The Skulls(28)

“Come on, Tiny’s over there downing shots.” Lash pulled her toward the bar.

“I hate women. I hate them all,” Tiny said, downing another shot.

Lash took a seat pulling her onto his lap. Tiny sneered at her before taking another shot.

“Why are you hating women?” Lash asked, ordering two beers. He gave one to Angel. She took the beer wondering if she could pretend to drink it.

“They’re a pain in the ass. Nanny wants me to let her go. She doesn’t want to work for me anymore.”

Angel didn’t know much about Tiny’s personal life, but she’d heard that he hired a nanny to take care of Tate. The woman he’d hired was eighteen at the time, but that was over ten years ago. Angel knew she must be either the same age as Lash or older. Tate was twenty-three, but Tiny still treated her like a baby, at least that was Tate’s complaint to Angel.

“Eva’s twenty-nine, Tiny. She wants to get out and spread her wings. You’ve had her in your employ for ten years. She’s been loyal to you. Let her go,” Lash said.

Tiny glared at Lash. The two men stared at each other, and Angel couldn’t help but think they were communicating something.

“Okay, right. Then you need to do something about that, man. I can’t help you.” Lash downed his beer, slapped Tiny on the back then moved away, taking her with him.

“What was that all about?” she asked, following him.

“Men stuff, baby. Come on, let’s get outside. I want to do some dancing.”

She was pulled outside. Angel wondered how she was going to keep up when Lash suddenly stopped.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Glancing over his shoulder she saw what he was looking at. A smile broke out over her face when she saw Tate gliding toward them wearing the killer red dress. The bikers stared at her shocked while the men drooled. Lash went tense.

“Where is he?” Tate asked, folding her arms. Her gaze went to Angel, and she smiled. “Hi, Angel.” The anger returned as she glared at Lash. “Where’s my fuck-head of a father?”

“You shouldn’t be here.” Lash folded his arms over his chest and glared.

“I don’t give a fuck what you think, Nigel. Get out of my way.”

No one ever called Lash by his real name. Silence met her answer.

“What is all the chaos about?” Tiny asked, coming up behind Angel. He looked at his daughter, and any buzz he was getting from the shots, clearly disappeared. “What the fuck are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that?”

“What did you do to Eva? She’s locked herself in her room, and I can hear her crying. She won’t let me near her.” Tate’s hands went to her hips. She glared at her father and looked ready to commit murder.

“She’s not your concern.” Tiny forced his way through. Lash’s arms went around Angel as they watched father and daughter argue.

“Hello! She’s my fucking nanny. Yeah, I get the joke, a grown woman with a nanny. Stop being a bastard and go to her.” Tate looked hurt and angry.

Angel wondered who Eva was and what she meant to Tate’s family.

“This is a party, Tate. You shouldn’t be here and not dressed like that. Steven, take her home and make sure she stays there.”

“If you so much as touch me I’ll castrate you with my heels.” The heels did look pretty dangerous. “If you send me home I’ll make sure Eva comes back here to see you. Do you want her here?”

Tiny paled at Tate’s words.

Lash cursed. “They’re both as bad as each other. Neither of them can back away from a fight.”

“You wouldn’t fucking dare.”

“Try me, Dad. I’m this close to losing it with you. I hate it when Eva cries, and so do you.” Tate flipped out her cell phone. “One call will get her here.”

They stared at each other, and even Angel tensed waiting for her answer.

“Steven, she stays, and if anyone hurts her it’s your ass I’m taking it out of.” Tiny stormed away. “I need a fucking drink and a woman.”

Angel noticed none of the women went to him.

****

Lash watched his leader and mentor storm around to the back of the building. Angel stayed by his side, but he needed to go and make sure Tiny was okay. Tate moved closer to them.

“I hate it when he gets like this,” Tate said, hand on hip. She was gaining attention from some of the men. Tate glared in their direction. Lash never felt the need to protect her as she always knew how to take care of herself. “What the fuck are you looking at?”

She shook her head in disgust then grabbed Angel’s arm. “I know you’re going to want to talk to him. I’m taking her away from you for a while.”