He kept a firm grip on his woman. Shooting a glare to Tate he waited until she left to go sit at the bar. Steven followed her.
“Okay, I guess you’re about to leave me to go and deal with Tiny,” Angel said.
“I’ve got to make sure he’s doing good.” He cupped her cheek and pulled her in close. “Until then, you’ll stay at the bar. Steven will take care of you, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.” He fingered the jacket and knew in his heart she’d be safe. No one would try anything unless they wanted to start a war with all of The Skulls.
“Go be with Tate. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He waited until she was sat next to Tate before heading off in the direction of Tiny.
He found him with Nash behind the back of the bar. The back faced a mass of forests and clear space. There were many times when he’d come here to think when he was growing up.
Tiny and his brother were smoking a cigarette.
“She shouldn’t be here dressed like that. Why does she try to test me?” Tiny asked, staring up at the sky.
“Tate’s hurting.” Lash lit a smoke and stared out at the distance. He was surprised to see Nash without a woman on his arm.
“I yelled at Eva when she asked if she should be looking for another job. I told her to keep her ass where I told her to and if she wanted to do something useful she should start doing as she’s told.” Tiny sighed. “I was a fucking pig to her. I called her fat and useless. I hurt her.”
Lash shook his head. Eva wasn’t fat. She was rounded in all the right places but a little bigger than Angel. When he looked at Eva he was always reminded of a woman who’d be a loving mother. He’d seen her with kids and knew she was gentle at heart. Tiny saying stuff like that would hurt her feelings.
“Tate’s a little old to be having a nanny. You’ve got to figure out what to do about Eva. She’s got a life to live, too.” Lash took a deep draw on his smoke and thought about Angel. He was taking her tonight. Staring at Hardy and Rose, he knew he wanted something similar to what they had. The commitment and the trust shone brightly between them.
“She’s been part of my life since Patricia died. Eva cooks, cleans, and takes care of everything.” Tiny shook his head laughing. “I can run this fucking town and keep my bikers happy, but the thought of running my home alone terrifies me. Patricia loved that house, and I want it to stay that way.”
Lash knew there was more to Tiny’s anger, and he was keeping it to himself.
Tiny finished off his cigarette.
“Tate doesn’t know about Murphy, does she? That’s why she’s at the party and trying to give me a heart attack,” Tiny said.
“She’s hurting because he left. I think she was in love with him, and he betrayed her,” Nash said, surprising Lash.
“I need to get a woman under me or seriously drunk. I’m going back inside. I suggest you two do the same. We’ve got a lot of work to do in the next week.” Tiny left them alone.
“Where’s Kate?” Lash asked.
“Probably giving some other guy a fuck. I don’t know. Tiny needed someone, and you were dealing with Angel. Shit is going to hit the fan soon. Do you realise this could be our last real party together?” Nash said, looking out at the scenery.
“Don’t talk like that,” Lash said. “We’ve been through worse.”
“I don’t know. It just don’t feel right to me.” Nash was silent for a few seconds. “Do you think Mom and Dad would approve of how we are?”
“I really don’t know.” Lash tried not to think of what his mother and father would think.
“We can’t change it now. I suggest you get back to your woman. She looks hot.”
Lash chuckled and hit out at his brother. “Keep your dirty hands off my woman.”
They headed around the front of the club. In the short time they’d been away things had already started to spice up. Women were all in different states of undress. He passed one woman who was giving a biker a blow job and another guy a hand job. Shit, he needed to get inside the bar. Everything always got worse inside the club. Going to the door he paused when he saw Tate dancing on one of the tables. Steven was stood between two tables talking, and then he saw Angel on the other table. His woman was obstructed by Tate’s form, but now he saw her clearly.
She was drinking from a bottle and dancing to the erotic pulse of the music playing in the background. Both women were beautiful and entirely out of place. Neither of them was dancing in order to gain attention, but from the panting looks of the men around them, they were rocking the moves. They were both smiling at each other, and Angel looked fresh-faced while Tate finally looked free.