“Are you okay, sweetie?” a voice asked me.
I lifted my gaze from Nelson’s body on the ground and slowly scanned up a muscular body. Jeans. Shirt. A leather cut. The leather cut. But then I got to his face. That jaw. The scruff on his face. His eyes.
I lost my breath.
I completely lost my breath.
My mouth fell open.
The entire parking lot started to spin. I touched the building and knew I had to be dreaming. This couldn’t be possible.
My lips fluttered, trying to say his name. But I had no air or breath.
My heart and mind, however, were screaming his name loud and clear.
King… King was here…
11
(King) *TEN MINUTES AGO*
THEY GOT me the location and nothing was going to stop me from seeing her. Slam and Knox tried to talk me out of it, but I made it clear that if anyone got in my way, I’d fucking kill them. My boys knew what she meant to me. I had to see her. I had to know she was alive, healthy, and happy.
Fuck, I hoped she was happy.
I took to the open road on my motorcycle and felt a shot of life roll through my veins. That was the second greatest feeling in the world. The only thing better than riding my motorcycle was riding a beautiful woman.
I told my boys to head over to the strip club and I’d join up with them later. Maybe. Right then, it was about a personal thing with Linds. I never got a chance to hang with her and explain what had happened with Tito and the guy that killed him. It all had happened so fast. My decision to do it. The information that came in, telling me where he was and I knew it was my only chance. I didn’t have the blessing of the Reap to do it and I was paying dearly for that.
But I was out now. I was a free man and I could find my girl and figure all the shit out. Then I’d sit down with Knox and Uncle Jakey and bring them up to speed on Anderson. Somehow, it would all work. Even if I ended up back behind bars and a needle thrust into my arm, oh well. I just wanted to tie up loose ends.
I parked my motorcycle and within ten seconds, I saw her.
I fucking 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 fuck 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 fucking 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 fucking 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 fucking 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, fuck,” 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 fucking 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?”