Zero

She couldn’t be calm. The sudden sting in her arm had her gasping. Slowly, ever so slowly she started to feel heavy.

No, I have to warn Zero. He is in danger. We are both in danger.

****

Butch sat at the bar sipping a whiskey as he thought about all he’d heard. He remembered the time Zero was talking about as he’d been shouting at him over the phone. He always wondered what happened to his friend during that time, but once Zero returned, he never asked. Thinking back, he recalled the change within him, which had to be down to losing his best friend. Closing his eyes, he took a swallow of the liquid as he felt arms band around him. “Hey, baby, are you ready for a f**k?”

Opening his eyes, he glanced behind him at the sweet-butt hanging off him. She had long, dyed blonde hair and was wearing a short skirt and bikini top. All of her body was on display leaving nothing to the imagination. He’d played with Carla many times. She liked to f**k hard, but he wasn’t in the mood for f**king or doing anything. Zero was in trouble. Butch needed to keep his shit about him for whatever was about to go down.

“No, go and f**k another brother,” he said, shrugging her off.

“I don’t want to. My pu**y wants you.”

Shaking his head, he moved away from the bar and left the clubhouse. He needed a ride. Getting onto his bike, he left the compound. Butch wasn’t wearing a helmet, and he made his way into town without any trouble. Straddling his bike he watched the people who were going about their business, walking, talking, romancing and shit.

Fuck, none of them were having to deal with a new enemy. Most of the people in Fort Wills were worrying about the mundane shit. Zero would never be on his own again. His enemy was the club’s enemy. Getting off his bike, Butch walked through town, going around the back of the shops, and he stopped short when he saw the church in his sights. He’d never been to church. Neither had any of the brothers, apart from when they had gone for Angel’s wedding.

He entered the church grounds and saw the door was open, spilling light out into the night. There lay plenty of gravestones on his way toward the door, leaving him depressed. So much death surrounded him and The Skulls at present. How were they all supposed to survive?

What the f**k are you doing?

Ignoring the voice inside his head, he entered the church. No one was inside, but the altar was alight with several candles. Sitting at the back, he stared at the statue in front of him. Something about Zero’s story made Butch feel sick. Whoever was after Zero wasn’t going to play by the rules. Butch didn’t know how he knew this, only that he did. Someone who waited ten years wasn’t going to play nice, and this was going to be different for all of them, not just Zero.

Ten years of hatred, the scars, the pain. Alan, whoever he was, would make Zero pay ten times over. The club was going to be hurting by the time this was all over.

A feminine hum filled the air. Glancing to the side he watched a woman with long brown hair enter the church. She wasn’t wearing religious clothing but a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt. It was late, but she was carrying an armful of books. Her hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail. The length fell below her ass, her hair was so long.

She was curvy as well. The shirt highlighted her full tits and small waist as it clung to her skin.

When she turned around, he heard her gasp.

“I’m so sorry. I’ll be quiet and leave you to your prayers,” she said, turning away.

“No, you don’t need to leave. I wasn’t praying.” He stood up then sat down as he didn’t want to scare her.

“Why come to church if you don’t want to pray? Would you like me to get the Father?” she asked, pointing to the door.

“Are you a nun?” he asked.

“No, I work in town at the florists’ shop, and for fun I help out here,” she said. He watched as she took several steps toward him. She held the books against her chest like a lifeline.

“You shouldn’t tell anyone about yourself. Some people would take advantage.”

Her cheeks went bright red, and she withdrew her hand.

“Sorry. My mom says I need to learn to shut up a bit.” She smiled even though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Shit, I’m sorry. Crap, now I’m cursing in church.”

She giggled. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure He’ll forgive you.”

Smiling, Butch was curious about her. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Cheryl Barnes. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Butch, I’m a member of The Skulls,” he said, taking her hand. Her hand was so soft and tiny inside his. What the f**k was happening to him?

“I know of The Skulls. It’s nice to meet you, Butch.” She handed him a Bible and turned to leave.

“Where did you say you worked?”

“At the florist. I’ve made several arrangements for Lash and Tiny. They like my arrangements. It’s nice to meet you.” She made her way back to leave Bibles in her wake.

Well, f**k him.

Chapter Two

“What the hell happened?” Zero asked, entering the hospital. Blaine was standing inside the reception area. The moment he got the call he stopped fighting with his brothers to get down to the hospital. Prue was far more important than his need to get his ass kicked.

“I don’t know. She had a massive panic attack and started calling for you. The doctors have sedated her,” Blaine said. “Nothing would calm her down.”

“Prue doesn’t have panic attacks. She’s always dealt with everything straight away,” he said. Going toward the ICU he brushed past the nurses and went to her bedside. She was sleeping, and he couldn’t see anything wrong with her. It was like nothing had changed from the moment he last saw her.

Taking one of her hands inside his, he looked down to see the bruising of her nails. She’d dug them into her fist hard enough to leave bruises. What the f**k? Prue wasn’t like this. None of this made sense to him, not the panic attacks or the bruises on her hands. Something had to have happened to scare her.

“What happened to you?” he asked, trying to figure everything out.

“She’s not going to wake up for some time,” the doctor said. “We had to sedate her, but she will be okay.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“I insist you leave.”

“No, the last time I left she had a panic attack. I’m not leaving her side, and you’re not going to make me.” He glared at the doctor ready to commit murder if they didn’t listen to him. A couple of hours he was gone and something had happened. There was no way he was leaving her now. Prue needed him.