Master (Chaos Bleeds Book 8) (9 page)

“What? Rape you? Sandy, I’m a lot of things but a rapist isn’t one of them. When we got to this, it was going to be because the two of us wanted it more than anything. I love you. I can wait. I’m a patient man.”

“I’m not patient. I’ve never been a patient person. Life is hard, and it’s unfair. Nothing good ever comes to those who wait patiently. Life is fucking brutal.”

He covered her hand with his own. “It is brutal, and it’s hard. There are times I hate it as well. The past few years with The Skulls have been the most trying. I’ve witnessed love, passion, betrayal, redemption, and family. Lash found Angel for a debt of her father. Their love, it has been something I have witnessed, and I didn’t even think it was possible for that man to fall in love.”

Sandy chuckled.

Out of every single relationship that had developed in The Skulls’ clubhouse, Lash and Angel’s was the kind people read about or watched. They were the most unlikely of couples, and yet they were, at times, the strongest. One couldn’t live without the other, and vice versa.

“The Skulls, though, we’re a family. Every foe that has come our way, we have defeated because that is who we are. It’s what we do, and we’ll always do it. Always together, always as a family. It’s why I was patient all these years for you, Sandy. Even if you wanted to wait to get married, I’d wait for you.”

“I don’t want to wait. I want us to go to Vegas, now.”

Stink sighed. “Now?”

“Yes, we can get Ned to organize it, or we can get Alex. I want to belong to you. Andrew is here, and we’re fighting him. If something bad happens, I don’t want to live a life of regret, and I don’t want you to live that kind of life either.”

Stink kissed her lips. “I’ll make some calls.”

She nodded.

“First, you’ve got to eat, and I’m watching you.” He pointed at his eyes, and then at her.

“I’m eating, boss man.” She took a bite of her sandwich, and watched as he grabbed out his cell phone and started to make some calls. Sandy watched him, admiring the hardness of his body. The way he commanded attention.

She tuned out what he was saying as the happiness consumed her. This was what she’d been fighting all these years. She was angry with herself for making them both wait.

After a couple more calls, Stink hung up.

“Get dressed.”

“What?”

“We can head out on Alex’s private jet. If we get to his place within the hour, we can be in Vegas tonight. He’s already got the casino ready to receive us, and he’s organized a chapel to do the ceremony. We’re not going to have any friends, but we’re going to have each other.”

Sandy got off the bed and started rushing around, putting on clothes. Her heart was racing, and she was so excited. After all this time she was finally going to get married.

Within five minutes they were on the road, heading toward Alex and Sunshine’s reclusive house that was several miles outside of Fort Wills. In that moment, Sandy had to wonder why the fuck Alex lived so far away. It was far enough away from the clubhouse for privacy. The more she thought about it, the more she understood.

No one could barge into Alex’s place uninvited, whereas at their house, or at the clubhouse, anyone could barge in. Also, Alex’s place offered a great deal of security. Stink typed in the code in the security gate, and he drove down the long path toward the house. They got there to see three men waiting to escort them.

Stink got out of the car, and rounded it toward her. She held his hand, her heart racing as they got into the helicopter. Once they were secured, Stink held her hand again. “Are you ready for this?” he asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

****

Lash rubbed at his temples as he stared at the abundance of computer screens that Whizz had set up. He’d never seen so many screens before. The entire basement was now lined with them, and he was sure there had to be fifty different screens. With how fast Whizz was typing, it was causing Lash a headache. He never understood computers, and he still didn’t. What was the point in them when you could talk to someone? Yeah, he was going to be the generation that went to the cashier rather than do it all by himself in the supermarket. Angel loved those little machines, scanning everything before putting it into her bag.

Someone walking downstairs had Lash turning around to see Tiny. “I’ve just had news from Alex. Stink and Sandy are on their way to Vegas to get married.”

“Good for them. It’s about time Stink got what he wanted. He’s been chasing after that woman for so long. I’m surprised he didn’t change his mind, and date someone else.”

“Amen to that. I was thinking of starting a poll or something. How long will it take Stink and Sandy to get together,” Whizz said.

“It has taken them some time, I’ll grant you that,” Tiny said. “What’s happening with all the glowing screens? We about to have a zombie invasion or something?”

“This is technology, Tiny. You know, the advancement of robots, our future, and soon they won’t even need us to procreate,” Whizz said.

“I hope not. I love getting my dick wet,” Lash said. He thought of his woman upstairs, caring for their new baby. Chloe, another kid in the mix. Anthony seems besotted with her, which was a huge relief. In private, away from anyone seeing, Lash had been reading books on siblings and rivalry. He’d never experienced it with Nash. Hell, just recently he’d even talked to Nash about it. He didn’t want Anthony and Chloe at each other’s throats, or to fear for either kid. There was no way there would be a favorite in his family. Besides, if his kids wanted to start on the whole favorites, they’d fucking lose. His favorite was Angel, his woman.

“I’d fight machines for the right to fuck,” Tiny said.

“You know Miles and Tabitha, and Luke,” Lash said.

“I think so. They’re my kids.”

“And Tate as well. Do they fight? Not get along? Or anything?” Lash looked toward Tiny, his mentor, his ex-Prez, and most importantly, his father. Tiny had taken them in when his own parents were killed. Tiny had been more of a father to him than anyone else. Tate was like a sister to him, an annoying, bitchy sister who pissed him off all the time.

“Luke’s just been born. He’s a baby, Lash. Miles and Tabitha get along great. To be honest, Tabitha spent more time fighting with Devil’s Simon than anyone else.”

“And now they’re totally in love,” Whizz said.

“Shut up,” Tiny said, glaring at Whizz.

“You have to admit they are perfect for each other. There’s nothing else to say about it.” Whizz held his hands up. “Perfect little couple. Possibly bring two MCs together.”

“Seriously, Whizz, enough. They’re kids. They don’t know what love is. No one knows what love is at that age. They care more about chocolate and candy.”

Lash truly believed Tiny was deluded, but that was going to have to be something he figured out himself.

“What’s going on?” Tiny asked.

“Whizz, I’ll let you answer that.”

“Okay, so I was delving into Andrew’s past, and at the moment, I’ve got that computer over there looking for all possible leads. It’s pretty much starting at his life’s history, coming into present day. Instead of me staring at a screen that is only scanning, I’ve decided to go ahead, and do this.”

“What is this?”

“Simple. The clubhouse is surrounded with security. I’m accessing the security footage, and using face recognition software to discover who attacked us. On the one part of the scale, I’m using Andrew’s history to discover everything we need to know about him to this day. For the present, I’m going to find out the fuckers who thought they could take out The Skulls. We’re going to get even for Happy.”

“Yeah, I reached out to The Skulls’ Nomad division, and they’re not happy. They want justice,” Lash said.

Every MC that Lash knew had a Nomad division. It was a selection of men who wore the MC, but didn’t stick to the clubhouse. So “The Skulls: Nomad” was seen on the uniform. That was where Adam, Twisted, and Happy came from. The Nomads all knew each other, and occasionally came to the clubhouse to stay. They didn’t settle down. They rode hard, partied hard, and never got caught up in this kind of shit.

“How much justice?” Tiny asked.

“Ten of them are coming home, Tiny. They want blood, and they’re not going to settle until they get it. Happy had a lot of friends.”

“The dude was named Happy. People like being around happy people. It’s a fact.”

Lash shook his head, laughing.

“Come on, you all know it’s true.”

“True or not, we’ve got to get a handle on this shit,” Tiny said.

“Ned is handling the hospital watch. We’re regrouping, and our people will be out.”

“What about Nash? How is he holding up?”

Lash paused. “Nash isn’t leaving Sophia’s side until she’s guaranteed to come out of the hospital safe and well.”

Tiny nodded. “I get that.”

“Pussy, he’s not left Sasha’s side, and the brother is starting to smell. Real bad.”

Whizz sighed. “Andrew hit us hard. I’ll give him that.”

“Yeah, he hit us hard, and we’re going to hit them back,” Lash said.

“Angel hurt him, right?” Tiny asked.

“Yeah. She stuck the knife I got her, right into his shoulder, why?”

“’Cause I’m thinking we keep on hitting him,” Tiny said.

Lash smiled. “Why do you think I’m down here? Whizz gives me an address, and we round up some boys, and we take them out.”

“Got it,” Whizz said.

Turning toward the computer screen, Lash saw six men. Their faces came up holding arrest photos.

“So, it looks like Andrew paid three million for the hit on the clubhouse.”

“It would take a lot of cash to get a two-bit gang to our clubhouse,” Lash said. “Get me their information, Whizz. I’m going to round up the guys.”

Pulling out his cell phone, he put a call through to the hospital, requesting to speak to Nash.

“What is it, Lash?”

“What if I can guarantee you a chance of fucking over the men that shot at Sophia?”

“A chance?”

“Whizz found out the guys that shot at us. Took a measly three mil to pop us.”

“Are we going?” Nash asked.

“Grab our guns, brother, we’re going on a search party.”

****

Sally stared down at her bandaged knee. There was nothing covering the rest of her leg. It was completely covering her knee, like a head cap, over her knee. Tears fell down her cheeks as she stared at her lost limb.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

She looked up to see Ned Walker. He was Eva’s father, and for some strange reason had considered himself the club’s grandad.

Wiping away the tears, Sally stared at him, not knowing what to say.

“You’re not a very trusting little thing, are you?”

“I’m not little.”

“No. You’ve been through your own idea of hell.”

“Where’s Steven?” she asked. He hadn’t left her side once since her leg was taken. Wow, it had been a little over three days now. He didn’t stay for long.

“From what I can gather, the club has information on the shit that happened to you. They’re going to go and deal with it like real men.”

“So you’re forced to babysit me.”

“Are you telling me you consider yourself a baby, or do you think of yourself as a woman?” Ned took a seat beside her.

“A woman.”

“No, I’m not here to babysit. I’m here to help.”

“I don’t need any help.”

“So those tears that were dancing down your face are not a problem?” he asked.

“They’re none of your business, not really.”

Ned sighed. “You remind me a little of Eva when she was younger. She’s my little girl. My only girl.” He patted her hand. “I killed her crackwhore of a mother, and I’ve been raising her alone ever since.

“Why are you telling me this?” she asked, tensing. If he was telling her this, did that mean he was going to kill her as well? She hoped not.

“Afraid of dying?”

She nodded.

“I bet you didn’t for a second believe that was possible after the hell you’ve been through.” Ned eased back in the chair, staring at her. “It’s a relief to know you’re not going to do anything stupid.”

“I’m not going to kill myself if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I don’t know. From what that boy has been telling me, it’s a fear of his that you’re going to do something stupid.”

Even as she tried to fight them, the tears kept on coming.

“You’ve got to let them out, honey.”

“No, I don’t. I don’t want to cry anymore. It doesn’t solve anything.”

Ned sat on the bed and placed his arm around her shoulders. “It looks bad now, but in a few years, it won’t look so bad.”

He rubbed her arm, and the comfort he offered her was her undoing. “I’ve lost my leg.” She sobbed each word out, gasping for breath.

“I know.”

“I can’t have it back, and I want it back.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and held onto his strength as she finally let go. No one needed her to be strong. In that moment, she understood why everyone looked toward Ned for guidance, for love, and for support. He offered it without any expectation of getting anything back. Ned was simply a rock, and they were not.