I didn’t know what to feel. I guess in so many ways I had already dug my grave, huh? I had done the crime, I was serving the time, and the destiny was the reaper. That was all of our destinies. Every single guy that sat at the table and represented the Reap.
But even with all that shit flowing through my body, I could only think of one fusing thing.
Her.
My girl.
Lindsey.
“Kingston,” Anderson said.
I looked back. He was standing in the same position as when I first saw him. Even with a fresh lit cigarette in his mouth.
“What?” I asked.
“The offer… I’ll give you until weight room time. That’s, what, about two hours? A man of your nature shouldn’t need that much time to decide between life and death.”
All I could picture was her.
“Get me the fuck out of here,” I said.
Anderson grinned. “I knew you were going to say that. I knew I liked you for a reason. I’ll be in touch real soon. Just think, this time tomorrow, you’ll be with your crew again.”
Yeah, I’d be with my boys again… but after that, I was going to find her… I was going to find my Lindsey and fix everything that went wrong.
6
(King) *THEN*
I WATCHED as Tito lifted up his shirt and tucked a gun into the back of his baggy jeans. Mom used to yell at him for not putting his belt tighter to hold up his jeans better. She called him a goofy ass slob and would slap his shoulder. She used to be able to slap the back of his head but Tito got too tall.
I was already half an inch taller than Tito.
I couldn’t believe what the last couple summers had done for me. I gave up on my quest to play guitar like Tito and went for the weights. I lifted… and I secretly fought people. Tito knew about it. He would bet money on me. The underground fighting was amazing. But dangerous.
“What are you doing with that?” I asked.
Tito turned. He wiped his nose, laughed, and blinked fast. His eyes were dry, bloodshot. He was high as fuck already.
“Working,” Tito said. “You know we all pack, little bro. It’s how we live.”
“Why are you doing it like this?” I asked. “I can talk to my boys for you.”
My boys were the Reaper’s Bastards. A bunch of us were slowly patching in. Others were prospects. The point was… we were in with the Reap. We were going to rule the club one day.
Tito didn’t have to do the street bullshit stuff anymore. He could patch in with the club. I could get him a sit down with the President of the club. But he refused it. It was a dumb pride thing. At least that’s what I believed at first. Watching him rub his nose told me a different story. It wasn’t a pride thing - it was a high thing.
“Don’t do this,” I said. “Come on. You know I’m packing just like you. But not like this.”
Tito put a hand out. “Little bro, you’re starting to piss me off. And I don’t want to be pissed off.”
“You’re using. I can see it all over you. Mom will kill you.”
Tito’s eyes went wider. With the flip of an invisible switch that I obviously hit, Tito charged right at me. Next thing I knew, his hand was around my neck. I slammed against the wall and felt his strength trying to crush my windpipe.
Truth?
I could have fought back. I could have taken Tito right down to the fucking ground and made him cry and tap out. But it was my big bro. My hero. My idol. The man who was like a father to me since my old man was long gone.
“You fucking ever joke like that again, little bro, and I will have to hurt you. I’m keeping everything cool. Everything sane and safe, man. Okay? You just go about your shit. Remember why I’m doing my shit. Don’t get in my fucking way.”
Tito let me go.
I coughed and grabbed at my neck.
He walked to the steps and looked back at me.
My big bro… my hero, my idol… he had tears in his eyes. He pointed right at me.
“Just don’t,” he said. “Ever.”
I was frozen.
Tito took a step down and stopped again. He hung his head. “I love you, King. Man, I fucking love you.”
With that, Tito walked down the steps and out of the house.
“I love you too, brother,” I said, still rubbing my neck.
That night… Tito would take a last breath.
7
(Lindsey) *NOW*
I SCOOPED four large spoonfuls of sugar into my coffee and stirred it up. I took a sip and it was perfect. Aunt Jane always bought the weirdest coffee and knew how to make it taste great.
“You look stressed,” she said.
“I saw something at work. About the building.”
“Selling it?” she asked.
“How did…”
Aunt Jane smirked. “Lindsey, I’ve been in the medical world for how many years? Happens all the time. Centers, hospitals, whatever, it’s all up for grab. Don’t get caught up in that. You’re not in the admin part of it.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t care about the people.”
“Of course you do. But shit happens. You just have to ride the waves of life.”
“You always say…”
Someone cleared their throat.
I turned and saw some young man standing in the doorway with messy hair and jacket slung over his shoulder.
“Hey, D,” Aunt Jane said and winked.
“Get out of here,” I whispered to myself.
“I’m, uh, going to hit the road,” D said.