OUTLAW KING(26)

I was jealous but I sort of didn’t know why. I had fooled around with a couple girls but nothing like the stuff Tito did. He was crazy. He was so cool though too.

“It’s all going to be fine,” Tito said. “You need to know that and believe that, little bro. I’m sorry for what you saw out the window. That was a business miscommunication. But I took good care of that shit though. Nothing like that will be happening again.”

“How?”

Tito put the joint into his mouth. He reached with his right hand and flipped up the blanket at the end of his bed. I saw a handgun and I took a step back.

“Whoa,” I whispered.

“Damn right,” Tito said. “I’m good now, little bro. See, when you take a beating in life, sometimes good shit happens.”

“So that gun is good?” I asked.

“It’ll keep me protected.”

“Wow.”

Tito killed the joint in some kind of homemade claw looking ashtray. He then looked over at his woman and gently kissed her.

“Now, little bro, I need you to go. My woman here is going to take good care of me. And you need to go take good care of yourself. Don’t f*cking think about what you saw. Don’t bring that shit up to Mom. I’m protected. Loyalty and family, little bro, right?”

“Right,” I said.

“Good. Now get out.”

I left Tito’s room… not sure what had just happened… so I did the first thing that came to mind.

I wrote Linds another letter.





19


(King)

*NOW*

I WANTED to surprise Linds with some breakfast. It had been a long time since I was able to wake up next to her in bed and then go cook her something to eat. It took all my might not to go down on her and wake up her up to my favorite meal for breakfast. But she looked so peaceful sleeping. I couldn’t wake her up.

I kissed her cheek and climbed out of bed.

I put on my jeans so anyone outside the kitchen didn’t see my dick slapping around as I moved through the small apartment kitchen.

I made some coffee and then I set my sights on some eggs.

As I started to heat up the pan I heard a chink sound against the window. I looked and saw nothing.

Maybe it was a f*cking squirrel.

I heard the same sound two more times, the second time just as I was about to crack an egg.

I walked to the window and couldn’t believe my f*cking eyes.

Anderson stood right there in the lawn of the apartment building. A cigarette hanging from his mouth. Two store bought cups of coffee in his hands. He balanced one of the cups on the other. Then he reached into his pocket and took something out. He threw it right at the f*cking window.

That was the sound I heard.

“What the f*ck is this guy doing?” I asked myself.

Anderson, still balancing the coffees, made a motion with his finger for me to come outside and talk to him.

What f*cking choice did I have? I didn’t need him barging into Linds’s apartment, waking her ass up, causing a whole new set of questions. As far as I was concerned, I just wanted me and Linds to have a few good moments together and that was that.

I turned off the stovetop and left the apartment. I was in nothing but a pair of jeans.

I walked from the sidewalk to the well-kept front lawn of the building.

“There you are,” Anderson said. “Brought you something to drink. I’m sure you had a wild night as a free man.”

I backhanded the coffee out of Anderson’s hand. I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close.

“How the f*ck did you find me here?”

Anderson grinned. “I have eyes on you at all times, my friend. That’s all I can say. I’m happy you and Lindsey were able to get together. You two were always good together.”

“What the hell are you trying to do here? How the hell do you know about me and Lindsey?”

“I’m not a dumb man,” Anderson said. “And neither are you. Which is why you’re going to let me go. So we can talk.”

I reluctantly opened my hand. Anderson stepped back. He sipped his coffee.

He smacked his lips together and said, “Gas station coffee. It’s the worst.”

“What do you want?”

“Just giving you a little reminder of things. I get it, Kingston. You needed to unload your tank. That’s fine. But now it’s time to get right back with your club. I need some questions answered. Understand?”

“You don’t need to f*cking remind me,” I said. “I know what I have to do here.”

“Excellent. I was just making my rounds. Maybe I’ll get an apartment here. It’s nice. Quiet. Beautiful view.”

“Stay the f*ck away from Linds,” I said. “She has nothing to do with any of this.”

“Except you two end up together time and time again,” Anderson said. “I wonder what she knows…”

I put my finger to Anderson’s chest and pushed. “Hear me loud and clear. Stay away from her or else I won’t help you with a thing.”

“Fair enough, Kingston,” Anderson said. “I will be in touch again very soon. Not too soon. Maybe though.” He drank more of his shitty coffee. “Actually, before I go, I feel I should apologize. Showing up here like that. Unannounced. Creating worry and confusion. How dare I?”