Page 26

Locke

I froze. I fuckin froze when she said it. She pulled her head back and looked me in the fucking eyes, and I knew, fuck I knew she meant it. And I love her too. My heart and my head are at war over saying it back, though. I don’t want to lose her. I don’t want anything happening to her.

“Kiki, I-”

“You don’t need to say it back, Locke. I get it. I just needed you to know that.”

“That’s the thing. I wanna say it back. I do love you, Kiki. I never thought those words would leave my mouth again, but you … you’re everything to me.” she smiles softly at me before lifting her head and pressing her lips to mine. I let her kiss me. I let her take what she needs right now before I pull back and smirk at her.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m pretty sure you have a concussion, sweetheart, and you’re gonna be wakin’ up every two hours like the doc suggests when this shit happens.”

“I can think of ways to stay awake,” she purrs, and my heart leaps. I do love this girl. More than I should, but there’s no way I can stop.

“That’s not happenin’. As much as I’d like to fuck you right now, I’m not. You need to rest, and I need to talk to your dad.”

“Stay with me,” she asks, although it sounds more like begging. I know she doesn’t want to be alone and I didn’t plan on leaving her.

“I’m right here, darlin’.”

“I know,” she sighs as I move her over and lay her on the bed. Her head hits the pillow, and her eyes flutter. She needs to sleep, she needs the rest. I lay down next to her, pulling her against me and holding her. I press a kiss to the back of her head and keep her tucked into me.

“Locke?”

“Yeah?”

“Promise you’ll never leave me.” My heart thuds harder in my chest.

“I’m never leavin’ you, Kiki.” After a few minutes, her breathing evens out, and I know she’s asleep. I slip out of bed and walk toward the door before looking back over at her and smiling. She’s the best thing to happen to me. She’s everything. I once thought I had it all, but I didn’t. This is it. This is what it feels like to have it all.

“I love you, darlin’,” I whisper, even though she can’t hear me. Then I walk out of the room and down to the main room to find Gunner.

I find him and Hodge sitting at the bar talking, so I walk over and join in.

“She okay?”

“I’m pretty sure she has a concussion, but she’s fine.”

“Good. I’m glad she’s alright,” he says.

“We’re movin’ on him,” Hodge adds as I nod my head.

“I’m ready for that.”

“Are you?” he asks. I nod my head once more as a beer is slipped in front of me.

“Damn right, I am. He overstepped this time, brother. He’s gettin’ too close for my likin’.”

“Mine too. Spike has it out for her,” Gunner says as I nod my head and take a long pull from my beer.

“He ain’t havin’ her.”

“Fuck no, he’s not.”

“That’s agreeable,” Hodge adds.

“When are we doin’ this?”

“As soon as we learn a little more. I got guys out there now,” Gunner says.

“Why didn’t you send me out?” I ask.

“She needs you now. She’s had enough goin’ on, and I don’t need her worryin’ over you while you’re out there,” Gunner tells me.

“I’m in on this, though, yeah?”

“Fuck, yeah, you are. You just weren’t needed on the recon mission, brother. When shit comes down, you’re on lead.” I like the sound of that. I like the idea of being on lead. We all go silent, and as we finish our beers, Gunner’s phone rings. He pulls it out and answers it before glancing over at me.

“Yeah? Where?” he speaks into the line. I can feel it. The anticipation in my blood. The need, the urge to finish this motherfucker once and for all.

“We’re on the way. Good job.” He pulls the phone away from his ear and gives me an evil smile.

“They got him. He’s at the warehouse,” Gunner reports. My heart leaps into my throat, anger and rage simmering just below the surface. Knowing they have him sends a jolt through me. This is it.

“You gonna tell her you’re leavin’?” Hodge asks. I shake my head. She doesn’t need the extra stress of this. I push off the stool and crack my neck from side to side when Hodge laughs.

“You really are ready, yeah?”

“Been ready for this shit. Let’s go,” I tell him. Gunner stands and walks toward me, slapping a hand on my shoulder, and motions for the others to follow as we head out of the clubhouse.

I’m on my bike, revving it up and taking off, not caring if the others are ready and following me. I head in the direction of the warehouse, which doesn’t take long to get to.

The eagerness to end it all is tugging at my gut. The need to fucking kill him and watch his life leave his body is almost more than I can handle. I shake my head as I pull into the parking lot and see a few of the others outside. We don’t speak. We don’t need to. I climb off my bike and smirk at the two of them as they do the same back. They know what this is. They know what’s about to happen.

I step inside with Hodge, Gunner, and a few others behind me. That’s when I see him, the motherfucker who hurt my girl. The bastard who has made her life hell, who hurt her. And I know I’m going to enjoy killing this fucker.

He doesn’t see me as he’s facing the other direction, so I walk up slowly behind him and lean down, whispering in his ear, “Miss me, motherfucker?” He doesn’t jump or move at all. He sits stone still. I walk around to stand in front of him as his eyes meet mine.

“How does it feel?” he asks me.

“What?”

“To know I ruined that little bitch, and you have to clean up the mess,” he says with a smirk. Gunner growls and lunges for him, but Remy pulls him back.

“You think that’s what will happen to you? We’ll ruin you and send you on your way? This is it, Spike. This is the end of the fuckin’ line for you!” Gunner roars as Spike glances over at him.

“Havin’ your men do your dirty work? Thought you’d be the one to do it. She is your daughter, after all,” he taunts.

“Yeah, she might be his daughter, but she’s my old lady, and you fuckin’ laid your hands on her. This is all on me,” I say as I pull the knife from its sheath and stab it into his leg. He groans but bites down on his lip so he isn’t screaming.

“Not good enough,” Gunner snarls as I grin at him. Then I grab the handle and twist the knife in his leg until he has no choice but to scream from the pain.

“There it is,” Hodge says with a sick grin.

“That all you got?” Spike asks through the pain. I smile and shake my head.

“You know, I thought about beatin’ you the way you did her. Leavin’ scars all over your body like she has. But then I thought, no, that wouldn’t hurt him enough.” I pull the knife free and slam it into the other leg, twisting it. Spike screams again and there’s nothing I can do but smile. Maybe I’m a sick fucker. Maybe I need this.

“Untie his ass,” I order Hodge as I pull the knife out of his leg.

“What?”

“Untie his ass. I want him on his feet,” I tell him once more. Hodge looks to Gunner as he nods his head. Then he walks over and unties the asshole.

“You think you’ll get away with this?” Spike asks as he tries to stand on his bloody legs. “My guys will come lookin’.”

“You talk like we left any of them alive,” Gunner chimes in. Spike’s eyes jerk to his, a new awareness now floating through the air. He can feel it. No one is going to save him now.

“So you’re gonna do this?” he asks me as I clench my hands into fists. Before I have the chance to swing, he lunges at me. I let him get a few hits in. I let him try, but the thought of those scars on my girl's back sends me into overdrive. He hits me in the face, in the ribs, but all I do is laugh and stand tall. When I’ve had enough, I move in. I punch him in the face, knocking him back a step. He stumbles, his legs no doubt hurting from the stab wounds.

I pounce like a cat on a mouse. I grab the front of his shirt and pound my fist into his face until he stops moving. Then I keep going. Blood splatters and sprays, but I can’t make myself stop. All I can see is her and those fucking scars she hates so much.

“Locke!” I hear Gunner calling my name, but I don’t listen. Then there’s a hand on me. Pulling me off Spike.

“He’s dead, brother!” Hodge. That’s Hodge talking. I shake my head, getting rid of the fog that crossed my vision before dropping Spike’s body to the ground. Hodge pulls me back a few steps as I look at the bastard lying on the ground just a few feet away.

“You sure he’s dead?” I ask.

“He’s dead,” Remy confirms as he kneels and checks for a pulse. “Very dead.”

“Good.”

“Yeah, let’s get out of here. I’ll have someone clean this up,” Gunner announces. I nod and pull a cigarette out before lighting it up. Blood stains my hands, but I don’t have it in me to care. He’s dead. That’s all I care about right now.