She didn’t blame Simon for anything that had happened. There was no way she would have been able to live with herself if he’d been hurt. She’d reacted to protect him.
A shadow fell over and she opened her eyes, blinking.
It was Ryan.
“Do you think it’s funny?” he asked.
She made to sit up but he was suddenly there, holding her down. Panic flooded her body. She’d heard he’d been forced to hand in his leather cut until he proved himself a Monster Dog, or something along those lines. She hadn’t been near Luke. She didn’t believe in trying to reach out to people, especially those who had a crush, and she wasn’t going to use that to her advantage.
Ryan shoved her hard.
“Let me go.”
He wrapped his fingers around her throat, cutting off her air supply.
“Do you have any idea what the fuck you did? What you do? I’ve had to watch him fawn over you. You walked into the room and no one was more important than you. You’re all he can think about and I’m fucking sick of it. You’re not perfect. You’re a slut, a no-good whore, and I’m sick of it. In fact. I’m going to show him exactly how easy it is to use you.”
****
Anthony heard the sobbing coming from the bathroom. The clubhouse was mostly abandoned. Even his mom was out, running some errands. The sound caught at him, twisting his gut. At first, he thought it was Daisy.
He stopped, realizing it was Tabitha’s room, and he stepped inside.
Something chilled him to the core. For a long time now, he’d been trusting his instincts, and he knew something was very, very wrong.
The bathroom door was right there.
Danger like this, he’d never run away from. Most of the time, he’d been intrigued by the fear people often displayed. For a long time, he’d known he wasn’t like a lot of his friends or parents. His dad didn’t understand him, not really. The only person in all of his eighteen years who’d been interesting for him to pay attention to was Daisy. Even as kids, the sound of her voice, it was sweet music to his ears. Watching her, being near her, smelling her, it made him realize what people thrived on. How they fought for love.
What he felt for Daisy, it was deeper than love. It was stronger than any kind of obsession, but he also knew he had to be careful.
Once he stepped through that door, he had this eerie sense that his life was about to change.
He could step back.
Ignore it.
Carry on with his life.
He’d never been a coward.
Putting his hand to the door that wasn’t even completely closed, he pushed. The shower curtain hadn’t been pulled back.
Tabitha was in clear view, still in some of her clothes. Her face completely covered. A pair of panties with blood caught his eye, and he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, he just knew. Tabitha had been raped, and shit was about to hit the fan.
He texted Simon, his father, and of course Daisy.
Moving into the bathroom, he stared at her, not knowing what to do. In his mind, he had flashes of her. She was his best friend.
Climbing into the bath, even as she screamed, he wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve got you,” he said. Daisy would want him to hold her.
At first, she tried to get away.
“It’s me, Tabitha. It’s me. I’ve got you.”
Seconds passed and finally, she held on to him, sobbing against him.
His heart broke for her. He couldn’t stand for her to be in pain. It was the first time anyone but Daisy had affected him. He knew why. Tabitha was club. She’d been hurt for a second time, but this time went beyond a beatdown. She’d been violated in the worst possible way.
Lash arrived first with Angel. Next Daisy.
Sandy was called. Tabitha wouldn’t let him go.
Holding her close, they managed to get her out of the tub and toward the hospital.
It looked like a war with the Monster Dogs was unavoidable.
****
Devil had to drive him.
Simon had read the text message again and again, his stomach twisting.
How could this be possible?
“It will be okay, son,” Devil said.
“No, it’s not okay.” He put the phone away. “Please drive faster.”
“I am.”
He’d gone to get their apartment ready and to hand in her paperwork to the Piston County college. Everything had been coming together and now … what did he do? His wife, she was hurting.
Running a hand down his face, he tried to not think, but all he could see was Tabitha screaming for help. Begging him to come to her.
He’d failed her.
“Dad,” he said. “I don’t know what to do.”
“You’ll be there for her. That’s all you can do.”
“I…” He couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
Pain sliced through him.
Be there for her.
I should have been there for her.
The time passed and when they arrived at the hospital, all of The Skulls crew were there. They were waiting.
Daisy was curled up against Anthony, who looked at him.
There was pain in all of their faces. They were all feeling it.
One of their own had been hurt once again.
She’d been beaten, stabbed, and now … he couldn’t say it.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“She’s with Sandy. They’re talking to the cops,” Eva said.
“I need to go to her.” He moved toward the doors but Tiny grabbed his shoulder.
“You can’t go back there.”
He pulled away. “I can.”
“She needs her space, Simon. Not her boyfriend.”
“I’m not her boyfriend. She’s my wife!” He pulled the locket from around his neck and held up the ring. “She has been my wife since her eighteenth birthday. Ask Anthony, Daisy, even Miles. They were all there. I married her. She’s my wife and she needs me. I’ve got to go to her.”
He pulled out of Tiny’s arms and walked through the doors. He didn’t know where the fuck he was going, or where she would be. Knowing The Skulls, it would be in a private room.
Sandy was walking toward him. A police officer not too far behind.
“Simon?” she asked.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t think—” Sandy was about to say.
He shook his head. “I don’t need you to think. I need you to tell me where my wife is.”
“You mean Tabitha has had a—”
Simon glared at him. He wasn’t interested in hearing what this man had to say. “If you dare come between Tabby and me, I’ll rip your fucking throat out and shit down your neck. Do you understand?”
The officer looked ready to arrest him.
“It’s fine,” Sandy said. “I’ll take him.” She took a step back and Simon followed, not caring who he upset. His woman needed him.
Tabby needed him.
They stopped at a room. The curtains were drawn and it all appeared private.
“She’s in there. She’s not in a good place right now,” Sandy said.
He opened the door, closing it behind him.
Turning toward the bed, he saw her. She was fully dressed, her arms wrapped around her legs, and she looked up. There was a new bruise on her face and marks around her neck. He noticed she cringed.