OUTLAW KING(16)

I parked my motorcycle and within ten seconds, I saw her.

I f*cking saw her.

I whispered her name.

“Linds.”

She was moving fast though. She was hugging herself, charging along the side of the bar. That’s when I saw a guy rush up behind her. I jumped off my ride and started to move. I thought this prick was going to rob her or something, but she stopped and faced him. Even at the distance and even with the weak light high above the parking lot, I could see her beauty. The soft features of her face. Her small, button nose. Goddamn, what guy liked a girl’s nose, right? Her thin lips that never needed lipstick, ever.

Fuck, I was hopelessly in love with her.

But she was with someone. It was pretty obvious with their body language.

I gave it a little bit to see what was actually happening. Somewhere inside myself I said that if Linds was happy with another man then I needed to stay away. I couldn’t go and f*ck with her head and heart. That’s the shit we used to do to each other for years. We never let the other person be happy. It was just how we did things.

I watched then as Linds backed up to the bar. The f*cking guy was touching her face or something and it didn’t seem like they were too happy. I hesitated for a split second and that decision cost me. I watched as the guy brought his hand back and couldn’t believe my eyes.

He slapped her. He f*cking hit her.

This guy hit my girl.

I charged forward, knowing what I was going to do to this prick. It only made matters worse as he brought his hand back to do it again.

Was this the life Linds was living? Getting smacked around by some guy? Had it happened before? Did other guys hit her?

The rage boiled over as I grabbed the prick and pulled him away from Linds. I spun him around and before he knew what was happening I clocked him in the jaw. My right fist was like a f*cking hammer. All it took was one punch to take him down.

That’s when I looked at her.

Linds.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” I asked, saying the first thing that came to mind.

She was looking down at the guy I hit.

She slowly looked up and when our eyes met, that’s when the shock set it.

Her mouth opened. Her hands touched the side of the building.

Then she started to sway.

“Oh, f*ck,” I said as she fell forward into my arms.

I caught Linds, catching the sweet smell of her hair and skin. I stepped back, lowering her down to the ground. I cupped my hand to the back of her head.

“Linds,” I said. “Linds, wake up, sweetie. You’re okay. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Her eyes fluttered back open and she looked at me. “King…”

Oh, what sweet f*cking poetry that was to hear her say my name.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m really here.”

“How?”

I smiled. “Don’t worry about it.” I reached for her cheek. I touched the mark that was getting more and more visible. “Are you okay to stand up?”

She nodded.

I helped Linds to her feet. I grabbed her hands and held them tight. The feelings surging through me were really hard to contain. I wanted to hug her. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to pin her against the side of the building and tear every piece of clothing off her. I wanted to taste her. I wanted to hear everything about her life, good and bad. I wanted to have her.

“What the hell was that?” I asked. “Some guy hitting you…”

“Hey, f*ck you,” a voice said.

I looked back and saw the prick on the ground. He was trying to get back up.

I broke away from Linds and grabbed him. I picked him up like he weighed nothing. I turned and threw him against the side of the building.

“You f*cking hit her?” I growled.

The guy took a swing at me.

That wasn’t going to work with me.

I ducked and he missed.

I then put two fists to his gut, leaving him crying out in pain, reaching for me. I hit him again in the face, sending him to his knees. I brought my right foot back and kicked him in the ribs, sending him against the building again.

“Stop,” Linds said as she grabbed at me. “That’s enough. Stop, King. Stop.”

The prick was huddled up, groaning.

I looked at Linds and couldn’t help myself. I grabbed her hand and pulled her close to me for a hug.

“We better get out of here,” I whispered. “Last thing I need are the cops here.”

“My place,” she blurted out. “You can follow me.”

I nodded. “Okay. Thanks.”

I made a move and she squeezed at my hand, stopping me. “King… I thought you were gone away for forever…”

I reached for Linds’s face. I smiled. “The only forever I promised was to you, sweetie.”





12


(King) *THEN*

IT WAS POURING FUCKING rain all night. I stood at the open garage bay and watched the rain smack the ground in an endless sound that was soothing. I threw my cigarette out and it was dead before it hit the ground. I was on duty for the night, just to keep an eye on the place.

Fuck, I was close to moving up in the Reap.

There were big deals going on all around me and they kept throwing me on security. I was big, strong, and not afraid of a thing. That worked to my advantage. But it worked against me. I wanted to be at the table. I wanted to have a vote.