Whizz Read online

  She dropped the gun and walked outside. The mother of The Skulls had spoken, and now they all had to be on their best behavior.

  “You better hope that Angel can live up to that. Otherwise, everyone is going to walk all over her,” Nash said.

  Whizz was thinking the exact same thing. Angel really needed to pick up her game if she was going to support the club and Lash. He wondered if she could handle it.

  “I’m going to go and talk with Eva,” Lacey said, climbing out from the chair. He gripped her hand and pulled her close.

  “Don’t go too far. I’ll take you to see Butch when you’re ready.” He dropped a kiss to her lips, wanting to do a hell of a lot more to her than that.

  Her cheeks were a lovely shade of red by the time he was finished.

  Whizz watched her disappear outside and turned back to look at Lash and Nash.

  “What?” he asked. The two brothers were staring at him as if he’d grown a third head or something.

  “You look happy.”

  “Lacey makes me happy. She completes me.” He smiled thinking about the last day they’d just spent together at the beach away from the club and the mess it entailed. “I asked her to marry me,” Whizz said, smiling.

  “I’d say she agreed to marry you?” Lash asked.

  Tiny moved up toward the bar with Ned in tow.

  “Yeah, she agreed to marry me.”

  “You’re going to marry the Savage Brothers’ woman?” Tiny asked.

  “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “You kept her locked in your room for a long enough time.” Tiny grabbed a cloth, pouring ice into the center and wrapping it around. He handed the cloth to Ned.

  “You kept a woman locked in your room and she still agreed to marry you? Girl’s got guts.”

  “She’s not a girl,” Whizz said, annoyed with them invading his good news.

  “Your girl’s younger than me. Believe me, son, you get to an age where all women are girls,” Ned said.

  “I like Lacey,” Sophia said, coming to wrap her arms around Nash’s neck. Rachel was sat on her dad’s lap, getting a cuddle. They looked like one happy family.

  “You’ve barely spent any time with her,” Nash said.

  “I don’t have to. She’s a lovely woman. I can see it. She’s just never had the chance to flourish before. I thought you’d understand what she’s going through,” Sophia said, glaring at Nash. “You almost lost your space within the club. It can’t be easy going through life losing people around you. She’s lost a lot.”

  The men were silent as they took in what Sophia had to say. She wasn’t talking shit, and Whizz liked that about her.

  “I’ve been on this earth a long time—”

  “Don’t I fucking know it,” Tiny said.

  Ned glared at him. “I’ve been on this earth a long fucking time, and there are women you fuck and forget. They’re a dime a dozen. They come and go. There’s nothing wrong with them. They’re just not the kind of women you keep. Then there are women you don’t just fuck, you take care of them. They come into our lives sparingly. You’ll be surprised by the impact they have. They’re the Evas, the Angels, the Sophias of this world. Your Lacey, she’s a keeper. You took out her club, but she’s still by your side. I saw the way she looked at you before she walked out of the room. She’s in love with you, and if she’s agreed to marry you, then you take her and you keep her because a girl like that doesn’t come around often. You’ve got demons in your eyes, boy. Lacey, she’ll take those demons away for you. She’ll give you purpose where you don’t think any is.” Ned lifted his glass. “Take my advice and marry her.”

  They were silent as Ned swallowed down his drink.

  “Why can’t you ever talk like that?” Sophia asked.

  Nash glared at Ned while the older man just laughed. “I tell you, these lips have made many a woman moist.”

  Whizz started laughing. He couldn’t help it. This was what the club meant to him, what he needed in his life. He could give Lacey this without a problem.

  ****

  Lacey walked out of the clubhouse moving past the three fighters who were talking to each other. She moved across the compound toward Eva who was talking with Tate.

  “You fired the gun?” Tate asked.

  “I had no choice. They were behaving like assholes. I couldn’t believe they were fighting. I swear they don’t realize they’re men not children.” Eva shook her head.

  “Hey,” Lacey said, speaking up.

  “Hey, Lacey, you’re finally venturing out without your twin?” Tate asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Your twin. Whizz has been attached to your side like a fucking twin. I was starting to wonder what you looked like standing on your own.”

  “Don’t mind Tate. She’s pregnant and has a problem with everything.”

  “I don’t have a problem. People piss me off, especially stupid men. Dad was being an ass,” Tate said.

  “Dad’s an ass,” Tabitha said, crawling onto the swing beside Tate.

  “What have I told you about calling him that?” Eva asked, folding her arms.

  “Tate said.”

  Eva shook her head. “You’re a bad influence.”

  “You allow her to stay at the club. You’re the bad influence.”

  Simon and Miles were playing in the sand pit. It was still warm, but Lacey felt the chill in the air. It wouldn’t be long until fall was upon them, then winter.

  “Take a seat,” Tate said, offering the swing on the other side of her. “I don’t know if I want to take the seat. Does it come with a condition of death?”

  “Of course it doesn’t. I just want to know everything you and Whizz have been up to. Everyone keeps a wide berth of me just lately.”

  “Because you’re a bitch,” Eva said, glaring at Tate.

  Tate blew a raspberry.

  “Whizz asked me to marry him.”

  Both women turned to look at her.

  “He did?”

  “Yeah, he wants to get married.” The more she thought about it the more she liked the idea of being his woman.

  “Congratulations. Are you sure it’s what you want?” Eva asked. “This doesn’t have anything to do with you or your past. You take on a Skull, you take on the club and its women. You become part of the family. No one will accept you trying to pull Whizz away or to give him ultimatums.”

  “You’re warning me?”

  “No, we’re advising you,” Tate said. “Eva’s right. This is not a case of the club being for the men. In recent years we’ve had no choice but to become involved. Their enemies will not keep us out of the mess. It means you’ll be at risk of being hurt, shot, stabbed, beaten, killed. You name it, you’ll experience it.”

  “Angel was shot a year ago, three times. She stood in front of the gun so that Zero wasn’t killed,” Eva said.

  “I’ve been beaten, put in a coma, and almost died for the club. I love Murphy, but I would trade in the occasional pain I seem to suffer because of the club.”

  “It seems strange you’re warning me against the club.”

  “It’s not about the club, Lacey. This is the life. You’ve got to accept the life or not.” The final words came from Eva.

  Sitting on the seat of the swing, Lacey didn’t have to think about her answer. “I love Whizz. The club is part of him, and he’s part of the club. I won’t take him away. I won’t even make him choose. I love him and if being part of the club and being put at risk is what I have to do, then I’ll do it. I’ll do it for him.” She smiled as she said the words.

  “There we go,” Eva said, hugging her close. “We’re going to need to get everything ready for a wedding. There’s so much to do and so much to look forward to.”

  Before Lacey could stop them, Eva and Tate rounded up the kids and started toward the clubhouse. Lacey followed them, wondering what she’d just set in motion.

  Eva entered the clubhouse and started herding the kids toward the back.

>   “Where are you going?” Tiny asked.

  “I’ve got a wedding to organize. Whizz and Lacey want a wedding, we’re going to give them one.”

  Whizz moved away from the bar toward her. “You’ve been talking?”

  “No, I’ve been asking their advice.”

  He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.

  “I love you,” he said.

  Each time he said those amazing three words, she felt like she was going to melt to the spot. Whizz held the power to do that to her.

  “Can we go and see Butch?” she asked, wanting to apologize to the man she’d almost ruined.

  “Sure.”

  She didn’t listen as Whizz turned to talk to the other men.

  “Hold on, I’ll come with you,” Lash and Nash both said.

  “I’ll come.” That came from Sophia.

  Angel walked through the door with Gash behind her.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “We’re going to see Butch in the hospital. You want to come?” Lash asked, holding her close.

  “What about Anthony?”

  “Eva’s got him. She’s arranging a wedding. Whizz’s wedding to Lacey,” Lash said.

  The kind woman turned to smile at Lacey. “I’m so pleased for you. I’ll come and see Butch.”

  They were all out in the parking lot, climbing onto the back of the men’s bikes. This was what Lacey loved, feeling part of it all with the rest of the women.

  She put the helmet on, and she noticed all the men gave their women a helmet. The men didn’t ride with one, but the women didn’t have a choice.

  Wrapping her arms around Whizz’s waist, she closed her eyes enjoying the feel of being on the back of his bike.

  The time passed slowly, and only when she brought his bike to a stop did she open her eyes. It was still light outside. It wasn’t past four yet. She followed Whizz into the hospital aware of the women looking at The Skulls.

  Lacey stood beside Whizz as Sophia and Angel took their places beside their men.

  “I hate it when that happens,” Sophia said.

  “When what happens?” Nash asked.

  Sophia slapped her man’s arm. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, mister. God, what do women see in you? I don’t have a clue what they see in you.”

  Nash started to laugh. “I’m a right catch.”

  “No, you can be a right asshole, that’s true.”

  Lash and Angel were laughing.

  Whizz smiled down at her, and she had no choice but to smile back up at him. “You ever cheat on me, Whizz, I’ll cut your balls off and feed them to you.”

  Everyone in the cart laughed.

  “Baby, there’s no one else I want more than you.” He kissed her head, grabbing her hand as they the elevator stopped. They walked down a long corridor until they came to a stop. Inside the room she saw Butch laid on the bed. Michael was lying beside him while Butch read him a story. Cheryl was sat on the other side, laughing. The three made for a striking family.

  Whizz cleared his throat, catching their attention. Cheryl stood, grabbing her jacket from the back of the chair.

  “Hey, brother,” Whizz said. “I’ve brought you some visitors.”

  “I’m sorry, but he can only have limited visitors,” the nurse said, blushing as they turned toward her.

  “Felicity,” Nash said. “The club’s opening back up soon. You’ll be able to come and have a few drinks. We’ve got a couple of new prospects for you to try out.”

  Her face went beet red. “I’ll let it slide this once.”

  The nurse walked away looking mightily embarrassed.

  “Why did you do that?” Sophia asked, hitting him in the side. “You know she hasn’t been with anyone at the club. She came with a friend.”

  “I don’t care. It got us what we wanted.”

  “There was no need to be cruel about it,” Angel said. “I felt sorry for her.”

  “You feel sorry for everyone, babe,” Lash said.

  “Felicity has been good to me,” Butch said, drawing their attention back to the bed. Lacey stared at him. She couldn’t look away from the bandage across his throat. Her club had done that to him.

  “Good, I’ll put in a good word at the club.”

  “She’s not interested in the club. I believe she’s a friend of Sandy’s,” Butch said.

  “How have you been?” Lash asked, getting all serious.

  “I’ve been fine. I’ve had this guy to keep me company.” Butch ruffled Michael’s head.

  Michael smiled. Yearning hit Lacey square in the gut, combined with guilt. Butch had almost died because of her club.

  She stayed back as the others talked with Butch. Lacey noticed Cheryl held onto her jacket like a lifeline.

  “We’re going to be taking a vote,” Whizz said.

  “A vote?”

  “Yeah, on you coming back to the club.”

  “You better let me know how that works out.” Butch smiled.

  “I don’t suppose I could talk with Butch alone, could I?” Lacey asked, looking at all of them.

  “I don’t want you to,” Cheryl said, looking startled by the thought of Lacey being alone with Butch.

  “I won’t hurt you. I promise. I only want to talk with you.”

  “Come on, Cheryl. I think Michael could use some chocolate milk and a cookie.” Whizz took control, leading everyone out of the room. Lacey was thankful none of them put up much of a fight for her to sit with Butch. Cheryl was the last to leave, kissing Butch’s head.

  “She’s worried about me,” Butch said, turning toward her.

  “For good reason, Butch. You put yourself in a lot of danger.” She stared at the bandage at his neck.

  “I’ll survive.”

  “I’m not talking about the shooting. You put yourself at risk by helping us. I needed you to know that I tried to get Danny and Dalton not to go that day.”

  “There’s nothing you could have done to stop what happened. I shouldn’t have felt some fucking obligation to helping the club. It was a stupid and idiot thing to do.” Butch sat up in bed. “Is that why you came to talk to me today? To relieve your guilt?”

  She shook her head. “I’m going to be marrying Whizz. I’m in love with him. I wanted to see you because I owed you that.”

  “You don’t owe me, Lacey. I didn’t owe you or the Savage Brothers anything. I thought I did, and now I’m paying the price for it.”

  “Whizz is working on you getting back with the club.” She took the seat where Cheryl had been sitting beside the bed.

  “It’ll never be the same,” he said.

  “But you won’t be out.”

  “Why are you doing this?” he asked.

  “Why am I doing what? Being nice?”

  “Yeah. We’re not the same, Lacey. We never have been. I don’t know why I fucked up like I did, but we’re not friends.”

  She licked her dry lips. “I know we’re not friends, far from it in fact. I get that you hate me. I even know why you do, but we’re not completely different. You’re all I have from the past. I know you hate me, and I accept that. I hope in time I can prove to you I didn’t mean anything by what happened. I hope we can be friends.”

  Lacey sat back, playing with her fingers in front of her.

  Silence descended on them. She wouldn’t break it. This was up to Butch to make the final decision on how their friendship would go.

  “I’m sorry about Dalton.”

  She smiled. “Don’t be. You didn’t know him, not really.”

  “Danny fucking shot me, the bastard.”

  “Yep, he was an asshole all of his life, and he proved it in death.”

  This was a start. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

  ****

  Whizz held back to talk with Cheryl. “You bought a gun to the hospital?”

  “I didn’t know who was going to come after him or what I was going to have to do in order to p
rotect him.” Cheryl turned to look at him. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family. Michael and Butch, they’re my family. If The Skulls accept Butch back, I’ll extend that.”

  “Did you go and see Alex?”

  “I went and saw him, and I spoke to him.

  “And?”

  “I had to threaten to take Michael away before he’d listen.”

  “He listened. Alex stood up for Butch. We’re going to take a vote on letting Butch back in. I don’t know how it’ll go down, but I think it could go in our favor.”

  She nodded. “I really want to thank you for helping us. I mean that. Without you I doubt anyone would have come to see him.”

  Whizz nodded, climbing on the elevator that Lash and the others had held. After they got a cup of coffee, they all went back upstairs to have some fun with Butch. It was nice finally getting back into the swing of the club.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Days passed, and those days turned into weeks. Whizz started looking for houses while Lacey started to become part of the club. The women accepted her into the fold, and after a few days, the men were used to having her around. Ned Walker, after a tense visit, finally went back to Vegas, taking his fighters with him. He did, however, warn them all he’d be back for the wedding. Whizz didn’t know if he wanted Ned at his wedding. The old man seemed to be able to melt women’s knickers right off their bodies. He didn’t want that kind of competition.

  “You can’t be serious?” Lacey asked, one night pulling the blanket down on the bed.

  He sat at the computer checking out the latest investments in the companies he’d been watching. The Skulls had made back a lot of money they’d lost because of Gonzalez. They were stronger than ever. The town was also thriving once again. The people were still a little hesitant around them. It had been a month and a half since the incident in the town hall. He liked the way his life had gotten back to normal.