Page 8 of Killer (The Skulls #5)

Watching Michael leave, Killer knew his suspicions were right on the mark. There was no way that the other man wasn’t dirty in some way. He knew dirty men, and Michael was covered in it. Killer had to admit Michael wasn’t happy with his position in life. Whatever it was Tate would get to the bottom of it.

He wasn’t leaving the hospital until he saw Kelsey. He’d been going out of his mind with worry for her. No one was going to take his woman away, not even her fucking husband.

“You’re going to have to hurry,”

Sandy said.

“Any of the nurses or other doctors see you I won’t be able to help.”

“I’m grateful for what you’re doing. I really am.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m awesome. I know.”

Sandy led him down a long corridor and went past all of the wards with multiple patients. He didn’t look either way.

“She’s in there. Be careful with her.”

“I will.”

He grabbed the door handle, but Sandy’s hand on his arm stopped him.

“No, I mean it. I don’t think she intended for it to go this far, but she’s still in a delicate condition.”

Killer nodded.

“I promise. I’ve got to see her.”

“I know.”

She let out a breath.

“If the nurse comes in just ignore her and walk out.”

“I’ve dodged people before, honey.”

Sandy smiled.

“Okay, take care and good luck.”

She walked away leaving him alone. The curtain on the door was drawn, and he couldn’t see Kelsey. Grabbing the door handle, he let out a breath and entered the room.

She was staring at the window across from her. The only light on came from her side lamp.

Entering the room he closed the door behind her.

“Don’t you even trust me to go to sleep on my own?”

Kelsey asked. The emotion in her voice tore him apart.

“No, baby. I wanted to make sure you were okay. I had to see you.”

She turned, gasping.

“Killer, you came.”

He watched her jerk on the restraints, whimpering when she couldn’t move.

“Hey, don’t do that. I’m here.”

Going to her bedside, he cupped her cheek staring down into her beautiful blue eyes. He kissed her head wishing he could take the tears away.

“Don’t cry.”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I’m so stupid. Please forgive me.”

“Shh,”

he said. Closing his eyes, he pressed his head against hers.

“You don’t need to say a thing.”

“Yes, I do. I’m so sorry.”

Her tears were coming thick and fast.

He pressed his lips to hers, silencing her. She whimpered, opening up to his searching tongue. His cock hardened even when he tried to put his arousal aside. Kelsey was in no state to deal with a horny man.

Pulling away he smiled down at her.

“You gave me a fucking scare there.”

“I regretted it the moment I did it.”

Killer sat down on the chair beside the bed. He held her hand ignoring the white bandages around her wrists. This was still his woman lying on the bed, and he loved her with all of his heart.

“We’ll get everything sorted out, I promise.”

“Michael said you wouldn’t be allowed to visit me. Did he change his mind?”

she asked.

Wiping the tears away from her cheeks Killer shook his head.

“He doesn’t know I’m here, but it doesn’t matter. I’d always find a way to get to you.”

“I can’t believe you’re here. You don’t know Michael. He’s pretty determined to get what he wants.”

Kelsey tried to move her arm and growled in frustration.

“They think I’m a risk.”

He smiled feeling his own tears forcing their way up. Killer felt a lump in his throat at the remembered image of her floating around in her own blood tinting the bath water.

“You’re more of a risk than you realize.”

“Sandy told me you found me.”

“Of course I found you. I’m never going to let anything happen to you. I love you too damn much.”

Her tears were falling thick and fast.

“You love me?”

“Of course I do, you silly bitch. I’ve loved you from the first moment we met.”

Leaning down he kissed her fingers.

“I’m a fucking idiot for what I did to you.”

“No, you’re not.”

She arched up but couldn’t move.

“This is awful. How can I hold you after what you’ve said?”

Getting to his feet once again, he leaned down and embraced her, wrapping one arm around her back while his other kept his body steady while holding her.

“I don’t need you to say or do anything. I promise. I love you so damn much.”

She let out a cry of frustration.

“I’m the idiot.

I love you, Killer.

I should have told you I was married the moment we met.

I was so stupid to have not said anything. I know it will never be enough, but I hope with time I can prove to you how sorry I am.

I love you, and I don’t want anyone else but you. I should have told you the moment I realized how I felt. Instead, I was too scared to tell you the truth about everything. How can you want someone like me?”

He chuckled, loving her words.

“Baby, how could I not want someone like you?”

“I’m fat. I’m useless. You can have anyone you ever wanted.”

Fisting his hands Killer forced his anger down.

“Don’t ever say anything like that.”

When he got her alone when she was well and he wasn’t terrified he was going to turn her over his knee and spank that fucking ass of hers until it was red raw.

The only hope he held was her admittance she regretted trying to take her own life.

People made mistakes, and he’d make sure he didn’t lose Kelsey because of her mistake.

“You’re too good for me,” she said.

“No, I’m not too good for you, baby. We’re perfect for each other. Do you forgive me for what I did?” he asked.

Sleeping with the other woman was something he never wanted to do again. He felt dirty inside and out. Until he made it up to Kelsey he wasn’t going to touch her. Killer knew he needed to prove her he’d never be unfaithful.

“Yes, I can’t say anything to you. I’m married. How can you even stand to be in the same room as me?”

He wiped more tears from her eyes, cursing as he did.

“Don’t cry, baby. I love you, and we’ll get through this.”

“I love you, Killer. He’s not going to divorce me or let me get away.”

“Baby, I’m a Skull. We always get what we want.”

He stroked her hair knowing he’d put a smile back on her face.

Sitting with his woman Killer didn’t care how much time passed. They didn’t need to speak. All he wanted to do was hold her, love her, and take her away from all of this.

“Killer, psst, you’ve got to leave,”

Sandy said, calling through the slit in the door. Glancing behind him, he saw her guarding the door.

Standing again, he leaned down kissing her head.

“I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Please, don’t let him take over.”

“I won’t. I promise. The Skulls are behind you, baby.”

Kissing her head then down to her lips, Killer felt like he was tearing his gut in half at leaving her.

“I’ll be back.”

“Okay, I love you. I’m really sorry, Killer.”

“I know, baby. I’ll let Tate know you’re doing well.”

By the time he was through with her husband, she’d be seeing Tate herself. No one was keeping Kelsey away from him.

Leaving the room he stood by the door staring at Sandy.

“Thank you,” he said.

“No problem. You’ve been with her for over two hours. I distracted the nurses with a case in the Emergency Room. You need to go now for them to do their rounds.”

Sandy ushered him through the door.

Steven waited outside, smoking a cigarette.

“How is she?”

“Fine. She made a mistake, and now Michael can have her within his clutches. We’ve got to stop this from happening.”

Climbing into the passenger side, he waited for Steven to start up the car.

“Take me to the clubhouse.”

“Tiny and Eva made it back. Angel is looking after all the kids with Tate. Murphy ordered his woman about for a change. You’d have loved to see it.”

“There’s no way that happened. No one orders Tate around.”

Killer disagreed. In all the time he’d known Tate, no one got the better of her, not even Murphy.

“It was pretty cool to witness. She was doing the whole ordering about, shouting and shit. Murphy went up to her, grabbed her around the back of the neck, kissed the fucking life out of her and then ordered her out of the clubhouse. Her position is to look after their son, and she was to do it. I’ve got to give it to him, Murphy has got balls to do that to Tate.”

Killer chuckled.

The relationship between Tate and Murphy was something of a mystery to Killer. Still, his friend loved Tate, and because of that, Killer respected it.

“Is Eva there?”

“No, Tiny is. He’s sent her home with their kids as well. Alex is back, and they’re all waiting for you.”

Nodding, Killer sat back. It was late, and he was tired, but until Kelsey was safe in his arms once again he wouldn’t rest.

Steven rambled on for the rest of the journey.

Climbing out of the car, Killer headed inside the clubhouse to find all of the men sat nursing a drink. They looked up at him as he entered. Killer walked out of the office looking tired.

“It’s about time you turned up,”

Tiny said.

“What have you got to tell us?”

Killer discussed in detail everything from Michael’s appearance to Kelsey’s suicide along with his suspicions about the Michael’s business dealings to the club.

“The lawyer hasn’t found anything yet,”

Murphy said.

“To all appearances Michael Granito is a respected member of society. He pays his taxes, and all of his businesses are above board.”

“He needs to look a little deeper. I’m telling you that man is hiding something,”

Killer said, determined to do whatever was necessary to keep his woman protected.

“We need your help in this.”

He looked toward Alex.

“Me? I’m not some crook-finding service.”

“No, you’re a Skull through and through,”

Tiny said.

“You’ve got the men who can make this look more like child’s play.”

“Fine, I’ll do what is needed.”

Alex walked away grabbing his cell phone and starting a call as he did.

“Right, in the meantime, Sandy is staying in the hospital. Is that okay with you, Stink?”

Tiny asked.

“Yeah, she wants to keep an eye on Kelsey. I don’t think I could order her away even if I wanted to.”

Stink spoke up for the first time.

Everyone in the club knew Stink had a thing for the doctor. They all stepped away giving him the time to woo her.

“Good, she’s our eyes and ears.”

“I’m not leaving the hospital. If he visits her I want to be there to make sure he doesn’t try anything funny,”

Killer said.

“Tate’s going as well. She’s going to try to see when she can,”

Murphy said.

Tiny nodded.

“I know she’s not an old lady, but we’re going to treat her as such. I don’t agree with what she did to you, Killer. She better make it up to you.”

“Thank you, Tiny. I appreciate it, and she will.”

“I’m going home to kiss my kids then fuck my woman. Do you think you can keep this place fucking working for the next couple of hours?”

Tiny asked.

They all nodded watching their leader leave the clubhouse.

Killer went to his room going straight for the shower. There was no way he would let Michael take Kelsey away from him. He’d kill the bastard with his bare hands if he had to.

****

Kelsey opened her mouth as Michael pressed the spoon to her lips. She was being fed porridge by a man she didn’t want. He’d woken her up to a heated call.

“Why can’t I feed myself?”

she asked, hating the humiliation of having him do all the work.

“Doctor wants you to have a psych evaluation before he removes your restraints. Besides, I love feeding you. It’s about time I caught up on all my husbandly duties.”

She didn’t need to use the toilet either. They had a bag for that as well. Kelsey wanted to curse, scream, and rant, but Sandy advised against that. If she came across the wrong way then she’d be restrained to the bed for a lot longer.

Fuck, she really needed to get out. When she got out of the hospital she’d be locking up all of her knives. Would she be able to cut with a blunt knife?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“Have you seen Killer and Tate?”

she asked.

“No.”

Michael gritted his teeth.

They were out in the waiting room. She bit her lip to stop herself from smiling. Her friends loved her and were not going to be easily forced out of her life.

“What was your phone call about?”

“Business.”

Opening her mouth she took the last of the porridge. He placed a straw to her lips, and she sucked the liquid down.

When he leaned down to kiss her lips Kelsey felt guilty the moment his lips touched hers. Her lips, all of her body, belonged to Killer.

“I’m not going to give up, Kels. You’re my wife.”

“In name only.”

She turned to look out of the window. What would she give to feel the sunshine on her face?

“We could change that. I’ve been thinking about our future, and us living apart is no longer ideal. I think we should consider moving in together after all this.”

“I’m not leaving Fort Wills.”

“Remember the contract you signed. You’ll do as you’re told.”

Fisting her hands, Kelsey felt her temper rising.

“I didn’t read the blasted contract. Stop throwing it in my face. I’ve got nothing to come back with. Is that what you like?”

“I warned you to read every word.”

“I was eighteen years old. My parents’ home was being taken away by you. Debts were mounting. What did you expect me to do?”

she asked. Her voice rose along with her temper.

She really hated Michael for the way he held her life over her.

“It doesn’t change what’s going to happen.”

“If the only person I’m allowed to see is you then change the subject. I’m getting tired of listening to a broken record.”

She stared out of the window hoping he’d take the hint and leave.

Most of her life she’d not been the subject of men’s interest. Now, she had two men, both different, and one of them she wanted rid of.

Michael placed a hand beside her head crowding her.

“Look at me, Kels.”

Reluctantly she forced herself to look at him.

“If you give us a chance we can have so much more,” he said.

“I don’t want so much more. Why can’t you see that?”

“You tried to kill yourself—”

“To get away from you. You hold that bloody contract over me like a lifeline. I made a mistake in marrying you. Can’t you see that?”

He pulled back. She was sure she saw anger reflected in his eyes. Kelsey didn’t care. Neither of them was suited to each other.

“Do you want to see your friend?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then I will go and get her.”

He stopped at the door, glancing back at her.

“Be warned, Kels, I’m not letting you go. There is nothing and no one to stop me taking what’s mine, and that’s what you’ll always be, mine.”

He left in the next second. She would never be his.

Tugging on the restraints she let out a frustrated sigh. Getting out of bed would be a welcome escape for the time being. The silence was killing her. She wasn’t allowed a television either. The only company she’d been given was Michael.

Sandy snuck in when she could. It sucked. Being in the hospital sucked more than anything else she could think of.

Minutes passed before the door finally opened. Tate stood in front of Michael.

“Honey, Jesus fucking Christ, you scared me, you silly bitch,”

Tate said, charging toward her.

Kelsey stayed still on the bed as Tate gathered her in close.

“How could you do that?”

Tate asked, pulling away.

She was shocked to see the tears pouring down Tate’s face.

“I’m sorry.”

“You should be. I can’t believe you did that. What was I supposed to do if you fucking died on me?”

Tate glanced behind her.

“You can fuck off and leave us to talk in peace.”

“This is my wife. Others may let you take charge, but don’t even think of doing it to my wife.”

Michael stepped up beside her, covering the window.

“I’ll be back soon. Business is calling to me.”

He kissed her lips once again. She didn’t respond staying still. Holding her breath she waited for him to leave before turning back to Tate.

“Why did you let him kiss you?”

Tate asked.

“He causes problems. I don’t want to give him a reason to hurt you or the club.”

“We’re a family, Kels. He won’t be getting to us. We’re banding together to find out the truth about him.”

Tate stroked her head.

“I was so fucking scared.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“You keep saying it. Stop. Why didn’t you call me? I’ll be there for you whenever you need me.”

“I reacted, and I shouldn’t.”

Kelsey pulled on her hand showing Tate what she meant.

“I hate this. I’m trapped and can’t get away.”

“No talk of getting away. We’ll all take care of you. Killer is handling everything.”

Biting her lip, she looked at her best friend.

“He’s talking about having me moved from here to live with him.”

“What? Live with Killer at the club? I’ve told him to start looking for a place to stay. There’s no way you’re staying at the clubhouse with all that shit going on. You’re still a virgin, right?”

Her cheeks felt on fire.

“Yes, I’m still a virgin. I’m not talking about Killer. This is all coming from Michael.”

“He can’t take you away.”

“Not yet. I’m in too delicate a condition.”

Kelsey rolled her eyes.

“He’s feeding me now, too. I’ve spent more time in his company in the last day than I have in the entire time we’ve been married.”

She laughed then stopped feeling close to losing it.

“You’re not alone anymore. Do you want me to call your family?”

“No, don’t call them. They’ll make everything worse. Please, promise me you won’t call them.”

Tate held her hands up.

“I won’t call them. Consider them off the list of people to call.”

Relaxing, Kelsey closed her eyes trying to get her breathing under control.

“You lied about having the perfect family,”

Tate said.

“If you knew my parents you’d feel the same. No one needs to know a sorry sob story.”

“I could hit you right now. We’re friends, Kels. Best friends. I tell you about everything. Shit, we’ve almost died together. You mean far more to me than anyone else.”

Tate stood up, hugging her close.

Tears filled Kelsey’s eyes at the emotion in Tate’s voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop saying that. We all love you, Kels. No more trying to kill yourself, do you hear?”

Tate asked, glaring down at her.

“I’ve got the message loud and clear. I’d hug you, but I’m not allowed to. I’m being held back.”

She tried to make a joke, but it fell flat in the room.

“Sandy will take care of everything, honey. I’m going to try and get here more and more.”

“What about Simon? He needs you.”

“I’m devoting my time between the two. You’re important to me, and I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t divide my time. You were there for me when I needed you.”

Tate stood up, looking around.

“This room sucks. I’m not surprised if you want to kill yourself. This room makes me want to commit suicide. It’s so depressing.”

Kelsey watched from the bed as she walked over to the window.

“It’s too hot outside for you not to enjoy the fresh air.”

She pulled the chair along behind her, climbed up and opened the window.

The moment the window opened Kelsey felt the blast of warm air across her face. Closing her eyes she breathed out a sigh.

“How does that feel?”

Tate asked.

“Perfect. It feels perfect. I love it.”

“See, you’re already smiling, and it has nothing to do with your fancy-pants husband. It’s all down to me.”

Tate giggled.

“Right, I think a television is needed or at the very least some books. Sandy will make sure you can hold them, but you’ve got to promise not to cause any more problems.”

“I won’t cause problems, Tate. I’ve learned my lesson.”

Smiling, Kelsey watched her friend grow animated at making her life more comfortable.

The moment the door opened showing Michael the smile on her face dropped. He’d come to take her friend away.

“Your time is up.”

Tate huffed, putting a hand on her hip.

“I made her smile. I’m doing much better than you. What have you managed to accomplish? All you’ve done is make her feel sucky.”

Michael didn’t say anything. He stood waiting for her friend to leave. Tate blew out a breath.

“Fine, fine, I’m going.”

She walked to the bed staring down at her.

“I’ll get everything changed to make your stay more comfortable. Don’t let him get to you. We all love and miss you.”

Tate leaned down, kissing her cheek.

“I’ll tell Killer how you’re feeling.”

“Please do.”

She watched her friend go. When the door closed and Michael took a seat, Kelsey wished with all of her might she could get away from him.