on his shoulder, and he was just rounding the corner when he spotted Michael Granito sitting at the club counter, nursing a small tumbler of whiskey.

Killer’s first instinct was to go over and slaughter the man. He didn’t like him, and even though he’d been the one to win Kelsey, not that it had been any real competition, it didn’t mean he had to like the guy.

Still, he made his way toward him, and just stood there. Michael didn’t turn toward him. He lifted his glass and took a sip.

“Are you wanting to take me outside? Teach me a lesson?”

“Thought about it, and decided not to do it. You’re not getting Kelsey.”

“I’m not here for Kelsey. I’m here for information, and to get your guys’ help. That’s all.”

Killer tapped his fingers on the counter. “What’s taking so long? We could have been in and done by now.”

“Protocols, my friend. Lola called Whizz, and he came to me. It would seem that there is another character in our story that we know nothing about, and my guys are running intel to find everything out. One thing you’ll learn is these things take time, and when you deal with the right side of the law, it’s all about having the right information and when. There are multiple players in any given game. The Sheriff is one, and then it has branched out like a network. You are aware that this isn’t going to be a case for you to run inside, and kill.”

“Figured as much. You know us, being on the right side of the law and all.”

“It’s a good place to be, Theo.”

Michael refused to use his club name, but that was fine. Killer didn’t give a fucking shit about it.

“He hurt one of ours,” Killer said. “He can’t have it easy. I’m sure you don’t understand what it means to love someone who was hurt.” Before he’d even finished Michael started to laugh, and then it turned hysterical as he wiped his eyes.

“Wow, that’s so funny,” Michael said, finishing off his whiskey and finally turning toward him. “I know what it’s like to have someone you can’t protect.”

Killer tensed up as Michael reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet. He flipped it open and turned it around.

“Beautiful,” Killer said. The woman had thick brown hair, shocking green eyes, and a smile that even Killer saw was filled with pain.

“Her name’s Clarissa.”

“Are you going to marry her?”

“I was going to, but she’s dead. Died a year ago.”

“Shit, I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.” Michael stared down at the picture. “I guess you can say she’s what kick-started all of this for me.”

“How do you mean?”

“I was always helping the law after our last meeting. Giving them hints, tips, and using my money and business to find the crooks. With Clarissa, though, I met her at a party. To cut a long story short, her stepdad offered her out as payment for stuff. The men she was handed to could do whatever the hell they wanted with her. She was nothing more than a toy, a gift for them to pass around from person to person. I saw it, and at the party, I knew I could change her life. I told her to say one word if she was in trouble and that I could help her out. She did, and I got her out safely.”

Killer knew this wasn’t going to have a happy ending. Shit like this never did.

“So for six months, she stayed with me, and I got to see her shine. She was so sweet, inside and out. She’d never had anything to call her own. Her stepfather wouldn’t even let her eat unless she earned it. I gave her everything. The night she was killed, I was going to propose. I’d fallen in love with her, and I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I’d become a good man. A man that was worth a woman’s love.”

For the first time Killer actually felt sympathy for Michael. He didn’t even want to think of living without Kelsey and his boys.

“She had gone to the market, and because nothing had come of me taking her, I fucked up. I didn’t put detail on her, security, and when she didn’t come home, I knew that something bad had happened. A week later, after searching for her and finding nothing. I got a call to come to the morgue.” Michael stopped, and he stared up at Killer. “She had been raped and beaten to death. When we got to the stepfather, he knew who I was, and he told me that while they were hurting her, taking her life away, she begged for me. She begged for me to come and save her, and I never did. I was too late.” Michael put his glass down on the counter. It was empty. “After that, I started to think about all the women and children who got hurt because someone got too complacent, and then I thought about The Skulls.” He stared at Killer. “I guess in a way I’m here to use you, and sure, you’re going to hate me for it. But I want to protect women like Clarissa. I want to make sure no one else has to go and identify a body in the morgue after what happened.” Michael stood. “We’ll get the monsters, and I hope in time you can trust me.”

“What happened to the stepfather?” Killer asked.

“He’s serving his time in lockup. He’s still got a fucking cozy life, and it makes me sick. I guess not all of us get our happily ever after.”

Killer knew he should just walk away. He didn’t owe Michael anything. “If you ever need him to not have a cozy life, let us know. We have contacts that can make sure you get your revenge without getting your hands dirty.” He went to walk away.

“You’d do that for me?” Michael asked.

Looking back, Killer nodded. “The Skulls are not animals, Michael. We deal with our own kind of vengeance, but any fucker that can pass his stepkid around, as far as I’m concerned, is taking up our taxes for all the wrong reasons.”

****

“You’ve got to be fucking shitting me, right?” Ned Walker asked.

“Dad, please, the kids are upstairs,” Eva said.

Tiny sat at the table and watched as his father-in-law paced his dining room. Most of the time he hated this fucker, but then there were rare times he liked him. Right now, he didn’t like him. “This is not your decision to make.”

“Not my decision, of course it’s not my decision because if you’d asked for my fucking input, I’d have given it.”

“Dad!”

“No, Eva. You all made the fucking wrong decision. Don’t you see that? They’ll use you, spit you out, and fu—”

“That’s enough!” Tiny stood up. “This is not your club. It’s not your decision, and you need to learn to back the fuck off, old man.”

“I told you Lash would fuck up as Prez. You had no right to give the gavel to him.”

“Why? Because Lash won’t be your fucking whipping boy?” Tiny was done with being yelled at. It was true that Lash had taken the club in a completely different direction, but that didn’t mean it was bad. In fact, Tiny was happy that for the first time he could walk down the street with his wife and kids and not be fucking terrified.

They hadn’t needed to do lockdown in years, and everyone was fucking happy. Tiny knew he’d made the right decision putting Lash as leader of The Skulls. He wasn’t going to lie. In the beginning, he’d doubted the decision himself a lot. Over the past few years though, he had seen the direction that Lash had been working, and he was so damn happy with the way everything was going. The club was stronger than ever. They were all fighters, and now this deal could mean the end of them watching their back from their past decisions. Tiny had a lot in his past, and he had to be careful.

When he’d been alone with his family, watching his kids play around, he had thought about everything he’d done, for the club, and just for fun. In his youth he’d been an asshole, and nothing like Lash. It was only as he got older that he got wiser, and realized what he had to live for.

“This isn’t about that.”

“Lash made a decision for the club. I’m with him on it. I’m backing him every step of the way. The entire club stood by him.” He saw the shock on Ned’s face. “Exactly, the entire club wants this. So we have to help them out. We had to make runs for you, and don’t for a second try to make out that you had the club’s best interests at heart. You and I both know that’s not true. For a long time you only had what was best for yourself.” Tiny wrapped his arm around Eva’s waist. “I love her, and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure she has me in her life forever. Do you understand me, even though it means I’m eating quinoa and shit. I’m doing it for her.”

“Dad, I know you’re angry, but times are changing. You’ve got to embrace it.”

Ned sighed. “Fine, fine. You’re right, I guess. I’ve been living in the past too long. I always expected you to come back, do the runs, and stuff like that.” He shrugged. “I’m sorry.”

Tiny knew that wasn’t the end of it completely. There were going to be more rants, more conversations, but Tiny wasn’t about to take back the club. Lash was doing better than he ever had. The kid knew what he was doing.

****

Lash looked down at the invite and smiled. This was something he’d not considered in a long time, but he was sure it could be a lot of fun. A bikers’ rally, a once in a lifetime event hosted by the Billionaire Bikers MC. Just looking at the card with all the fancy writing made him laugh. It was just fucking wrong.

Sitting back, he ran his fingers through his hair, and just smiled.

“What’s wrong, honey?” Angel asked. She had Chloe on her hip, and Lash smiled at her.

“It’s nothing, really. Just something that I find bizarre is all.” He lifted up the invitation for Angel to have a look over it.

“It feels soft,” she said.

“I know, right? It just goes to show that the club has more money than sense.”

“A bikers’ rally? What is that?”

“I don’t know. I think it’s what they’re considering some fancy shit for us all to get together.”

“All of you?”

“Yep. As Prez of The Skulls we invite you, your family, and your club to shoot the shit.”

Angel laughed. “You’re so cute when you speak all posh. It sounds like a lot of fun.”

“Fun? It’ll probably have cucumber sandwiches, or salsa.”

“I think you went from England to Mexico in cuisine there. I could take my lemon pie. You know how everyone loves my lemon pie.”

Lash eased his chair out, grasping Angel by the hips and sitting her down. He smiled at his little girl, and then looked at the card again.

“I have no idea what the Billionaire Bikers could want. It’s not even funny, to be honest.”

“I didn’t even know there was a Billionaire MC thing. What are they?” Angel asked.

This time Lash sighed. “Okay. They’re a group of wealthy men that formed an MC. I think they’re big on leather, money, and all that. They’re not taken seriously.”

“Are they really … like, posh? You know with how you talked and all that?”

“They are, and they aren’t. From what I know they all earned their wealth, and this is probably the real deal invite.”

“It could be fun!”

“Or we could kill each other and save us all the trouble. Would you like to go?”

“I think it would be cool. I know you’d be the best biker there.”

This had Lash smiling. “God, I love you.”

“I know, and I love you, too.”

He really was the luckiest fucker alive.

Chapter Thirteen

It had been a week and a half, and Steven couldn’t take it anymore. He had to go and see Sally. There was no way he could go on like this, living his life without her. It fucking sucked, and right now he was losing his mind not having her near.

Finishing up in the shower, he ignored his rock-hard dick. Whenever he thought of Sally he got hard, and he wanted her. Dammit, this was not supposed to happen this way.

Leaving his bedroom, he got changed into his jeans, a white shirt, and his leather cut. Even when it was too fucking hot, he wore his leather cut. The cut was the one thing he was so proud of. He’d come close to death multiple times in it, but it had taken everything he had to earn this.

He loved The Skulls, and he loved Sally. If she needed him to leave The Skulls to be with her, he’d do it because as much as he loved his club, he loved Sally more. She was the love of his life, and for so long he’d ignored that love. Not anymore. He couldn’t do it.

Stepping out of his bedroom, he stopped. Right there near the door was Sally, her purple hair piled on top of her head. She wore a pair of jeans and a crop top. Rarely did she wear dresses or skirts, and at times that still bugged him.

She never wore anything that could reveal her prosthetic leg. Even after all this time, she was still conscious of it.

He didn’t care in that moment because she was in his apartment, and she was staring at him. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“Hey,” he said.

He closed his eyes, opening them quickly to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

“Hey, yourself,” she said. “Are you going somewhere?”

Glancing down at himself, he shook his head. “I was going to see you.”

“You were?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I couldn’t last another moment without knowing you’re all right, or to say how sorry I am.”

She held her hand up.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude at all, and I don’t want to be, but I just need you to stop for a second so I can talk.” He watched as she took a breath. “I overreacted.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I did.” She was nodding her head. “I shouldn’t have done or said the things that I did. I was so angry, so hurt. I’ve … it’s been such a long time that I’ve had anyone question my past that for a little while I could forget that I even had one. It was stupid, really.”

Steven clenched his hands, to stop himself from telling her otherwise.

“I was hurting, and I lashed out.” She tucked some hair behind her ears. “Even after being with Lacey and Whizz, it was like in that one moment when I had to face the facts that I was what I was, I suddenly felt trapped. I couldn’t get out, and I was back to being that scared little girl. I didn’t know what to do, or who to blame.” She chuckled. “I only had myself to blame.”

“I shouldn’t have gone looking,” Steven said.

“You killed some of them, didn’t you? The men and women who fostered me.”

“The ones I know hurt you, I killed,” Steven said.

“You’re not even going to lie about it.”

“When it comes to you, I don’t want there to be lies. I was coming to you to beg your forgiveness, and to take me back.” This made her smile, and he saw her watery eyes. “I knew I should have said something, but I was so afraid that I’d spoil our moment. That morning, it was our moment, and I was a little resentful that Whizz decided to call you then.”

“It really was a wonderful morning. I loved every second of it, being with you, loving you. This was where I’ve always wanted to be.”

He watched as she locked her hands together, the slight tremor making him hate himself just that little bit more.

“You will always have me, Sally. That will never change.”

She nodded. “I didn’t want you to delve into my past because I didn’t want you to know the truth.”

“What truth?”

“That I don’t deserve you, or this. That I’m horrible, and rotten.” The tears that had just been in her eyes were now rushing down her cheeks as she began to cry. “After everything that was done to me, I didn’t want you to see that when you looked at me.”

He couldn’t take her pain anymore. Closing the distance between them, he cupped her face, and pulled her so close that their bodies were flush together. Staring into her brown eyes, he smiled. His heart was breaking for her.

“You think that it would matter to me.”

“They did stuff, Steven.”

“You are the strongest, bravest, kindest, most loving woman I know. There is nothing and no one who will ever make me feel different about you. Those bastards had it coming. I only wish I could have brought their heads on a silver platter for you, but I think that would have grossed you out.”

She chuckled, and Steven smiled down at her.

“I don’t think differently about you, Sally. I never could. I hated that I wasn’t there then. If I was, none of this shit would have happened. You’d have been safe, and loved, and taken care of. I’d have made sure of it, and you’d never have to be afraid again.”

Sally covered her hands with his. “I had to come here today.”

“Why?” he asked. His heart was pounding, and he felt like he was being torn apart, but it was all worth it. Just to feel her near him, it was all worth it.

“I couldn’t go another moment without talking to you, without being with you. The past few weeks when we’d been together, sharing a bed, I missed you. Then I began to think what an awful bitch I’ve been because I just left. I threw stuff, shouted at you, hit you, and I just left. With Drew of all people, and I couldn’t go on another second without seeing you. Without asking your forgiveness for doing that to you. I’m a monster, Steven.”

He slammed his lips down on hers, kissing her deeply. She didn’t push him away, and after he was finished, even though he really wasn’t anywhere near finished, he rested his head against hers.

“You’re not a monster, Sally. Never think yourself a monster. I forgive you, but only if you forgive me. You had every right to be pissed at me, and I’m sorry for making you feel that way. It’s me that should be begging.”

“I forgive you, Steven. I love you more than anything, and I don’t want to go another second without being with you.”

He kissed her again, moving her back as he pressed her against the wall. Her hands glided across his chest, and shoved the jacket he was wearing off his shoulders, so that it landed with a thump to the floor.

“Wait, wait,” he said, reaching into his jacket. Sinking to the floor so that he was on one knee, he grasped the ring, and turned to her. “I wanted to ask you this before everything happened. We didn’t get around to having our moment, so I want to ask now. Sally, will you do me the honor of being my wife? I promise to never fuck up again.”

“You were going to ask me to marry you?”

“Yes. I’ve had this ring for some time. I wanted it to be the right moment. Having you here now, after everything, I know this is the right moment. I don’t have any flashy words, or anything. Just know that I will love you for the rest of our life. I want us to have babies, and to have a family, and if I survive Whizz’s beating, then I will make you happy, Sally.”

“Yes, Steven, yes, with all my heart.”

He slid the ring on her finger, and it was a perfect fit. He didn’t expect anything else. Getting up, he sank his fingers into her hair, and tilted her head back. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She cupped his face and pulled him down, kissing him back with an equal passion that he felt for her.

Sally began to move them back, taking them toward the bedroom.

“I’m happy to wait,” Steven said, even as his dick was so damn hard it was threatening to split his jeans.

“You are?” Sally asked with a frown.

“I want to prove to you that I’m a good man.”

“A good man who kills people?”

“Yeah, but with you, I don’t want to pressure you.”

The stepped into his room, and as he sat down on the edge of the bed, he watched in amazement as Sally grabbed her shirt, and pulled it over her head. She tossed the shirt to the floor, revealing the lacy white bra. Next, she removed her jeans, taking care as she pushed them down her prosthetic, and then onto the floor.

He didn’t give a fuck about her prosthetic. It was all part of her, and he loved the woman, not just one little piece of her.

She had gotten through something awful, and then at a young age, she had fought so hard to be strong.

Every single day his love for her grew just that little bit deeper.

He would never give her up, or let her go. His love for her would be with him for the rest of her life.

It was thinking about Sally that had made him agree to Michael’s deal. He didn’t want her to be scared every time he went on runs, or run the risk of jail time.

The club was heading into a completely different direction than when he’d joined it, and as far as he was concerned, it was the right one.

When he saw her standing in her lacy white bra and panties, his cock pulsed, sending a spill of pre-cum into his boxer briefs. Sitting on the bed had to be the most uncomfortable he’d ever been.

“Would you like me to leave?” she asked, reaching behind her back, and flicking the catch of her bra.

“Don’t you fucking dare.” His voice was thick even to his own ears. She looked good enough to eat, and he was going to sink his teeth into her curves. There was no doubt about it.  He licked his lips, wanting a taste of her.

When he stood up, she reached out, placing a hand on his stomach. “You’ve got to promise me to never treat me like a fragile doll. I won’t break. I’m strong, and I want to be with you.”

“I won’t.”

“Good because there are going to be times that I’m going to want you to make love to me, and others when I’m going to want you to fuck me.” Her cheeks were already a flaming red. “And when I’m in your arms, I don’t want you to think I’m going to shatter. I’m stronger than that.”

“I believe you.” He wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her against him. “So I’m going to prove it to you. Today I’m going to fuck you, and then we’re going to go and see Whizz, and I’m going to convince him not to kill me, and ask his permission to marry you.”

Sally laughed. “Why ask his permission? I already said yes.”

“It’s the polite thing to do. He’s my brother, and I have no intention of pissing him off.” Running his fingers up her back, then down, he squeezed her ass, before moving her forward. Putting her on the bed so that she was on her knees on the very edge, he leaned forward, kissing her ear. “You want me to fuck you. To take you so fucking hard that I’m the only one you’re thinking about?”

“Yes, please, Steven.”

Sliding a hand between her thighs, he found her lacy panties soaking wet. “Don’t worry, baby. I can take care of you.”

****

The feel of Steven’s hands on her pussy made Sally moan. It was everything she had been wanting, and more. The past couple of days, since talking with Lola, had made her realize that she had screwed up. She didn’t want to lose Steven. Being away from him had been more painful than she ever imagined.

He held her love, her heart, her soul, and her body.

Every single part of her belonged to him. She also knew that as she was traveling over here, she didn’t want him to be afraid of taking her. Sally wanted everything with him. The demons of her past were behind her, where they needed to be.

All that remained was the two of them.

Steven tugged on her panties, tearing them off her body. His hand covered her pussy, making her gasp as he slid a finger deep inside her.

“This body is mine, Sally. It will always be mine, and no one will ever take you away from me.” He added a second finger, followed by a third, filling her pussy.

It felt so good. She pressed back against him as those fingers moved from her pussy, to stroke her clit. Closing her eyes, she gripped the sheet beneath her, already feeling close to her orgasm.

His touch did this to her. One of his hands moved to her hips, gliding up her back, and going to cup one of her tits.

“You feel amazing,” he said. His teeth grazed the base of her back, biting, nibbling, making her yearn for more.

“You have no idea what you’re doing to me,” she said.

“I know, baby, and I fucking love it. I want you to come on my fingers, and then I’m going to fuck your pussy, and you’re going to come all over my cock.” He pushed two fingers inside her, and began to stroke her clit with his thumb.

Much to her shame, she came within seconds of him stroking her clit. Her arousal was so heightened that all it had needed was his expert touch.

“Holy fuck, Sally. That was so fucking sexy.”

She glanced over her shoulder in time to see him licking his fingers, moaning as he did.

“Stay on your knees.” He moved so that he was in line with her sight, and she watched him remove the last of his clothing, grab a condom, and roll it over his large dick.

She wanted this. She wanted it to be hard, to be dirty, and to know that at the end of it, she would still belong to him.

He moved behind her, and she gasped as his cock began to thrust inside her, making her ache in all the right, delicious ways. When a couple of inches of his cock was seated, he grabbed her hips, and thrust forward, filling her to the hilt. She cried out and heard his answering groan.

“Fuck, baby, you feel so good.”

There was something so dirty, and yet so tantalizing about having him behind her, holding her as he began to rock his cock inside her. She was already wet, and with each thrust she was getting more so.

He surprised her still as his thrusts increased, and then he began to fuck her, and to take her harder than she had ever been taken before. She struggled to focus, and didn’t really care about anything else other than the feel of his cock.

When he asked her to touch herself, she gave in, stroking her own clit. The pleasure, everything sent her over the edge, and he slapped her ass, making her yelp.

“You belong to me, Sally. Only me, and I’m going to fuck you, make love to you, and make you mine every single chance I get.”

“Yes. I love you, Steven.” She screamed his name as he didn’t hold back for a second. He fucked her hard, claiming her, and she loved it.

The moment he came, his fingers held her tightly. She would have bruises from this loving, but she didn’t care. His cock pulsed inside her, and when they collapsed onto the bed, with his cock still deep inside her, she had a smile on her lips. The ring on her finger twinkled, and that made her even happier. She was tired of being sad, of wanting something she never thought she could have.

“If you give me a moment, I’ll make love to you, and then you won’t be mad at me.”

This made her giggle. “I’m not mad at you. That was amazing.”

“Really? You didn’t think I came too quickly?”

“Well, you did, but that’s okay. We’ve got the rest of our lives to make it perfect.” She turned a little, and Steven leaned over her. “Love you.”

“I was coming to see you, and when I saw you there, for a second I didn’t think I was seeing properly.”

“You thought you’d gone blind?”

“No. I thought I was dreaming.” He stroked the underside of her breast, and Sally snuggled against him.

“You’re not dreaming. I’m very much here.”

He kissed her neck. “And I’m not going anywhere, babe.”

She licked her lips, and stroked his hands. “Can I ask you something?”

“Anything.”

“Have you taken him away?” She was referring to the sheriff.

“Not yet.”

“Will you be … will the club be handling … him?”

“We struck a deal with a guy named Michael Granito. He wants the sheriff, and the club is going to help him create a safe house for men, women, and children who need it.” He kissed her cheek. “It’s a new direction for the club, but it’s going to be one that benefits all of us.”

“I won’t have to worry about you being taken away anytime soon?” she asked.

“With the deal we struck, Sally, no one is going away again.”

She smiled. “I like that. I like that a hell of a lot.”

Chapter Fourteen

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Whizz said.

Sally squeezed his hand, and Steven wondered when the killing blow was going to come. They were standing in the clubhouse, and the entire club was staring at him. Lash was sitting back, an eyebrow raised. Killer, Adam, and Baker were smirking. Some of them looked surprised, but many of the brothers were also trying to hide laughter.

Whizz, however, looked a little pissed.

Before coming to the clubhouse, they had stopped by Sally’s home. Lacey had been there with a couple of the club women, and they were excited about his proposal to Sally. Lacey had then warned him that she wouldn’t do anything until she was sure there was a groom for her bride.

“What’s to kid?” Sally asked.

Whizz looked at her, and then at him. “What did you do?”

“I fell in love with her.”

“This is bullshit. I can’t believe this is fucking happening. I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

“This isn’t bullshit!” Sally released him, and took a step forward. “I know I’m not a club brother, or a member. I’m your daughter, and I am telling you right now that I love Steven. Why don’t you act this way with Drew?”

Whizz paused. “I knew you didn’t feel anything for him. I just want to protect you.”

“I don’t love Drew. I love Steven. I will always love him.”

“He’s the one that brought the information forward, Sally. You know, the shit that had you running.”

“I know,” she said. “I was with him that morning you called me. He’s my friend that I’ve been staying with.”

Okay, he was so dead.

“You went behind my fucking back.”

“I asked him to,” Sally said. “I knew you wouldn’t like it, and I wasn’t ready to tell you. I love him. I always have, and I didn’t act on it because I was young. This hasn’t been going on for years, Dad. This is only for a couple of months.” She reached out, taking Whizz’s hands. “You once said to me that the only thing you ever want me to have is to know what true love feels like, right? True love, and being part of something that’s bigger? To have a family that I can love for the rest of my life.”

“You are loved, Sally.”

“I know. I love you so much, and Mom, Daisy, and that kid she showed me a picture of. You’re great parents. The best I could have ever hoped for. I did hope for you. I hoped for a mom who’d love me no matter what, and a dad who would fight for me when everyone told him not to.” She threw her arms around Whizz, and Steven felt a lump form in his throat.

When Sally had first come to live with Whizz and Lacey, she had been a dark soul. A wounded girl who had struggled to trust the club. That same club was now her family, and they all loved her more and more each day. She was part of them. She’d bled for them, lost a part of herself, and her loyalty, like his, was to the club.

“Like all good parents, you need to know when to let me go. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay here in Fort Wills. Obviously, if you threaten Steven, we’re going on the run, and we’ll get a head start.” This had a couple of the club laughing. “Please, Dad, I love him.”

Whizz’s jaw clenched. “All I wanted was the best for you.”

“Then no man would ever be good enough for you. We both know that.”

Steven waited. Silence had fallen on the entire club.

“Mom said she wouldn’t start organizing the wedding until she knows Steven will be alive to see it.”

This had Whizz laughing. “She’s right. My first instinct was to get my gun and shoot him in the head. I’ve heard that’s effective.”

Sally chuckled, but Steven didn’t get the humor. They were talking about his life right now, and he very much loved his head.

“You love him?” Whizz asked.

“With all my heart.”

Whizz sighed. “Then you have my blessing.” Steven caught his gaze. “If you hurt her, I will fucking kill you myself. That’s a promise. I’ll kill you, bury your body, and take regular pisses on your grave.”

“That’s colorful,” Steven said. He saw the promise in Whizz’s eyes. “You won’t ever need to worry. I have no intention of hurting her. I love her, Whizz. Before the entire club, I vow that I will love, honor, protect, and cherish her, every single day. A moment won’t go by when she doesn’t know that I love her.”

Sally was smiling at him, and he blew a kiss to her, which only made her smile even more.

“Then we’re going to have a wedding to plan for. When is it going to happen?” Whizz asked. “Are you pregnant?”

“I’m not pregnant. Don’t worry. You’re not going to be a grandfather anytime soon.” She pulled away, but Whizz grabbed her arm.

“Before I met you, before I even knew you, I didn’t want to have a teenage daughter. Then when I saw you, I knew I could give you a better life. I wanted that for you. Since you’ve been mine and Lacey’s not a moment has gone by that I’ve not wished that you were mine. To me, Sally, you are my daughter, and you will always be my girl. No matter what.”

“I love you, too, Dad,” she said, hugging him tightly.

“Okay, now, go and call your mother,” Whizz said. “Lash has some club business to deal with that Steven needs to be here for. We’ll talk soon.”

Steven nodded at his girl as she left the clubhouse.

“I meant what I said. You hurt her, and I’ll fucking kill you.”

“I’ve got no intention of hurting her. What’s the club business?” Steven asked.

Lash stood up and looked at everyone. “I know we were all anticipating the hunt for this sheriff, and his accomplice. I got a call today. There was a raid on the sheriff’s house. They had sufficient evidence to organize a warrant. It turns out he wasn’t married, but he did have a lover. She was the one who was dealing with the fake witness accounts.”

“Why weren’t we there?” Whizz asked.

“Because our agreement means we can’t go and deal with this shit,” Lash said. “He needs us to remain a safe haven for all potential witnesses, and for that to happen, we can’t go hunting for them.”

Disappointment filled him.

“As such, I got pissed, and I told him that I needed to speak to the club again about this situation. I know we all like a little bloodshed. We’re a little fucked up like that, but we like to serve up our own version of justice. I’m not going to lie, I wanted a piece of the sheriff and this bitch that hurt Sally. I did, and I still do. The thing is, this puts a new light on our situation, and instead of just continuing, I wanted to see what you all wanted to do.”

They were silent for many seconds. Baker was the first to speak up.

“Our pasts and the club’s past are wiped clean?” Baker asked. “No matter what?”

“Michael can’t guarantee that. It’s a give and take. They’ll give us our freedom, but take our business to protect those in need,” Lash said. “If we back out, they have all of our old shit on us. We’ll become like witness protection for victims. They will need us to keep people safe. It comes with a risk all on its own, but he believes we can handle whatever anyone throws at us.”

“I’m still agreeing,” Gash said, speaking up. “I’ve been inside. I lost five years of my life, and I lost a baby because I wasn’t there to protect my woman. I’m still in. My original vote is still the same. We take this deal. We help.”

“I’ve had enough bloodshed to last me a lifetime,” Nash said. “I nearly lost Sophia last time. I can’t … I won’t last without her. She’s everything to me. I still stand. We can be hardcore, badass, and protect people. We’re still a club. We’re still a family, united in our belief in doing what’s right.”

“I’m not about hurting people,” Zero said. “I’m still in.”

“I want to take this fucker out, but I’m still in,” Fighter said.

One by one, the club voted to remain with the deal. Steven looked at Lash and then at Whizz.

He thought about the life and the excitement he’d seen in Sally’s eyes. He wasn’t about to take that away from her.

“I’m in,” Steven said. “The sheriff will get his own kind of justice on the inside. No one likes a child abuser, or a cop.”

Whizz snorted. “Don’t worry, I can manipulate where they’re supposed to be. He’ll get a good, hard beating for it.”

They had their means of being a club. Being a club wasn’t about running guns, doing drugs, and fucking all night long. The Skulls was always about something more than that.

“I know Ned’s pissed at this new direction,” Lash said, looking toward Tiny.

“I don’t give a fuck what that asshole thinks. I never have. We’ve always done deals, worked together. Ned’s old school. He’s been at this business so long he doesn’t even know when to fucking give in. That’s his deal, not mine. I want this new direction for the club. I’m getting old. I’ve got kids, and I’m tired of looking over my shoulder. I made promises to my woman, to your parents, Lash and Nash. I promised them I’d give you a good life if anything happened to you. It did, and that was on me. The club has had too many deaths, too much shit, and I for one am so tired of it. I actually look forward to having a break.”

Lash nodded. “I’m sorry you men didn’t get to pick up and kill.”

“Hey, why are you all fucking down?” Adam asked. “We’ve got a wedding to celebrate. That’s going to be fucking epic. Sally’s our girl, right? She should have the best splash-out wedding anyone could ever throw. We’re not dead in the dumps, far fucking from it.”

The club cheered, and before long, they left. Steven made his way outside and found Sally sitting on one of the swings.

“You’re alive,” she said. “I was kind of freaking out. I thought he’d kill you.”

“I think he wanted to. In fact, I know he does. I’m just going to have to be the best son-in-law,” he said.

She wrinkled her nose. “Nah, keep him on his toes.”

He held onto the chains of the swing and smiled down at her. “The sheriff had a wife. No, not a wife, a girlfriend with like-minded feelings. They were taken today on a string of rape and child abuse claims.”

“Oh,” Sally said.

“Yeah. The club had no part in it.”

“How are they feeling about that?”

“We’re all a little pissed. We’re used to dealing with our own problems. It’s going to be a challenge, a change, for all of us.”

This made her smile. “A change is as good as the rest, right?”

“That it is, which is why they’re all deciding how best to do our wedding.”

Her eyes went wide. “They are?”

“Yep. Our wedding is going to be the event of the year. Be prepared, it could be really crazy.”

“Mom’s already getting Baker to do the cake.”

Steven nodded, impressed. “It’s going to be awesome.”

“Hell yeah.” He cupped her cheek, and pressed his lips against hers. Marrying her was going to be one of the best highlights of his life, he was sure of it.

****

Six months later

Sally smiled as she danced with her husband. Steven held her, and she was still shocked to see that he was wearing a tux.

“You are the most beautiful woman in the world.”

The entire backyard of the clubhouse had been changed to become the place she would get married. Everything was more than she ever hoped for.

Steven held onto her hips, and she smiled up at him.

“You know all the right things to say,” she said. “I can’t believe you’re not wearing your leather jacket.”

“You asked me not to today, so I was going to give you this. I wanted this day to be perfect for you. Is it?”

“It’s more than perfect.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and danced to the slow music.

The club was all around them, and Whizz had given her away. The past few months had been hard on her father. He’d wanted to keep her close, to protect her, to love her. Sally had made sure that he knew she was happy, that she wanted to be with Steven.

“So, I was thinking we could go to the Caribbean or something for our honeymoon. What do you think?” he asked.

“I don’t care, so long as I’m with you.”

They were going to Vegas straight after their wedding reception. Alex had organized everything so that they could stay at his hotel. After that, Steven had told her he was making plans for them to get away from Fort Wills for a couple of weeks.

“I’m the luckiest man alive, you know that?” he asked.

Sally rested her head on his chest. She opened her eyes, and saw Drew talking to one of the club sweet-butts that still stayed to amuse the men that hadn’t found their woman. He’d asked her to stop setting him up with women, and to give him time. She no longer lived in his apartment, and she was finishing her classes from home. Working in the gym throughout the week, she studied on the weekends and at night.

In the beginning, Whizz hadn’t liked that she was living with Steven. Again, it had taken time, but she didn’t mind.

She was now married to Steven, the love of her life, and she was happy.

“You know we’ve not talked about kids yet,” Steven said.

Sally chuckled, and lifted her head. “I do want kids. Do you? If not, we’re totally getting a divorce.”

Steven moved his hands down, grasping her ass. “You’re a little vixen, and no. I don’t want a divorce. I want kids, lots of them.”

“How many?”

“Ten. I think ten is a good number. It’s equal.”

Throwing her head back, she shook her head. “I can’t have ten kids.”

Steven licked his lips. “Can you, erm, have kids?” he asked.

“I can have kids. I promise.”

“I wouldn’t mind if we couldn’t. We could adopt. Lacey and Whizz are always doing it.”

“I can have kids, and I’ll still be able to walk around. I’m strong, Steven, and healthy.”

She had asked her therapist that when she first got her prosthetic. At the time the woman had laughed and said that nothing else was damaged, and that she needed to stop thinking her life was over.

Sally realized in that moment, her life had only just begun.

Epilogue

Five years later

Steven watched as Tabitha, Daisy, Anthony, Miles, and the others left to head to high school. He was feeling fucking old in that moment. With a baby against his chest, he watched as his wife moved toward him.

Sally looked so beautiful in the maternity dress, which was blue with red flowers all over.

“Can you believe how grown up they all are?” she asked, reaching out to stroke their son’s head.

They had been married for five blissful years, and after four years, she had convinced him to have a baby. The maternity dress she wore was one of his favorites, and it allowed for her to breastfeed their son when he needed it.

Even though she had given birth four weeks ago, she glowed in ways that made him ache.

“Tabitha’s just told Tiny that it’s just a high school party and that everyone is going,” Steven said, laughing. “He’s having a fit right now. Whizz isn’t doing much better. The only consolation is the fact they’ve got Tate’s Simon who’ll be there, Miles, and Anthony, and the others as well.” Steven looked down at his son. “Shit, what if we have a girl soon?”

“What would it matter?” Sally asked, smiling.

When Caleb started to fuss, Steven helped place their son in her arms. Standing behind her, he wrapped an arm around her waist, and smiled at their son. He still couldn’t believe what they had made together.

He loved this woman more than anything in the world. During the past five years so much had changed.

Michael had kept his end of the deal, even bringing all the files and copies of what they had on the club. Lash still had them, and they had stored them in a safe place as a reminder of what they’d once been.

Steven had thought it would take a lot longer to get accustomed to their new life, but it hadn’t been that bad.

There were moments when the club didn’t have a choice but to retaliate.

A call had come through three years ago, and it had put all the brothers on edge. It had been a cry for help that Michael had asked for them personally.

A young mother of twins was getting beaten regularly, and when the deadbeat father had tried to hurt the kids, she’d panicked. She had called, needing protection, and Michael had said they were needed.

Ten of The Skulls had gone to the house. Killer had stood in front of the asshole while the mother packed her and the kids away.

Not only did The Skulls provide a safe place for those who needed anonymity, they gave their protection to those in need.

It had felt good doing something right.

“Are you still happy?” Sally asked.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be? I’ve got the love of my life, I’m a father, and I’ve just seen Tabitha drive Tiny crazy. It’s all good fun, and I’ve got a feeling with Chaos Bleeds due to make a visit, it’s going to get a whole lot more fun.”

Sally shook her head. “I love you, Steven.” She cupped the back of his head, and kissed his lips.

As far as Steven was concerned, she had no idea how much he loved her. There were no words good enough to tell her how much he did.

Still, there was the rest of their lives for him to really show her.

The End

www.samcrescent.com

Other Books by Sam Crescent:

www.evernightpublishing.com/sam-crescent

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BONUS SAMPLE CHAPTER

TAKING HER INNOCENCE

Killer of Kings, 1

Sam Crescent & Stacey Espino

Copyright © 2017

Chapter One

“You think you can handle it?” Boss asked.

Viper stared out across the parking lot. A lot of shoppers were milling around today, going about their own pathetic lives, believing they were the most important thing in the world.

None of them had any idea that one of the world’s deadliest killers was amongst them. He was part of an elite group of mercenaries. He killed for the money. Whoever offered the highest bounty, he took it. He never asked questions, and he never cared about the people he killed. This was a job to him, something he was good at.

“Why can’t I handle it? Send me a picture of the girl. I’ll do the rest.”

“She has to die of natural causes.”

Viper snorted. “No problem.”

He had one month to find a woman, and to end her life. Piece of cake. He had lots of ways of killing a woman, and this would be no different.

“Deposit the money, and I’ll call you if I need more.” Viper whistled as he made his way toward the car. He put the groceries in the trunk, got behind the wheel, and waited.

Her picture came through his cell phone, and he stared at the girl in question. She couldn’t have been older than fifteen, but from what Boss had told him, she was nearly twenty-one years old, and had been on the run for nearly six months. Curious.

The picture showed her cuddled up next to her mother, and she looked happy. Pepper was chubby, her cheeks looking like the kind you could pinch, and grandmothers cooed over. Boss had given him all the details over the phone. Viper didn’t do paperwork, reading, or worrying about something being tracked.

He memorized everything. All the little details were up in his head, and that was where they would stay until the job was gone.

Viper didn’t know why the woman in question, Pepper, was running, and he really didn’t care. The moment Boss called him and gave him an assignment, he did it. Now he just needed to figure out where she was staying.

Good news for him, he had a special guy who owned equipment that could find him this woman. Leaving the grocery store, Viper made his way across the city toward the guy who he knew would hook him up.

Whenever he was in between jobs, he would always stick around where his people were so that he didn’t have to worry about endless traveling. Working for Killer of Kings was rather lucrative. They were a company known for getting the job done. Nothing was too much, no job too hard. He had traveled all over the world to do what needed to be done, from killing people, to fucking women, to even rescuing people. If the price was right, he would do anything.

From a young age, younger than any child should ever have to deal, he had been taught to hunt, to kill, and to do it without feeling a damn thing. There were scars on his back that all bled together that reminded him a past he wished he could forget. When he saw children with their parents, for a split second he felt envious, jealous that they could be having a wonderful life, a better one than he ever had. Of course they were having a better life than he had. None of them had ever gone through the hours of pain or the training that had made him one of the deadliest men on earth.

Parking his car outside of one of the shittiest apartments in the city, he made his way toward his contact, Maurice. The guy was thirty years old, a slob, but damn good when it came to computers. He was the only one who gave Viper the facts without giving him files thick with writing and shit. Viper didn’t want to be studying. Cold, hard facts were what he was after, and he didn’t need paperwork that could be traced.

Maurice lived on the top floor. He was a tall, skinny man who wore big, thick glasses. Banging on the door, Viper waited, and when Maurice opened the door his shirt was covered in ketchup and mustard stains.

“I’ve told you to change,” Viper said, entering the room.

“Yeah, well, I didn’t think I’d see you for a couple more weeks. You usually take time off. Why are you back after just a week?” Maurice asked.

The apartment was littered with debris. Only the sitting room, the place where all the computers and equipment were set up was spotless.

“You need to get a cleaning lady,” Viper said. He hated mess.

Mess equaled mistakes.

He was clean, efficient, and he didn’t have anything to leave behind. Even his apartment where he stayed during his vacations didn’t hold any personal mementos. Not that he would ever have those. Mementos would mean caring, and that wasn’t what he did. He didn’t have a family, a past, nor would he have a future.

“Cleaning ladies touch stuff, and I know where everything is.”

Viper looked around the apartment. “It stinks.”

“So? It keeps everyone out, okay? This is my mess. My problem. Not yours. What do you want?” Maurice asked, shoving his glasses up his nose.

“Fine.” Viper handed over his cell phone. “Get me everything on her.”

“Do you have a name?” Maurice asked.

“Pepper. I want everything on the face though. You’ve got your computers that can track CCTV. I want to know where she was last seen.”

“This could take a while.”

“Don’t care. I can pay.” Viper moved into the sitting room and took a seat. It was the only place he was willing to park his ass while he waited, and there wasn’t a chance in hell he was leaving until he got what he wanted.

Something was bugging him about this assignment, which was strange because he usually didn’t care. Swift, efficient, done. That’s what he’d always been about.

Maurice was humming as he got to work, scanning her picture, and then tracking it through the database. On the big screen in front of them, he saw several names and pictures as it did the recognition thing.

The beauty about security and live feeds everywhere was anyone could be tracked or traced. Unless someone knew how to avoid the cameras and the recognition software, no one was untraceable.

“She’s young this one.”

“You’re not paid to worry about that.”

“This isn’t a rescue mission though, right? I think I saw something about this girl’s mother a few weeks ago.”

That made Viper pause. “What did you see?”

“Only that her mother had died, and Pepper’s stepfather was taking over the company that should, by rights, go to this Pepper girl. We’re talking a billion-dollar company. Stocks, shares, and they have stakes in pretty much everything. I’m surprised you don’t know that.” Maurice munched on a potato chip as he spoke.

Viper didn’t follow the news. He didn’t read the papers, nor did he care about pampered princesses. “Out of curiosity, what happens to this fortune if the girl dies?”

“It goes to the stepfather.”

Sitting back, Viper thought about the terms of his latest contract. Pepper needed to die of natural causes, and the stepfather would inherit everything.

He didn’t like the twist in his gut.

This was just another assignment like everything else, and he wasn’t going to let feelings or emotions get in the way. Patting his fingers on his thigh, he watched the computer screen as faces all seemed to roll into one. This was the one part of the job that he hated.

He was bored.

When he was bored, he was able to think.

Thinking made him remember the past, and he didn’t want to remember the past. He wasn’t someone plagued by his fears. He had no fears.

“There she is,” Maurice said.

Viper looked up as her image was brought into focus. It was a really clear image. “When was it taken?” he asked.

“Three days ago. A grocery store near the coast.” Maurice rattled off several details and directions.

Viper didn’t need anything else. He already knew where he was going. Pulling out a wad of cash, he handed it to Maurice, and made his way toward the door.

“Viper,” Maurice said.

Turning, he saw Maurice standing, holding his keyboard. “What is it?”

“You don’t have to do this, you know? She’s innocent. There’s nothing on her. No criminal record, nothing. Her slate is completely clean. This is not like your usual kills.”

“You don’t know what I’ve got to do, and remember, anything happens, any word gets out, and you’ll die, Maurice.” He wouldn’t want to kill the man in front of him. Even though he was a slob, he kind of liked him, and that wasn’t heard of much in his line of work. He shouldn’t use the same man over and over again, but Maurice had proven himself, and he didn’t want to lose a valuable asset.

“See you soon,” Maurice said.

Viper was already out of the door, but he heard it.

****

Pepper stared out at the ocean, wondering if she would be able to stay here for another couple of days. It was a quaint, little town near the sea, and it was home to a lot of tourism. The beach where she stood right now was completely covered with people, with families. Would she be safe here?

She didn’t know how far her father was willing to push everything. He wanted money. She knew that. From the moment her mother, her sweet, beautiful mother, had brought him home, Pepper had seen through him. He’d been a gold-digger. A horrible excuse for a human being. She had even seen him cheating on her mother with one of the staff. That had really sickened her, and what she hated most, her mother hadn’t believed her.

Yes, Pepper came from a rich family, but her relationship with her mother had always been solid. When her father died, they’d had each other, until this monster came out of nowhere, and was intent on destroying them. She hated him to her core, and that didn’t help. Even when the abuse and violence had started, her mother hadn’t been able to see past her own insecurity.

Then, of course, Pepper had to run, and now she couldn’t even go home for her mother’s funeral.

In order to gain the fortune, her stepfather needed her dead. She wasn’t an idiot. All he’d wanted all along was her mother’s fortune, and when Pepper died, it would all go to him.

A gust of wind hit her, and she held onto the hat, making sure it didn’t blow off. She was wearing a hat and a pair of glasses. With her image over the news, she didn’t want anyone to see her. Fortunately, there wasn’t an updated picture, and she looked nothing like she did when she was fifteen. The picture was a cold reminder of the last time she was happy, when her mother was happy. She should probably dye her blonde hair, but it grieved her to change the locks that her mother spent hours lovingly caring for. They would sit in her father’s study, and her mother would brush her hair, waiting for him to finish. Pepper looked similar to her mother, only lighter, and fairer-skinned. She burned easily in the sun, and always had to use sun lotion, which she hated wearing.

She remembered her mother rubbing the awful stuff all over her, saying if she wasn’t careful she’d burn to a crisp. Then she would watch her mother do it herself. It was amazing how touching, how meaningful those memories were. At the time, they were just a nuisance, but now it was something more.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she turned away from the sight of the ocean, and began to walk back to the main path.

The scent of doughnuts, fried chicken, and fries was heavy in the air. She wasn’t hungry, and even if she was, she wouldn’t eat outside.

Her stepfather was a vicious man, and would probably find some way to hurt her. She wouldn’t put it past him to send someone to kill her. Were there companies like that? She didn’t know. There was a lot about the world that she didn’t know, and that scared her. Leaving the busy streets, she made her way back to the tiny hotel that she had rented. Without looking back, she made her way toward her door, and paused. Her door was open, and she frowned.

Hadn’t she locked it?

Her heart started to pound.

It may not have locked.

Every time I left this room I locked the door.

She needed to turn around and leave.

But her stuff was in that room, and she needed to get it.

“It’s fine. Everything is fine.”

She gasped, and would have screamed if a hand hadn’t closed over her mouth. “I suggest you be very quiet. I’m not the most patient of men, and I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

She couldn’t see, and with how tightly he held her, she couldn’t move. There was no way to get away, or for her to see who her attacker was.

He shoved her into the room, and the door slammed open, hitting the wall behind it.

Her attacker moved his hand, giving her a chance to bite him, so she did. She sank her teeth into the flesh of his hand, and made sure she didn’t stop until she tasted blood.

Gross. Gross. Gross.

Disease.

She spat his hand out, stamped her foot down hard on his, and then shoved him away.

He shouted, and before she could get away, he grabbed hold of her hair, throwing her against the wall. The impact startled her, and she went a little dizzy. Within seconds he was on her. He punched her in the face, shocking her from the impact, and she rolled away. Her attacker drew back his foot, and she grabbed it, lifting it up so that he stumbled back.

Getting to her feet, she tried for the door, but he caught her again.

“You fucking fat bitch,” he said, wrapping his arms around her neck, and he started to cut off her circulation.

She clawed at his arms, struggling to breathe.

“Now, isn’t this interesting?” a man said.

They turned, and she saw someone who was twice the size of the man strangling her, and looked ten times as deadly.

The first thing she noticed was that he had guns at his waistband. The next thing was how calm he looked while she was getting hurt.

“Who the fuck are you?” the guy behind her asked.

“Me? I’m here on a job. Why the fuck are you here?”

“Got a job. This bitch needs to be taken out.”

The man at the door laughed. “Tell me you don’t have a clue who I am. Do you have any idea who I work for?”

The man behind her stilled, and the hand at her throat actually eased, surprising her. He didn’t let her go, but she was able to think, and for that she was thankful.

“Viper!”

The smile on the man at the door turned deadly. “Exactly. Now, tell me who the fuck hired you.”

“Her stepfather. Who else would? He wants her gone, and he wants it done as soon as possible. Doesn’t matter who gets it done so long as she’s dead at the end of it.”

The man called Viper looked at her as if he was assessing her. “You’re really worth that much?” Viper entered the room, and closed the door. “Let the girl go, and I’ll let you leave here with your life.”

Laughter made her jump as the man behind her erupted as if it was the funniest thing he had ever head. “I know you’ve got a good reputation, Viper, but I don’t think you can take me.”

“Put the girl down, and let’s see.” Viper stood with his hands behind his back, looking so calm.

The man behind her was strong. She didn’t want either man to win, but she didn’t want the one behind her to win at all. That bastard was going to hurt her.

Viper was going to hurt her as well, but she hadn’t actually been hurt by him yet. He was the best bet.

She was shoved down hard on the floor.

“Stay.”

The man walked toward Viper, and she didn’t know what she was expecting. Maybe a fight, something that was scary. She didn’t expect Viper to reach out, grab the man’s neck, and in one twist, snap it.

Her heart raced.

Her attacker was on the floor with his head at an odd angle. “Now this is curious.” Viper began to rummage through the guy’s pockets, and when he found the wallet, tossed it at her. “Who is he?”

She stared at him. “I’m not touching that.”

“Tell me who he is or I’ll hurt you a hell of a lot more than this bastard ever did, and from the look of your face, he hit you a few times.” Viper glared at her. “Now, who is he?”

Grabbing the wallet, she opened it up, and stared at the name. “It says William Donald.”

He stepped back, and grabbed his cell phone. She stared at him, and then at the door. She was in pain, hurting in places she didn’t think it was possible. Could she make it out in time?

End of sample chapter

Taking Her Innocence by Sam Crescent and Stacey Espino is available at most online retailers.

www.evernightpublishing.com/taking-her-innocence-by-sam-crescent-and-stacey-espino