The thought of leaving everything behind scared her. She didn’t know what choice to make. She loved her family and The Skulls were hers, but she also loved Simon, and there was no getting away from that.
“I’m going to leave you. Goodnight, honey.”
“Goodnight.”
She watched her father go.
Once she’d finished her chapter in the book, she put it down, turned out the light, and slid down, closing her eyes. Everything could be put off until tomorrow. There was no reason for her to make any decisions now. None were expected of her.
Chapter Seven
“Put the gun down.”
“Fuck you. You think I’m going to let you take my wife and kids from me? You’re fucking crazy. I don’t care who you are. Probably one of my wife’s lovers. She’s nothing more than a slut. Yeah, I know she spreads her legs for everyone.”
Simon watched as the husband pointed the gun at all of them. This should have been so easy. In and out. His father had warned him last night and it appeared the seven-year-old son, who was now cowering in a corner, had called the father. The bags had already been packed but as Devil entered, they had found the dad waiting, gun pointed at them.
He didn’t know if he could handle seeing his dad shot, not again. Memories kind of blurred all together.
Ripper was there, as were Pussy, Dick, and Snake. Several of the guys were outside as well.
Devil didn’t take his gaze off the man. “You don’t want to do this.”
“What? I don’t want to make her pay for what she’s done? She deserves to die. I can’t believe I even trusted her with my kids. Slut. Whore.” Each word was shouted.
The kids whimpered.
His heart raced and he felt sick to his stomach. He watched the man as he suddenly grabbed his wife’s hair. She screamed as he tugged her left and right.
“Enough!” Devil roared the word, and it caused silence to spill in the house.
The man laughed. “This is my house. How dare you come here! You think you can get away from me, slut? I promise you, you will never know peace. You’re mine. Every single part of you is mine.”
Past the man’s shoulders, he saw Curse slowly making his way inside. Simon kept his gaze on the man, not wanting to alert him to another coming inside.
This could go wrong.
“I will make you all pay. I’ll kill them all before you take them away from me.”
As he pressed the gun against her temple, Curse reacted, jerking the man. The gun went off. Simon rushed forward, taking the woman as the others worked to get the kids. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Curse fighting with the man. Finally, he landed a punch, which knocked the man out cold.
Taking the gun, Curse pocketed it and they were out there in a rush.
His dad was already behind the wheel and he joined him as they raced down the street.
“Are we housing them?” Simon asked.
He knew some of the people they saved and rescued were placed in either The Skulls’ or Chaos Bleeds’ care.
“No, we’re dropping them off. The Billionaire Bikers are picking them up.” Devil winced.
“Dad, what’s up?”
“It’s nothing.”
His father put a hand to his side and it was then Simon recognized the blood. “You’ve been shot.”
“It’s nothing,” he repeated, but he winced.
“Dad, getting shot is not nothing.”
“I’ll deal with it as soon as we get these to safety. Call Ripper, tell him to make sure the Billionaires are ready. Tell him I’ve been hit.”
Simon did as he asked. Ripper cursed. “When we get there, escort them out, I’ll take care of them, Simon. Make sure your dad is taken to a hospital.”
His hands were shaking. They left the town, and there was a small diner off the beaten track. It was completely empty and from the looks of it, it hadn’t been open in quite some time.
Devil slowed down and Simon climbed out of the truck.
He didn’t approach the men, but helped the woman and kids out, who were all crying and shaking. There was a protocol, but right now, he had to get his dad to a hospital.
“Son,” one of the men said.
He couldn’t think of the Billionaire’s name right now.
“The guys are seconds away. My dad has been shot. We need to get him to the hospital.”
“There’s one twenty minutes out. We’ll make calls,” the man said.
He didn’t even say thank you. Rushing to the driver’s side, he saw his dad had moved along. After climbing behind the wheel, he pulled onto the road and pressed his foot to the gas.
“Don’t panic,” Devil said.
“I’m not going home and telling Mom you didn’t make it.” He focused on the road. The cell phone rang and Devil reached out a blood-soaked hand.
“Ripper, what’s up?”
“I’ve dealt with the handoff. James is organizing what we need.”
“Good.” Devil coughed.
“You with me, old man?” Ripper asked.
“Fuck you. What is with people calling me an old man? I’m as healthy as can be. I can take all of you, and you all fucking know it.”
There was a chuckle but Simon heard the concern.
“Put your foot down, Simon. The Billionaires are handling everything.”
Simon broke speeding laws, seeing the sign for the hospital. He’d never felt so much relief as he came to a stop. After slamming the door closed, he moved to his father’s side, helping him out.
“When did you get so tall?” Devil asked.
“I’m your son. It’s in my genes.”
Devil laughed.
They stumbled into the hospital. “Please, my father has been shot. Help.”
There were already doctors waiting. “Devil? Chaos Bleeds?” one of them asked.
“Yes.”
“We got the call. We’ve been waiting for your arrival. We can take it from here.”
“No, I can’t leave him.”
One of the doctors put a hand on his arm. “We’ve got it from here. There’s nothing you can do right now. We will be out to tell you more.”
Simon watched as his father was escorted on a bed away from him.
His hands shook and he felt sick. He wanted to call his mom but she would be too worried. Devil wouldn’t want him to do that.
Taking a seat, he stared at the doors.
He held his cell phone in his hands. Tabitha’s name was there. Clicking on her name, he put the cell to his ear.
“Hello, stranger,” she said.
Just hearing her voice lightened his heart and made everything come into focus for him.
“Hey,” he said.
“Simon, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. I hear it. Talk to me.”
He looked down at his hand and saw the blood. Heart racing, he felt sick to his stomach.
“Simon?”
“I shouldn’t have called you.”
“Don’t do this. Don’t shut me out. We promised each other that no matter what, we’d be there for each other. You need to lean on me, do so.”
He got to his feet and headed toward the bathroom. “My dad’s been shot.”