Tiny stared into her face, shaking his head. “Nothing can happen to you. Do you fucking hear me?”
“I hear you, Dad.” She was crushed in a hug, and Murphy smiled.
“Get in the fucking truck and take your friend with you. You’re back at the compound. Eva’s already there.”
Tiny shoved her in the direction of the truck. Murphy squared his shoulders waiting.
“If anything had happened to my daughter I’d kill you slowly and make you wish you were dead long before I’d grant it.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you for getting her to safety.” Tiny shook his hand then turned toward the van. “What we got?”
“I don’t fucking know,” Murphy said, filling him in on all the details.
“Leave one of the bikes here. Round this shit up and bring it back. I want to know what’s going on.”
“What are you going to do?” Killer asked, joining them.
“I’m going to find the threat to my daughter, and then I’m going to annihilate them,” Tiny said.
“What if this has nothing to do with Tate? With The Skulls, the club comes first,” Whizz said.
“Then some people are about to learn a very valuable lesson. No one fucks with my family. Tate, the club, it’s all the same. It’s all family, and family will always come first.”
****
“He protected me, Tate. I never thought a guy was like that out there, but he is,” Kelsey said.
Tate smiled at her friend as she relived the moments of the shooting. Kelsey looked in love. It was sweet but also dangerous. Tate didn’t know Killer very well, but his name alone scared her. They were travelling back to the compound. She heard some of the men sniggering. Rolling her eyes, she kept her back to them.
“I’m sure he’s a nice guy. I don’t know anything about him, and I’d suggest you be careful around him,” Tate said.
“I will. I promise.” Kelsey grabbed her hand, squeezing it tight.
Back at the compound she saw Zero, Butch, Mikey, and Rose waiting. They all embraced her as she came out of the van. Seconds later, Killer, Whizz, and Time made it through followed by the van being driven by Hardy.
Kelsey was drawn into the embrace as well. Tate made the introductions, and they were rushed inside.
They showed Kelsey to a spare bedroom, and Tate took her old room. Walking past her friend’s bedroom she saw Kelsey sat on the bed, white as a ghost.
“Are you all right?” Tate asked.
“It’s suddenly dawning on me, we got shot at.”
Tucking some hair behind her ear, Tate walked into the room, shutting the door behind her.
“Club life takes some getting used to,” Tate said, taking a seat beside her.
“Did you get used to it? Has this happened often to you?”
“Several months back a rival gang broke into my dad’s house and pointed a gun at me. I saw two prospects get shot and almost die. Eva, my nanny was shot, and Angel was as well. It was one of the first shootings I’ve seen. The Skulls don’t usually include families, and we’re left out of the equation.”
“This time is different?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Tate took Kelsey’s hand like the other woman had done in the back of the van.
“We could have died today,” Kelsey said.
“We didn’t. We’re here to tell the tale and drink and party.” Tate looked down at her lap. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to be friends with me anymore. This takes a lot to digest, and you’re not part of the life.”
“I want to be your friend. I’m going to lie down and process everything that’s happened, okay?”
“Yeah, I’ll come and check on you soon.” Tate squeezed Kelsey’s hand and left the room silently. Killer was stood outside the door.
Tate stopped and looked at the other man.
“How’s she doing?” he asked.
“Pretty shook up. It’s to be expected. Being shot at is not something she’s used to.” Tate stared at him trying to get a good read of the man who clearly had a thing for her friend.
“What? You got a question, just ask.”
“I don’t know you. I’ve known most of these men my whole life, but I don’t know you. I know you’re from The Lions, and they were first class assholes. I didn’t like them.” She took a step closer and pressed a finger against his chest. “I’ve not known Kelsey very long, but I like her. She’s a good woman. A great person. If you hurt her because of whatever shit you think women deserve then I’ll hurt you. I’ll castrate you and make you wish you’d never crossed me.”