Nash (The Skulls) (9 page)

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“So you agree that something went down between the two of you.”

She paused in putting clothes away and glanced at the tall man.
Zero was a large man with plenty of muscles. His hair was cut tight to his head. She saw a tattoo coming out of his shirt and circling his neck.

“Nothing really happened. He was with Kate
, and I told him I couldn’t be with him.”

“Is that bullshit I smell?”

Sophia didn’t respond and started to put some clothes into a case. “He kissed me, and I freaked out. It was good, and I couldn’t handle the thought of him being with my sister. I’d heard them plenty of times. It’s wrong. I shouldn’t have feelings for the guy my sister was with.”

Shaking her head, she walked into the bathroom.

Zero followed her into the bathroom. “What are you doing?” she asked. He closed the door behind him.

His hand went to her hip
, and he spun her to face him. “I was never with your sister. She was too fucking easy, and I thought I’d catch something.”

“Do you think your feelings have something to do with Kate?”
he asked.

“I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.”
Sophia nibbled her lip. Zero was too close to her.

Zero pressed her up against the counter. “What do you think I’m trying to do?” He invaded her space. His hand rested on her hip, pulling her in close. She felt the hard ridge of his cock pressing against her stomach.

Her heart was racing, and she didn’t know why. There was no answering pulse in her groin, and she didn’t feel turned on. If anything, she felt like this was going to be a big mistake.

“Don’t overthink everything.”

“This is not right.”

He caught her lips underneath his. Nash’s kiss, what she remembered of it
, had been sweet and gentle. Nash had taken his time, opening her lips to receive him. Zero plundered away. There was no effort to his technique. He simply took what he wanted without waiting for her.

In no time at all his hands were wandering over her body
, and she hated it.

Pulling away, she shook her head. “No, stop. I don’t want this. This is not what I want from you.” She pushed at his shoulders. Zero stepped back
immediately. He didn’t look offended or upset.

“If you want some advice, honey, stop pushing
the boy away. Otherwise at the end of all of this, he’s going to find a woman who really wants him and doesn’t keep pretending she doesn’t.”

Sophia waited for him to leave before she got her shampoo and conditioner. She chanced a look in the mirror and winced when she saw the marks on her face.
Kate never came home looking like this.

Pressing her hand to the glass she walked away, finishing her case. Zero had packed her fridge up and was eating a slice of the chocolate cake she’d baked the night before.

“Did you make this, or is this one of the shop bought crappy ones?” Zero asked.

“I baked it.”

“You’re a damn fine cook.”

“You’ve not tried my food yet. A cake is not a good thing to judge on.”

“If you cook like this then you’re all right by me. I might even put a good word in for you with Tiny.”

She snorted. “I doubt he’ll want anything to do with me. He’ll probably hold
me responsible for one of his men going off the rails.”

Zero finished his slice of cake, taking the whole thing with him.
“You’ll be surprised. Tiny wouldn’t hold you responsible at all.” He walked toward the door. “Any man who becomes a Skull has to take on the job of being strong enough to handle what anyone throws at them. Nash needs to be strong no matter what bitch stands in his way. What’s the point of having men who can’t fight when their pussy’s being difficult?”

“Do you have to speak like that?” she asked.

“Get used to it, baby. We’re not here to make everything a fairy tale. We work hard and party hard. We fuck who we want and don’t give a fuck about what people think. You want Nash then you’re going to have to start playing by their rules.”

She was close behind him as he made his way out of the building. Sophia noticed him holding the butt of his gun on the way to the truck. “Do you expect us to be attacked?”

“If word spreads about Nash enemies could think we’re weak. I’m not about to be jumped for the kid making a mistake. He has serious issues, but what Lash is about to put him through is going to be hell.” Zero pushed her up in the truck.

Putting on the seat belt she waited for Zero to get in the driver’s seat.

“What do you mean hell?”

“You don’t think Lash is going to let his brother get away with him taking a beating? Lash is going to make sure Nash pays. Tiny and the whole of the club are going to need proof that Nash is making recompense and that his recovery is as painful as possible.”

Her eyes were wide as she stared at him. They had to be wide. She’d never heard anything so barbaric in her whole life.

“They’re brothers. Why can’t
you accept that?”

Zero steered the truck to the side of the road. “Listen, sweet cheeks, we’re the ones responsible for this town. We make sure you can walk down the street safely
, or in your case as safely as you can. We keep the shit out of the town. If Tiny starts taking anyone on, our enemies would be on us like flies ‘round shit. Deal with it. This is how we handle club business. You can’t handle it then I suggest you get the fuck out of the way.”

She licked her lips. Her throat had gone dry. “I’m not going to like what Lash is going to do to his brother, am I?” she asked.

“No, you’re not. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn away and do exactly what Lash demands.”

Zero pulled the truck back onto the main road.

She didn’t speak for the rest of the journey. When they parked up outside of the factory, Lash was smoking a cigarette and talking on the phone.

“I’m okay, baby. I’ve got everything covered. I’ll be there tonight
, and we’ll talk about it. Nash is fine, and I’ll take care of him.”

Sophia grabbed her case and started walking toward him. She was conscious of Zero following behind her.

“I love you, too. Bye.” Lash hung up, facing her. He looked at the case. “Is that it?”

“I don’t have a lot of stuff.” She shrugged.

“I brought her food. Bitch is one good baker.” Zero was guarding the chocolate cake as if it was an expensive jewel.

“Good, let’s get set up.”

Lash headed into the factory.

****

Opening his eyes, Nash saw his brother leading Sophia back into the room. One of her hands was holding her side, and she was carrying a case with her.

“She going to be my babysitter?” Nash asked.

“Yep, I thought I was being kind.”

“Then you’re fucking wrong. You want to get me sober and off the drugs get her away from here.” He saw her flinch
, and he hated causing her any kind of pain. “She’s too weak to handle what you’re going to throw at me.”

Lash looked at Sophia then back at him. “You really think so?”

“She’s innocent, Lash. Don’t put her through this.”

Zero snorted
, and Lash chuckled.

He watched as his brother advanced on him. “I think it’s time you open your eyes up about your woman, brother.” Lash grabbed a fistful of Nash’s hair. “Take a good long look at her. She’s no innocent. I’m not calling her a whore. Sophia’s strong, Nash. She’s no weakling
, and if anyone’s going to help you, it’s her.”

She cleared her throat. “Where do I put my stuff?”

“Through to the other room. Zero will get you settled. I’ve made everything so you’ll be comfortable for your stay.”

Sophia stared at Nash. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. Standing to his feet, he glared at her, hating the fact she was seeing him like this.
The cuffs his brother had bound his wrists with had enough give for him to move to the edge of the mattress. The cuffs must have come from some kind of BDSM shop, especially designed to bind a person yet allow
some
movement. The chains were locked into hooks in the wall. Nash gave his brother credit for style. He never thought he’d see the day when he was bound to the fucking wall with kinky cuffs. Fortunately, he wasn’t completely bound with his back against the wall.

“Do you see anything you like?” he asked, opening his arms wide.

Stop it, Nash. This is not what you want.

He couldn’t stop it.

Her eyes narrowed. “No, I don’t.” She took a step close then closer still. The heels of her boots clicked on the floor with her advancing steps. He was at the edge of the mattress. The chains on his wrists gave him a little moving room. Not much, but enough to not make him feel trapped. She’d never looked at him with anything other than happiness.

Sophia glanced up and down at his body. “You don’t think I can handle what you’ve got to throw at me.”

“You’re not prepared for The Skulls’ approach to life, baby. You can’t handle anything.”

His lack of faith in her being able to handle the life was why he’d never tried anything else on her.

“You think I’m too innocent even though I heard you fucking my sister?” Sophia asked.

Nash didn’t break eye contact even though he wanted to. He kept looking at her waiting for her to cower away from him.

She chuckled. “You really think I’m sweet and innocent.”

There was something about her voice that made Nash stay quiet.

“Then what do you think now?”

He watched her walk toward Zero. Sophia dropped her bag to the floor along with her jacket. The sway of her hips captured his gaze. The bangles on her wrist
s gave an edge to her appearance. He wanted his hands on her hips and wanted to feel that lush body against his own.

She ran her hands up Zero’s chest.

Jealousy gripped every part of him, and he tensed in the restraints. Sophia turned so he got a good view and plundered her tongue into Zero’s mouth. His biker brother ran his hands over her body, squeezing that full ass.

He jerked to try
to get to her. Nash was held in place.

When she withdrew her lips were swollen. She turned to him and started toward him.
Sophia grabbed her backpack and then invaded his personal space. “The only person who can’t deal with me being part of The Skulls, is you. You could have me a long time ago, but you wanted my sister. I wasn’t ready to get over you with my sister. I didn’t want that, but I still wanted you to be my friend. I’m not the person you think I am, Nash. It’s time you opened your eyes.”

“I’m not a fucking mind reader,” Nash said, yelling the words.

“Well, now you know the truth. I’m here, and I’m waiting for you to get over yourself.”

She didn’t wait for him to respond before she was on her way.

“You’ve just had your ass handed to you,
Edward
,” Zero said.

“Touch her again and I’ll cut your balls off. She’s mine.”

Zero smirked. “You’re in no position to question me. I’ll go and see if she’s getting settled.”

He had to watch Zero walk toward Sophia. Yanking at the chains, Nash let out a growl. He couldn’t handle watching one of his brothers taking on Sophia.

Fuck, the look in her eyes would stay with him forever. In all the time he’d known her, he’d never once seen her look sexy. She’d always been beautiful to him but too innocent to ever explore.

Had she ever really been innocent?

Crap, his thoughts were all over the place, and he couldn’t think clearly at all.

“What are you thinking?” Lash asked.

His brother was stood with his arms folded over his chest.

“These restraints are fucking unnecessary.” He pulled on them hoping they’d pull away easily. Nothing happened. Until Lash opened them up this was where he was staying.

“Do you really think I’m going to believe that?” Lash stared at him, smirking.

“You’re being an asshole. It’s my least favorite quality about you.”
Nash stopped pressing on the restraints and sat down on the makeshift bed. “Is this what you’re going to do to save me?” He laughed. “This is the worst fucking idea in the world.” Nash wiped his brow free of sweat.

“We’ll see who is laughing in a couple of weeks.
When did you start using?” Lash sat down opposite him.

The desire to
lie filled every part of him. “Why do you want to know?”

“I want to know when my brother started going off the rails. I need to know what I’m fighting against.”

Letting out a breath, he rested his arms on his knees. “Fine. The day I moved Sophia into her apartment we kissed, and she told me she couldn’t. She kicked me out with a box of Kate’s possessions. I found a little white bag of powder and figured I’d give oblivion ago.”

“Then you fucked over your life. Beating up drug dealers and making sure everyone knew The Skulls had a patched in member who couldn’t
keep his shit together. Thanks a lot.” Lash stood up, going toward the fridge in the room.