Murphy(3)

She ignored the whispers as people pointed her out. None of them knew her, and she wasn’t going to let them spoil this one night that was all her own.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

Murphy escorted her out of the dance, and together they left the building. He didn’t take her anywhere, and she smiled up at him. “School is almost finished.”

“I know.” He leaned against his bike, stroking her cheek. “You look so damn beautiful.”

“I’m eighteen as well.”

He tensed, and she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. “I know this is going to scare the living hell out of you, but I need to say it.” She bounced on her feet, ignoring the pain from her heels. “I love you, Murphy. It doesn’t make any sense, and you don’t need to say anything to me, but I needed you to know how I feel.”

She waited for him to curse or growl. He did neither.

His hand banded around her waist, tugging her close. “I could be fucking killed for the way I feel about you.”

Tate gasped as his head lowered.

“I’ve told myself time and time again to leave you the fuck alone. You don’t need me in your life. You’re Tiny’s daughter. You deserve so much more than me, but I can’t stay away. I love you too damn much.” His lips claimed hers, making her moan. She gripped his arms, needing to get closer to him.

Murphy plundered her mouth, and she whimpered. Sensation was running riot throughout her whole body. His hands sank into her hair, holding her in place.

“We could go somewhere,” Tate said.

“What?”

“It’s prom night. I’m ready.” She looked into his eyes to see the answering arousal reflected back at her.

“No, we’re not doing this tonight.” He ran his fingers over her lip. “We’ve got all the time in the world. Tonight we’re going to have fun and celebrate.”

He kissed her again. For the rest of the night she was on cloud nine. Murphy was attentive and spent the whole night telling her how much he loved her.

If she was in a dream she never wanted to wake up.

****

Murphy’s betrayal

Tate stared across the space at the mall. Another prospect was with her, but she didn’t care. Only a few weeks ago she’d been loving her life and wishing it would never end. It had all been a lie. Murphy had taken the piss out of her. She’d seen him with the women from The Lions. All the time she’d been with him, he’d been preparing to leave.

Her father was outraged by his betrayal. She was heartbroken by what he’d done. There were times she found herself crying from what he’d done.

Don’t think about it or him.

Across the mall she saw him as if she’d thought him into being. His arm was slung around a blonde woman, and across the way she saw him fondling the woman’s breast. A wave of sickness swept through her.

The pain suddenly peaked, and she didn’t know what the hell to do. Then, as if a switch had gone off in her mind, she glared over at him. Grabbing her bag, she ignored the prospect walking with her, and she began shopping. Tiny had sent her out with his credit card. Eva had told him how she’d been heartbroken.

No more. She’d let herself love Murphy, and she refused to let another man close to her. Blanking the prospect she started shopping, and as the hours passed, she felt something shift inside her.

Murphy was gone and never coming back, but she didn’t need to be broken. No man deserved to be given that much control. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to not care. Stepping out of the shop she collided with the group of Lions. The men took a step back as the prospect pulled her behind him. She couldn’t even remember the guy’s name who’d been sent to babysit her.

Looking through the group she settled on Murphy. She couldn’t read his gaze. Blocking him out, she turned to the guy she’d crashed into.

“Move,” she said. Her voice was hard and unwavering. The one man she cared about, loved, was gone.

Never let another man inside.

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” the guy asked.

Glaring at him, she looked up and down his body.

“Scum.” She shoved past the Lion and stormed away without looking back. Murphy was gone, and there was no way she was ever letting him near her again.

Be the bitch he thought you’d be.





Chapter One



One month from Lash



“Of all the fucked up shit I’ve had to deal with in the last few weeks this is the worst,” Tiny said, yelling across the room. “My daughter won’t speak to me, and now she’s moved out of my home to live in town, alone.”