by Sam Crescent
“She’s going to need your help. I can pay you double to stay.”
“No.” She pushed his hand away. “I’m going, Tiny.”
He moved out of the way, not that she gave him a choice. Going to the door, she opened it without looking. Ned, her father, stood with his arms folded. He was as large as Tiny. He was older than Tiny, but he kept himself in good shape.
“Daddy,” she said, going into his arms.
“Baby girl, I was beginning to worry I’d forgotten our arrangements.” He embraced her, squeezing her close.
“I was getting the last of my bags. Sorry it took me so long to open the door.” She pulled away, smiling at him.
Even as she smiled, happy to see her father, a part of her was hurting at leaving Tiny behind.
“Let’s get these bags in the car, and then I really need a drink.”
“Did you come alone?” she asked, needing him to talk to avoid the obvious question.
“Yeah, Gavin is training my fighters. He’s looking forward to seeing you again.”
She tensed at the other man’s name. “Dad, I’m not going back to him. Any matchmaking you’ve got planned can stop today.”
“I’m not going to do anything, honey. Gavin’s a real asset to me.” Ned took the cases from her. Together they walked to the car. Tiny had disappeared into his office. She hoped he hadn’t seen her reaction to Gavin’s name.
At the car, she handed over her cases.
“What’s gone on between you and Tiny?” Ned asked.
“Nothing.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“You’ve fucked him, haven’t you?”
She must look like a strawberry. Her cheeks had to be on fire. Ned always got to the point with everything. She’d grown up around a lot of gruff language.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She made to walk away. He caught her wrist stopping her from escaping.
“If you want to stay I’ll be happy to spend a few hours with you and leave you here.”
She looked up at him seeing the sincerity in his eyes.
“I’m leaving. I’ve got to leave. Tiny hasn’t done anything wrong. This is entirely my decision. Please don’t start thinking he’s done something wrong. He hasn’t.”
“Who are you trying to convince?” Ned asked, folding his arms. She stared at the tattoos across his knuckles. The words “FUCK OFF” stared at her. He’d gotten them in prison many years ago.
“No one. I’m just convincing you so you won’t kick his ass.” She smiled at him, hoping he wouldn’t see past the lie.
“Honey, I’ll be kicking his ass for letting you go.”
Shaking her head, she watched him place each case in the trunk of the car. “You won’t.”
Ned slammed the trunk down. His gaze went to the house. Looking behind her, she wondered what he was looking at. The doorway was bare.
“Your man is looking at you through the window. He’s not going to beg you, Eva. If this is what you want, then you’re going to be disappointed.”
Letting out a sigh, she turned away from the house.
“I’m not, Dad. Leave it alone.” She tucked some hair behind her ear and started walking toward the house.
“Eva.” Ned called her name. Turning back to look at him, she waited for him to respond. “What are you running from?”
Staring at her father, the man who’d been the saint in her story but the devil in so many others, she wondered how he could be two different people. She’d never once asked about her mother or why he did what he did.
Eva knew why she was leaving, but she knew her father would make her face what she was running from. She was running from pain. Tiny was her one weakness, and she’d been brought up to never have a weakness and to face the person causing her pain.
“Your feelings for him are not going to change, not even if you put another state between you,” Ned said.
“Is that how you felt with my mother?” she asked. She saw him tense, but she didn’t care. Tiny was her weakness as he was the only man, besides her father, who could cause her pain.
Spinning on her heel she walked back into the house. Tiny was stood in the doorway of his office. “You’re really going?”
“Yes.”
He stared into her eyes. She saw the lust, the fire, and the burning passion smoldering within his depths.
What was she waiting for? Eva knew he wouldn’t beg her to stay with him.
“Sorry,” he said. Tiny hadn’t broken eye contact with her.
“What? Why?”
“I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you.” He stood hard, unyielding against the door. “The women were a distraction. I never meant to hurt you. It has been too long since I cared about anyone. Tate is my daughter and I loved her, but being with other women would never hurt her.”
“Where is all of this coming from?” she asked.
Tiny stepped forward, cupping her cheek. She felt the calluses on his palm as he caressed her flesh. “You’re leaving, and I need you to know.”
She pressed her hand on top of his. “The leader of The Skulls is apologizing to me?”
“You deserve it. All the shit I put you through, it’s the least I can do.”
Eva frowned at him. “You’ve been talking to Tate.”
His daughter was the only person to make Tiny see reason.
“She has a way about her that is hard to ignore.”
Kissing his palm, she stepped away. “I’m going to the club. I’ll see you there.”
Without looking back she grabbed her purse and walked out to the car where her father was waiting.
Her heart was pounding, and she hated the pain she was feeling at walking away. Her love for Tiny wouldn’t go away overnight, but she wasn’t ready for this, and neither was he.
“Let’s get this over with,” she said, climbing into the car.
Ned didn’t say anything as he started up the car. Staring at the wing mirror she saw Tiny walk out of the house. Staring straight ahead, she wouldn’t let herself give into the need to go back to him. He was her past, and she’d learned long ago it was easier to walk away than stay fighting a lost cause.
****
Snitch walked through town wearing the garb of a trucker. He’d killed the man who owned the milk truck outside of town at a motel. No one paid him any attention as he blended in. His hair fell around his face, covering up the tattoo on his neck. Keeping his hands hooked into the straps down his body, he stared left and right, taking everything in. For twenty years he’d been waiting for the right time to come back and claim what was his. When he’d been pushed out of his town, he’d lost everything. Snitch didn’t have a club or anyone he could trust. Everyone he knew had died that night. Over the years he’d planned and built up a club going from state to state to find the men who’d follow him without question. Building up a club was not fucking easy, especially, a club he that needed to have his back and be willing to take a bullet for him.
Looking around the town, he breathed in the fresh air knowing his twenty years of work were about to pay off. He’d never acted rashly. The years he’d waited were worth it as he felt victory so close at hand.
Tiny sure had turned the town into a profitable area.
His men were waiting for him over thirty miles out of town. Snitch had wanted to be the one to check out his old home. Each of his men had explored the town of Fort Wills without being detected, and it was his turn to check out his old home. The people were so cheery. None of them knew what he had planned for this little town. The law enforcement would go after The Skulls. He had a plan, and it was all down to timing. During his years he’d learned to become a patient man to go after what he wanted. The men had been with him for some time. They were much better than the crew that had died over twenty years ago.
“Murphy, we’ve got to go,” Tate said. “How can I have a baby shower without being there?”
He rounded the corner to see Tiny’s daughter stood with her hands on her hip
s. Next to her was a Skull. The leather cut of his jacket showcased who he belonged to. Slowing his pace, Snitch saw the Skull putting a wicker basket into the back of the truck.
“Hold your fucking horses, woman. You’ve turned the club into a fucking fairy land. I’m not having you bitch at me over missing something,” Murphy said, opening the basket to show his woman. Snitch didn’t see what it was. He didn’t need to. The glow coming from Tate was evidence of what he’d done.
“Oh, baby. Have I told you how much I love you?”
Tate threw herself at Murphy.
Pulling out his cell phone, Snitch looked down at the screen, heading straight for the couple. When he was close he made sure they’d have to see him. Some thrill at being seen went up Snitch’s spine. The little shit wouldn’t know him. None of Tiny’s club would know him. He’d heard about Mikey being killed, which was a fucking shame. Snitch would have liked to have killed the fucker himself for turning against him.
Dropping his cell phone under the man’s truck, Snitch put his hands up in the air. “I’m so sorry, man. I wasn’t looking where I was going. My woman was on the phone, complainin’. You know how it is?” It took every ounce of willpower not to laugh. Snitch saw Murphy glare at him, bending down to grab the cell phone.
“Get the fuck out and watch where you’re going next time.”
Yeah, he was going, and when he came back, the bastard and the women were going to be dead.
Chapter Six
Sipping at his beer Tiny watched Ned from the corner of his compound. Tate was soaking up the attention, and Eva was stood with his daughter. The two women were the best of friends. No one would even suspect that Eva helped to raise his daughter. He was sure if it wasn’t for Eva, his daughter would have been impossible to tame.
Whizz approached him. The smile on the other man’s face wouldn’t alert any of the club to the possible danger they could be in.
“Hi, boss,” Whizz said, taking a gulp of his drink.
“What do you have for me?” Tiny asked.
“Nothing.”
Frowning, he turned to the other man at his side. Whizz had once been a Lion, one of his enemies. When The Lions went down, Murphy brought three men to him who he felt would be a benefit to his own club. Whizz, Time, and Killer were brilliant, and Tiny knew the men were loyal.
“What do you mean you’ve got nothing?” Snitch was not the kind of man to not have a record.
“Exactly what I mean, which is fucking messed up. No one can get around without being noticed. This man you asked me to look into pretty much disappeared after you took over Fort Wills. All the dates you’ve given me actually add up.” Whizz took another long pull on his beer. “You know what it means?”
“Yeah, he’s off the grid, and there’s no way for us to know where he is.”
“He can’t be found unless he wants to be. If this man is a danger to us and Fort Wills then you’re going to need to alert the others. I can’t find him, and if I can’t find him, I can’t prepare us for it.” Whizz was looking around the club.
“This could be down to my own paranoia,” Tiny said. Over the last year he’d been hit left, right, and fucking center. Was it making him think of a dead man as an enemy? There was a reason for someone to go off the grid, and that’s because they’re fucking dead.
“I looked at this man’s file, Tiny. Fort Wills didn’t stop him as they were fucking terrified, but the guy has a record from before then.” Whizz turned away from the group. “He doesn’t give a fuck about anyone. He doesn’t have a code or care who he hits. Women, children, the innocent, he kills them all, and those who take his fancy, he tortures them.”
Tiny didn’t need to be reminded. The image of the girl’s pain flashed across his mind. He knew the kind of pain Snitch could inflict, and it wasn’t good.
“Good work,” Tiny said, slapping the man on the back. He was no closer to knowing if Snitch was alive.
“I’m sorry I can’t give you any good news.”
“Don’t worry about it. Enjoy the party.” Tiny felt it was going to be the last party for a long time.
Leaving his alcove he joined in with the celebration. Angel, Sophia, and Tate were all glowing with happiness. He watched each of them preen under the attention. Murphy, Lash, and Nash didn’t leave their sides. The pride in their expressions made Tiny chuckle.
“They remind me of you,” Alex said, coming forward.
“Oh yeah, how?” Tiny asked, smiling at his brother-in-law.
Alex had become a friend Tiny never expected to have.
“When Patricia told you she was pregnant with Tate, you practically glowed. It was hard not to knock you the fuck out for knocking my sister up.”
Tiny laughed, remembering the joy at the good news. Staring at his daughter, Tiny was proud of her. She was a fighter, and he knew she wouldn’t take any shit from Murphy. Any of the sweet-butts who tried it on with her man got to feel Tate’s wrath. She’d gotten his temper, which he didn’t mind. He knew Murphy wouldn’t get the chance to hurt her.
Eva’s laughter caught her attention. Her head was thrown back, and the happiness in her eyes caught at his heart.
She’s leaving.
“I heard about Eva,” Alex said.
“What about her?”
“She’s going back to Vegas with her father.”
Tiny didn’t say anything. There was no need seeing as there was nothing he could do to keep her home. Tate had phoned him earlier giving him a stern talking to. Nothing he said or did would ever bring Eva to him. She was untouchable. There was no point in him asking.
For many years he thought she was this sweet, innocent woman who couldn’t handle the lifestyle. In many ways she reminded him a little of Patricia. Then, she’d turned the tables on him. She was probably more prepared for this lifestyle than his daughter. Tate had grown up with him being the head of The Skulls, and Eva had grown up with her father being the head of an underground fighting ring. The only difference between the two was he’d kept Tate as far from the club as he could whereas Ned welcomed his daughter with open arms.
Eva was a tough woman who was used to making hard decisions.
“You’re not going to say anything to make her stay?” Alex asked.
“I’m not going to beg a woman, Alex. She’s going, and it’s for the best. This is not the place for her.”
They were silent as both of them stared at the women in question.
“You’re probably right. I doubt she’ll be back. I heard Gavin is anxious to have her back,” Alex said.
Before Alex had moved back to Fort Wills, the other man had lived in Vegas. Tiny knew Alex and Ned were friends, or at the very least business associates.
“Who’s Gavin?”
Alex smirked, and Tiny just wanted to knock the smile off his face.
“Gavin is Eva’s ex and also one of Ned’s fighters.”
Before he could ask any more questions, Alex moved away, finally leaving him alone. He wasn’t an idiot. Alex had told him the truth about Eva on purpose. She hadn’t been a virgin, but Tiny couldn’t stop the feeling of jealousy consuming him.
Next Ned walked toward him. Staying still, Tiny waited for the other man to start a conversation. He understood any anger Ned felt as he knew the feeling when it came to Tate.
“You’re going to let my daughter go?” Ned asked.
Tiny stared at Eva. She was so beautiful inside and out. He’d lost so much time where he could have called her his own.
“Yes.”
He’d lost time and caused her heartache and pain.
“Eva won’t be back. She won’t be waiting for you. I’ll make sure she has no choice but to move on,” Ned said.
“Are you threatening me?” Tiny asked.
“No. I’m not going to kill you. What I’m going to do is make sure my daughter is not standing around waiting for you. She deserves better than what you can give her.”
“You’re not going to kick my ass?”
Tiny was surprised. He figured the other man would want to hurt him and make sure he couldn’t father any more children.
“I’m on your turf, Tiny. I’m not some young person who doesn’t know how to respect their boundaries. Come to Vegas and we’ll see what happens.”
Tiny respected the man more.
“My daughter is in love with you,” Ned said. “I’ve seen her love before but never like this.”
“I hurt her. She deserves so much more than me.”
“And yet you’ve not taken your eyes off her.” Ned nodded toward everyone else. “They all respect her and treat her like your old lady.”
“Anyone who hurts or disrespects her answers to me.”
“I heard a rumor that not long ago one of your men almost killed her by being fucking high. It was an accident or so I heard,” Ned said.
Glancing at Nash, Tiny grit his teeth together. Nash had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The intoxicating substances didn’t excuse his behavior, but Nash had worked like hell to get back on the straight and narrow.
“What about it?” Tiny asked.
“You beat the kid to a bloody pulp. Eva didn’t even have a scratch on her, and you fought for her.”
“What are you trying to say?” Tiny faced him.
“If you’re going to hurt my daughter you would have done it. When was the last time you took another woman since your last time in Vegas?”
Tiny didn’t answer him. He glared, waiting for him to make a point. Since their time in Vegas, Tiny hadn’t been able to touch another woman. Stepping over the line with Eva had sealed his fate. No other woman would do for him. Even though Vegas hadn’t been that long ago, Tiny felt a difference in himself.
“I see you’re going to be a hard ass. Your loss. Evangeline is a tough woman. I made sure she could handle herself.”
He noticed Ned said her whole name. Tiny loved her name. It was beautiful like the woman.
“We’ll be out of your way within the hour.”
Ned moved away without a word. Tiny watched him go seeing the arrogance and confidence in his movement.
There was nothing he could do to stop her. Leaving the party behind, he went to his office. He didn’t shut the door as he didn’t want any of his men to be getting the wrong idea.