Tiny stared at him for several seconds without saying a thing.
“Give me your keys. You can have one of the prospects drive you out of town, but you’re not bringing your shit to Fort Wills. You’re one of my boys, and I’m not having your death on my conscience. Find a woman, screw her brains out and then leave, and come back here to sort everything out.” Tiny always had the final say with the club. This was his way of caring, being the leader they all needed and one of the reasons Killer respected the man.
Killer reluctantly handed over his keys. “I don’t want a f**king prospect. They can’t handle their own dicks. Send me out Steven. He can think past his own dick.”
“You made the right choice,” Tiny said.
In one smooth strike, Killer was on his ass. Tiny had landed a punch right to his face.
“Don’t ever touch my daughter again like that. You hurt my family and I will end you without a second’s thought. You’re part of the family, Killer, have been for a few years. The men will wait for your lead in how you want to handle this … marriage. You want to f**k him up, then we’re here. We don’t attack any of our women, got it?”
Nodding at Tiny, Killer got to his feet waiting for Steven to come on out. He was touched by Tiny’s words. In The Lions there was never a sense of family. It was every man for himself. Steven walked out of the clubhouse, swinging the keys between his fingers and whistling. “You prefer my company to a prospect?”
“You got it. If you start ranting at me I’ll f**king hurt you.”
“Hey, man. I’m a fully-fledged Skull now. I can kick your ass right back if I want to. Tiny’s given me permission if you start to piss me off. He thinks it’ll be good for you to get your ass handed to you.” Steven moved toward the car, laughing.
Out of all the men, Killer liked Steven the best. When the man had gotten shot protecting Angel and Tate, Killer developed a great respect for the man. Blaine was also another man he respected, as he’d been with the two women when they were in danger, taking a bullet as well. Anyone who stood in front of a bullet to protect a woman, no matter who they were, deserved some kind of respect.
Climbing into the car, he pulled the seat back as far as it would go.
“Where we going?” Steven asked.
“A bar with lots of women. Not girls, I want a f**king woman.”
Thinking about losing himself inside a woman lost its appeal the further away from Fort Wills he got. The image of Kelsey with her cherry blonde hair and full luscious figure put him off wanting any other woman at all.
The hurt returned thick and fast. Not once did she tell him about her husband hidden away somewhere. The other thing that bugged him was the wealth the man clearly possessed. Was that the draw for Kelsey? She wanted a wealthy man waiting in the wings for when she finally settled down? In all the time they’d been together not once had he gotten that vibe from her. She was always happy with the simple things in life.
Crap. He really couldn’t handle thinking about Kelsey in such a way. She’d been the light to everything that darkened his world, and now she was gone.
“If you want to talk about it you can. Kelsey was f**king wrong, man. She should have told you. I won’t tell the guys if you cry or snivel around like a little baby,” Steven said.
“I’ve been a biker and a killer for a long time. Don’t f**king start with me. Leave her out of tonight.”
“I know. I know. I know. You’re way older and all that shit. It doesn’t mean f**k all to me. We’re the same.” Steven kept his gaze on the road.
“We’re not the same. You don’t have a woman waiting for you, and you’ve not just found out the woman you were wanting belongs to someone else.” Killer slammed his fist on the dash in the hope of relieving some of his anger. What the f**k was he supposed to do?
“Hey, don’t go taking your anger out on my f**king car. You got an issue with your woman then stop being a f**king pu**y,” Steven said, yelling. The car came to a sudden stop, and Steven turned to glare at him.
“What the f**k did you call me?” Killer asked.
“A pu**y. If another guy has gotten your girl then man up, and then go and claim her. You’ve got the whole club behind you. They’re pissed, royally pissed. You’re one of us, and we’ll help you. Stop taking your anger out on my car.” Steven pulled off again.
Sitting back, Killer thought about what the other man said. Nothing could stop him from going after Kelsey, but first, he needed to get completely f**king smashed.
****
“Why are you here?” Kelsey asked, storming back into her apartment. She’d tried to catch up with Killer, but he clearly didn’t want to talk to her. Running after a bike hadn’t been her brightest idea at all. She wasn’t into running and was already panting for breath. Michael shouldn’t be here at all. He never bothered her. That was their deal.
“I could have the limo chase after him if you wish,” Michael said, pointing toward his expensive mode of transportation. She charged past him heading toward her apartment, and now she was waiting for him to answer her question.
Michael closed the door, smoothing down his Italian designed business suit. She imagined everything he wore cost a good fortune. When they first met she’d hated him on sight. Her feelings hadn’t changed in the short meetings they had together.
“Why would I need a reason to visit my wife?”
She cringed at the title. They’d been married since she was eighteen and he was twenty-eight. The ten year age gap hadn’t bothered her at the time. Nothing had bothered her about Michael. Kelsey hadn’t wanted anything from him other than the promise he would leave her alone. All he wanted from her was her name on a marriage certificate. At the time, she couldn’t say no as she’d needed what he offered far more than he needed her. Their ceremony had taken place in a small lawyer’s office with a priest to bless their wedded life.
“I’m not your wife, Michael. You’re not my husband, not really.” She walked into her kitchen and put the kettle on. The day at the dentist had been a long one. All of their clients had something to say about The Skulls, the local ruling biker club. She had done nothing but think about Killer, the one man who got to her in ways no other man ever had.
“A lot of people would say differently. You’re given an allowance, Kelsey, so why are you living in squalor?” Michael changed the subject, irritating her.