Nash (The Skulls) (12 page)

Edward stared at the vomit on the floor. He heard Sophia running around trying to clear it up. Tiny was going to arrive any minute. Killer had moved him away from the vomit and soaped him down. He needed a bath badly. The stench of the last couple of days was starting to turn his stomach more than the withdrawal. His diet of porridge and water was starting to wear thin as well.

“Don’t worry about the mess. I’ll see to it. It’s my job to make sure he’s fine.” Sophia pushed Killer out of the way. He watched the big guy take a seat and begin reading the newspaper. Edward didn’t even know the other man could read. “How are you feeling?” Sophia asked, cupping his cheek.

Her touch made him burn from the inside out. Fuck he wanted to be inside her so bad. When he was well and sober he was going to spend a month fucking her hard.
She’d like it rough.

“Like I’ve been run over by a fucking bus.”

She smiled. “That’s good.”

“Me being in pain is good?”

“No, you being able to tell me that is good.” She kissed his lips and wrinkled her nose. “You need to brush your teeth. You stink.”

He laughed despite not wanting to.

“Get away from him,” Tiny said, invading their moment. He tensed up, and Sophia tightened her grip on his face.

“It’ll be okay.” She got up, grabbing her stuff and leaving his side. Edward looked up to see the guy who’d beaten him badly. Tiny was fucking huge and scary. The scowl on his face gave evidence to his temper. Great, if Tiny got hold of him, he was fucked.

Tiny reached out grabbing Sophia’s arm and drawing her in close. He heard her squeal and try to hide it. Tensing in the cuffs, he glared at where Tiny was holding his woman.

“What were you doing that close to him?” Tiny asked.

“He’s been sick. I was cleaning him up.” Her voice was small, but she didn’t cower away from the man.

“I told you not to get too close,” Lash said, speaking up.

“Someone had to clean him, and I didn’t see the big lug giving me a hand. I did what I had to do.” She tried to get Tiny to leave her alone. The leader of The Skulls kept his hand on her. “Let go.”

“Get your hands off her,” Edward said.
He’d had enough of the power play.

“Are you talking to me, boy?”

“She’s not your concern. Sophia is helping you, but that doesn’t give you the right to be a dick toward her. I’m the one you’ve got a problem with. Me. I was the one who almost killed Eva. Deal with me.”

Tiny let Sophia go. “
You’re right. My issue is with you.”

The big man walked toward her. “Get these cuffs off him, Lash. He and I are going to have a little chat.”

Swallowing past the lump in his throat, Edward stared past Tiny’s shoulder to see the fear on her face.

“It’s all right. Nothing is going to happen,” he said.

Lash released the cuffs and helped him out of the room. He looked behind him as Sophia made to go to him. Killer held her back. His arm was across her chest stopping her from moving.

They didn’t leave the building. He heard the doors being shut as they moved far away from the room with Sophia.

Tiny opened the far door on the right leading out to what looked like a gym. “Some of the boys have been using this place to make their own amusement. I thought it was rather inventive of them.”

Edward didn’t comment. It was the first time he was able to move around. Instead of using the time to his advantage he collapsed onto the floor sitting on his butt.

“Are you begging me for forgiveness?” Tiny asked.

“No, I know you better than to beg. You won’t give me forgiveness until you feel that I’ve earned it.” He was cold away from his blanket. Fuck, his life had gotten so messed up. “Are you going to finish what you started?”

“Am I going to kill you?”

“Yeah.”

Tiny let out a sigh. Lash was stood near the far wall with his arms folded. “No, I’m not going to kill you.”

The news surprised him. He expected the next time he saw Tiny he’d be dead within seconds.
“If you’re not here to kill me then what are you here for?”

“I needed to see you for myself. Lash has kept your space at the club. You’re still a Skull.”

“What about the votes? What do the guys think of an addict taking a spot?”

Tiny smirked. “They say the first sign of recovery is admitting you’re wrong.”

Looking down at his hands, Edward saw the muck and grime on him. “Yeah, well, I’ve had to see what my woman thinks of me like this. I never thought Sophia would ever be disgusted with me.”

“Your woman opened your eyes.”

Tears were fast filling his eyes. Edward was on rock bottom in a stink pit. “I remember my dad saying that the best men have the best woman beside them. I can’t be by Sophia’s side, and if she’s prepared to give me a chance then I’ve got to get clean.” She was his savior whether he liked the power it gave her or not. “This is not me.”

He wiped the tears away. Edward was many things
, but he wasn’t a fucking pussy.

“Your father would be disappointed in you with this,” Tiny said. “He’d probably take the belt to you
, and so would your mom. They were good people.”

Grinding his teeth together, Edward kept the tears locked in tight.

He would not cry.

Suddenly Tiny sighed. “I was coming here to kill you. Eva’s mine
, and you almost killed her, but you didn’t.” He sat down beside Edward. “The day your mom and dad died I kept my promise to always protect you, but the last few months I’ve been breaking that promise.”

Lash looked as surprised as he felt.

“You’re men, and as Eva said, you’re twenty-nine years old and made one mistake. I’ve been neglecting my job as leader. It won’t happen again. I’m not here to kick your ass.”

Edward didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to risk upsetting Tiny.

“You earn your place back in the club, then it’s yours. I’ll back you, but you’ve got to get the drugs out of the deal.”

“I’ll do it.”

“Good.” Tiny slapped him on the back. “I’ve got to go and set a deal with Alex. The bastard is really starting to piss me off.”

When they were alone, Lash sat beside him.

“You took a beating for me.”

“Yep
, and I’d take it again and again. You’re my brother.”

“Take me back to the chains. I can feel the hunger inside me to get a fix.”

Lash helped him back to the main room. He saw Sophia stop mid-pace as they walked back to the room. “I was freaking out. He’s not the kind of man you say no to.”

Killer grunted.

“He’s the boss, Sophia.”

Collapsing to the bed he waited for Lash to put on the cuffs.

“Wait, what’s going on?” Sophia asked.

“I’m going to finish this.”

He felt weak. The determination was riding him hard. Edward wasn’t going to let this be the end of him.

Keeping an eye on Sophia he forced himself to be okay with being locked in.

“We’ll still keep an eye on you, and she won’t be alone.”

“Good.”

She sat beside the mattress staring at him as Lash and Killer left the room. “What made you take the drugs?” she asked.

He repeated the story he’d told Lash. It was the truth
, and he didn’t see a point in hiding the truth.

“Was it me? Did I drive you to taking them
because I was a fucking idiot and sent you away?”

“I was weak. I couldn’t handle you pushing me away
. Yes, I took them because of your rejection, you didn’t push them on me. I was the weak one who couldn’t say no.”

“I didn’t even know that
Kate had the stuff. God, I was a bad sister.”

“You were too damn good for her.” He took her hand and held her tightly.

They were silent for a long time. Sophia broke the silence. “So you thought I was innocent?”

“Compared to me and the life I’ve led, you’re innocent.
You’re not a virgin?”

Her cheeks went bright red. “No, I’m not a virgin.”

“Neither am I.”

She chuckled. “Let’s not talk about the past. You were with Kate
, and I was with a guy. We can move past that.”

“A guy?”

“Edward, stop it.” She looked at their hands.

Staring at her bowed head, he felt his heart explode with happiness.
He knew all about the guy she was with, but he wasn’t going to think about that. When he was with The Skulls, before he fucked up, he could have anything. The women and the booze all came to him along with the parties. The Skulls couldn’t give him what he actually wanted, which was Sophia.

“I hate my name,” he said, trying to distract himself.

“Then work hard and get Nash back.”

“Do you think I can do it?” he asked, needing to know her thoughts.

“I think you can do anything that you put your mind to.”

****

The week passed silently, and Sophia helped Edward throughout it all. The Skulls took turns helping out. She spent her days cooking, cleaning, and talking with Edward. The guys talked about club business, which she ignored. Lash stayed with them the most. When the guys were busy, she played cards with Edward on the mattress. She’d baked a chocolate fudge cake and stolen him a slice to enjoy. When the shivering and the vomiting ceased, Lash would take him out for a walk.

On those days Sophia stayed inside waiting for the men to get back. She was more thankful when Lash offered to take his brother for a bath. The stench radiating off Nash had made her feel sick at times.
Zero stayed the most. She was a little afraid in case he’d started to have feelings for her. Sophia noticed that he would find any excuse to touch her.

“We’re taking the restraints off for good today,” Lash said on Friday night, the second week of staying in the factory. “Also, we’ve got some work to do
, so it will only be you and Edward tonight.”

“When do you think you’ll be calling him Nash?” she asked.

“Soon. On Sunday a lot of the guys are going to be stopping by. We’re going to make sure he’s ready to join us.”

“You’re afraid if he’ll fall off the wagon.”

“It has been known to happen for addicts.” Lash looked past her to a sleeping Edward. “He’s going to be around booze, and he’s got to get used to it.”

They’d all agreed that Edward would be best off not drinking or taking anything that could risk him spiraling down.

“You’re leaving me alone?” she asked.

“Edward would never hurt you
, and I don’t like the way Zero is around you. I’m going to bring some distance between you and the guys.”

She nodded. “I’ll take care of him.”

Lash handed her the keys. “We’re going to lock up the building, so no one will come inside. You’ll be safe.”

Sophia didn’t say anything.

“Let him out when you’re comfortable.” He turned to leave. She watched him go, wishing he wasn’t leaving her. At the door he stopped and glanced toward her. “Thank you for helping me. The Skulls will always offer you their protection.”

The door closed
, and she was alone with the man she loved with her whole heart.

“You don’t have to let me out if you don’t want,” Edward said.

She turned toward him. Edward was sitting up against the wall. He was wearing clothes and looked more like the guy she first met than ever before.

“You were awake?”

“I’m a pretty light sleeper, babe. The drugs doped me enough to sleep throughout the night.” He let out a yawn, which made her laugh. “Lash told me he was going to leave the decision up to you. I don’t blame him. We’re here alone, but he’s right. I’ll never hurt you.”

“I didn’t think you’d hurt me.”

“I’m not offended.” Edward stared at her. “I’ve been an ass to you.”

“Do you remember everything you did with the drugs in your system?” she asked.

“Yeah, I knew what I was doing. I’m going to have to live with that for the rest of my life.” He looked sad, and she hurt for him.

“I forgive you,” she said. The keys felt heavy in her palm.

“You shouldn’t forgive me. I was a fucking bastard, and you should be hating my guts.”

“I’ve never been good at that.” She tucked some hair behind her ear. The bruises from Gill and his
friends had all but disappeared. The guys hadn’t hit her that hard.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, catching her by surprise.

“I’ve missed you, too. I never wanted you to go that day.” She walked closer knowing she was to release him from the cuffs.

He stared up at her. Leaning over him she released one cuff then the other. Moving away, she put the keys down on the table and checked the chili she’d started to cook on the stove.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw him rubbing his wrists.