Murphy (The Skulls) Read online

  “You don’t want to do this,” she said.

  “Pick, Murphy,” Sal said. “I’m going to own this town, and your club is going down.”

  Staring into his eyes, Tate tried to convince him. “I love you, and I finally get what you did. I understand what you did, and you don’t need to do this. I was too fucking stubborn. Forgive me.” She was sobbing as she begged him.

  “Your woman or the club, Murphy, pick.”

  “I’m not letting you down again. I pick the future.” The gun Murphy had been holding behind his back was raised. One shot rang out. Tate felt a burning in her shoulder as the bullet went through her shoulder through to the man behind her.

  Before she hit the floor, Murphy held her. The man behind her went down.

  He covered her as another series of shots rang out. Tate felt nothing but pain, horrible, all-consuming pain through her shoulder.

  Closing her eyes she heard the screaming, and then Murphy was looking down at her.

  Everything felt silent. “You shot me,” she said, pushing a hand to her shoulder. Her hand came away covered with blood.

  “I had to choose, and I chose to keep him waiting,” Murphy said.

  “You think you can take my fucking town you piece of shit.” The sound of her uncle’s voice cut through her pain.

  “Alex?”

  “I saw him coming and knew I needed to stall what was happening,” Murphy said.

  “You shot me.” Everyone was alive, and she’d been shot. Tate was so thankful Murphy had shot her.

  He helped her to her feet. She looked around to see men dead on the ground. Her father was leaning against the wall looking deathly pale. Eva was pressing a towel against his stomach. Alex was beating on the man known as Sal. The drug dealer was being pummeled. Killer, Time, and Whizz were working over some men with The Lions cut.

  She was starting to feel sick.

  A few feet away from Tiny, she saw Mikey on the floor. He wasn’t moving.

  “Mikey,” she said, moving over.

  “Murphy, stop her,” Tiny said.

  “Let him go.” Murphy held her tight, stopping her from going to the other man.

  “No, Mikey can’t be dead. He’s a Skull. He can’t be dead,” Tate said, panicking at the lack of life in the man. She’d seen a lot of death in the last year, but nothing could have prepared her for his death.

  “We need an ambulance,” Eva said. “Tiny’s bleeding out, and he’s not going to make it if we don’t do something more.”

  “An ambulance is on the way,” Alex said.

  Unable to breathe, Tate looked toward her uncle. A scream rumbled up in her chest as with one quick swipe across the neck, Alex ended the drug dealer’s life.

  “No one touches my niece and gets away with it.”

  “Tate, breathe, baby,” Murphy said.

  It was all too much. She couldn’t breathe, and suddenly the room went black.

  ****

  The sound of beeping woke Tate up. Opening her eyes she saw the blank white walls, and the smell of the hospital invaded all of her senses. Trying to focus on everything that happened she tried to sit up in bed only to be held back by the pain from her shoulder. Gasping, Tate felt all the memories invade.

  “I’m here, honey,” Tiny said.

  Turning her head she saw her father in a wheelchair, wearing a hospital gown and staring at her. He held her hand, and she finally noticed the tears in his eyes. “What’s going on? It all happened, didn’t it? Where’s Murphy and Eva?” she asked, struggling to sit up.

  “If you don’t stop struggling the nurse is going to shove a needle into your vein,” Alex said, making his presence known. Glancing up, she saw her uncle stood by the door.

  “Eva and Murphy went to get coffee and check on the damage,” Alex said.

  “What happened? Please, don’t keep me in the dark.”

  “Sal is an old employee of mine. I cut him loose five years ago when I caught him stealing with intent to sell for double the price. I don’t let men get away with shit like that.” Alex closed the door, stepping closer. “As punishment, my men castrated him, and we believed he’d been fed to the dogs. No body was found, so I thought that was the end of it. I was wrong.” Alex sat on the other side of her bed.

  Tears gathered in her eyes. “He, erm, wanted revenge.”

  “He set his sights on Fort Wills. When Tiny told me the details I knew it was him. I got to town as soon as I could. When I saw what happened I tried to get in there as quickly as I could. He’d gotten Jeff from The Lions hooked and intended to use the club as a front, turning Fort Wills back into a dealing town. I couldn’t let that happen. I promised your mother on her death bed I’d keep this town safe.”

  “Which is why he’s moving back,” Tiny said.

  Glancing at her father, Tate felt the tears fall. “Tell me he didn’t die.”

  Tiny looked down. “I’m sorry, baby, Mikey didn’t make it. The bullet entered his heart, and he died instantly.”

  Covering her face with one hand Tate let out the sobs. Mikey was like family. He’d been part of her family for such a long time. “He shouldn’t have died. Did, erm, did anyone else die?” she asked.

  “Fern was shot in the head.”

  Tate gasped. No one liked the sweet-butt, but hearing her death still hurt.

  “Sandy is in intensive care. She lost too much blood, but they’re keeping an eye on her.” Tate listened to them reel off the list of casualties. “Angel, erm, she lost the baby. Lash and Angel didn’t even know they were expecting. She lost the baby, and they’re handling it together.”

  “Everything that could go wrong, did,” she said.

  “Murphy hasn’t left your side. The nurses complained about him all the time,” Tiny said.

  “People have died,” she said.

  “We’re going to take care of everything.” Alex looked at her father.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nash found Kate’s body. She was in a pool of her own vomit with a needle in her arm. We believe she sold out our location, and they used Sophia to distract us. Nothing is happening with the other woman. She’s an innocent in all this,” Alex said.

  Murphy knocked on the door. She looked at him and smiled. Tears were running down her face, but he was the only person she wanted to see.

  He carried several cups of coffee, Eva followed behind him. Within seconds he was beside her bed. “You’re awake, baby.” He kissed her head, and she reached toward him holding him close.

  The others left her room with Tiny promising to return when visiting hours were over.

  Her man lay on the bed beside her, holding her tightly in his arms. She let go of all the years and the pain inside her.

  “You were going to pick me, weren’t you?” she asked, thinking about that moment when he’d been given the ultimatum.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m so pleased you didn’t. I couldn’t have handled their deaths, Murphy. Thank you for not picking me.”

  “I can’t live without you, Tate. The club and all that shit I can. You, I can’t get a new you. From the time when you were sixteen and adorable to your tempting self at eighteen, I was hooked on you.” He kissed the top of her head. “I will always choose you.”

  “That’s what you did when you went to The Lions, wasn’t it?” she asked.

  “You deserve a town to be safe. I did everything for you.”

  He rubbed her stomach, caressing an arm down her body.

  “I don’t know how we’re all going to handle this,” Tate said.

  “They’re thinking of a joint funeral for all the lives lost. Kate, Fern, and Mikey.”

  Tate sobbed at the mention of the older man. “He deserved so much better.”

  “I know.”

  Murphy held her until the sobbing stopped. He leaned down and kissed her head.

  “Marry me,” he said, producing a ring in front of her.

  “What?” she asked, looking at the ring
and then at him.

  “I know it’s not romantic. I shot you and now I’m asking for you to marry me, but I want you, Tate. Marry me.”

  “I’ve been a total bitch to you. I blamed you for everything, and it wasn’t your fault at all.” She shook her head, shocked by his proposal.

  “I don’t care. You can make it up to me.”

  “How?” she asked, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

  “Well, I’ve got some kinky desires for us to play out. Also, you can be sweet to me when no one else is watching. Marry me, Tate. I don’t give a fuck about anything else.”

  “Yes,” she said, taking the ring from him and placing it on her finger. She admired the jewel on her ring finger. It was perfect.

  Later that night, after Murphy left, Tiny was wheeled into her bedroom. “I didn’t want you to sleep alone,” he said, easing up onto her bed.

  “Hey, Daddy,” she said, moving over for him to fit on the bed. She turned the volume down on the bed television so she could hear him.

  “No man is ever going to be good enough for you. Murphy, he did what I’d want him to do,” Tiny said.

  Looking up at him she saw tears in his eyes. “What do you mean?”

  “I’d have chosen you. Any man who’ll chose the club over you is not a man in my book. Murphy was going to choose you, and I think it’s only fair he gets you back.” Tiny lifted her hand in the air, staring at the engagement ring. “I gave him my blessing, and it’s time you stopped being a bitch.”

  She chuckled. “I’ve already made a deal with him.”

  “Good.”

  “What are you going to do about Eva?” she asked, snuggling closer.

  “I’m going to do everything I can to make it right.”

  They were silent for several minutes, watching the television together.

  “I’m sorry about Mikey, Dad.”

  “Me too, pet, me, too.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The funerals were the worst part of the aftermath of the drug shooting in Fort Wills. Murphy was surprised by the turn out of the people as they put Kate, Fern, and Mikey to rest. They were all members of the club, and that made every minute of that day hard. Throughout it all, Tate was by his side, holding his hand. The engagement band lay on her finger, making everything easier for him to bear.

  The club was being rebuilt, and the truck had been tipped. The bodies from the drug dealers and the few remaining Lions were buried away far out of Fort Wills. Murphy got the satisfaction of digging the graves himself. He told Tate everything, never leaving anything out. They were currently living with Tiny and Eva, back at Tiny’s home. Murphy was looking for their own place, but nothing was close enough to the club.

  Tate wanted to redesign his cabin. He wouldn’t let her. There were too many awful memories back at the cabin, and he didn’t want married life with Tate to start with them. After the funerals, morale was at an all-time low. Pictures were placed around the bar and the club of their fallen members.

  Four weeks after the funeral, Tate finally broke the ice with everyone. All the members were sat at the breakfast table, including Sandy, when she clapped her hands gaining their attention.

  “We’re all miserable, and we’ve lost some great men.” Her gaze went to the pictures on the wall. “But I think Mikey would want us to move on. Daddy, I want to get married inside the club,” she said.

  “What?” Tiny asked, spitting coffee into the cup. Murphy knew he’d been working on the cost of a church wedding for her.

  “I know, it’s insane right? This club is my whole life, and it’s Murphy’s. Also, Steven, Blaine, Killer, Whizz, and Time need to be patched in. What better way of kicking off the rest of our lives by having a huge celebration of it?” Tate asked.

  The idea was horrible and required some negotiations with a priest to get him to agree, which led to Murphy staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror next to the kitchen, two weeks later about to get married.

  Killer was stood beside him. “Are you ready for this?”

  Looking at his new friend, Murphy nodded. “I’m more ready than I ever thought possible.”

  Finishing off his tie, he turned away from the mirror to look at one of his brothers. Killer had been patched in along with the others an hour before. Tate wanted to have the rest of the night for her celebration. “Your woman knows how to start a party,” Killer said, sipping from his beer.

  Murphy wasn’t allowed to drink until after they were man and wife.

  “Tate’s a good woman,” he said, agreeing. Inside he was dancing for a joy at finally having her in his life. By the end of the day he was going to have her by his side and in his life with no chance of her disappearing.

  “I’m seeing Kelsey,” Killer said, shocking Murphy into silence.

  “What? You’ve got to be careful. Kelsey’s not part of the club.”

  “Neither was Angel, but look at the other two. They’re stronger than ever before.”

  Angel had ended up in the mental ward after losing the baby. She’d completely lost it and had almost taken her own life. Lash had intervened, and now the couple were back on form. Murphy knew it was difficult for the pair of them, but slowly, they were growing stronger, healthier. He wanted to dispute that but decided to leave it. Tate would deal with Killer. He’d heard from the man himself the threat she’d given Killer. His woman had some balls, and he loved her all the more for it.

  Closing his eyes, Murphy counted to ten in order to gain focus of everything that was about to happen.

  “She’s turned the club that’s not part of the rebuild into a fucking doll’s house,” Nash said, storming into the room.

  “Tate’s only going to get married once,” Murphy said. “Did Sophia turn up?” His woman had invited the other woman to try to help Sophia through her loss.

  “She’s on her way. Today should be good for her,” Nash said, sitting on the edge of the sink. “You’re going to make Tate very happy.”

  Murphy nodded. Next, Tiny walked through the door. The older man held a walking stick to help him get around during his recovery. Eva was by his side at the club or at the house most of the day. “You better not fuck this up, Dillon. You hurt my daughter, and I’ll end you.”

  “Who’s the big guy around Eva?” Nash asked, stopping Tiny’s warning.

  He sent Nash a thankful smile before focusing on Tiny and the way the man paled. “That man is Eva’s father. He owns some of the underground fighting rings in Vegas and is the recent business partner with Alex.”

  Frowning, Murphy went to the door to see Alex and the big guy talking.

  “I’m confused,” he said, turning to his soon to be father-in-law. “Eva’s part of some illegal fighting?”

  “Her father made a lot of money in Vegas,” Tiny said, looking out of the window. “She hasn’t talked to him in a long time. I don’t know why.”

  “Fuck, you’re fucked,” Nash said, laughing.

  “Maybe you’re going to know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of some angry dad action,” Murphy said.

  Eva knocked on the door and entered. “Tate’s ready for you.”

  All eyes turned to her.

  “What?” she asked.

  “You never mentioned who your father was,” Tiny said.

  “I didn’t want to get the job for being known as Ned Walker’s daughter. His reputation is known far and wide. We had a fight, and I didn’t want him to know where I was. When I met Alex and knew him, I was worried he’d tell Ned where I was.”

  “Your father is not the leader of some biker club?” Tiny asked.

  “No, he does the fighting and invests in other activities. Daddy shouldn’t even be here. Alex told him about everything. I’m not involved in him being here,” Eva said. “Can we not make this about me? This is Tate’s day, and I don’t want to ruin that with family drama that doesn’t concern you.”

  She left the room.

  “Fucking woman.” Tiny turned to
him. “Be at the fucking alter or I’ll hunt you down.”

  Out of everything, Tate had been able to make an altar. She truly did amaze him.

  Leaving the bathroom, Murphy left everyone alone and headed toward the altar where the priest stood waiting, holding a Bible. The man didn’t look as nervous as Murphy thought he would. Being in The Skulls’ zone put a lot of people off. He wondered how much cash had been thrown at the other man to make him comfortable.

  Turning toward the room, he saw Lash and Angel along the front seat with Kelsey sat beside them. The entire club was sat waiting for the momentous occasion.

  Eva was nowhere to be seen as she was the one and only bridesmaid. Tate had wanted Angel and Kelsey to be one, but both women didn’t want to be one. It was strange as most women loved it. Kelsey was too shy, and Angel hated the limelight after everything that happened.

  Simple, their wedding was going to be a simple occasion.

  The music started up, and Murphy was ready to become a husband.

  Tate appeared at the bottom of the stairs. She wore a white silk dress that molded to every single lush curve. There was a scar on her shoulder where the bullet had entered. She was already booked into a tattoo parlor to get it covered.

  The world fell away as he looked at her. She was so fucking beautiful, and she made his world shine. For a long time he was alone, fighting everyone and everything. Then he’d entered The Skulls, been given her as a prospect duty, and his future was cemented.

  His time at The Lions was worth it to live through this day. Tiny handed her over to him. He didn’t feel the pain as Tiny gripped his hand tightly. Nothing else mattered other than Tate.

  He’d have married her in some trashy place in Vegas so long as the marriage stuck.

  “I love you,” she said, mouthing the words for him to see.

  When it came to the part of their vows, Tate looked nervously at him. Didn’t she think he was ready?

  “Tate Johnson, I promise to love, honor, and cherish you for the rest of my life. There will be no other woman in my heart or on my cock.” His words got a few laughs and a growl from Tiny. “From the moment you looked at me I was lost to everything else. The best part of my day was having you in it.” He didn’t look away, wanting Tate to know, on this special day, how important she was to him. “Everything I’ve done has been for you to have a better world. Tate, my love, my life. I’m a Skull but more importantly, I’m your Skull. You’ll be my first priority, you’re my family, my wife, and everything I hold dear. I will die for you, kill for you, and I’ll be there for you when you need it the most.”