Tate’s hand went to her stomach as he eased off the bike. “Hey, baby.”
“Murphy?”
“Yeah, I know I’m a little f**ked up right now, but I still love you. You’ll just have to deal with me being a little scarred.” Tate rushed forward, grabbing the lapels of his jacket.
“You f**king idiot, Murphy. I love you. I don’t give a f**k what you look like. I love you.” She went to cup his face but stopped. “I thought the worst.”
“It’s going to take more than an exploding bike to be rid of me, woman. I’m sticking around, and I’ve got a baby to help raise.”
Eva’s heart went out to the young couple. Devil walked to them. “I found him coming out of a hospital about ten miles out that way.” He pointed east. “He couldn’t remember the number to call Alex. His face is scarred and I think burned. Murphy wanted to come and see his woman.”
“Thank you,” Tiny said. “I couldn’t stand to come home without him.”
“Thank you for putting our past in the ground. Me and my boys are out of here.” Devil waved, leaving them alone.
Staying in Tiny’s arms, she watched Nash and Lash run to their women. They wrapped their arms around their women. Angel crumbled against Lash. She saw Lash whisper against her ear, stroking her back.
“I’ve got you, Angel. I’m never leaving you. You’re the reason I made it back.”
“Don’t leave me,” Angel said.
Angel and Lash’s reunion was sweet and tender. Sophia jumped up against Nash, wrapped her legs around his waist, and refused to let go.
“Before you all leave I just want to say that we’ll be bringing the bodies back of Gunn and Time. We’ll have a burial and honor their memory along with all of those who have fallen,” Tiny said.
All of his men were somber at the news of their two fallen men. A few minutes of silence passed before they started moving.
The men walked into the house, and Tiny took her hand, leading her away to the Fort Wills cemetery.
“The boys will be waiting for us,” Eva said, wiping her mouth and finding blood.
“Stink has gone to get Sandy. She’ll be patching us up, and Tate will take care of everyone. She needs to keep busy, or she’ll freak out on us.” Tiny walked around three rows of grave stones before he stopped in front of a modest angel. There were no markings besides the words, “left this life too soon”.
“What’s this?” Eva asked.
“This is the girl who saved my life,” Tiny said. “If I hadn’t seen what those f**king animals were doing I would have ended up like them.”
Turning to him, Eva wound her hands around his neck. “You becoming like Snitch and the rest of them is not possible. You’re too good to let something like that happen.”
“It’s not true. I was falling in that path.”
“You’re good, Tiny. In here where it counts, you’re good,” she said, pressing her palm against his chest. “I love you so much, and I know you wouldn’t let anything happen to me or your men.”
She had faith in him where everything else had failed.
“I was pleased to see him dead, Eva.”
“I was pleased to kill him.” She tapped his chest. “His blood is on my hands.”
“I wish I could take that away from you.”
Eva gave him a sad smile. “There’s nothing we can do about that. We’re together, and with time we’ll be strong.”
“You’re sticking around?” he asked, smiling.
“Yeah, I’m sticking around.”
They made their way to the compound, which was just a pile of ash. She felt Tiny sigh against her.
“You’ll rebuild. It’ll take time, and before you know it, you’ll be back to doing your runs, sweet-butts getting naked—”
“And the bikers finding their women?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
Tiny stroked her waist, pulling her in close. “So, Evangeline Walker, what do you want for your perfect wedding?”
Giggling, Eva shook her head. “You’re not ready for that answer.” She rubbed her nose against his. “I can give you a clue. None of you are wearing leather.”
He groaned, and she silenced him with her lips.
Chapter Fourteen
Apart from Murphy, none of The Skulls ended up in the hospital. Tiny made sure Murphy had the best care. He would have the scars and the memories of what happened, which Tiny wished he could erase. What Snitch did to all of them wouldn’t be soon forgotten, and neither would Time or Gunn. Stink brought Sandy back, and the woman looked happy to be putting all of them back together. Tiny wondered if she regretted quitting work. If she did then he’d find some way to get her the old job back. Sandy was a lovely woman, talented, and she didn’t deserve to lose any of it. After he was patched up, Zero disappeared for a week. No one knew where he went and Tiny didn’t mind as long as he was safe. Since the ambush, Tiny figured they all deserved a fun break away from the club.
Tiny’s biggest fear was Eva and the plans she had for the wedding. What scared him more was the fact his daughter was getting involved. In fact, Tate was arranging everything. He wasn’t getting married in his club, but a week after the confrontation with Snitch they started the rebuild of the compound. The workers in Fort Wills were more than happy to work on the new club for The Skulls.
The two men who lost their lives were remembered, along with Gunn and Time, and Tiny arranged, paid for, and attended the funerals of the men who were lost. All of The Skulls were present, and the memorial lasted into the night with alcohol and food flowing. Throughout it all, Tiny had his rock, Eva. She was more than he could have ever asked for.
She brightened his world even though she carried a wedding magazine around with her all the time. The fear wasn’t of the magazine but of his daughter.
He kept in touch with Devil. The other man was a hard nut but had come through for Tiny and the boys when it was needed. No matter if their scores were settled, Tiny felt indebted to him and Chaos Bleeds. Tiny knew that without them, he wouldn’t have his men back or his town.
Ned gave his blessing, and Gavin had no choice but to move on after Tiny kicked his ass in a one off visit to Vegas. Alex moved back to Fort Wills. The Vegas lifestyle had lost its edge. Tiny was happy for the company, and Alex got his own leather cut. Admittedly, Alex preferred his business suits to the leather.
Three months later Tiny stood in front of a mirror glaring at the bow tie wrapped around his neck choking the life out of him.