Nodding his head, Tiny knew what that felt like. When he married Patricia he truly thought he knew what love was. During his marriage, he’d been a f**king bastard, cheating, boozing it up until he couldn’t think straight. After Patricia died, the guilt had eaten away at him, but then he met Eva. The women continued even though the only woman he ever wanted was her. Once he made Eva his woman, there was no turning back. He knew what true love was all about with her. Cheating on her would never be an option for him.
“What’s going on with Butch and Alex?” Devil asked.
Tensing up, he glanced toward his friend. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t give me that shit, Tiny. I’ve known you f**king years. Something’s going on there, and I wanna know what it is.”
“Nothing.”
“You’re going to do that?” Devil asked.
“What?”
“Treat me like I’m a f**king idiot. I’ve seen the way those two act. Shit is up, and I’ve had enough of being kept in the dark. Tell me what’s going on.”
Closing his eyes, Tiny counted to ten. He didn’t know the best way to deal with Devil. Glancing over at his friend, he shook his head. “That shit is no concern of yours. You’re a guest in my town.”
Devil rounded on him. “What the f**k you saying?”
“Exactly that. In Piston County, deal with your own shit, but don’t expect me to tell you mine. Alex and Butch are dealing business. It’s none of your business, so back off.”
He was sure Devil had more to say, but Tiny’s cell phone went off, stopping Devil from saying anything more.
Pulling the device out of his pocket, he accepted the call. “What!”
“Boss, you’ve got to get down to the graveyard,” Lash said.
“What? Why?”
There was noise in the background. He heard Tate sobbing and Murphy yelling. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
“Some f**ker’s desecrated Patricia’s grave. The stone’s been smashed and, shit, boss, it’s bad.”
Lash went through some of the details. He’d cremated Patricia at her request, but to have the place Tate went in order to talk with her mother spoiled pissed Tiny off.
“I’ll be there.”
Closing the phone, he rested his fists against the metal of the van.
“What’s going on?” Devil asked.
“Someone f**ked over Patricia’s grave. I’ve got to get there. Tate’s freaking out, and Murphy’s having a hard time dealing with her.”
The sound of a car forced Tiny to turn. Alex pulled up alongside him. “Get in. Devil can take care of the women. Tell them we’ll meet them at the clubhouse.”
He looked at Devil, waiting for his angry denial.
“Go, I’ll handle the women.”
Jumping into the passenger side, he closed the door, but Alex was already pulling away before he did.
“How did you know what was going on?” Tiny asked.
“Patricia may have been your f**king wife, but she was my sister. Lash told me first. Tate’s losing her shit, and we need to get there to help calm the situation down before she does something we’ll all regret.” Alex didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Murphy’s trying to calm her down.” Tate wasn’t the easiest person to calm down when she was upset. She lost her shit easily.
“What the f**k were they doing outside of the clubhouse? We were on lockdown for a f**king reason.” Tiny slammed his fist against the plastic interior in front of him.
“Hey, watch the f**king car. Tate lives by her own rules. Not only that, this lockdown hasn’t been as tight as all the others. Women are coming and going. I’m not going to bitch at Tate for going to see her mother. You shouldn’t either.”
Silence filled the car at Alex’s anger.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to think. Who would desecrate Patricia’s resting place? It’s sick.”
“Gonzalez would,” Alex said.
“Why? We’ve done nothing to him.”
“We’re marrying Pussy with his woman and Butch with Cheryl. He’s seen us working with the Chaos crew. After the shit they pulled back in Piston County, I’d say Gonzalez is getting himself a little payback. I’m surprised it has taken this long for him to lash out.”
Neither of them talked for several minutes as Alex worked the small traffic in Fort Wills. Tiny was losing his temper with every moment that passed. Tate was a bitch at times, but she was still his daughter. He’d do anything for her even though she pissed him off. There were times he wondered what Murphy saw in her and if he could think that then he knew the guy loved her.
“What’s Butch saying?” Tiny asked. He was leaving all of the information gathering to Alex and Butch. There was only so much he wanted to be involved in. Butch was risking his life for the club, and he didn’t want to give away what he knew to anyone else.
“Gonzalez is playing it cool over what happened with Devil. He knows a hit is going to take place, but he doesn’t know where or when.” Alex turned the corner. “He’s laying low for now, waiting for his time to strike.”
“What else has Butch said?”
“That when Gonzalez comes out of hiding, we’re all f**ked, but I don’t think that’s an actual threat. Butch is going by his gut and warning us.”
Tiny nodded. “It makes sense. Devil started stirring a pot full of shit. It’s only a matter of time before one or all of us end up on the shit list.”
“You’ve got to think about your allegiance with Devil and the Chaos Bleeds Crew, Tiny. They’re f**king dangerous. Devil will end up getting one or all of us killed.”
He glanced toward his former brother-in-law. Alex was a lot of things, but he was never jealous. Tiny knew if he was talking about getting rid of Devil, then it was for a good reason.
“Devil’s a friend. I’m not going to cut him off. He’s been there for The Skulls whenever we’ve needed him.”
“There’s a difference. We’ve never gone hunting for trouble or for a fight. Devil has. He’s going to start a war with Gonzalez, and everyone in his path is going to get stung in the process. It’s something you’re going to need to consider.”
“I’m not turning my back on Devil.”
“Okay, I’ll follow you, but if you put my son or niece in danger then I’ll f**king take him out. It’s got nothing to do with the club and more about my own feelings,” he said.