Taking hold of her hand, he spread his fingers wide and locked their hand together. “Too many people know the same shit and we can get caught. I don’t need Butch thinking about me on the job or anyone else. The only person who needs to know the truth is Alex. We’ve got to do this. I’ve thought about this long and hard.”
“You probably shouldn’t have told me.”
“I trust you, Eva. You’re my woman, and I won’t keep anything from you, but you can’t tell Butch. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”
She tucked some hair behind her ear. The pillow behind them propped them up. “I trust you. I’m just scared of something bad happening. I’d hate for anything to happen to any of you. What are you going to tell Gash when he gets out?”
“I don’t know. I’m going to see how he is when I see him. Prison changes men. He didn’t deserve to be put away. I’m not going to draw him out if I don’t have to.”
“I really hope you know what you’re doing, Tiny. I’d hate for something to happen to you because you didn’t think all this through. If something happens to Butch or anyone else, you’re going to blame yourself, and that I can’t handle.” She leaned down to kiss his hands.
“Nothing is going to happen.” He wrapped his fingers in her hair, loving the silky feel of the strands. Tugging her head up, he took her lips, sliding his tongue inside her mouth. She moaned, opening her lips seconds later and giving him what he wanted.
“Fuck, baby, I love you.”
“Then don’t forget what you’re working toward. Gonzalez is dangerous. I need you to consider that when you’re dealing with him.”
“I will, baby. Now, shut up and give me those lips.”
She chuckled, going up his body and giving him everything he wanted. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her over his body to straddle his waist. Fuck, she was so perfect. He couldn’t believe she ever doubted his feelings.
If anything, Tiny was more afraid of her leaving him. Ned could give her and the twins everything, taking her away from him. Tiny didn’t really have a true hold on Eva, and that scared him more than anything.
****
Tucking his head away in his hoodie, Butch kept his head down trying not to be noticed. The last thing he needed was for anyone to notice him. Shit was going down, and he was stuck in the middle. He should tell Alex, but he couldn’t. Something held him back—the past or what, he didn’t know. He only knew that every chance he tried to tell Alex what was happening, he froze. Having both crews in one place was harder than he ever imagined. Not only having Devil and the others at the clubhouse but knowing Danny and the Savage Brothers were around somewhere put him on edge. Gonzalez was not in Fort Wills and was back in Piston County where he was continuing his campaign of crime. He was organizing another shipment of girls, but this had nothing to do with Devil or Tiny. The girls were to be put to Vegas to work on the strip. Gonzalez made sure he was on the call while he was organizing it. He was part of the crew even though he wasn’t in Piston County. At first, Gonzalez wanted him to go to Piston County, but Butch had to convince him that if he left Fort Wills, the club would know something was up. Gonzalez didn’t argue with him.
This visit in the night had nothing to do with Gonzalez or his business. This was about the secret that even Alex didn’t know about.
Knocking on the door Butch waited to be let inside. Danny opened the door, squinting into the dark.
“Come on in.”
Without saying a word, he went over the threshold, removing his hood.
“What’s with the jacket?” Danny asked, inhaling on his cigarette.
“I can’t have anyone noticing me. If someone starts to ask questions, I can’t explain shit.” He glanced around him seeing the rundown place the Savage Brothers were staying.
“I guess it’s time for you to come on through,” Danny said.
Following the other man Butch entered a large room. The scent of booze and smoke filled the air. He saw three people sitting around drinking and talking. When they looked toward him they stopped talking to glare.
Danny motioned around the room at the three men and reeled off their names, Ben, Rick, and John.
“Come on, Dalton and Lacey want to say hi.”
Moving toward the kitchen Butch saw a large man drying a dish and a small rounded woman standing at the counter washing them. “Guys, this is Butch,” Danny said, introducing them. “I don’t need to tell you which one is Dalton and which one is Lacey.”
Nodding, Butch looked at both of them. He didn’t remember either of them. Danny was different; he remembered Danny as his friend.
“How are you doing?” Butch asked.
“We’ll be better when we get to kill the bastard for hurting us,” Dalton said. Lacey just went pale and turned back to the dishes. She rarely spoke to him. Butch knew she’d been hurt hard by Gonzalez’s father over twenty years ago. He couldn’t blame her for not talking when it came to him.
“Gonzalez didn’t kill our men. It was his father,” Butch said.
He noticed Lacey was shaking as he spoke.
“I don’t give a f**k. It’s still a Gonzalez, and from what I hear, the son’s worse than the f**king father. We’re doing the world a f**king favor.” Dalton reached out to touch Lacey’s shoulder. “It’s okay, baby. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
“Why did you bring him here?” she asked. Her voice was small, delicate.
“I thought you wanted to see him.” Danny spoke up.
She shook her head. “I don’t need to see anyone. I don’t want to talk to him.” She pulled away. “I can’t do this. I’ve got to go.”
He watched her leave. Seconds later a door slammed upstairs.
“I’m sorry. I thought you said some of you wanted to see me,” Butch said, hating the reaction he was getting. There was a time when he was much a part of the Savage brothers as any of these people. Gonzalez had taken it all away years ago. He wasn’t a Savage Brother anymore. He was a Skull and would always be a Skull. Knowing he was betraying the club by being here without them knowing filled Butch with regret.
“They did want to see you. I guess they changed their minds.” Danny tugged him out of the room, but Dalton stopped them.
“Lacey, she had it bad when they all hit. They raped her and left her for dead. She was young and had to deal with it.”