“I’ll get it taken care of, Boss.”
“Get moving, boys. I know the Donahues aren’t going to wait until we’re ready to attack.”
Everyone moves out, leaving me and Beth alone.
“Skull, please, just let me explain,” she begs.
I ignore her, throw her over my shoulder, then walk her through the club and back to my room without stopping to acknowledge anyone else.
I throw her on the bed. “Skull,” she says as she bounces on the mattress.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Beth? How could you not tell me that Colin and Matthew were your fucking family? Or that Colin wants to stick his fucking dick in you? Don’t you think that’s something I need to know?”
“No. I mean, you said you’d grow tired of me. I thought I’d be long gone before—”
“Were you always planning on fucking leaving?”
She flushes guiltily and betrayal dropkicks me. Fuck.
“Skull, it wasn’t because of you. I just knew I couldn’t stay here because of Colin. I had to leave.”
“So you were planning on leaving me today regardless? You weren’t even going to fucking tell me?”
“You’re the one who said you’d grow tired of me! Remember? What are you getting so upset about?”
“When were you leaving me, Beth? When?”
“Tomorrow. I couldn’t stay knowing Colin might take it out on you.”
“And you weren’t going to tell me. Right, Beth? Be fucking honest for once, since it appears you haven’t been from the beginning. You weren’t going to tell me a fucking thing. You were just going to disappear.”
“Yes.”
“You’re locked in this fucking room. You manage to get some other bitch to help you, I’ll make you sorry and I’ll kill the motherfucker who helped you. Do not test me, Beth.”
“Skull, if you just let me go—”
“I’m not fucking letting you go. Don’t you get it yet, Beth? You’re mine. I’ve claimed your lying ass and I’m keeping it. You’re never getting away.”
“You can’t just keep me here like a prisoner!”
“The fuck I can’t. Just watch me, querida. Just fucking watch me,” I growl and slam the door.
I stomp back out to the club. It’s been deserted by all except Latch. Before he can make it to the room where we have Church, I stop him.
“Latch, you’re on duty with Beth. You go in that fucking room. You do not let her so much as take one step off the bed. She doesn’t go to the fucking bathroom, she doesn’t fucking do anything but breathe. You got me?”
“Got it.”
“Good. I’ll be back after Church. Sabre can catch you up.”
He acknowledges the command and heads back to my room. I take a deep breath. When that doesn’t calm me down, I plant my fist through the fucking wall. The sheetrock caves with the force of my hit and the pain hurts like a son of a bitch. I don’t feel one bit better either. She was going to fucking leave me and I never would have known. Colin would have gotten his hands on her and destroyed her. I slam my fist into the wall again, ignoring my bruised and bloodied knuckles. I feel like I could pound the fucking wall for days and I’d still be pissed off.
I can’t, though. I have to figure out how I can keep my men from dying, all while keeping Beth safe. This is war. Once I get that settled, then I’ll deal with Beth. I just don’t know what the fuck to do with her.
I watch the door slam behind Skull. I just sit there. I don’t know what else to do. I’m in shock. The last thing I expected was having Skull and Colin show up at the bus stop. Sometimes, being in small towns really sucks. I let out a large breath and try to sort through everything. I can’t let Colin destroy Skull. I know Skull thinks he can handle this, but I’ve seen the way Matthew and Colin operate. Nothing good can come from this. Yet, I’ve got a feeling that getting away from here won’t be that easy.
I tense up as the door opens. Surely Skull isn’t back so quickly. It’s stupid, but I’m more than a little disappointed when it’s not Skull that comes through the door.
“Who are you?” I ask the stranger. I’ve seen him before, so I know he’s a member, but he’s one of the ones I haven’t talked to.
“Latch.”
Does no one in this club have a regular name?
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m your babysitter until Skull gets done and can come back to watch you.”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Apparently, you do.”
“So I’m a prisoner?”
“Let’s see. I’m not supposed to let you go to the bathroom alone, so I’m going to go with yes.”
“This is ridiculous.” I huff, looking away from Latch. I don’t want him to read the fear in my eyes. I really need to get away before it’s too late—if it’s not already.
“Yeah, it is.”
“Then why don’t you go back out and do whatever you need to do? I’ll just—”