Always (Next Generation The Skulls #1) - Sam Crescent Page 0,103
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.”