Zero (14 page)

“I understand.” Tate ran fingers through her hair. “Look, I’m a bitch. I know I’m a bitch. You’re Zero’s woman, and I don’t want to cause problems. We’re all on lockdown. It takes a toll, and I don’t want to be fighting with the new girl, especially seeing as you’ve got the others on your side as well.”

“This is what this is about?”

“No, I want us to be friends. This club means everything to my family. I fuck up all the time, but they’ve always got my back.”

Prue thought about it. She didn’t know how long Alan intended to play whatever game he wanted to play. “Fine, we can be friends.”

She offered her hand, and Tate took it.

Seconds later Tate left the room, and Prue left the kitchen, going to Zero’s room. She was surprised to see him on his bed. “I thought you were outside.”

“Eva’s got the kids settled in front of a movie. I don’t know how long it’s going to last, and I wanted to spend some time with you.”

Taking a seat beside him, she gazed down at the floor. Club life was not what she expected. “I’m surprised you can stay here for so long. When we were younger you always needed to do things, to get out there and live your life.”

“It hasn’t changed. The families are here, and so everything is toned down. None of the sweet-butts are naked waiting for a fuck. The alcohol is being limited to after eight at night. Lockdown means a lockdown on everything, pussy, booze, fun.”

“Nah, I don’t believe that.” She took his hand, leading him downstairs to the room with the pool table. Staying in the bedroom alone with Zero was not going to be good for her sticking to her rules. He was too much of a temptation to be alone with a bed and plenty of time on their hands. Once they were surrounded by other club members she was safe. “There is more to life than booze and pussy. We can have fun without getting drunk.” She handed him a pool stick. “Let’s just play and try to forget why we’re here. You know, like other people have fun. It’s not some foreign concept, Zero.”

He took the stick from her looking at the pool table. “How long has it been since you played?”

Trevor had taught her how to play pool. She pressed the button releasing the balls and started to arrange them within the plastic triangle. “It has been too long. I’m going to shoot first to check my aim.”

She felt his gaze on her as she aligned her stick and started hitting the balls. Once they were spread out she took her time shooting them all into the holes available. A couple of the men were watching them. Zero was smiling in the corner as she potted the last ball. Prue hadn’t done them in any order. Playing pool had been something she did with Trevor and Zero to pass the time when they were younger.

“You were just showing off,” Zero said, moving away from the wall.

“Was not. I’ve not played pool since before Trevor died.” She turned away so he wouldn’t witness her pain at remembering her brother.

He grabbed her shoulder, pulling her close to press a kiss to her neck. “I miss him, too, baby. You don’t need to hide your feelings from me. I know what you’re feeling. Come on, let’s play.”

Prue arranged the balls but let Zero take his shot. For the next hour they played pool, listening to the men take bets on each of them. She was surprised how many men betted on her winning.

When it came to the last shot, Prue was crowned the winner. She chuckled as Zero bowed down to her.

Eva shouted that dinner was ready. Leaving the pool room, she was making her way out of the room when Zero snagged her arm tugging her against him. The wall was to her back, and he crowded around her stopping her from going anywhere.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, looking up into his eyes. They were in dangerous territory, very dangerous territory, and alarm bells were going off inside her head.

“Why haven’t you played pool in a long time?”

“Seriously? This is why you’re stopping me from getting fed.” She made to brush past him. Zero wouldn’t let her leave using his body to trap her against the wall.

“I know you, Prue. You love playing pool. Why haven’t you kept on playing it?”

“Is this really important to you?”

“Trevor and I spent weeks teaching you after you nagged us. We could have been doing anything, and instead we trained your ass to shoot and now you’re telling me you haven’t even put it into practice?” His palm slammed the wall beside her head. She wasn’t afraid, but the heat filling her panties was another problem altogether.

Don’t fall for him. It would be a big mistake. A big fucking mistake.

He’s in love with Sophia.

Take him, fuck him, and get it out of your system.

“Pool is something you, Trevor, and I played. When he died and you were not around, I didn’t want to share it with anyone else. It was our thing. No one else could ever compete. He was my brother, and you’re my friend. Can’t you believe for one minute that I missed you?” she asked.

“What? Prue, I came around.”

“You came around when it suited you. You called me when it suited you. I had nothing to do with it.” She stopped, looking past his shoulder. “In the early days after Trevor died you visited me regularly, but then they eventually turned into once a year. Shooting pool, messing around, drinking, shooting, it always reminds me of the time all three of us spent together, and it hurts. It hurts so bad that at times I can’t even breathe.”

“Nothing is ever going to bring him back.”

“I know this.” She stamped her foot in anger. “I know I can never have him back. There is no magic wand to turn the clock back. I know the reality, Zero. It’s fucking hard, and it hurts like hell. So no, I don’t play pool. I don’t do anything other than study and mark papers. I cannot let myself remember because it hurts.”

His arms wrapped around her, and it was only then that Prue realized tears were pouring out of her eyes. She was hurting, and the pain wouldn’t stop. Trevor was gone. Zero was in love with someone else, and she was all alone.

“I’ve got you, Prue. Let it all go.”

She held onto him tightly as she released ten years of pain and anguish. When Trevor first died, she was sad and she cried for days. There came a point when she could no longer cry as life demanded she still take part. Bills always needed to be paid, and life had to go on without her brother. She stopped crying, pushing all the pain and heartache to one side.

Being around Zero opened her up to wounds she truly believed had healed.

“They’re going to think I’m a right girl.” She sobbed the words against his chest.

“No, they’re not. You’re a woman who has been shot and seen shit you should never have seen. You need this, and while you’re crying I need to hold you.” He kissed the top of her head. Releasing a breath she glanced up at him. “I could have lost you, Prue. I failed Trevor. I cannot, will not fail you.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“It’s not about a debt needing to be repaid. I care about you, Prue. The thought of anything happening to you makes me feel sick. It’s not happening. Alan can go and rot. I will spend the rest of my days on lockdown if it means I can guarantee your safety.”

She smiled. It was a sweet thought, but even she couldn’t handle a lifetime of being stuck in the same place.

Wiping her eyes, she felt her old self again. She was emotionally drained. Her stomach growled, letting her need for food be heard.

“I better feed you before you faint on me.” His arms stayed around her shoulders holding her close. They entered the main clubhouse. All the tables had been put together for all the people to sit around. Two chairs were left free between Eva and Murphy.

“Is everything all right?” Tiny asked.

She nodded.

“Yeah, everything’s good,” Zero said, reaching for the chicken.

Prue filled her plate with roast chicken, salad, and potatoes. She didn’t have the appetite to eat but knew she needed something to keep her going. The conversation went over her head. Her thoughts were elsewhere, and she didn’t have the energy to keep up.

****

“Why don’t you just blow the clubhouse up?”

Alan thought about the question coming Peter. The men were not well known for their education. They were still loyal men even if they were a bit on the stupid side. The Skulls were on lockdown, but that didn’t mean they were kept inside the one building. The children were still walking around the compound.

Looking at the new photos he’d been given, Alan smiled. The compound was on lockdown. No one could get in, but it didn’t stop them from coming out. Gates and fences wouldn’t keep everything out. He had his own way of getting what he wanted.

“Blow the clubhouse up. Where is the fun in that?” Alan asked, glancing up at Peter.

“It kills the people you want, deals with The Skulls, and we can be gone.” Peter shrugged.

“This is not about moving on and getting the job done quickly. Something like this needs to take time, precision, and patience. It’s a game I’ve learned to play for a long time.” Alan pinned the pictures up one by one. The best way to get the mouse was by setting little traps. Zero was getting comfortable. The cheese was in reach. Soon it would be his time to strike.

“This is far more dangerous. The Skulls is not a club to be messed with,” Peter said.

Alan had heard all about The Lions, the drug dealers, and even The Darkness, trying to pick off The Skulls. “I’m not after the club. I don’t want Fort Wills. The only thing I want is to watch this man suffer. I’m going to tear his world apart and laugh while I do it.” He pointed to the picture of Zero. The man in the photo looked so happy. By the time Alan was finished, Zero wouldn’t have the first clue how to smile, and then he’d be dead. “Don’t worry, my friends. Everything will be happening all in good time.”

Ten years he’d waited. Ten years of surviving, learning to walk once again and then losing the one he loved had taught him a great deal. Revenge would be his when the time was right.

Patience was a virtue. One he’d learned to embrace.

Chapter Eight

The following Friday, Alan still hadn’t made his move. Prue was much recovered, and her wound was nothing more than a scar, a vicious memory she would take with her when it was all over. The painkillers she’d been taking were no longer necessary. Glancing out of the window of his bedroom Zero saw night had fallen. After dinner he listened to the women put the kids to bed, getting them out of the way so the alcohol could be fast flowing. The sweet-butts were allowed to mingle with the single men, keeping their clothes on until they were alone in a bedroom. Tiny kept to the rules during lockdown. No one was allowed to break them either. Zero had no reason to break the rules. Prue was already in his bed.

He watched the door to the bathroom open, and Prue stood before him in a plain black dress that showed off her large cleavage and clung to her curves. She looked fucking stunning. His cock swelled at the sight of her.

She’d twisted her red hair up on top of her head, exposing the length of her neck. The desire to run kisses all over her neck was strong. He resisted and watched as she bent forward to put on a pair of heels.

Fucking hell, he was not going to survive the night. In the past Zero had watched her dress up to go on dates. She’d been a tomboy, and wearing a denim skirt down to her ankles had been the closest she got to feminine. The woman before him didn’t have a single inch of tomboy about her. She was temptation, sex, and lust all rolled into one.

“Do you want to close your mouth? It looks like you’re drooling, and it’s not such a good look for you.” She chuckled, smoothing her palms over her legs. “How do I look?”

“We’re not going out. It’s only the club members here,” he said, hoping none of the men would try to hit on her. There was only so much he could handle, and pushing away all of his friends because they wanted her didn’t feel like much fun. He had better ways of spending his night. One of them was with his hand wrapped around his cock rather than watching Prue in that dress.

“I want to dress up and be pretty for once. Stop ruining my buzz, or I swear I will kick you in the balls so you can never father children.” She raised a brow at him.

Laughing, he walked right up to her. Cupping her cheek, he stared into her beautiful green eyes knowing he was lost. She truly was a beauty.

“There is a lot more I can think of that you can do to my balls.”

Her cheeks grew red. She didn’t drop her gaze. This is what he loved about her. Prue never backed down from a fight.

“I’m sure you can.” She pressed a hand to his chest. “Just like I can think of a few things you can do with that mouth of yours.” Prue went on her toes, kissing his lips. “Tonight is about fun. Alan has not popped out of the woodwork. We’ve got a small window of having fun.”

Alan’s name sucked all the arousal out of his body. Whizz couldn’t find anything yet. The trail ended about five years ago, which sucked. At the moment, Zero didn’t care. With the threat of Alan, he still had Prue in his bed. Once the other man was gone, he’d have to fight to keep her with him in Fort Wills. No one knew what Alan looked like seeing as Zero fucked his face up ten years ago. The sketch provided didn’t help either. The hospital room had been dark, and Prue could only remember so much with all the stress and pain.

“Come on.” He took her hand leading her downstairs. Music was playing from the stereo in the corner. Steven was playing barman while the others were sitting around talking, smoking, drinking, or playing cards. “Are you up for a game of pool?” he asked.

“Not yet. We played not long ago.” She wrinkled her nose going straight for the bar. Zero couldn’t take his gaze off her.

Prue’s body looked so inviting.

Sitting at the bar, he listened to her order a beer. Steven handed him a beer, which he thanked the man for.

“How are you finding club life?” Steven asked, staring at Prue’s tits.

Taking a large gulp of his beer, he wondered what he was supposed to do with the man looking at his woman’s tits.

Not your woman. She won’t let you claim her.

“It’s a little boring. I bet when the lockdown is lifted and Alan is gone, it will be fun.” Prue tilted the bottle to her lips.