Murphy(54)

“So, you’re the one I’ve been looking for,” the man said, staring at him.

Looking around the chaos of the compound, Murphy saw they were all surrounded with men he didn’t recognize at all.

“What do you want?” he asked, settling his piece behind his back.

Staring at Tate, he tried to think, to focus.

“Jeff told me a lot about you. He said you were loyal, and I’ve been watching you for some time.”

“What’s your name?” Glancing to his left he saw Tiny collapsed on the floor, blood pooling around him.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He saw Killer, Time, and Whizz were moving around outside of the truck. The three men were not locked on by the shooters. What the fuck were they doing? Fuck, all The Skulls had a gun pointed at them, and someone he didn’t know wanted to talk to him.

“Call me Sal.”

The name rang a bell. “You’re Jeff’s supplier?” Murphy asked

“That’s right, man. Jeff promised me this town, and now it’s time to collect,” Sal said. “He told me all about The Skulls. You rule this town. Well, now it’s time to get the fuck out of here, and I’m giving you a fresh start.”

Tate’s lips wobbled, and tears fell from her eyes.

“What?” Murphy looked up at him.

“I’m going to let you chose. I’ve watched you, and I like you. Also, I like giving fuckers hard choices. So, here is the time for you to choose.”

His heart raced, staring at Tate.

“Your club or your woman. Pick which one lives.”

****

Tate sobbed at the ultimatum. This wasn’t fair. She couldn’t let him choose between her or the club.

“No, Murphy, pick the club,” she said.

“Shut it, bitch.” Sal pressed the knife tight against her throat.

Glancing to her left she saw her father in a pool of his own blood. Whimpering, Tate looked at the man she loved. She knew who he was going to choose, but it was the wrong one.

“No, you can’t do this. The club is everything. It’s not just me, Murphy, it’s the whole fucking town.” Tate screamed, trying to get him to realize the truth before him. This man was going to ruin everything The Skulls had built up.

“I promised you, Tate.”

“No, no promise. You pick the club. Not me. I get it. I understand it, but I was too fucking stubborn to tell you.”

She couldn’t believe after all this time she was begging to be second place. Gazing around the room she saw them all and knew they’d be destroyed if he picked her. She saw Lash and Angel, dead before her. Eva and Tiny, a wasted love that never got chance. No, she wouldn’t be responsible for what was going to happen.

Sal tightened his grip on her waist. It was uncomfortable as she stared at Murphy.

“You don’t want to do this,” she said.

“Pick, Murphy,” Sal said. “I’m going to own this town, and your club is going down.”

Staring into his eyes, Tate tried to convince him. “I love you, and I finally get what you did. I understand what you did, and you don’t need to do this. I was too fucking stubborn. Forgive me.” She was sobbing as she begged him.

“Your woman or the club, Murphy, pick.”

“I’m not letting you down again. I pick the future.” The gun Murphy had been holding behind his back was raised. One shot rang out. Tate felt a burning in her shoulder as the bullet went through her shoulder through to the man behind her.

Before she hit the floor, Murphy held her. The man behind her went down.

He covered her as another series of shots rang out. Tate felt nothing but pain, horrible, all-consuming pain through her shoulder.

Closing her eyes she heard the screaming, and then Murphy was looking down at her.

Everything felt silent. “You shot me,” she said, pushing a hand to her shoulder. Her hand came away covered with blood.

“I had to choose, and I chose to keep him waiting,” Murphy said.

“You think you can take my fucking town you piece of shit.” The sound of her uncle’s voice cut through her pain.

“Alex?”

“I saw him coming and knew I needed to stall what was happening,” Murphy said.

“You shot me.” Everyone was alive, and she’d been shot. Tate was so thankful Murphy had shot her.

He helped her to her feet. She looked around to see men dead on the ground. Her father was leaning against the wall looking deathly pale. Eva was pressing a towel against his stomach. Alex was beating on the man known as Sal. The drug dealer was being pummeled. Killer, Time, and Whizz were working over some men with The Lions cut.

She was starting to feel sick.

A few feet away from Tiny, she saw Mikey on the floor. He wasn’t moving.