ZERO(The Skulls, 6)(65)

Sitting in the pantry, Prue stared at the array of spices opposite her. She turned the ring on her finger, sliding it on, then off.

“I’m not a total bitch. At least, I wasn’t always a total bitch,” Tate said. “I love my friends, and I love my family. There are times I just hate the club, but then there are times I love the club. Fuck, I’m messed up in the head.” Tate ran fingers through her hair. “Angel is my best friend. Kelsey is as well. Angel has been there a lot longer.”

“Look, you really don’t need to say anything to me,” Prue said, holding her hands up.

“I know. We’re not friends. We’ll never be friends, but we’ll make do because of our men and the club. I just need to talk to someone who won’t rub my back and make me feel all right. You’re not like that.” Tate turned to her. “I don’t like being kept in the dark. My friends are in danger, and I can’t handle not knowing.”

“What do you want from me?” Prue asked.

“This man, will he get worse?”

Opening her lips, she thought about it. Frowning, Prue shook her head. “I don’t know him. Until this shit started I didn’t even know who he was.”

“He doesn’t care about anything, does he?”

Prue shook her head. “You need to take care. He’ll kill or hurt whoever is close to Zero.”

Tate nodded. “We don’t have to talk now. Can I just sit here for a while?”

“This is your club not mine.”

“You marry Zero and you’ll inherit it. The club is the life.”

Prue didn’t argue with the other woman. Rubbing her hands down her legs she rested her head against the wall trying to imagine her life with Zero. She smiled at the thought of him picking her up from school. The kids would want to know everything about the man with the bike.

Running fingers through her hair she let out a sigh.

Becoming Zero’s woman would be a dream come true. She only wished that Trevor was here to see them be together. Her brother would be pissed, but he would also be happy for them. She’d make sure of it.

“Prue.” Zero’s yell invaded her calm and serene moment.

“I’m being called,” she said. Turning to Tate she saw the tears falling thick and fast. “Don’t let it get to you. Your son needs his mother to be strong. Ignore Alan. You mean nothing to Zero and will be safe.” She tapped her leg then made her way out of the pantry.

Zero was passing as she did. “Hey,” she said, grabbing his attention.

“Where were you?” he asked, cupping her cheek. He looked panicked.

“I was having a few moments to myself. What’s going on? What’s the matter?”

He took her hand leading her back toward the office. “Alan’s got Whizz. He’s torturing him and wanted you with us when we talk.”

Zero no longer had to pull on her arm. She followed him straight to Tiny’s office. The men were tense as screams filled the room. Alan was pushing the men too far.

“Fucking stop it,” Zero said. “I’ve got her with me.”

The screaming stopped. “Prue, honey, are you there?” Alan asked. The way he spoke made it sound like they had some kind of connection.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“That wasn’t loud enough. Do a bit better than that.”

“I’m here.” She yelled the words, hating him more.

Whizz screamed once again as Alan laughed. She couldn’t handle the sound and shouted for him to stop.

“Stop it, fucking stop it. I’m here. Hurting him is not going to achieve anything. You want us to know you’ve got the balls to hurt someone, fine, we know. You’ve hurt him, and we know you’ve got the balls to do it,” she said.

Zero held her hand tightly. She felt all their gazes on her as she spoke.

“So the silent sister does speak.”

“Trevor never spoke for me. I wouldn’t have let him come near you if I knew what you had planned.” Prue folded her arms, feeling stupid for being angry at the phone.

“I know. He talked about you often, how clever you were. I always wondered how a primary teacher could be clever. Now, I don’t care,” Alan said.

“You’re growing bored.” Prue was shaking inside, hoping her gut was right.

“Why would you say that?”

Looking toward Zero, he nodded letting her continue. “You’ve waited ten years for revenge. In the hospital you told me you had to wait to fix everything Zero broke. It took you years to get to the condition you are in now.” She closed her eyes focusing on Alan rather than the men wanting to kill the man. “Within twenty-four hours you’ve shot one woman, stabbed another, and Zero also has two bullet wounds in his body. You’re getting bored with waiting.”