Tears were in Butch’s eyes as he told his story.
Tiny’s gut tightened.
“I had never seen the men before, but I figured they must have been connected to the drug dealers. I do know that my family was killed by one man, and his name I overheard and remembered. I watched them rape my sister. She was only ten, and they took turns on my mother. They made my father watch. They shot me in the gut.” Butch gritted his teeth. “My family was killed by a Frederick Gonzalez. The name stuck, I don’t know why.”
Tiny shook his head. “It couldn’t have been him, Butch. He’s too young to have been around. He’s only in his thirties like you.”
“I was shot by Frederick’s father, but his son was standing right there beside him. I remember the two of them together. They watched those f**kers who came with them kill my family and the entire MC club, and then Frederick killed the men. It was a bloodbath, and he got away.” Butch rubbed at his temple. “I completely forgot about it until now.”
“What made you remember?” Alex asked.
“I was talking with Cheryl. It was easier to forget about it than bring it all up. I don’t know what information this is going to help you with, but it’s there for you to know.”
“How did you survive?” Tiny asked. “He killed everyone but you.”
“I was shot in the gut, dying slowly. I don’t think he expected me to survive the ambulance ride.” Butch shrugged. “I’m not going to pretend to know why anyone kept me alive. I only know that I’m still living and breathing now.”
“Go and tell Whizz about your story. I want to see what was in the papers. If it goes this far back I want to know about it.” He watched Butch leave the room before turning to Alex. “Did you know that shit?”
Alex shook his head. “I know Frederick Gonzalez is not a man to f**k with. I wonder why no one remembers him taking out a club.”
Tiny rubbed at his temples. Tiny couldn’t help but feel they were all going to know the answers to that question before too long. Getting up from his chair, he went to the door and opened it. Eva was sitting with their children. She was playing and smiling. Whatever was about to happen was going to affect all of them, and Tiny couldn’t stop thinking that now was the time to run.
Chapter Three
“You know how I feel about those Skulls, Cheryl. You shouldn’t be hanging out with them,” Anna said.
The following day, Cheryl stood with her mom in the kitchen. Matthew was watching his morning cartoons while she baked a cake for after dinner. Whenever she got a day off she liked to stay at home spending time with her son and baking up a storm. She may not get to have a lot of time with him, but those moments alone, she relished.
“Butch is a good guy. He’s not going to allow anything to happen to us.”
“He’s a Skull.”
Blowing out a breath, she glared at her mother. “He quit The Skulls to be with me, Mom. Stop making this hard.” Beating the butter and sugar together, she tried to ignore her parent while she ranted and raved. During her time of getting to know Butch, Cheryl had already considered everything her mother was telling her. She would never willingly put her son at risk. Matthew would always come first. Walking to the door, she saw Matthew playing with some of his toys, looking up at the television every once in a while. He was a good boy, a patient boy. She couldn’t have asked for a better behaving son.
“Matthew is another man’s son.”
Closing her eyes, she turned toward her. “You don’t think I know that?”
“How can he want another man’s son?”
“I don’t know. Butch is not like most men.”
“He’s like every man, Cheryl. He’ll stay with you as long as he can, and then that will be it.” Her mother’s words cut through her heart. The pain was sharp and hard. “Baby, I’m sorry.”
Turning to her mother, Cheryl glared at her. “Are you done making me feel like crap?”
“Cheryl—”
Shaking her head, she took a step back. “I know I upset you turning up pregnant without a man, but you have no right to start putting every other man in the same box as him. I messed up, and I slept with a man I don’t even know his last name.” Cheryl didn’t even think about his first name. There was a time while she was working at the florist shop where she thought she’d seen him walking through town. In the next moment he’d been gone. Biting her lip, she put the bowl down on the counter. “I messed up. Please, stop making the last time about this one. Butch is not like that. He’s fun, and he makes me smile. He’s good for Matthew. You’ve not even seen him with my son.”
“You’ve known him a few months.”
It was close to a year. Butch had been visiting the church then her house for months before he quit The Skulls.
The doorbell rang, interrupting their argument.
“I don’t care. I’m happy, and you’re not going to spoil this for me.” Cheryl left the kitchen and answered the door. Butch stood in the doorway carrying some daisies and a brown paper bag.
“I come with flowers and food. I heard you can’t kick a man to the curb if he supplies everything for food. Oh, and bringing flowers is supposed to be an acceptable apology for running out on you last night.”
Laughing, she took the flowers inhaling their fragrant scent. “These are beautiful. I love them.”
Stepping back, she let him inside. He dropped a kiss to her lips. “I missed you last night,” he said.
“It wasn’t me who kicked you out. You went outside running before I did anything.” She reminded him.
“I know. I had business to take care of. Consider everything done, and now I can concentrate on you and Matthew. I’ve also brought you the flowers as a sorry.”
Her mother cleared her voice interrupting their moment. Glaring at her, Cheryl wished she’d not let her inside.
“Hey, Miss Barnes, how are you?” Butch asked.
“I’m fine. I’m leaving now.” Her mother looked at her. “We’ll talk another time.”
Nodding, she saw her out then turned to Butch.
“I take it she’s not a fan of me?” he asked.
“No, not even close. Don’t worry. Mom is not a fan of any man.” They passed Matthew, who jumped up when he saw Butch.
“Neal.”
“Hey, little guy. You’ve grown since last night. You’re going to be a super hero in no time.”