Butch (25 page)

“Fuck, man, you’re sick,” Ronald said, flicking
through the television.

Both of the men with him had their qualities. Ronald
got him all the information he needed without leaving a trail while Homer left
a trail.

“Get ready to mail the heads. I’ve got a feeling
victory is around the corner.” Frederick poured the other two men a glass of
bourbon. Clinking glasses together, he nodded at his men then made his way back
to the woman waiting.

Closing the door, he stared at the woman in his bed.
Tears fell from her eyes, turning him on.

“Spread your legs, bitch. It’s time to earn your
keep.”

Chapter Fourteen

Inhaling the rose blooms, Cheryl smiled as she glanced
around the florist shop. With time she’d make changes and advance the business
from selling flowers to going into more of a retail outlet. She loved being
around flowers, maybe chocolates as well. Cheryl wasn’t sure what would be a
good business incentive. For the past couple of days life had been going well.
Butch was still looking for work, but they’d made progress with his time at The
Skulls. He talked about what he loved, what he hated, sharing everything with
her.

She took the time to listen to him talk. He didn’t
hold anything back from her, which she was thankful for. Butch told her about
the women he’d been with and the life on the road. When he told her about the
danger he and the club faced she’d been scared. Throughout it all, she’d been
scared by what he admitted to. There was no way anyone could survive so much,
and yet he had.

The club was part of Butch. She really hoped he saw
the truth and didn’t argue with her about it. He’d not caused any problems with
Alex spending time with Matthew. From the day he’d asked to be part of his
son’s life, Alex made time every day to come and see him. Cheryl didn’t mind
his presence in her life. He’d not tried to interfere with his care. In fact,
he’d offered to look after him. She made the introductions with her mother.

Her mother was charmed by Alex but still put him
through the ringer for leaving her. She didn’t mind. Her mother knew she wasn’t
going to pick Alex over anyone.

“Hello.”

Cheryl pulled out of her thoughts turning to look at
the person. Eva stood in the doorway. The other woman looked sad.

“Eva, I’m so sorry. I was lost in my own thoughts.”
She wiped her hands down her apron, going behind the counter.

“I figured as much. You were smiling, so that must have
been a good thought.”

“It was. For some strange reason my life is actually
going well.” Cheryl tucked some hair behind her ear.

“I’m glad it is for someone.”

Cheryl frowned, looking at the other woman.

“Anyway, I’m actually here to invite you to a picnic.
We’re all going out to the new park, and there’s going to be some events for us
all to earn money for charity.” Eva started going through her bag and pulled
out a leaflet.

She took it from her and read through it. “It’s for
kids?”

“Yes, it’s to help children overcome illness. Tiny
likes to go and be part of events that helps others. He helped the town, and
now he wants to help others.” Eva smiled, and it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Are you okay?” Cheryl asked.

Eva was a sparkly personality, and the woman before
her didn’t show any of that right now.

“Life is just being hard at the moment.
It’s
club business, but it’s hard. I heard Alex is making
progress with you and your son.”

“He is. They’re getting along well. Butch is keeping
his fists to himself,” Cheryl said, feeling the heat fill her cheeks at the
memory of the bruise on Alex’s face along with the broken nose. She was going
to have to talk with Butch. He may have been part of the club once, but he
wasn’t anymore, and he needed to stop hurting men who could make his life
difficult. “Why didn’t Alex press charges or anything?” Cheryl asked, curious.

“Butch may not be part of the club, but
it’s
club business. Alex won’t go and tattle for a beating. It
takes more to rattle his cage.”

“That’s nice of him.”

“Not really, they’re all hoping Butch will come back.”

“I just hope they don’t attack each other again,”
Cheryl said.

“Men, you can’t take them anywhere. Knowing Alex, he
deserved whatever you threw at him.” Eva blew some hair out of her face.

“We’re doing
good
.” Glancing
at the leaflet, she licked her lips. “This would be fun. Butch will come with
me.”

“That’s fine. Come and enjoy some food. I want us to
be friends, Cheryl, even if Butch doesn’t come back to the club.” Eva took a
step back. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Frowning, she watched Eva leave the shop, and she
placed the leaflet on the counter. Two hours later Alex walked in with Matthew
in his arms.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey, this little guy wanted to see his mommy.”

She took Matthew from his arms, cuddling him close.

“Eva dropped by,” she said, bouncing from side to
side.

“About the
picnic?”
Alex took a seat on the only available stool. Cheryl
didn’t mind. She’d been sitting for a lot of the morning going through the
books.

“Yeah, I’ve got to see Butch before I can confirm our
answer. I’m sure we’ll be there.”

“Great, you’ve got to bring some food with you as
well. It’s like a potluck event.” Alex pulled out his cell phone and started
messaging on it.

“Sure.” She kissed Matthew’s cheek as she went around
the counter to read from the book. Her son settled against her as Alex stood.

“I’ve got to head out.”

“Eva didn’t look right. Is everything okay?” she
asked, concerned for her friend.

“I don’t want to piss you off, honey.
It’s
club business, and you’re not an old lady.”

Nodding, Cheryl let out a sigh. “Butch isn’t part of
the club, so I can’t help out.”

“No, you can’t. Sorry.”

“No problem. I’ll see you at the picnic.” No matter
what Butch said she was going. She kept Matthew with her for the rest of the
day not even bothering to phone her mother. Humming to herself, she served the
occasional customer while also keeping an eye on her son.

She asked some of the customers if there was anything
else they would like from her shop. Ideas were fired at her, and she wrote
every single one of them down. She had a whole file of ideas by the time Butch
entered.

His arms were held up in surrender. “I’ve just got a
call from Tate. We’re going to that picnic. I swear
,
that woman gets louder week after fucking week.”

Cheryl chuckled as he covered his ears. He rounded the
counter, tugging her into his arms. She would never get bored of this. Butch surrounded
her with warmth and love.

“I want to go.”

“Then we’ll go.” He kissed the top of her head,
dropping down to claim her lips. “Fuck, baby, I want to take you home.”

“We can’t.” She pointed into the office where Matthew
was playing with some toys she kept stored in her bag.

“Alex couldn’t hack the whole day?”

“Nah, Matthew missed his mommy.” She smiled, proud of
her son even though she wasn’t jealous of Alex’s new status in his life.

“I’ve got a delivery for Cheryl Barnes?”

Glancing toward the door she saw the driver of a
reputable company.

“That’s me.”

“I need you to sign here, doll.” She pulled out of Butch’s
arms and signed her name taking the box, which was quite heavy.

“What is it?” she asked.

“I don’t know. We get the orders and paid to make a
delivery as soon as possible.” The man tipped his hat to her and left the shop
as quickly as he entered. Lifting the box onto the counter, she tore into the
seal. The cardboard fell away. The box looked more like a cool box that she’d
seen in medical dramas for organs.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she opened the lid
and screamed. She couldn’t stop screaming, stepping away from the counter.
Covering her eyes, she tried to stop herself from looking.

“Baby, what is it?” Butch asked.

“The box, what is it? Who would do such a thing?” She
pressed her head to his chest, trying to forget about what she’d just seen.

“Cheryl, honey, I need to check it out. Please, go
into the office, and I’ll deal with this.”

Nodding, she pulled Matthew into her arms, rocking him
as she tried to forget about the box and what she’d seen. If she could gouge out
her eyes, she would.

It’s okay. Butch will fix everything.
Whoever’s
head it was, she hoped they didn’t suffer before it was taken from them.
Bending over, she reached for the trash can and threw up inside it.

****

Butch knew who the head belonged to. He didn’t have
time to lose his shit. Cheryl needed him now more than ever before. Closing the
box, he pulled his cell phone out and dialed
Tiny’s
number.

“What do you want, Butch?” Tiny asked.

“A head has just been delivered to Cheryl’s place at
the florist. I need you all here to take it away.”

“Fuck, seriously?”

“Yeah.”
Butch glanced behind him, watching Cheryl vomit into the trash can
behind her. Matthew stood up and rubbed her back. “Her son is here. I need to
get them away.”

“This has nothing to do with us.”

Butch silently cursed. This was the kind of shit he
didn’t want. The Skulls had the resources to move this, and he didn’t.
Join them.
“It’s Frederick’s work.”

Tiny paused, and silence filled the space.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Remember me telling you about the doctor who helped
me?”

“Yes.”

“Her head is here in the box. He’s moving up, Tiny.
How do you know he won’t go after your women next or mine? Gonzalez is
unpredictable.” Running a hand down his face, he tried to clear his thoughts.

“Fine.
Alex and I will be there to get it, but you fucking owe us.”

He hung up the phone and hid the box underneath the
counter. Hanging up the closed sign, he went back to his woman. Helping
Matthew, he rubbed her back.

“What’s wrong with Mommy?”

“She’s just being a little sick.” Cheryl curled around
him when she finished.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“Don’t be sorry for feeling sick. It would be strange
for you to not be feeling sick.” He kissed the top of her head.

You’ve got to go back to the club.

It’s not right asking them for help.

Gritting his teeth, he held Cheryl tighter against
him. He didn’t know how much time had passed before the door was being banged
on. Releasing her, he let Tiny and Alex inside. “I’m going to take Cheryl and
Matthew home. I have the car today, and I’ll come back.”

Join them again. They’re your future and will always be your future.

“We’ll wait for you,” Tiny said.

Within half an hour, Butch was back on the road
heading toward the shop. He didn’t know what the club expected him to do. When
he pulled up outside of the shop he saw Nash’s and Murphy’s bikes parked
outside the door.

Entering the shop, he saw they were all talking, and
they stopped when he entered.

“Frederick used a reputable company. I saw the van and
the guy who delivered. This was done as a message,” Butch said, folding his
arms.

“Why? You’re not a Skull. Why is Frederick playing
with you?” Nash asked.

“He’s going to tie up a loose end. I’m a loose end
from his father’s day.” Butch let out a breath. “I want to come back. I need to
come back,” he said.

The whole club paused as they looked at him.

“What?” Tiny asked.

“I can’t protect my woman alone. This was the biggest
fucking mistake I made.” He ran a hand down his face, cursing. Ever since he
left, he knew he should have come back. Stupidity, stubborn pride, and being a
pain in the ass had stopped him from taking that next step.

“How do we know you’re not going to pull out again
when we help you?” Nash asked. “You’re not exactly trustworthy right now.”

The knowledge of their doubt hurt, but Butch knew he
couldn’t do anything about it.
This is
what I caused.

“Gonzalez is from my past. I don’t want you guys to
end up like my father’s MC did. He took them all out as if they were nothing
more than bugs. Gonzalez’s son is the same. I don’t know what he’s expecting,
but I think it would be best if we’re all on guard and I come back to the club.”
He was bringing danger to Cheryl and Matthew. Gritting his teeth, he tried to
deny the truth, but all he could see was the trouble he caused. He couldn’t protect
them alone. He needed The Skulls, now more than ever before. Butch was better
at taking care of Cheryl and Matthew with The Skulls than on his own.