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  “You’re supposed to keep me here? Is that it?” she asked. “Keep me distracted? This wasn’t a family visit?”

  Daisy shook her head. “No, it was.”

  “But what?”

  “Nothing,” Miles said. “Damn. We came here because you’re our friend and my sister. The Monster Dogs, they want to talk to Simon. Lash has been approached. Tiny as well. They came by the clubhouse a couple of weeks ago making demands. Lash had a sit down with them, and then we came here. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it could be arranging a meetup.”

  Tabitha shook her head. “No, fuck no.” She stepped away from her friends and grabbed her jacket.

  “Where are you going?”

  “You two are staying here. Keep an eye on my son. I’ll be back real fucking soon. I’ve got to go and talk to some assholes about what will and won’t happen.”

  She slammed out of the apartment, anger rushing through her veins.

  ****

  Simon stared at Anthony.

  “You’re looking buff,” Simon said.

  “I could say the same thing about you.”

  “Yeah, being out on the road will do that for you.” He glanced across the room. His father’s door was closed. He couldn’t hear shouting. “You think they’re killing each other?”

  “No, it wouldn’t be contained to one room,” Anthony said.

  “You talk a lot more now than you ever did before.” He shrugged. “Just saying, you know. You’re, er, you talk. Words come out of your mouth.”

  “I could always speak, asshole. I chose not to. There is a difference.”

  “Of course, there is.” Simon chuckled. “You chose not to. You were silent on purpose.”

  “You know I was and you’re trying to hide the fact you’re nervous.”

  This time, Simon did burst out laughing, drawing attention from a couple of the guys.

  Dean was manning the bar, and it wasn’t lost on Simon that Devil had organized it so all of his boys were here. Pa, Felix, Knight, Twig, and Teddy.

  Dick was also in residence.

  The moment Teddy and Dick first met, it had been a little intense.

  “You think it’s funny?” Dick asked, getting into Teddy’s face.

  Teddy, for his size and just the sheer force of him, smiled. He was bigger than Dick. He towered over the other man. Dick didn’t back down.

  “Do I think what is funny?”

  “Calling yourself Teddy?”

  “It’s my name.”

  “Yeah, and mine is fucking Teddy Bear, what you got to say about that?”

  Everyone had burst out laughing, Dick included. They’d shook hands and afterward, Dick had gone to meditate.

  “I’m not nervous, Anthony. I want to know what brings you boys here, that’s all.”

  “I guess if you’d stuck around, you’d have been a fully patched-in member.”

  “Yeah, but why do I get the sense that this trip is about me?” Simon asked.

  Anthony shrugged.

  Devil’s door opened. “Simon.”

  The doors closed.

  “I guess we’re about to find out.” He walked toward the door and slid inside. Lash and Tiny were there in the office.

  He acknowledged both men before turning toward his prez. Right now, Devil wasn’t his dad.

  “The Monster Dogs want to meet with you,” Devil said.

  “They do?”

  “Lash and Tiny here are negotiating the terms.” Devil took a seat.

  To anyone who didn’t know Devil, they would assume he was calm, okay, and everything was fine with him. They didn’t know him like he did. Underneath the surface, Devil was fucking fuming.

  He controlled it.

  Sitting back in his chair, he watched Lash and Tiny. The current prez and the former prez. His gaze on them more like a hawk ready to strike.

  “I know you think this is a meeting to hand him off,” Lash said.

  “Oh, I think this is a lot more than that. I think this is a fucking trap. The last five years have been all about peace and being friends. They scratch your back, and you do the same.”

  “It’s not like that,” Lash said.

  “No?” Devil laughed. “Then tell me how this little arrangement has benefitted me? My son can’t go to Fort Wills, and his woman is one of yours. You tell me how that’s going to fucking go.” Devil slammed his hand on the desk. “Tell me.”

  “I wasn’t going to start a war,” Lash said. “I know this is painful for you.”

  Devil laughed. “This shit isn’t painful to me, Lash. I followed your lead because you are a damn good one. You know what you’re doing, but somewhere along the way, the Monster Dogs have come out as the injured party. They fuck you left and right. They make demands, you turn them down, they scream like a child. Make threats. You’re here, asking my son to go and have a sit down with them. That shit isn’t happening.”

  “And if this had been anyone else?” Lash asked. “What he did could have started a war with the clubs. We’ve been there. We know how all this goes down.”

  Devil threw the contents of his desk onto the floor. “What they started. We didn’t throw the first punch. As I seem to recall, your daughter.” He looked toward Tiny. “She was the victim. They threw the first punch, and your son.” His gaze turned to Lash. “Found her in that state. They fucked up. Not us. We didn’t cause this. They did!” He yelled each word. “Or did you forget about that? We have been treating this wrong for too long.”

  “He killed Ryan,” Lash said.

  “And what, you’re saying Tabitha’s rape was less than that? What should we have done, slap him around a bit? Cut him? What Simon did is what all of us would do! Don’t forget who we fucking are deep down in our core.”

  “I haven’t forgotten who we are,” Lash said. “I know the price that had to be paid, but he was the one to do it in fucking public in my town. We could have handled this differently.”

  “Stop acting like a pussy.”

  “They’re on my doorstep,” Lash said. “They are the ones who want to negotiate a truce.”

  “No,” Tabby said.

  Simon turned to see his woman, panting. She stood in the doorway and stepped into the room.

  Tiny got to his feet but she held her hand out. “No more,” she said.

  “Tabitha, you need to wait outside.”

  “No!” She slammed her foot to the ground. “I’m not going to be told to go outside. To go and wait, to be a good little girl. I’m done with that.” She looked toward Simon. “You are not going!”

  “This isn’t your decision,” Devil said.

  “This is my decision. I have stood by and watched you all try to keep the peace. For fuck’s sake, you’ve been together for twenty-plus years. You’ve all had your ups and downs, but this isn’t going to fall apart because of those assholes,” Tabby said.

  Simon couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  She dropped her hands by her sides, closing her eyes. “I get that you want to keep the peace, but they have taken too much.” She tapped her foot. “They’re not going to take any more. They don’t deserve it. An eye for an eye. That’s what happened.”

  “I do believe they want to settle this.”

  “No,” she said. “If they want to settle this they talk to me.”

  “Tabby,” Simon said. “This isn’t your place.”

  “One of their sons raped me. He waited until I was alone, defenseless. I fought. I tried, and he didn’t stop. I begged him to stop. He didn’t listen. If they want a sit down with anyone, it will be with me. I will negotiate any future deals. They have no power and it’s about time we took back what we’ve been giving them.”

  She took Simon’s hand. “He’s my man. I only just got him back. I’m not losing him. This stinks of a trap, bringing Simon back. Not happening. If you go, I go with you. Tonight. I want to deal with this now. I’m not waiting around anymore. I’m done.”

  “No,” Simon said. He p
ulled her close. “You’re not doing this.”

  “I am, because you’re not going to pay that price.”

  “I’d have to arrange a time and place,” Lash said.

  “No,” she said. “Tonight. Now. Miles and Daisy are with Nathan. I want to go tonight.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The drive from Piston County was a long one.

  Tabitha hadn’t taken no for an answer.

  Rather than ride with her dad or Lash, Devil had opted to come with her. Neither of them had spoken on the journey. She didn’t have a whole lot to say.

  Words weren’t necessary.

  She’d tried to sleep, but that was a long way off. There was no way she could sleep right now. She was too wired. Too prepared.

  Her hands shook a little.

  Devil made a stop to fill up with gas and buy her a few snacks. Even as her stomach revolted at the prospect of food, she shoved it into her mouth. She didn’t taste it.

  Time ticked on by.

  Her cell phone blowing up.

  She’d asked Simon to stay with Nathan. He’d need someone while she was away.

  “Are you okay?” Devil asked, clearing his throat.

  “Yes.”

  “Your hands are shaking.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re not fine.”

  She put her hands flat to her knees, trying to hide the shake. “I’ll be fine. I will. I promise.”

  “You don’t have to do this. I know you were angry and it makes us do and say stupid stuff.”

  She chuckled. “I meant what I said. I’ve tried to avoid this. I’ve tried to be strong and to move on with my life. They can’t take Simon, not now.”

  “Does that mean you and him are going to stay together?”

  She glanced over at Devil, but his focus was on the road. “Are you trying to get us together?”

  “You and Simon have always been a pain in my ass. It was never going to be easy. I knew that. You and him, our clubs may work with each other from time to time, but other than that, our relationship can be tested.”

  “If you’re not careful, one day it is going to break,” Tabitha said. “I’m aware of how fragile any clubs’ true friendship is. One wrong move, Simon is dead.” She had to stop because the very thought was more than she could bear. “All friendships end. Even in high school I hated the Monster Dogs. Luke was okay but again, he was the enemy. They are the enemy and somewhere along the way, it’s been fucked with. I’m not going to allow that to happen. I don’t want it to happen.” She breathed out a sigh.

  “Thank you,” Devil said.

  “What for?”

  “For not wanting my son dead more than you want him alive.”

  She chuckled. “I don’t know where that leaves us. I … I love him. I don’t doubt that. The kind of love we have or had, it doesn’t go easily.”

  “It’s not past tense. I see the way you two are with one another. I thought it was a crush that would die slowly. I was so wrong. What you and Simon have, it’s fierce. It’s love and it’s loyalty. It’s rare, but you and my son were lucky to have found each other when you were young. You haven’t had to go through several relationships, jumping from partner to partner.”

  “Is Lexie your woman?”

  “I’d do anything for her.”

  “Is that why you’re not angry at Simon over what he did?”

  “I’m angry at him for not doing it properly.” Devil winced. “I bet not many fathers-in-law would say that.”

  “No, I don’t imagine there are.”

  “He should have taken Ryan, but covered his tracks. It doesn’t matter now. We can’t go back in time and change anything. He did what he did, and we’ve all had to deal with the consequences.” Devil patted her knee. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” he asked. They were on the street toward the Monster Dogs’ clubhouse.

  The sun was coming up. “What would you do if I said I couldn’t do this?”

  “I’d turn this car around and we could leave. I’m not going to force you to do something you don’t want to do.”

  Tabitha stared at the building. Flashes of the past merged with the present, but she couldn’t contain the panic, the fear. It was all a little too much.

  You walk away now, you will regret this.

  I’m scared.

  You have no reason to be scared.

  Devil will be with you. Your family. You’re the one in control. You hold all the power. No one else.

  This is your fight.

  “What’s it going to be, Tabitha?” Devil asked.

  She licked her lips, watching. “Stop. We’re going to do this.”

  Devil pulled the car up behind Lash and Tiny.

  She took a deep breath.

  “I’m not going to leave your side,” he said.

  “Good. I don’t want you to leave.”

  She climbed out of the car, squared her shoulders, and took a step toward the closed door.

  Devil caught her shoulders. “They’ve got cameras. We don’t want them to see we don’t have Simon.”

  She stayed perfectly still.

  Lash did the talking. “You wanted to talk, now is the time.”

  Tiny looked toward her and she offered a smile to her father. He didn’t like this, she got it. To him, she would always be his little girl.

  The door opened. Lash and Tiny headed on inside. Devil blocked her from view as they made their way into the Monster Dogs’ clubhouse.

  She hadn’t been inside their clubhouse. This was going to be the first and only time she did this.

  “You want to leave?” Devil asked.

  “No. I’m ready.”

  The doors opened up and out came Luke. He looked at them and the smile disappeared the moment he caught sight of her.

  Lash wrapped his fingers around the kid’s throat. “Take us to your dad.” He spun him around.

  It had been a long time since she’d seen Lash unleash the monster, and seeing it now, she knew they were in real danger.

  What the hell am I doing?

  Why am I doing this?

  This isn’t who I am anymore.

  I can’t do this.

  You can.

  You were born a Skull. You can do this. These men mean nothing. You have the power.

  Stepping into the Monster Dogs’ clubhouse, she saw the women who were still partying, gyrating up and down the pole. Men and women were fucking in a corner.

  They were what The Skulls had been so many years ago. She heard the tales. The stories were all farfetched but watching this club, she had to wonder if they were all in fact true.

  As they arrived at Luke’s father’s office, they saw the older man had a woman sucking him off. He sat on the sofa while she bobbed her head between his thighs. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted to see.

  Lash pulled Luke close to him and she saw he was having trouble breathing.

  Tiny and Devil pulled out guns, pointing them directly at Luke’s dad.

  “What the fuck is this?” he asked.

  “You wanted a meeting set up. This is the meeting.”

  Commotion at the door had her turning. She saw Ryan’s dad. She only knew him because she recognized his face from the last time.

  He glanced at her, taking in the scene.

  “You call your boys and I will shoot your prez in the face, and then I will take out your entire club,” Lash said.

  “You don’t have enough bullets.”

  “I’m the kind of person who can snap a man’s neck with my bare hands,” Lash said. “I also alerted my club to the fact I was coming here and I may start a war. It depends how this meeting goes.”

  Tabitha was a little confused. Only hours ago, Lash had seemed like a messenger with the Monster Dogs having the real power.

  He was back in charge. A true leader.

  “This isn’t what we negotiated.”

  Lash chuckled. “I know, but you see, I’ve also been made aware of a few t
hings that I’ve seemed to have forgotten. My bad, really. You no longer call the shots. Not anymore. I don’t dance around to your tune. I’m Lash of the motherfucking Skulls. We don’t negotiate with rapists.”

  Lash loosened his grip on Luke’s neck. “How are you holding up there, buddy? You want to breathe? You will get the chance to fuck girls again. It’s all up to your daddy and Tabitha. You remember her, right?”

  Rather than hide behind Devil, she stepped away from him, holding her head up high.

  I can do this.

  I’m not the one in the wrong here.

  “You see, I think we’ve all forgotten what actually brought us here and it’s not Ryan. No, Ryan’s death was a consequence,” Lash said.

  “My boy died.”

  She jumped as a gun went off.

  Tiny had shot Ryan’s dad in the foot. “The next one will go in the leg. My daughter was raped by your boy. As far as I’m concerned, your boy got off lightly. I’d have gladly severed his dick from his body and made him suffer for months to come.”

  Luke’s dad shoved off the girl and Tabitha she stepped forward, showing him she was strong.

  “This stops today,” she said.

  “You’re in no position to negotiate.”

  “I am.” She looked him in the eye. “I have two clubs at my back. You have one. You can start a war over Simon, go ahead, but you’re not getting to him. We will pick you off one by one. You’re not the injured party and remember, there’s always a slim chance of who Nathan’s father is.” She tilted her head to the side. “You’re getting old. One day soon, your spot is going to be replaced.” She glanced over at Luke. Lash let him go and he gathered his breath. “Your vendetta with Simon ends today. He’s safe to come and go on Fort Wills land and to go back home.”

  “You have no power here.”

  She smiled. “I can tell Lash to snap your boy’s neck,” she said. “There’s a lonely spot where Ryan is buried. I’m sure both friends will be happy to play around in hell. One by one, I will make sure we pick you guys off so that all that remains is a club getting constantly older. Smaller, until finally, all you are is a bitter, sad memory.”

  “You won’t do that,” he said. “The Skulls and Chaos Bleeds are kept on a tight leash.” Another gunshot, and he cried out.

  She glanced behind her to see Devil had shot Luke’s father in the thigh.