Zero (22 page)

Zero was silent. He didn’t want her near this fucker. Whizz’s wail made Zero get to his feet. When he finally got his hands around Alan’s throat, he was going to relish taking his life.

****

Prue couldn’t stop staring at the ring on her finger. It was so beautiful, and it took her breath away. The fit was perfect as well. Smiling, she raised her hand up as she stared at it.

“Did Zero propose to you?” Tate asked, sitting beside her.

She was sitting in the pantry surrounded by food. It was the only area in the clubhouse that was silent from all the chaos that was happening. The other woman looked a mess. She sniffled, wiping her eyes with a tissue.

“Yes, he proposed.” She pushed her glasses up her nose to glance at the other woman.

“He’ll make a good husband one day.” Tate’s lips were quivering.

They were never going to be great friends, but Prue avoided fights whenever she could. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I put Simon to bed. Murphy is in with my father. I just want some peace,” Tate said.

“What if your boy wakes up?”

Tate produced a baby monitor. “He usually screams for me or his dad.” She shrugged. “I just need a few minutes. I don’t know how long that meeting’s going to go, and I want a few minutes away from Murphy.”

Sitting in the pantry, Prue stared at the array of spices opposite her. She turned the ring on her finger, sliding it on, then off.

“I’m not a total bitch. At least, I wasn’t always a total bitch,” Tate said. “I love my friends, and I love my family. There are times I just hate the club, but then there are times I love the club. Fuck, I’m messed up in the head.” Tate ran fingers through her hair. “Angel is my best friend. Kelsey is as well. Angel has been there a lot longer.”

“Look, you really don’t need to say anything to me,” Prue said, holding her hands up.

“I know. We’re not friends. We’ll never be friends, but we’ll make do because of our men and the club. I just need to talk to someone who won’t rub my back and make me feel all right. You’re not like that.” Tate turned to her. “I don’t like being kept in the dark. My friends are in danger, and I can’t handle not knowing.”

“What do you want from me?” Prue asked.

“This man, will he get worse?”

Opening her lips, she thought about it. Frowning, Prue shook her head. “I don’t know him. Until this shit started I didn’t even know who he was.”

“He doesn’t care about anything, does he?”

Prue shook her head. “You need to take care. He’ll kill or hurt whoever is close to Zero.”

Tate nodded. “We don’t have to talk now. Can I just sit here for a while?”

“This is your club not mine.”

“You marry Zero and you’ll inherit it. The club is the life.”

Prue didn’t argue with the other woman. Rubbing her hands down her legs she rested her head against the wall trying to imagine her life with Zero. She smiled at the thought of him picking her up from school. The kids would want to know everything about the man with the bike.

Running fingers through her hair she let out a sigh.

Becoming Zero’s woman would be a dream come true. She only wished that Trevor was here to see them be together. Her brother would be pissed, but he would also be happy for them. She’d make sure of it.

“Prue.” Zero’s yell invaded her calm and serene moment.

“I’m being called,” she said. Turning to Tate she saw the tears falling thick and fast. “Don’t let it get to you. Your son needs his mother to be strong. Ignore Alan. You mean nothing to Zero and will be safe.” She tapped her leg then made her way out of the pantry.

Zero was passing as she did. “Hey,” she said, grabbing his attention.

“Where were you?” he asked, cupping her cheek. He looked panicked.

“I was having a few moments to myself. What’s going on? What’s the matter?”

He took her hand leading her back toward the office. “Alan’s got Whizz. He’s torturing him and wanted you with us when we talk.”

Zero no longer had to pull on her arm. She followed him straight to Tiny’s office. The men were tense as screams filled the room. Alan was pushing the men too far.

“Fucking stop it,” Zero said. “I’ve got her with me.”

The screaming stopped. “Prue, honey, are you there?” Alan asked. The way he spoke made it sound like they had some kind of connection.

“Yeah, I’m here.”

“That wasn’t loud enough. Do a bit better than that.”

“I’m here.” She yelled the words, hating him more.

Whizz screamed once again as Alan laughed. She couldn’t handle the sound and shouted for him to stop.

“Stop it, fucking stop it. I’m here. Hurting him is not going to achieve anything. You want us to know you’ve got the balls to hurt someone, fine, we know. You’ve hurt him, and we know you’ve got the balls to do it,” she said.

Zero held her hand tightly. She felt all their gazes on her as she spoke.

“So the silent sister does speak.”

“Trevor never spoke for me. I wouldn’t have let him come near you if I knew what you had planned.” Prue folded her arms, feeling stupid for being angry at the phone.

“I know. He talked about you often, how clever you were. I always wondered how a primary teacher could be clever. Now, I don’t care,” Alan said.

“You’re growing bored.” Prue was shaking inside, hoping her gut was right.

“Why would you say that?”

Looking toward Zero, he nodded letting her continue. “You’ve waited ten years for revenge. In the hospital you told me you had to wait to fix everything Zero broke. It took you years to get to the condition you are in now.” She closed her eyes focusing on Alan rather than the men wanting to kill the man. “Within twenty-four hours you’ve shot one woman, stabbed another, and Zero also has two bullet wounds in his body. You’re getting bored with waiting.”

“I’ve got Whizz to keep me company.”

Another scream rent the air.

“He’s not who you want,” Prue said, forcing herself to speak up.

“Go on.”

“If you wanted Whizz this would be it and you’d be gone. You want me and Zero. Trevor is gone. One down, two to go. I’m not dead. You can’t get over your revenge until we are both dead.”

“I’m hurting Zero.”

“Really? How are you hurting him?” she asked.

“Angel is the sweet one of the club. Everyone loves her. He fancied himself in love with Sophia. I’ve got what I want.”

“No, you haven’t. You’re wrong on both counts.” She twirled the ring she wore around her finger.

Opening her eyes, she pressed a finger to her lips signaling for the men to be silent. She was surprised they were giving her this moment to talk with him. Prue was gambling with a guess. Alan had only talked to her twice, and his sudden backlash was desperate. She was losing interest as well. Prue wanted to marry Zero and get Alan out of their lives forever.

“Why am I wrong?” Alan asked. She had his attention, which was good to know.

“Zero hates Angel.” Prue stared at Zero, letting him know she was bluffing. “He told me she was a pain in the ass. Her presence was a thorn in his side. Always needing protecting, always crying. Let me tell you, Alan, I know Zero, he can’t stand someone who moans and cries all the time. It gets a little boring.”

When they were growing up, Prue had gotten her and Trevor out of a lot of trouble with her ability to make up tales.

“Really?”

“Yes, the only person he cares about is Lash. Having Angel out of the way would make life so much easier.”

“What about Sophia?” Alan asked.

Was he buying the lies?

“She was a slut. Zero told me he had to practically peel the woman off him. The moment Nash was out of the room she was driving him crazy with her insatiable appetite.”

Prue shrugged her shoulders at Zero.

Give me a break. I’m making this shit up out of my own head.

“Also, he proposed to me. Zero always comes back to me,” she said, smiling. This part was not a lie. “Whizz is not Zero’s friend either. He belongs to The Skulls.”

“Well, I guess we both have a problem,” Alan said.

“No, you don’t.” She reached out, grabbing Zero’s hand.

“No?” Alan asked.

“We’ll make a trade. Zero and myself for Whizz.”

Zero shook his head. “No, Alan. I’ll trade Whizz’s life for myself. Leave her out of it.”

“Nah, I like the way your woman works. She knows her stuff.”

Silence was on the other end. “I’ll get my men to dump Whizz somewhere. I want you to meet me. You’ll come alone or else.”

“What will you do if we don’t?” Prue said, feeling Zero’s anger directed at her.

“I’ve got ways. You don’t come alone, Angel and Sophia will get a healthy dose of poison injected into their veins. I’m not so fucking stupid, but I think it’s time for us to get to the end of this game. I expect you where this all began. You know the location of where Trevor took his last breath. I think it’s only fair we end it there.”

Alan hung up. There was silence over the line.

“You’re so fucking stupid,” Zero said, releasing his anger on her.

She touched his hands. Tears filled her eyes at the blatant anger directed at her.

“Why the fuck did you do that? He doesn’t need to have you.”

“He’s right, Prue. That was fucking stupid,” Tiny said.

“This is a game to him. One down, two to go. He takes you, then he’s after me anyway.”

“I wouldn’t let that happen. Ten years ago I was a young fucking fool. I’m not a fool anymore. I wouldn’t let any harm come to you.”

She smiled. “It wouldn’t matter. Alan wouldn’t have agreed until he got what he wanted, which is both of us there.”

Zero shook his head. “I’m so fucking angry at you right now.”

“Save the anger. I get that she lied, but now you’ve got a big fucking problem,” Devil said, moving away from the wall.

“What problem is that?” Zero asked.

“Alan is expecting you both to be there alone. I’m a betting man, and I’ve got a feeling he will find a way to put poison into Angel and Sophia. How the fuck are you two going to get out of that shit?” Devil asked.

Glancing at Zero, he shrugged.

“There is no plan,” Zero said.

“No, you can’t do that,” Tiny said. “There has to be some kind of plan.”

“There is. Get Whizz out alive, kill the bastard, and let Nash and Lash know there is someone walking around the hospital. They deserve some justice. Prue and I will make do and take Alan out.” Zero looked at her.

She trusted him with her whole heart. Tears filled her eyes knowing this could be her last day on earth. There is no one else she would want to spend it with than with Zero. Smiling at him, she tugged him down to kiss his lips. “Come on, let’s go and face the music.”

Ten years they’d been apart, and now in some sick twist of fate, Alan had brought them back together. Holding Zero’s hand, she made her way out of the room and toward Alan.

Chapter Fourteen

“You’re going to let them do this alone?” Devil asked.

Tiny turned to look at his men and then at his friend. “This is what Zero wants. We’ve got to get Whizz and then to the hospital.” He lifted the phone and made the call to the two of his men. Once he told the two brothers about the danger he hung up.

He was torn in two over what to do. In all of his life he’d never left anyone behind. Zero had proven time and time again his loyalty was to The Skulls.

“I’m not letting them do anything alone. Do you think I like the thought of my men and their women hurting? It fucking kills me inside.” Tiny slammed a palm to his chest. “Just once I’d like to get by in peace, but we’ve all got a fucking past, and it always comes to bite us in the ass one way or another.”

“Get the fuck out,” Devil said, looking around the room.

Tiny gave a nod of his head for his men to leave.

“You can’t leave them alone.” Devil faced him with his arms folded.

“We’re not going to leave them alone. We can’t exactly go following them on our bikes either.”

The far door opened. Tiny had left his cell phone on for Eva to hear the whole conversation. There were tears in her eyes, and she held a set of keys out toward the men.

“I know where they’re going,” she said. “I’m tagging along. I know the road quite well.”

His heart gave out. Eva was a strong woman. She matched him in all things.

“Baby, I can’t let you drive us out. He’s a lunatic.”

“So? I grew up with lunatics, and I’m no stranger to a man’s anger. I will not stand idly by while Zero and Prue die because of this fucker.” Eva held the keys to her heart. “You’re taking me, or you’re not going anywhere.”

Walking forward, Tiny watched her take a step back. “Baby, go and get in the fucking car. We’ve got a man to fuck up.”

****

“You don’t have to do this,” Zero said, glancing over at his woman.

They were sat in the car about to pull out of the lot.

“I have to do this. He killed Trevor. I’m not going to let him take this from us.” She was rubbing her temple, staring straight out of the window. He caught sight of the diamond ring on her finger. When all of this was over he was going to marry this woman and claim her for his own.

“That doesn’t mean you’ve got to stay with me,” he said. “This is not your fight. I hurt this man, tortured him. He’s coming for me.”

She shook her head. “We’re in this together.”

Taking her hand, he pulled out of the compound seeing his men, The Skulls, watching them all go. Butch was there at the end. Zero bit his lip seeing his friend watching them leave.

“We’ll get through this. It’s going to be fun.”

He chuckled. “You’re the first woman I know who will find this coming fight fun.”

“I’ve never been in a true fight before. This is going to be hardcore.” He felt her hand tremble within his.

“Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?” Zero asked, changing the subject.

“Really? You want to talk about that now?”

“Why not? We’re going to have that conversation anyway, so why not now?”

He worked his way out of the town, watching everyone pass as if nothing had happened.

“I’d like to go somewhere hot,” she said. “How about the Caribbean?”