“So, Murphy never left The Skulls?” Tate asked.
Murphy had taken the role of being their spy. They’d made it look like a betrayal, but all the time Murphy was reporting back.
“He did what we asked, honey,” Tiny said.
Tate nodded. Lash looked at the woman he regarded as a sister and saw she was only just holding it together.
“I need some coffee,” Tiny said, standing to leave.
Within the hour the rest of the crew turned up. When Tate saw Murphy she stormed out.
Nash took the seat next to him. “Murphy hurt Tate.”
“He left without any warning. She’s hurting, but she’ll get over it,” Lash said.
“I hope you’re right.” Nash was silent for several minutes. “I took care of David. You’re not going down for this.”
“I may not have a choice,” Lash said. “I killed a man.”
“No, I lost two parents. I’m not losing you, Nigel. You’re all I’ve got left, and I’m not letting you go down for him.”
He looked at his brother. For Nash to call him by his real name, Lash knew he was fighting with his emotions.
“Okay, I’ll try,” Lash said.
“Good.”
There was silence once again.
“So Angel’s the one?” Nash asked.
“You must think it’s crazy loving her and only wanting to be with her. She’s my future, Nash. I love her, and I’d do everything to make her happy.” Lash smiled, remembering her say that she loved him. He was going to hold her to it as well.
“No, crazy is fucking a woman you can’t stand just so you could get the chance to see the woman you really wanted,” Nash said.
Glancing at his brother, Lash saw the mask come off Nash. He saw his brother, and the pain was clearly written on his face.
“What do you mean?”
Nash shook his head. “I’m a fucking sucker. Kate has a sister. She’s younger and sweet, and she doesn’t look at the jacket or anything. I could never be with her, but when she talks to me, she talks to me. She refuses to call me Nash. I’m Edward to her.” His brother laughed. “Can you believe I’m fucking a woman I can’t stand just so I can see her?”
Lash stared at his brother shocked by the depth of emotion displayed.
“No, Lash, I don’t think you’re crazy. I think you’re in love, and that I can understand.”
“Mr. Myers?” A nurse came forward calling his name.
Standing up Lash faced the nurse. “That’s me.”
“Miss Marston is out of surgery and is awake. She’s asking for you.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“The bullet didn’t touch her heart, but it was still in there. The surgeons have removed the bullet with minimal damage. She won’t have the use of her arm for a few months.”
Lash nodded and turned to his brother.
“Go on, go and see your woman.”
Taking a deep breath he followed the nurse to his woman’s room.
Angel lay in a large bed. Her face was pale, and her eyes closed. The nurse waved him on inside. Walking inside, her eyes opened, and she smiled at him.
“Hey,” she said, reaching out with her good hand.
“Hey, yourself.” He took her hand and sat beside her on the bed. Lash needed to be as close to her as possible.
“They told me I was going to make a good recovery.”
“You ran in front of a bullet,” Lash said. “Never, ever do that again.”
“I couldn’t have you shot, Lash.” She looked down at their joined hands. “I’m in love with you, and I can’t imagine life without you.”
Cupping her face, he brought his lips down to hers.
“No, you do not, under any circumstances put yourself at risk for me, Angel.” He kissed her again needing to taste her sweet skin.
“I understand,” Angel said.
“I love you too much to lose you.”
Her smile lit up her whole face. “You love me?”
“You have no idea how much I love you.” He glanced down at the floor and cursed.
“What’s the matter? What is it?” she asked. The concern was clear in her voice.
“I killed your father,” he said, whispering to her.
“Good.” There was no hesitation in her voice.
“Angel, I took his life. He’s not coming back.”
“I know, Lash. He was going to kill you. You don’t understand. He didn’t stop them when they were shooting people. He didn’t help at all, and he caused all the problems. I don’t care.” She tightened her grip on his hand.
“I killed him.”
“And your crew cleaned it up, right?” Angel asked.
“How do you know about that?”