Always (Next Generation The Skulls 1)

“They’re waiting on some tests.”

“It might not be so bad,” she said.

“I don’t know. I’ve got a feeling it could be.”

“You could be wrong,” Tabby said, leaning back and cupping his face. “Look at me, they could be wrong.”

He nodded and shook his head. “No, I don’t think they have. Fuck, what am I going to do if anything happens to her?”

“Don’t,” Tabby said. “Don’t ever think like that, okay?”

“My dad,” he said.

“Nothing is going to happen.” Tears were in her eyes. “You can’t do that. I know this is scary, believe me, but I’m here. I’m always going to be here. I won’t leave you.”

“You’re going back to Fort Wills.”

“I know. That I can’t control, but you know I’m just a phone call away when you need me. Always.”

He nodded and pressed his face against her neck, breathing her in. “Fuck, I don’t want to cry.”

“Anthony killed Daisy’s dad.”

This made him pull away. Tabby bit her lip.

“For real?”

“Yeah, for real.”

“Fuck. Does anyone know?”

“No. I wasn’t supposed to tell you and it has been killing me. No one can know. This is between you and me.”

He took her hand and agreed. “Always. We don’t ever lie to each other. Ever.”

“Of course not. We’re the two people we can trust, forever.” She put her hand on top of his. “I will always have your back, Simon, always.”

He held her hand even tighter, wanting her comfort, needing it more than he liked to admit.

So long as he had Tabby, he could get through whatever life had to throw at him. Anything.Chapter NineLexie had cancer.

Tabitha heard the news a week later when she was back at Fort Wills.

The shock was felt between the two clubs.

Lexie was a wonderful, sweet, charming woman, and because of this, Tabitha begged to be able to go to Piston County to help out with her best friend.

Her dad was against it and her mother wasn’t too thrilled. In the end, after some long conversations with Devil, she was able to do a small transfer to Simon’s school, where she could pick up the school work with no issues. She wasn’t staying in Piston County indefinitely, but between their fathers, and Lash, she was able to transition. She wouldn’t be taking any of Simon’s classes. Her work would be set for her at the school, and she’d work in the main office.

She had her own room, and when she arrived, Simon was there, hugging her tight. Devil patted her shoulder and Lexie hugged her close.

“Simon, go and deal with Tabitha’s bags. I need to have a word with her,” Devil said.

“Dad, come on, seriously?” Simon asked. “We both get it. You don’t want us having sex under your roof. We can keep it in our pants.”

“This is only happening because I agree to be in charge here. Believe me, I can send her ass right back to Fort Wills, in fact, I have a mind to if you keep giving me lip.”

“It’s fine,” Tabitha said, smiling at Simon.

She couldn’t believe she was actually in Piston County without her parents. They were trusting her to be sensible and to not break any rules, also to not get pregnant. Her dad had lectured her about that one. The not getting pregnant part. He didn’t want her pregnant or in any way having a baby inside her. It was kind of scary how he kept saying no baby. No sex. No nothing.

As if she didn’t know what led to a baby. She and Simon weren’t going to do that to each other.

Simon took her bags and she followed Devil back to his office. She couldn’t recall ever being in this room. Angel had originally offered to go as had Eva to help Lexie out. Tabitha had seen her chance. She was a good cook as she’d been the one to take care of herself and several of The Skulls kids when their parents had been way too busy. She’d also been taught a lot from Darcy as well. She had the ability to take care of herself. Angel and Eva were needed at home, while she was still a kid.

“Take a seat,” he said.

“Do I have to sign some kind of contract?” She slid down into the chair and stared across the desk at Devil. He looked angry. She didn’t look away. Growing up with Tiny as her dad, and well, most of The Skulls, the angered faces men often pulled didn’t exactly affect her.

She put her hands on the arms of the chair and waited.

“I don’t intimidate you, do I?” Devil asked.

“I’m guessing when I was small, it would work. I grew up with this. I know I’m safe and protected with you, unless, of course, I betray the club or clubs, then you’d kill me.” She smiled widely at him, and he shook his head. “Sorry.”