Killer cleared his throat. Turning to look at him, Murphy saw the doubt on the other man’s face.
“What’s the matter?” Murphy asked.
“The men don’t like me or the others. We’re thinking of cutting and running,” Killer said, surprising him. Murphy never had them tagged for quitters.
“You came from another group known for its lack of rules. If you want to quit, then quit, but don’t make that decision lightly.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll have a mark on your head like the rest of The Lions. Tiny wants you all dead, and he’ll find each and every one of you.” Murphy let his words settle between them. Reaching into the back of his pocket, he grabbed his pack of smokes and lit one up.
“I wasn’t part of that shit,” Killer said.
“Then prove it. Become a member and fight each and every one of them.” Murphy offered the other man a smoke.
“Fight, again?”
Murphy shrugged. “You want to die? Then run. You don’t want to die then you fight and prove to these men that you’re worth the risk of having you in the club.”
For several minutes he finished smoking his cigarette and threw the butt away. “I’ve got a woman to go and protect.”
****
Tate left the dentist building where she worked. It was fucking boring, but it made her enough money to get by. The apartment wasn’t too bad either. Several of the women, dental nurses, and fellow receptionists mumbled as she passed them. She was used to the name calling and ignored them. Only a couple of weeks had passed since she left her father’s home, but she knew it was the best decision she’d made.
Grabbing her cell phone from her bag she saw several missed calls from Tiny, Lash, and Nash. She ignored them all, deleting any messages from the club. The Skulls was not her life. Her father would never let her become a member. Women were not allowed in the club, and the club always came first. She was tired of being second best.
Pocketing her phone she headed away from the group of the women.
“Tate?” One of the women called out to her, but she kept on walking. “Tate.”
The sound of running feet had her stopping, turning around to see a cherry blonde following her. The woman was on the large side, like Angel and herself. It amazed her how many of the sweet-butts were always so slim. They did nothing but fuck the club members.
She stared at the other woman’s bright smile.
“I thought you didn’t hear me,” the woman said.
Tate recognized her as one of the dental nurses. She was one that the other nurses mocked and called fatty.
“What do you want?” Tate asked.
“Erm, I noticed we lived in the same building, and I was wondering if you wanted some company on the way home?” The cherry blonde smiled, and her face was red, from embarrassment or from the running, Tate did not know.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Yeah, you’re Tate Johnson.”
“I’m not part of The Skulls. If you’re hoping for a way in then go and find someone else. You can fuck your way into the club.”
Cherry held her hands up. “No, I don’t care about the club. I noticed you’re not friends with anyone, and I wanted to offer you friendship.”
Staring at her, Tate frowned. “What’s your name?”
“Kelsey Ryan.”
“Hi, Kelsey, come on then. Let’s go home.”
The other woman chuckled and started walking beside her. Tate was not used to women befriending her. Most of the women she’d come to know were always trying to work their way into the club and near the men. Thinking about it, so were the guys, but for another reason. They wanted to be members.
“Why don’t you want to be part of The Skulls?” Tate asked, firing the question at the other woman.
“Seriously?” Kelsey asked.
“Every other woman would be trying to find a way to get close to the club. Why are you not asking questions?”
Kelsey tucked some of her cherry blonde hair behind her ear. “Erm, I’m not interested in the lifestyle or anything. I know what they do and everything. Besides, I’m not exactly biker woman material.”
“The guys will fuck any willing female,” Tate said, hating how mean she was being. After years of being used by people she thought were friends when they’d only ever wanted to know her to get to the club, she’d learned to become hard when making friends. There were only two people she’d never been hard on, Eva and Angel. The two women were completely different, and Tate treated them like that.
“I don’t want to be part of any lifestyle. You’re being unfair, and all I want to be is your friend.” Kelsey looked behind her. “Look, I don’t make a lot of friends, and I know they’re not interested in being your friend. I know this must be hard and I accept that, but insulting me is not fair.”