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 f**ked 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 f**k 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 f**k what Angel says, she shouldn’t be here.” Lash looked ready to commit murder.
“Back the f**k 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 f**k 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.”