Page 38 of Gash (The Skulls #13)

Lacey was so nervous. Lash had driven out to their home to pick her, Whizz, and Sally up so that they could go and see Daisy. They were traveling toward Lash’s house to see Daisy. The lawyer was already there, waiting for them.

Before they signed the papers, Lacey wanted to talk with Daisy to make sure the young girl was happy with it.

“Are you all right?”

Whizz asked.

“I am.”

Lacey smiled, releasing a sigh. “Just nervous.”

Sally leaned forward, gripping her shoulder. “She’s going to love you.”

Taking hold of Sally’s hand, Lacey smiled at her. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I don’t want you to think we’re pushing you aside.”

“You’re not sending me back, and I’m not going to be selfish demanding that you can’t help another person like me. Daisy’s young, but she need us. I can’t wait to be a big sister.”

“We’re going to be one wicked family,”

Whizz said.

“You’ll have to read to her, and we’re so going to have to go shopping,”

Sally said.

“What the fuck? You just want an excuse to spend my money.”

Whizz cursed, shaking his head.

Sally giggled. “You love us for it, and honestly, what else are you going to spend your money on? Laptops, tablets, phones?”

“I run a business.”

“You’re a nerd. A total nerd.”

Lacey laughed, listening to Whizz and Sally bicker. They cared about each other a lot. She knew that Whizz saw Sally as his daughter. At first, Lacey didn’t think it was going to work between them as a family, but Whizz was different with Sally.

“A total nerd who can buy you exactly what you want.”

“True.”

They pulled into Lash’s house and drove the car up the long drive. Climbing out of the car, Lacey linked her arms with Sally, and took Whizz’s hand as they made their way to the door.

Angel opened the door. Her bright smile greeted them.

“It’s so good to see you again,”

Angel said.

Out of all of the women in the club, Angel was the sweetest. Lacey couldn’t even find the effort to find fault with the loving woman. When Lash had first taken over for the club, Lacey had had her doubts about Angel, but even with being the sweetest woman on earth, there was strength inside her.

Angel hugged all three of them, and glancing over her shoulder, she saw Lash there.

“What have I told you about hugging?”

Lash asked, moving to his woman and pulling her against his side.

“They’re a couple. Whizz doesn’t mind,”

Angel said.

“Stop hugging everyone.”

“He’s possessive,”

Lacey said. Lash had always been particularly possessive of his woman, even from the start.

Angel rolled her eyes. “Come on. Daisy’s eating breakfast with Anthony. They both slept in. I don’t have a spare bed, so Daisy slept in Anthony’s bed, topping and tailing. They’re still young so I didn’t think it would be too wrong.”

Entering the house, Lacey couldn’t help but smile. The whole house was charming, and feminine, exactly how she imagined Angel.

They made their way into the kitchen, which was a cook’s dream. Angel was known for her ability to cook. Lacey hadn’t been gifted with any kitchen skill at all. She even destroyed sandwiches.

Anthony and Daisy were sitting together, eating. Daisy wore Anthony’s clothes, and Lacey’s heart went out to her.

“The lawyer is waiting in the sitting room. Lash is just going to get him,”

Angel said. “Hey, Daisy, Lacey’s here to see you.”

The young girl looked up. Her brown hair was so long, and it fell around her. There was no care taken for it, and she didn’t look loved at all. Lacey knew, deep in her heart, that she could love this young girl.

Anthony touched Daisy’s shoulder, squeezing her.

Taking a seat beside the young girl, Lacey touched her hand. “Do you remember me?”

“Yes. You’re Whizz’s old lady, which is weird. You’re not old.”

Chuckling, she tucked some of that long hair behind her ear. “So, I’ve been talking with Angel and Lash, and we were thinking if you would like, you could come live with me and Whizz. What do you think about that?”

“Live with you?”

“Yes.”

Lacey’s heart was pounding. She didn’t know what to do. What if Daisy didn’t want to live with her and Whizz?

“In a real house?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll pick me up on time?”

“Yes. I wouldn’t miss you.”

“Come to school for events, and I can still be friends with Tabitha?”

“And me,”

Anthony said, glaring at Lacey.

“And Anthony?”

“Yes. You’ll be a Skull child. Whizz and I, we’ll take good care of you.”

Lacey squeezed her hand a little tighter, trying to gain comfort from her. She wanted to give this young girl a home. No one knew that she cared about Daisy and that it had grieved her each time she went back to her parents, who didn’t care about her.

“Yes, I want that, please.”

Daisy climbed off her chair, and threw her arms around Lacey. “Please don’t make me go back to the trailer and to Mom and Dad. They don’t love me. They tell me every day.”

Lacey’s eyes filled with tears. No child should be told they were not loved.

Anthony climbed out of his chair and moved up behind Daisy, hugging her tightly.

“We’ll love you,” he said.

“I’ll get everything resolved for you to come and stay with us, okay?”

“Yes.”

****

Sally made her way out toward the back of Angel and Lash’s house. She was the oldest of all of the kids, and even though she wasn’t blood to the club, they treated her like she was. This was the first time she’d ever been part of a family, and with both Lacey and Whizz, Sally was able to heal.

There had been so many homes, so much abuse, some physical, some sexual, and a lot of mental.

Running fingers through her hair, she took a deep breath. She loved being outside. There were times she would be locked in her room, and at some of the foster homes, they had bars on the windows.

She loved the outdoors.

Closing her eyes, she lifted her face to the sky and inhaled. There was no greater feeling than being outside, inhaling deep, and being relaxed.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

She turned around, opening her eyes to find Steven leaning against the door, his arms folded as he stared at her. Sally hadn’t even heard him leave the house.

“I didn’t know you were here.”

“I’m here to watch over you guys while Lash and Angel deal with Daisy.”

“You’re not a prospect.”

She folded her own arms, fighting off the cold.

Steven sighed. “You’re going to kill yourself if you don’t cover up.”

He removed his leather jacket and moved toward her. He placed the jacket over her shoulders. “I don’t want you getting cold.”

“Thank you.”

She pushed her arms through his, and the scent of him surrounded her. Her cheeks started to heat, and she turned away from him. The last thing she wanted him to know was that she liked him. Steven was really sweet to her. She’d seen him with other women, and he was never sweet to them.

“I could have taken care of everyone,” she said.

“You could, and you’ll be making lunch for us all. You belong to the club, Sally, and I protect what belongs to The Skulls.”

Nodding, she wouldn’t look at him. In all of her life she’d never once had a crush on anyone. Steven was the first man that she’d ever felt anything for. He was older than she was by fifteen years, and she wouldn’t ever act on her feelings. He probably only saw her as a stupid kid.

“Are you okay, Sally?” he asked.

“Yeah, why?”

“You’re quiet.”

“I’m just enjoying the fresh air.”

“Do you have any homework to do?”

“No.”Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled at him. “I’m good.”

He nodded, and turned to go inside to the kitchen. The moment he left, her heart felt heavy. She didn’t understand it.

Steven was just a guy, and she wasn’t going to let her feelings for him get in the way.

****

Closing the door, Steven hesitated. Sally was different. When she first was adopted by Lacey and Whizz, she’d been closed off, but once he proved to her that he wouldn’t hurt her, she’d opened up. Now once again, she was closed off.

“Why do you look like someone has taken your favorite toy?”

Lash asked.

“I thought you were going?”

“Heading out now.”

Lash looked behind him. “She’s wearing your jacket. She’s fifteen years old.”

“Ew, what the fuck? She was cold.”

“You do know she’s got a huge crush on you, right?”

Steven froze. “What?”

“Yep. Lacey and Whizz know it as well.”

“I would never do anything like that. She’s not old enough—”

“We know that. Just be careful with her. I don’t want to have Whizz trying to fucking kill you. I’d miss you. Maybe when she’s older.”

Steven shook his head. “No. She’s not my type. She’s not a club whore, and I’m not good enough.”

Looking back toward Sally through the window, he saw she had taken a seat on the steps. He noticed she did that a lot, spent hours sitting outside staring at the stars, or the sky.

“I never thought I’d be the kind to settle down and have kids. I didn’t even see past fucking the next available pussy. Seeing Angel, and getting to know her, I wouldn’t change a single thing about the way my life has gone with her. She’s the love of my life, the very reason I wake up in the morning.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“One day, Sally will leave the club and go away to college. She’ll grow up, and when she returns, she’ll no longer be just some girl, and you may not even be the same guy. Don’t throw away a chance because it scares you.”

“She’s fifteen.”

“She won’t always be fifteen.”

Lash shrugged. “Keep your hands away from her.”

Steven watched as Lash made his way out of his own home. The kids were set up in the front room, and there was a gate keeping them there, not that it worked. The kids could wander around whenever they wanted as they knew how to open the gate. They were good though, and would come to him if they needed anything.

Entering the kitchen once again, he saw that Sally was standing near the counter by the stove. She’d left his jacket on a chair and was reading a book.

Just be yourself.

“I don’t have a crush on you,”

Sally said, glancing up at him.

“Huh?”

“You didn’t shut the door properly. I heard everything. Don’t worry, I’m not going to try and jump your bones or anything.”

“You don’t have a crush.”

Sally looked over the edge of her book. She shook her head. “No.”

Steven would never understand why he was a little bit gutted at that information. There was seriously something wrong with him. Sally was too damn young, and he only fucked women who knew there wasn’t going to be anything between them.

He and Sally didn’t stand a chance.