Page 94 of Kings Don't Break

I breathe through another explosive urge to destroy something and focus on starting my bike. It rumbles to life and then I’m off, blasting into the night, getting as far as I fucking can. My steel horse takes me away ’til it feels like I’m outgunning the itch that had begged to be scratched.

If I just make it home. If I can just hold on to another day.

Day one.

Starting from the bottom all over again. But if I make it through the night, then I can make it to day two. Day three. Day four and all the days to come after it.

I know I can. I won’t fucking give up.

I glare at the dark road up ahead, my grip on the handles of my bike tight. Thoughts of Korine run through my mind. Just the memory of her beautiful smile and soft touch are enough to keep me straight—I’ve got to be the man she deserves.

At times, the pressures too much than I can bear, but I’ve got to try.

I can’t do what I always do. I can’t fuck this up.

“Bill,” I say, shaking my head. My hair’s in my face. The room’s sweltering. The keys feel wrong even being in the palm of my hands. “I can’t…”

“Drive. It’s a couple… hic… couple blocks.”

We wind up outside the saloon. Nothing’s straight. Nothing’s clear.

The night air feels cool against my skin. Finally relief from the oven that the saloon became.

Bill fumbles over to his truck and slaps a hand to the hood. He’s red-faced, reeking of the liquor he’s been drinking since morning. “Get in. Take me home.”

“Nah. It’s not… we can’t…”

“FINE. Then,” he hiccups, snatching the keys. “Then I’ll do it.”

A couple blocks into crossing the town border, the dark and deserted landscape changes. Out of the blackness comes flashing red and blue lights. The whir of a siren closing in from behind me. I check my mirrors to verify something I already know.

I’m being pulled over.

“Bill!” I yell as the truck starts up and I scramble for the passenger door.

I hop in as he slams on the gas. The truck lurches forward, swinging out of the lot, damn near nicking one of the parked cars.

Bill swerves left and right. His boot never lets up off the gas.

We’re veering across the road… into the wrong lane…

I reach over and try to steer him back. Try to course correct, but he jerks the wheel again and the truck feels like it’s spinning. It’s careening out of control.

We’re headed straight for the trees lining the road.

The earsplitting crack of metal against wood echoes in my ears as police lights flash before my eyes. I tear my gaze off my mirror and pull over to the side as expected.

And though it could be any police officer from the Pulsboro PD, I already know who it is before he even gets out of the car and walks up to my bike.

Both car doors swing open. Korine’s piece of shit ex-husband steps out on one side. His partner gets out on the other.

Tension shoots to my jaw and I mutter, “Fuck.”

Fuck is right. This ain’t about to end well.

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