Everyone hissed in a breath, even his brothers knew not to joke about that shit. At least not right to a woman’s face.
“Say the word and I’ll kill him for you,” Hammer offered.
“I can handle him.” She pushed past Hammer and walked over and got in Gator’s face. “Well, I don’t trust anything with two heads and only one brain.”
There were a round of ‘ooowws’ among his brothers.
Tink stalked off.
“Boy, you’re screwed. She’s gonna poison your next draft,” Griz advised Gator.
“What? I mouth off to everybody. People love that about me,” Gator insisted.
“Guess again.” JJ grinned.
“This shit cracks me up,” Heavy added.
Griz looked over at Hammer. “So what exactly is your plan to get Tink, cause if that was it, I don’t think it’s workin’?”
“I thought I’d stand next to you.”
“Huh? What for?”
“Cause next to you, I look like a catch.”
“No, seriously, shithead, what’s your plan?”
“I’m gonna flirt shamelessly with her, tell her how pretty she is, and then stand back and let her fall at my feet.”
“You had me till that last part.” Griz grinned.
The guys all burst out laughing.
“Why do you think she’s so fucking hard to get? You know what? I don’t care,” Hammer grumbled.
“You don’t care,” Gator mumbled under his breath sarcastically.
“Go, on Hammer. Take a shot. What have you got to lose?” Griz encouraged.
“You’re right, enough of this game playing.” Hammer nodded and headed in the direction Tink had gone.
Griz grinned. “I should take up motivational speaking.”
Shades shook his head.
“Y’all get a shot glass yet?” Ashley asked as she approached Shades and Skylar. She had a bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and a stack of little throwaway plastic shot glasses in her other hand. “We’re going to do a toast to Bulldog in a minute.”
Shades took two off the top of the stack and passed one to Skylar. “Thanks.”
Ashley held the bottle up and poured them each a shot. “Now remember to save it for the toast,” she reminded them with a wink at Shades.
Shades made no reply, just gave her a cold look.
She moved off through the crowd, making sure everyone had one.
Shades kept Skylar pretty much glued to his side throughout the event. He knew he needed to have a conversation with her about the women here. Women he’d been with. Some good girls that wouldn’t cause him a lick of trouble. Some like Ashley, who most probably would.
But he hadn’t had time for that with his brothers showing up today. Hell, he’d never intended to be bringing her by the clubhouse this soon. Things were moving really quickly between them, not that he was complaining.
****
Skylar stood, Shades arms wrapped around her from behind her and watched Butcher bring Bulldog’s widow up on stage, her two teenage daughters, as well. He approached the microphone that had been set up for the event.
“If I could get everyone’s attention.” He waited a moment for the crowd to quiet down. “I want to thank everyone for showing up today. I see a lot of club supporters and friends of the club in the crowd today. The Evil Dead want to give a warm welcome to everyone. We appreciate you coming out today. As you all know, today’s event was organized to help out a fallen brother’s family. Bulldog was with this club for over thirty years. What some of you outside of the MC may not know is that today is also Bulldog’s birthday. Before we talk about the money we raised, we got a tradition here on the birthday of fallen brothers. Everybody got a glass?”
The crowd replied with a roar of assurance that they did.
“Then raise ‘em up.” Butcher held his glass in the air and a hundred others went up as well. “Happy birthday, Bulldog. We miss you, Brother.” Then Butcher knocked his back and everyone in the crowd followed suit.
Butcher stepped to the microphone and cleared his throat. He took in the crowd and then he turned to look at Bulldog’s widow.
“Darlin’, we were hoping to come up with enough to cover all those medical bills and make the last two payments on your mortgage. We fell a little short on that…”
Suddenly, Shades was dipping his head to Skylar’s ear.
“Something I gotta do real quick, babe. Be right back.”
And then he kissed her cheek, and he was gone. She watched him make his way through the crowd to the stage. And with two bounds, he was up and on it.
“Hold up, Butcher. Got one more.” Then she watched him turn to Bulldog’s widow and smile softly at her. His hand went in and under his cut and came out with a long white envelope. He held it in his hands as he explained. “Had a kid bring his car in for repairs about four months ago. Needed a lot of work. Bill ended up bein’ about close to two grand. Long and short of it was, he couldn’t pay. I gave him time. Then I gave him more time. Kid never came back for it. So, a couple of weeks ago I sold it. Got five grand for it.” Then he held the envelope out to her. “There’s a cashier’s check in here for that amount. I want you and the girls to have it.”
Skylar watched as she broke down in tears, but shook her head.
“Shades, I can’t take that,” she whispered.
“Please, honey. Let me do this for you.”
Shades heard one of his brothers’ yell out, teasing, “God, is that what you sound like on a date, Shades.”
The crowd chuckled.
“Shut up, asshole,” Shades yelled into the crowd, not sure who had said it. He turned back to Bulldog’s widow and held the envelope out to her again. “Take it.”
“But, you’d be out all that money on the repairs.”
“Don’t worry about that, honey. It’s a done deal. That money’s yours. I want you and the girls to have it. That and in the future…any repairs your cars need, I’ll do ‘em for free. Oil changes, tune-ups, whatever. From now on, you bring ‘em to me. That’s all taken care of.”
She reached out and took the envelope with shaking hands. “Oh, Shades.”
“We take care of our own, darlin’.”
She broke down and Shades hugged her.
Then Butcher hugged him, pounding him on the back. Then Boot and Slick, who seemed especially choked up, each clutched him in a man-hug, pounding his back as well.
Butcher returned to the mike, but his eyes were on Shades. He grinned big and joked, “You’re one fish and a loaf from being a fuckin’ saint, Brother.”
The crowd roared with laughter.
Butcher turned to the crowd and yelled, “Guess that puts us over our goal!”
A huge cheer went up.
Then he turned his head toward Bulldog’s widow, his mouth still at the mike. “You’re family, darlin’. Always will be. Guess I can’t say it any better than Shades just did. We take care of our own.”
She nodded to him, tears in her eyes. Then he turned back to the crowd.
“Thanks to everyone who donated today. Not just members, but we got a lot of club supporters here today. Many of you participated in the poker run we had last week for Bulldog’s family. A lot of you donated today. You know who you are and I want to thank each and every one of you.”
He paused as a round of applause burst out.
“And to all the ol’ ladies and the women who helped put on this shin-dig.”
Another round of applause.
“So enough talkin’. Let’s get to celebrating. There’s tables of food laid out and the kegs are tapped. Thanks, everyone.”
With that another cheer went up, and the party began.
Skylar watched Shades get swamped by his brothers and other people who had shown up for the event. There must have been over a hundred people crowded into the compound.
She felt a presence at her side and looked over to see the girl that had passed out the shots. The pretty blonde th
ey’d called Ashley.
Ashley took a sip from her red plastic cup, observing the melee over the rim, and then her eyes came to Skylar and she smiled, but not a friendly smile, a fake smile.
Then she spoke.
“I know right now you think you’re with Shades, but I just wanted to set you straight on that. Shades and I are really close. And yeah, when a pretty girl walks by she’ll catch his eye. He may even give her like fifteen minutes. But then he comes back. To me. Because he and I have a connection. Now, whatever you think you have going on with Shades, it won’t last, and then it’ll be time for you to leave. If you don’t, you will be sorry.”
Then, before Skylar could even come up with a response, she was gone.
Skylar turned her head, watching her disappear through the crowd.
What the hell?
When Shades returned to her a few minutes later, she straight out asked him about it.
He stared at her for a moment, frowning, his expression saying what the fuck. But that’s not what came out of his mouth.
Instead he said, “Right. We need to talk. Come on.”
He took her hand and pulled her through the crowd, inside the clubhouse, past the bar, up a flight of stairs and into a room that faced the back of the property. It was an office of sorts, but it didn’t looked like it was ever used. There was a window that looked out over the back, and that’s where Skylar moved after she pulled free of Shades hold. Tossing her purse on the dusty desk, she folded her arms and stared out the window. Noise from the party below drifted up to them.
“Been meanin’ to have this conversation with you. Thought I’d have more time. Didn’t think we’d be back at the clubhouse this quick. With the boys showin’ up like they did today, I didn’t get a chance. Should have made time. Should have took the time.”
“Just say what you have to say,” she said impatiently.
“Skylar, there’ve been women since you left. Not gonna deny that. Some of ‘em are even here today. But none of ‘em have ever meant anything to me. We have some fun, and they go on their way. They know the deal, and they don’t expect more. Because I don’t let ‘em expect more. But those times are in the past. You’re mine now. And I’m not gonna fuck that up again. Told you that.”
“What does that mean?” she asked, still staring out the window at the crowd below.
“Means those women are a thing of the fuckin’ past. Means I won’t be with anyone but you from now on.”
“That’s not what Ashley just told me.”
“And what exactly did Ashley tell you?”
“She said you and her have a connection. She said you may stray, but you always come back to her. She said I wouldn’t last fifteen minutes.”
“Skylar.”
She remained at the window.
“Sky, look at me.”
When she wouldn’t look at him, he took her by the arm and pulled her around.
“First, Ashley’s half crazy. Serious, babe, she’s like delusional. You can believe about one-tenth of what comes outta her mouth. Second, I was with her once. Once. You hear me? And I’m not goin’ back for seconds. Ever.”
Skylar eyes searched his, wanting to believe him, but not sure she could trust him.
“Baby, we both have pasts. We’ve been apart ten years. I haven’t been a monk. Women come around the club, and, yeah, I partook in that, and all that that entails. But that’s done. I’m tellin’ you it’s done, and my word on that needs to be enough for you.
“And although I’m tryin’ hard not to think about it, I’m sure you’ve been with other men. We both need to set that aside if we’re gonna be together from now on. And, honey, I know with me, you’ll be setting aside a hell of a lot more than I will ever have to with you. I get that. And I know the gift you’re givin’ me, in setting that all aside. And the gift you’re giving me just in giving me another chance. But bottom line, you giving me another chance has got to mean setting all that shit aside comes with it.”
He took her head in his hands and pulled her close, staring down at her.
“Do you understand me?”
“You promise me there won’t be anyone else?” she asked softly.
“I promise you.” He searched her eyes. “That being said, doesn’t mean some bitch isn’t gonna come up somewhere and blindside you like Ashley just did. But you ignore it. You have questions, you come to me. If there are explanations I gotta make, I’ll make ‘em. But I will never be explainin’ that I just fucked someone else. ‘Cause that ain’t ever gonna happen.”
He stared down at her.
“You clear on that?”
She nodded and smiled. “Yes, baby.”
He pulled her to him and pressed a tender kiss to her mouth.
A knock sounded at the door. They both turned their heads as the door opened, and Ghost poked his head inside.
“DKs are at the gate.”
Skylar felt her stomach drop, and her hands tightened at Shades waist.
“What the fuck for?” Shades growled back at Ghost.
He shrugged. “You better get down here.” And then he ducked back out the door and was gone.
Shades looked back at Skylar, kissed her quickly on the mouth and ordered, “I gotta go deal with some stuff. Stay here. Don’t leave this room ‘till I get back. We got more shit to talk about. Hear me?”
She nodded, too dazed to say anything. Her mind reeling from the terror that was right now pulsing through her veins.
Shades moved through the door, closing it behind him, and then he was gone.
Skylar turned, as if in a trance, and made her way woodenly back to the window. With shaking hands, she jerked the curtains shut, afraid they might spot her. Then she peeked through the side.
She had a perfect vantage point from up here. She could see the yard, crowded with people. And there, at the big gate in the back of the six-foot wooden privacy fence that enclosed the property, sat four bikes.
DKs. The Devil Kings. They were here. Why in God’s name were they here? Had they found her? Had they tracked her down? Would the MC give her away? Would they turn her over to them?
Or was she overreacting? Were they here for some other reason? Were they here to join the party? Were the Evil Dead and the DKs friendly? Would they come inside?
If they came inside, if they saw her, then what? Her mind immediately went to an escape plan. She had to run. She had to get out of here.
But she couldn’t move.
She stood there like a statue and watched.
She saw a number of club members standing at the gate now, Butcher and some of the older members among them. Their broad shoulders and leather cuts forming an imposing line, an impressive show of strength and force.
She saw Shades and Ghost make their way through the crowd toward them. Shades pushed his way toward the front. There was an exchange between Butcher and one of the DKs. They talked for a few minutes
And then her mind started going to all those dark, suspicious places. What were they doing here? Why were they even in town? This wasn’t their territory. She knew that much. She was certain of it. It was one of the main reasons she’d come here.
She saw Shades and Ghost heading back toward the house.
Shades eyes flicked up toward the window momentarily. She wasn’t sure, with the curtain drawn if he could even see her. He continued walking toward the house. A man with a purpose. And he didn’t look too happy.
A moment later, the door opened and she turned.
Shades and Ghost strode in.
Shades looked furious as he slammed the door shut and stalked to her.
“You want to tell me why the fucking DKs are at the gate looking for you?”
She tried to play dumb, too afraid to admit the truth. “Me? Why would they be looking for me? That’s crazy.” She turned away, fiddling with the curtain.
Shades grabbed her arm and spun her around and bit out, “If I were you, I’d get serious real fast, Skylar.”
&
nbsp; ****
Shades studied Skylar’s reaction. She was hiding something. Apparently something huge if the Devil Kings MC were searching for her.
What the hell had she gotten herself into?
When he’d heard the words come out of that DK’s mouth as he talked to Butcher, when he heard the purpose of their visit today, he was stunned speechless. He’d froze in his boots.
Butcher, thank God, had played it cool, acting nonchalant, pretending he didn’t have a clue who this chick was that they were hunting. His brothers, like he knew they would, kept their mouths shut and followed Butcher’s lead. But Shades hadn’t missed the looks both Boot and Slick had given him or the subtle nod of Slick’s head that told him without words to get the fuck inside and talk to Skylar. Which is what he was doing now.
“You heard me,” he bit out. She looked panicked and Shades’ anxiety went through the roof. What the hell was she involved in? “You want to tell me where you’ve been the last ten years?”
“I’ve been in Atlanta, I told you that.”
“In Atlanta doing what?”
“Working in a law office.”
“Working in a law office?”
“Yes.”
“And how does that put you anywhere near the Devil Kings? How would you even cross paths?”
“Six months ago I…” She paused, swallowing.
“Six months ago you what?”
“I delivered papers to a client one day and ran into one.”
“And? What happened?” He watched her. Silence. Fidgeting. “Skylar, why do they want you?”
“They think I stole from them.”
Holy fuck. He took a deep breath and blew it out. “What exactly do they think you stole?”
“Money. Drugs.” She shrugged.
He gave her a look that said that answer wasn’t enough. “Goddamn, Skylar. Does everything have to be like pulling teeth with you? Just fucking tell me.”
“One of them…Rusty is his name…it was his money…and…”
“So this Rusty thinks you stole drugs and money from him?”
“I’m sure Rusty doesn’t think anything. He’s dead.”
“He’s dead?” Shades brows shot up, and his mouth went dry. The thought of where this story was headed scared the hell out of him.
SHADES: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Outlaw Series Book 3) Page 15