Nash (The Skulls) (11 page)

“I don’t know.” She closed her eyes, enjoying being held even if it was by someone she barely knew.

“Thank you for being here with me,” she said.

“
There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

When she next woke up it was to see Lash staring down at them. “I see you two had a busy night.”

Sophia blinked the sunlight out of her eyes becoming aware of Zero lying right close behind her, along with the evidence of his happiness to be that close. Jumping out of bed she headed toward the kitchen without looking back. There was nothing going on between her and Zero. She didn’t even know why the other biker was being so nice to her. Zero’s kindness and attention were unnerving her.

Edward was sat on the bed. He was pale and looked like shit. When he stared up there were tears in his eyes. Shooting him a glare, she started to work on the
breakfast. Another biker was sat at the table, and she jumped back.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I’m Killer.” The man was larger than Lash and looked far more deadly. “I’m taking over for Zero.” There was no way she was letting this giant cuddle up against her. Fuck, she shouldn’t have let Zero cuddle against her. There was no way she wanted him getting the wrong idea about her.

“Did you sleep well?” Edward asked.

She nodded, not meeting his eyes.

“Well I had a great night’s sleep,” Zero said, walking through. His hand lingered on her
hip as he kissed her cheek. “It’s just for show.” He whispered so only she could hear.

Chancing a look at Edward she saw he was tense and his hands were tight fists.

Putting together some food for the bikers she finished Edward’s porridge last. “Here you go, Edward,” she said, handing him the bowl.

“What happened to Nash?”

It was the first time he’d asked about the name change. She felt the men behind her were ready to take over. Bending down to his level, she stared him in the eye. “Nash is part of The Skulls. He’s not a druggie or an addict. You’re not him.”

Turning away from him she walked into the bedroom to get changed. None of the men came through, which she was thankful for. When she was done, she ate her own porridge before finishing the dishes she’d
used.

“I’m staying today,” Lash said. “You can go until tonight.” He spoke to the other men waiting for their instructions.

Zero and Killer left the building leaving her alone with the two brothers. From the look Lash was giving his brother, it was going to be a long day.

Going through to the other room she grabbed a book and went to sit down at the table.
Every now and again she winced as Lash landed a blow to his brother. When he released the cuffs binding him to the wall she was surprised.

They fought, hard. Edward didn’t get many blows in. It took everything inside her not to stop what was happening. She needed to trust Lash that he knew what he was doing.

Sophia hoped she could stick it out to make Edward better. She hated seeing him ill.

****

That night Edward was chained to the wall. He’d already thrown up everything he’d eaten, but the shaking was the worst. Edward hated the shaking more than anything else. Every now and then he looked at the door separating him from Sophia. Killer had left him an hour ago, and he couldn’t help but wonder what the hell was going on beyond that door.

Don’t think about it.

Zero had made sure he knew about his interest. Sophia was his woman.

You don’t deserve her.

He needed her though. With Sophia close he felt like his whole world was complete. The only problem he found was the fact he couldn’t reach out and touch her. She was there, but when he spoke to her, shit came out of his mouth.

The door opening quietly startled him. Around the corner Sophia appeared. She was wearing a pair of cute teddy bear pajamas as she walked toward him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked. The blanket she’d given him was wrapped around his shoulders. When she sat down on the mattress he was taken aback. Wasn’t she afraid he’d hurt her?

“I couldn’t sleep
, and I needed to see you. Today was harsh.”

Lash had forced him to fight back. The fact he couldn’t get his body to move scared him. He’d been taking drugs for
only a few months, but it was only recently that those drugs had taken effect. Thinking about his response he wondered how addicts who’d been taking for years were able to stop. He was having a hard time as it was.

Edward knew this wasn’t him. Each challenge his brother set him, put him on course for recovery. Not being able to defend himself while being hit at by his own brother had angered him. There was a time when no one could get a hit past him
, and now he was helpless. When Lash had pulled in close and forced him to look at Sophia, the bruises on her face, his brother made it clear that it was Edward’s fault.

Nash wouldn’t have let any man think he could hurt Sophia. Edward was different. This side of him was weak. It was helping him to make sense in a weird kind of way of how he’d let his life be controlled by something else.

“My brother has always been a bastard and always will. There’s no stopping him from getting what he wants.”

“Don’t you want this?” she asked.

“I don’t know what I want.”

She reached over taking his hand. He stared down at the tattoos covering his arms. Each tattoo symbolized his part within the club.

You’re nothing without the club.

Fight this and win. Be yourself again.

Sophia ran her fingers over each line of ink. “I remember when you got this. Kate was in the shower, and you showed me your ink. You were so happy to be where you were. I remember asking you why you loved The Skulls. Do you remember what you said?”

“The Skulls were a family. There
was no judging. The family accepted you for who you were.”

“And you said that you were never alone again. The club gave you a big family with plenty of brothers and sisters.”

He recalled it all. The drugs, the addiction could take it all away from him. Edward knew he couldn’t let that happen.

She held his hand within her own. Her hold was tight. He felt happy and secure from being held.

“Why are you even helping me?” he asked.

“I kicked you out of my apartment
, and it was the biggest mistake I could have made. I’m to blame for this, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it right.” Tears were glistening in her eyes. “I loved every second of that kiss, Edward. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

Staring down at their hands Edward wanted to cry, to scream at the lost time.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

“I need you to kick this habit. If you don’t get rid of the addiction and become Nash once again it will kill you.” She wiped under her eyes. “I want the man who helped me move. Who kissed me the way you did. I want him back. Not this.”

He wanted to give it to her. Edward wanted so badly to give her everything she desired.

“Kiss me,” he said.

She didn’t hesitate at his instructions. Sophia closed the distance between them, pressing her body against his. He wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling her lush curves. Her ass was lovely and plump, and he gripped her hard. She gasped, banding her arms around his neck.

“This is real, Edward. This is what I want.” She pressed her lips to his. Her lips were trembling and unsure as they caressed his own.
Moaning, he reached up with one hand sinking his fingers into her hair and holding her tight against him. He despised the shaking and the sick feeling in his gut.

Her fingers clutched at the hair at the nape of his neck. Her legs circled his waist, pressing her hot pussy against him.

They moaned. The sounds of their kiss echoed off the walls. He wanted to drown in her scent.

Only when they heard movement did they break apart. Sophia stayed in his lap staring into his eyes.

“What does this mean?” Edward asked.

“It means that you fight this. You kick the habit. Give me back my man
, and I’ll be yours if you want me, Nash.”

The sound of his name made his heart
soar.

She cupped his face. “You can do this. I love you. I want you. Give me him back.” Sophia kissed him again and extracted herself from his hold.

“This is not a trap or a joke?”

“No. I’m not like that
, and you should know that.” She kissed his lips again and moved away. “I needed you to know that before tomorrow.”

“Has Lash got something
worse planned for tomorrow?” Edward asked. His cock was rock hard. He’d not wanted sex in such a long time.

“Tiny is coming tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day for everyone.” She turned and walked away.

You should be following her. She shouldn’t be walking into that room alone.

Lying down on the bed, he looked up at the ceiling. All he needed to do was fight. Fight this addiction, earn his place back in the club
, and get his woman back.

Edward made it a mantra inside himself. There was something for him to fight for. It wasn’t going to be easy
. He wasn’t stupid. He knew in his heart he’d have to fight with every part of himself to get what he wanted.

Tiny was coming tomorrow
, and he needed to make the leader of The Skulls realize that he wasn’t going to give up, not ever. Sophia had given him something to fight for, her.

****

Tiny sat at his desk in the club thinking about the following day. The last time he’d seen Edward, Lash had given him the update on what he planned, and he’d almost killed the son of a bitch.

The bastard had set off a gun and almost killed Eva. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the sheets of paper that Alex had left behind. He couldn’t make out any of the numbers. The clubhouse was quiet, which was unusual. Most days the club was bursting with activity. Since Edward had gone no one was in the partying mood. The threat to The Skulls was higher than ever before
, and all of them knew it was because of one of their own. Edward hadn’t broken down in private, no, he’d done it so rumor could drift to their enemies, and Tiny had many enemies. He hoped most of them were not even close by to know the damage that could be done.

“Are you plotting and scheming again?” Eva asked.

He glanced up to see the other bane of his existence stood in the doorway. She was wearing a silk robe, but he’d snuck upon her early to see her wearing a sheer baby doll negligee. Staring at her, he felt the stirring in his groin. None of the sweet-butts were able to satisfy his cravings anymore. The only woman he wanted beneath him was stood looking at him with her arms folded. Since that night in Vegas he hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind. According to her, he’d been completely shit in the sack. Had he grown complacent with the other women he’d been with?

“I’ve got to go sort out Edward tomorrow.” He gritted his teeth. Saying his name aloud made it hard for him to cope. The boy was such a fucking disappointment and a danger. Eva walked
farther into the room.

“So?”

“He almost killed you, Eva. I can’t let that fucker in my club again.”

“I’m not a member of your club, Tiny. I’m not an old lady or a
sweet-butt. I’m nothing.”

“You’re not nothing
, and you know it.”

“Do I? Edward has been part of your life for a long time now
, and you’re just going to throw that all away because he made a mistake?”

“Don’t fight for him. He’s not worth it.”

She threw her arms up in the air. “Why are you being so fucking difficult? Out of the twenty-nine years you’ve known him, he’s let slip this once. How can you justify in hurting him?”

Tiny stood up. “Because he aimed for you.” He walked around the desk, standing over her. She looked up at him, exposing the long length of his neck. “Any of the women and I wouldn’t give a fuck about what he’d done. He risked hurting you
, and that I can’t accept.”

Her expression softened. “I’m fine.”

Pressing his hand to her chest, he felt her rapidly beating heart. “If he’d not missed he’d be dead by now, and so would Lash. I’d kill everyone who threatens you, Eva.”

Tears were glistening in her eyes. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he breathed in her scent.

“I’m not that important, Tiny. You know it, and I do. Forgive him.” She pulled away from him like she’d done so many times before.

He didn’t know what to do to get her back. There were times he thought he was making progress
, and then he’d slip up. When was he ever going to get what he wanted from her?

What
did
he want from her?

“I can’t.”

“Then you’re not a very good leader.” With those words hanging in the air, she turned on her heel and walked out of the door.

Watching her go, he went back to his desk and dropped his hand in his hands. Would he be forever cursed to screw up around her? Eva evoked feelings within him that terrified the life out of him. He wasn’t ready to let her go. Tiny felt it was only a matter of time before she moved on
, and he didn’t have a choice.