Page 5 of Killer (The Skulls #5)

Killer saw Butch wanted to ask so many questions but kept his mouth shut.

Kelsey sat in the back of the car nearest the window looking outside.

Her hand was cradled against her.

The red blood on her shirt stood out contrasting with the white.

Tears streaked her cheeks, and the guilt gnawed at him for being the cause.

He wasn’t stupid.

Kelsey’s emotions were in fact rather transparent.

Killer always knew when he hurt her. The moment he’d told her about the other woman, she looked broken, shattered even.

“How are you doing?”

Butch asked.

“I’m fine. You?”

Kelsey turned to stare at Butch.

“Good.”

The conversation ended. Her face was pale, and he hated it. There was nothing else he could do. The drive to the clubhouse remained silent. Once they parked, Tate walked out with Angel. They clucked around her then helped her inside the clubhouse where Sandy was clearly waiting.

Once alone, he leaned against the car, breathing out a sigh of relief.

“Well, she’s a bundle of fun,”

Butch said, lighting a cigarette.

“I told her about the woman I was with. Fuck, I told her everything, and I lost my temper. She deserves to be quiet.”

He took the smoke Butch offered, lighting it and breathing in deeply.

“Last I heard you deserved to be angry. Bitch doesn’t deserve your apology for treating you the way she did.”

Butch smiled at the passing sweet-butts. One of them stopped, pressing her body against him.

“Go to my room, babe. I’ll come and sort your pussy out for you soon.”

The sweet-butt walked away shaking her ass.

“I see you’re still fucking anything that walks.”

“Hey, our men are fast depleting. Someone needs to stay on hand to keep our sweet-butts in line. I’ve got my pick of the crop. Blaine is always away with Emily and Darcy. I don’t even know if that man is part of our club anymore,”

Butch said.

Blaine had hurt Emily, his woman, deeply, and up until over a year ago he’d not been able to see Darcy, his little girl. Killer knew Blaine would do anything to keep his woman and daughter, even stay out of club business for a while.

“He’s part of the club still. He’s just got shit to deal with.”

“What are you going to do with the married woman?”

Butch asked.

“I’ve not got a clue. I slept with another woman, and I shouldn’t have. Fuck, this is not who I am.”

In fact, Killer felt fucking dirty for being anywhere near the other woman. He couldn’t believe he’d let himself screw a woman he didn’t even know.

Shaking his head, he finished his cigarette, docking it out.

“Have you met the husband?”

“No, I only saw him in passing. He’s not fucking memorable.”

Butch laughed.

“I knew you’d say that. You shouldn’t be feeling guilty. Kelsey is married, and it’s not your problem. Oh well, do you want to join me and the sweet-butt? I’m sure she’d be ready for us both.”

“Nah, you go on.”

He watched Butch leave, heading toward an afternoon of fucking. Entering the club house he saw Hardy and Rose cuddled up together on the far sofa. None of the other women were in sight. Murphy was bouncing his son in a baby chair. The sight of the large man smiling down at the little bundle seemed out of place.

Taking a seat beside him, Murphy nodded his head.

“You over your shit yet?”

“I’m getting there.”

“I saw your woman. Is she okay?”

“She’s not my woman.”

Murphy sent him a look.

“She’s your woman, Killer. I’ve seen the way Kelsey looks at you. What she did was wrong, but I know you. You can’t just give up. Tate’s bitching at me. I’ll sort her out, but she’s all over the place at the moment. She’ll see reason soon enough.”

“I don’t give a fuck about Tate. Kelsey is my concern, and she’s married.”

He sounded out the last word to make Murphy understand.

“I’m not fucking thick, and so what? Tate told me the truth about her marriage. She’s not really married in the heart, and the rest can be handled in time. A divorce will work that out. Tate’s helping her out. Kelsey doesn’t want to stay married to the man.”

Murphy’s son gurgled, swinging his little fists around.

“Is Tate with her?”

“Yeah, Sandy is bandaging her up now. They’re in Tiny’s office.”

Murphy made kissing noises at his boy.

“Where’s Tiny?”

“He took Eva and the kids on a trip to Vegas. Alex is sorting out some kind of deal, and they’re accompanying him so Eva can see her father.”

Murphy lifted the cup of coffee to his lips.

“Are you here to talk about club business or just to keep yourself from rushing to your woman?”

“It has been a long time since we caught up,”

Killer said.

“I know. We’re a busy lot nowadays.”

The scars on Murphy’s face reminded Killer of the danger they’d been in a year ago. No one knew how Murphy had gotten out of danger.

“How did you do it?”

Killer asked, pointing to his face.

Leaning down, Murphy released his son from the bouncy chair and held him close.

“How did I do what?”

“You know what I’m asking.”

“How did I escape an exploding bike and get myself to safety?”

Killer nodded.

“I’d already gotten off my bike before it exploded. When it did, I was turned toward it, and the explosion shoved me down to the ground.”

He stopped to kiss Simon, his son’s, cheek.

“They were firing bullets on the ground around me. I stayed still, but I think I passed out at some point. The pain was excruciating. I hurt everywhere. You can never tell Tate this. She doesn’t know what happened, and she never will.”

“Okay, I’m not going to go telling anyone.”

“I couldn’t move to start off with. The bikes were on the ground, and I couldn’t get away. None of them stayed around to see if we were dead. I saw Time and Gunn were dead.”

Murphy stopped to take a sip of his drink.

“Seeing their lifeless bodies will stay with me forever.”

Killer couldn’t think about Time. The other man, a part of The Lions, had been good through and through. Time’s death cut him deeply.

“Someone came down the road. I heard the sound of an approaching car. They stopped, and I was able to raise my hand. The woman helped me out of the debris and into her car. She drove me to the nearest hospital and stayed with me until it was time for me to leave. I couldn’t get to a phone. I was passed out. The doctors said I was suffering from shock and what I’d been through.”

“Did the woman fall in love with you or something?”

Killer asked.

“No, she was a married woman. She just helped me out. Tate comes across as a bitch, and she is a bitch to a lot of people.”

Killer smirked.

“She’s a bitch through and through.”

“She’s not. I hurt Tate, and she changed. I love her. She’s strong, but deep in her heart I see the real her.”

Murphy smiled, a secretive smile.

“When we’re alone, I know without a shadow of a doubt how she feels about me. I’ve got that, Killer. Tate doesn’t hold her love back. The scars mean nothing to her.”

He pointed to the side of his face.

“She loves me, and I held her when she cried about what could have happened. I couldn’t bear for her to know how close I was to actually dying. If that woman hadn’t come down when she did, I’d be dead.”

Turning toward Tiny’s office, Killer knew part of what Murphy was talking about. If anything happened to his woman, he’d be dead inside. He loved Kelsey, and he fucked up completely. His brothers could say all they wanted about Kelsey being at fault, but it didn’t change his own feelings toward what he did. The woman he’d been with meant nothing to him.

Lash walked up, glaring at him.

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

“What?”

Killer looked around. Angel wasn’t in sight.

“Kelsey. I heard what the bitch has done. I don’t give a fuck what Angel says, she shouldn’t be here.”

Lash looked ready to commit murder.

“Back the fuck off. She’s my woman, Lash. I mean it, back off.”

Killer glanced around the clubhouse, and all of his brothers were glaring toward the door where Kelsey was. He’d never seen their anger before. They all had his back.

“Why haven’t the others said anything?” he asked.

“They’re giving you space. They don’t like her being here, but you come first, not her.”

Lash slapped him on the back.

“I appreciate it. Tell them to back off. I love Kelsey, and I will not have anyone say shit to her.”

“Will do.”

Lash moved away going to talk with the others. Killer was shocked by their support but humbled by it.

Turning back to Murphy, he saw the other man was smiling.

“What the fuck are you smiling at?”

“You, you look shocked. I told you it was like this, man. We’re a family, and she’d hurt you.”

“Let it be. This is between Kels and me. I’ll sort everything out.”

Murphy held his hands up.

“I’m on the fence. I love Tate, but I agree with Lash. Bitch should be on her knees begging for you.”

Killer shock his head.

“It’s not going to happen.”

He didn’t like being the topic of their conversation. Quickly changing the subject, he turned the conversation toward Murphy.

“You’re happier than ever before now,”

Killer said.

“That I am. Tiny doesn’t want to kick my ass for sleeping with his daughter. Here, have a hold of my son.”

Simon was placed into his arms.

Murphy and Tate’s son had the same name as Devil’s child. Tate loved the name Simon and had demanded her son be called it, regardless of Devil’s son already having the name..

Killer was a large man, and he’d never held a baby before in his life.

“Fuck, Murphy, what do I do?”

“Hold him close. Keep his head secure and smile at him. Don’t glare otherwise you’ll have him screaming and Tate will kill me. He’s got a good set of lungs on him.”

Staring down at the sweet innocent face, Killer knew how important it was to have such innocence in his arms. Kelsey held a matured innocence, and he’d squashed on her with his violence and words.

“You’ll make it right with Kelsey. Don’t feel guilty about what you did. You got it out of your system. Tate is helping you out. She’s in talks with the lawyer, and I’m sure they’ll be meeting soon enough,”

Murphy said.

“Thank you.”

Murphy burst out laughing.

“You look petrified. You’re not going to break my boy. He’s a big strapping young man.”

Killer chuckled.

What would Kelsey look swollen with his child? His cock thickened once again.

She’d make one amazing mother.

Her caring went straight to her core.

He’d seen how loving she could be.

The lies were another thing.

He’d never asked about her being married, and she’d never brought it up.

Why the fuck would he bring up her being married? She lived like she was single, and she didn’t even own a ring to prove otherwise, at least not that he saw.

Shit, he had to get this marriage crap sorted out before he lost his mind.

Killer thought about all the sweet things she did that far outweighed the lies.

The lies were the biggest problem.

She was married.

When Tate had been struggling toward the end of her pregnancy, Kelsey made her homemade chocolate ice-cream and waited for her until she finally went into labor.

You ruined everything.

You should have stuck around and heard the truth.

Kelsey was married because of a piece of paper.

There was no other reason she and Michael were together.

The marriage may be real to the eyes of the law, but it wasn’t real between them.

He’d gone and fucked a woman he didn’t know without even asking Kelsey about her married state.

She never wore a ring, and in all the time they’d known each other, she hadn’t talked about Michael once.

How was he ever going to make it up to her?

****

“I’m going to kill that bastard,”

Tate said, cursing and yelling.

“Will you shut up,”

Sandy said, glaring at Tate.

“What?”

“I don’t give a fuck that you’re the fucking princess. Killer has a right to be angry.”

Sandy glanced at her, and Kelsey felt all the anger directed at her from the doctor.

“Killer is part of the club. Your loyalty is with him.”

“Fuck him,”

Tate said.

“No, you don’t get to do that. I’m surprised Murphy hasn’t told you how it goes. The club comes first, and I’m helping her because I’m a doctor and obligated to. I’m not doing this for any other reason.”

Kelsey didn’t take offence. She knew she’d fucked up big.

The glares from the other club members had followed her into the room.

Kelsey held her hand up for Sandy to finish cleaning out the glass.

“Don’t worry about it, Tate. He deserves to be angry. I would be if he was married and been leading me on.”

“You’ve not been leading him on, Kels. For fuck’s sake, did he even ask for the truth about why you married him? This Michael person has a lot to answer for.”

Tate paced her father’s office.

“For fuck’s sake, Tate. Get it through your thick fucking skull. She has been leading him on. Stop being her friend and see this how it is. Sorry, honey, but it’s the fucking truth.”

“I know. There’s nothing I can say to make up for my actions.”

She stared at Sandy. The other woman kept staring at her. Smiling, she tried her hardest to make it reach her eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Sandy asked, reluctantly.

“I’m fine.”

Inside she was breaking apart and cursing herself. There was so much she should have done. From the first kiss she should have told Killer the truth. She never felt married but on a piece of paper. Michael meant nothing to her nor did the marriage. He wasn’t faithful to her. She couldn’t stop thinking about all the pain she’d kept at bay over the years. The name calling, the hurtful laughter that filled her thoughts threatened to have her break down in front of these women.

“Do you have any news about the lawyer? I’d really like to talk with him,”

Kelsey said, changing the discussion.

“He’s looking into the prenuptial agreement and also seeing if he can find any news out about Michael without being noticed. Uncle Alex is also seeing what he can find out while he’s away in Vegas. We’ve got this, honey. You’ll be divorced in no time and fancy-free.”

Kelsey laughed.

The noise sounded forced to her.

Sandy sat back, looking her in the eye. The other woman still worked at the local hospital but not as much as she used to. Most of her days were spent at the clubhouse or with Stink, another club name.

“I’m worried about you, Kelsey,”

Sandy said.

“Nothing to be worried about. Killer knocked over my ornament, and I cut myself cleaning up.”

“I’m not talking about the cut. You look sad, really sad.”

“My husband has come out of the woodwork and is threatening me if I divorce him. I’ve not got much to be smiling about at the moment.”

“You’re fat, ugly and useless. Who will want you? You’re just a waste of time. Why didn’t you die when you were born?”

Words her mother said when she was first down came back to haunt her. When her father was away, her mother took great pride in making her feel less than what she was.

“I don’t know if I want you to be alone right now.”

Sandy pulled the gloves off her hands.

“You’re going through a lot at the moment.”

“I’m fine, Sandy. I’ve been through a lot worse. I promise you, I’m fine.”

How many times would she have to sa.

“I’m fine”, before people started to believe her?

Sandy kept staring at her.

“Okay, I’ll leave it for now, but I want you to call me the moment you change your mind and need to talk to someone.”

The other woman stood, gathered her things and left. Tate stayed in the room. Angel had gone to deal with Lash and their son.

“What’s going on, Kels? Sandy doesn’t worry for nothing.”

Rubbing her temple, Kelsey looked past the woman’s shoulder. She wanted some peace and quiet, and at the moment she couldn’t get either. Between Tate, Michael, and Killer, she was exhausted.

“I don’t know why she’s worried. I’m perfectly fine. I’m just tired. It has been a long few days.”

“Killer won’t hurt you. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a dangerous man.”

Kelsey smiled.

“I know he won’t hurt me. He was angry, and he didn’t hurt me. This was my own fault. I should have told him the truth and not kept it a secret. Everything that is happening is my own fault. No one is to blame but me. I did this.”

Standing up, she was ready to leave the clubhouse.

“Is it okay if I go?”

“See Simon before you do.”

Tate offered her a shirt.

“Quickly put this on. I love you, but getting your blood over my son is not something I want to remember.”

Tugging the stained shirt, Kelsey quickly put the red one Tate offered. The shirt was tight over her fat body. When she got home, she’d take it off and wash it.

They exited the office, and Kelsey followed Tate toward the bar. Killer was holding Simon in his large arms. She stared into his eyes seeing the worry reflected back at her. Dropping her gaze, she waited for Tate to handle the conversation.

“You look adorable, Killer. Terrified but adorable. Come to Mommy.”

Tate lifted Simon out of Killer’s arms.

“It’s time for you to see Aunty Kelsey. She loves you so much, yes, she does.”

Tate was talking in a childish voice.

Holding her arms out, Kelsey cradled the little boy to her body.

“You’ll never have children. Who in their right mind would bed you? You’re useless.”

Leaning down, she inhaled Simon’s sweet scent hoping her smile stopped everyone from looking too closely at her.

“He’s so beautiful,”

Kelsey said.

“Isn’t he just. You’ll be having a son of your own, Kelsey.”

Tate stroked his cheek.

Her words were like a sucker punch to Kelsey’s gut. She wasn’t going to be having children or anything so enjoyable in life.

“It’s time for me to go.”

She handed the baby back to Tate.

“He’s perfect.”

Kelsey looked at Killer.

“Will you take me back home?”

“Yeah, I’ll take the truck so I can bring my bike back.”

Nodding, she waited for him to get up before following him out. She hugged Tate tight to her body.

“Come back soon, honey. You’re missed around here.”

Kelsey agreed then walked out. Killer was waiting in the truck. She climbed into the passenger side, buckled up her seatbelt and waited.

“I’m really sorry,”

Killer said.

“You don’t need to be sorry about anything. You were right, Killer. I should have told you about Michael a long time ago. This is my mistake, no one else’s.”

Tate may have said the club would miss her, but she’d seen the anger on their faces directed at her.

They were all angry at her for her treatment of Killer.

He was their brother, and they were only putting up with her because of Killer and Tate.

She wasn’t an idiot, even though Tate tried to make her feel welcome. Resting her head on her palm, she stayed silent as he drove back through town toward her apartment.

When she saw Michael waiting by her building door, she tensed.

Getting out of the truck she waited for Killer to load his bike into the truck.

Michael closed the distance, standing beside her.

She took a step away, needing some fresh air.

“You gonna piss on her?”

Killer asked.

“Do I need to?”

Killer stepped up to Michael.

“Will you two stop it?”

she asked, feeling mortified. Both men were incredibly good looking. They were humiliating her in the middle of the street. Anyone who passed them would smirk and point.

“She’s not your woman,”

Killer said, ignoring her.

“No, she’s my wife.”

“No ring on the finger.”

Michael smirked.

“There will be. I got here first, Theodore Smith. Back off.”

She turned on her heel and left the men to their cock measuring contest. Kelsey wanted a bath and to get out of the tight shirt. Another humiliation to add to everything else she’d been through.

The truck started up, and she felt Michael close behind her.

“He’s a rather pleasing gentleman,” he said.

“Leave Killer out of this. I don’t want to know how you know his real name.”

She walked to her apartment, opening the door and seeing the mess.

“What the fuck happened here?”

“Nothing.”

Michael closed the door behind him. She went straight to the shattered pictures and ornament and started cleaning everything away.

“If that bastard hurt you—”

“He didn’t hurt me. Why are you still here?”

She finished picking up the large pieces and then moved to her coffee table. Michael didn’t talk, and she kept working, picking up the mess. She wiped down her shelves from the coffee Killer spilt.

By the time she got her vacuum out, Michael still hadn’t said a thing. He picked her unit up and took it out of her apartment. Once she finished cleaning away the little splinters of ornaments left she sat down to look at the pictures. The glass was all gone. What remained were the frames and the pictures. The first one she came to was of Tate. She’d caught the picture at a barbeque in the compound last summer before everything went mental.

Over and over she looked at the pictures.

“How come there are none of you?”

Michael asked. He stood behind her looking down.

“I never want my picture taken.”

She refused to stand in front of the camera when she clicked away. Who would want her in the picture with them?

Rubbing her eyes, she gathered up the pictures onto the coffee table.

“What do you want?”

Kelsey asked.

“I’ve been informed you’re looking for a way out of our marriage. I’m here to tell you to stop looking. You’re mine, Kelsey, and you agreed to stay that way. I’m not willing to look for another woman to fill your shoes. I’ve stayed away, but you’re not reneging on our deal.”

“You’re not telling me you’ve been faithful all these years,”

she said, not believing for a second he’d been without sex for eight long years.

“I fuck women when I want, Kels. I will never stop doing what I want. I simply want to keep you as my wife.”

Turning in her seat she looked at him.

“Why? Why do you want me?”

He frowned. She never argued with him before. This was the first time she’d started asking questions.

Standing up, she faced him, folding her arms underneath her breasts.

“You’re a wealthy businessman who can have whoever you want. Why are you keeping me around? I’m nothing special. You can have any woman you want. Why do you want me?”

“Because you’re mine,” he said.

“This is a possession thing. Someone wants me, and now you want me? God, what is with you men? Why can’t you just leave me out of all of your crap?”

“You really don’t see your value, do you?”

His searing gaze made her feel uncomfortable.

“Please leave,”

she said. She no longer wanted to have this discussion with him. Michael’s actions were like a locked vault, and he would only let her see why he wanted her when he was ready.

“Fine, I’ll go, but I promise you, Kelsey, this is not over.”

She flinched when he slammed the door closed. Her life sucked. Memories of her mother’s hard words had been driving her crazy all day. Would she ever get away from what her mother did to her?

Tugging the shirt from her body, she walked into the bathroom needing to wash her body. Her life had gone to shit, and she couldn’t handle anything more.

“You’re useless, fat, ugly, a waste of space.”

Filling the bath with water, she stripped down, staring at her body in the mirror. She was ugly, worthless. No one would ever truly love something so awful. Tears filled her eyes at the remembered pain of her mother’s cutting words.

Her mother never lashed out with her hand. The words were the hardest thing to deal with. The first time she met Tate she’d lied about her family. None of them knew the true her.

Tate didn’t know what she went through growing up with her mother.

Wiping the tears away, she settled in the bath.

The names she’d been called went around and around inside her head.

She couldn’t handle it.

It wasn’t fair at all.

Killer deserved someone good, someone who didn’t keep secrets.

Michael would never tell her the truth.

He was a controlling man.

Kelsey couldn’t handle it anymore.

Climbing out of the bath, she went to her kitchen and grabbed the smallest knife she could find.

When she returned to the bath, she remembered all the words spoken to her along with the threat Michael held against her.

She tried to find a reason for her to live.

What was there for her? Nothing.

Killer deserved someone better, someone who wasn’t married to a man who refused to let her go.

There was one chance for her to leave the world behind.

Unbinding her hand, she stared at the cut she had earlier.

The name calling would stop.

Everything would stop the moment she took the pain away.

Pressing the blade to her skin, she pushed harder.

“You’re worthless, ugly, fat.”

Sliding the blade down, Kelsey only had one wish, that they scattered her ashes across the ocean.