Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Chapter Nine
“You talked to Daisy,” Anthony said.
He sat on the bench in the freezing cold and stared at Tabitha.
She had a jacket wrapped around her body, looking half-frozen.
“Yeah, I talked to Daisy, and it seems to me that you’ve been avoiding me.”
Anthony stared at her. It wouldn’t work. It never did. Tabitha was downright stubborn and a giant pain in the ass.
“Not avoiding you. In case you didn’t know, it’s Christmas, and there’s a lot to do.”
“And I know you, Anthony.”
He rested his elbows on his knees and stared at her, waiting. There was no reason for him to start this conversation. This was all on her.
He waited.
“Damn it, stop being a dick.”
“You’re the one outside in the cold talking to me. I’m not the one bothering you.”
“So I’m bothering you now.” Tabitha shook her head. “You know what, I’m happy. You get that? I’m in Piston County, I’ve got three children, a family, a place, and I’m happy. I’m over it. I’ve gotten through it, and you need to do the same. You’ve got to focus on Daisy. She is what’s important.”
Anthony held his hand up. “You think this is about you?”
Tabitha frowned. “You want to get rid of the Monster Dogs because of what they did.”
“True, but it’s not about you. You left. You’re not a Skull anymore, Tabitha. You’ve just told me. You’ve moved on. You’ve got a family. You’re happy, but what about me?” He glared at her. Tabitha would always be one of his closest friends, but that didn’t mean he was happy with what she’d done. He knew the truth. Neither Tabitha nor Simon did.
He did.
Nathan wasn’t Simon’s kid, and Anthony would take that to his grave. He would never ruin the family he saw. He was happy for Tabitha and Simon.
Their lives weren’t supposed to go that way. They were supposed to have had it easy. To have been with each other without the shit that went down. Without Simon having to disappear. That was what should have happened, but it didn’t.
Everything was fucked up. And he’d had to sit back and watch as it did, and he hated it.
“I will always be a Skull, Anthony.”
“The leather cut you’re wearing says otherwise. You’re not a Skull anymore. You’re Chaos Bleeds.”
“If this isn’t about me, then what is it about?”
Anthony stepped off the table and took a step toward her. “I was the one who fucking found you. I saw you. I saw what that piece of shit did to you, and Simon got to be the one to kill him. I was there to pick up the pieces, and they’re close to my Daisy. They’re fucking next door to my woman. To my reason for breathing. I saw what they did to you, and do you think I can let any of them breathe after that?”
Tabitha opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again.
“Yeah, I guess you were too busy thinking about yourself to think about other people.”
“That’s harsh, Anthony.”
“It’s the truth though.”
“You can’t take out the Monster Dogs MC. The club has so many deals in place. Arrangements and agreements. It’s not about me or you, or Daisy. Think of the bigger picture. Lash will never allow you to do it.”
Anthony smiled. “Who says he needs to know?”
“They won’t attack you.”
“You know, I seem to recall thinking the same way, and look what happened to you,” Anthony said.
Tabitha slammed her foot into the snow. “You’re going to risk losing Daisy for this.”
“I’m doing what I can to protect her. There’s no way in hell I’m trusting a club that would do that. They have to go. I’m not the bad guy here, they are.”
“Luke’s not a bad guy.”
“He was that piece of shit’s friend,” Anthony said.
“It was a long time ago,” Tabitha said.
“Clearly for you, but not for me. Not when I have to see them all the fucking time.” He growled at her and then stormed off. He didn’t want to talk to Tabitha anymore. He needed to see Daisy, to know she was okay.
****
The dresses were all perfect. The food had all been purchased, and Christmas was just a few days away. Angel had gone over all the gifts with Millie, and they were prepared for the big day. Everything was working.
The clubs hadn’t killed one another, which was once again a massive bonus as there did seem to be a huge risk of that happening.
Everything was coming together, which was why she had gotten up early Sunday morning. To make up for all the guys’ hard work, she had started to make some waffles. Seeing as the club loved it when she cooked, she had three waffle irons to speed the process along. She put the oven on low, dolloped out the mixture using a measured cup, and closed each of the lids.