Page 13 of Property of Prowler (Kings of Anarchy MC: Nevada #1)

SIX

TAYLOR

Taylor’s shift was dragging. It was only four hours long, but it felt like ten. Not that the casino wasn’t insanely busy, but because she had a date tonight that she couldn’t stop thinking about.

She’d traded her night shift for Theresa’s day. When her coworker had jumped at the chance, it raised Taylor’s suspicion. She’d thought for sure she’d have to add some sort of incentive, but nope.

Now four ass grabs, two threats of stop looking at my man, you whore , and no less than seven interactions with security, Taylor realized the early shift was fucking bedlam.

Changing into running shoes from heels after her shift was one of the little things in life that was underappreciated, she thought as she laced hers up.

“So, Taylor, are you thinking of making the permanent change to days … coming over to the dark in the light side?”

Claire, the fifty-four-year-old who didn’t look a day over forty, asked. Claire had been the one to train her on nights when she’d first got hired. “We have cookies, and better tips.”

Taylor couldn’t deny the truth of it. She’d made nearly double what she did for a two-hour longer shift at night. However, she’d take the too drunk Vegas can’t handle us dude bro types over the sobering six a.m. crowd who had a flight to catch so they were shooting their last shot, any day.

“Not a chance in hell, Claire. You can keep your cookies and bruised ass cheeks,” she quipped as she closed her locker.

“Your loss,” Claire retorted and followed her from the locker room. “I’m set to retire in three months. So, my ass cheeks can recover just fine while I’m floating around in my pool, sipping margaritas all day, and making questionable content in my old age.” Claire laughed.

“You ladies ready?” Will asked. Taylor was grateful that it was the casino’s policy to walk the ladies to their car after shift.

Taylor waited with Will for Claire to get into her car and lock the doors before they started toward hers. “I got it from here, Will. Thanks.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I can see it from here.” She pointed proudly at her pride and joy. Just the back quarter panel was visible on the other side of a huge SUV parked beside her. She hoped like hell they hadn’t dinged her car with their monster doors.

“That’s one sweet ride,” Will remarked. Even without much to go on, there was no mistaking the marvel of a classic American muscle car.

“I know.” She beamed as she strode toward her car.

“I’ll tap the brakes after I’m locked in, and you can head back,” she shouted behind her.

“Okay.”

Once she was close, she hit the key fob, starting and unlocking the car.

Rounding the SUV, she reached for her door only to realize it was partially open. Her brother sat in the driver’s seat.

“Hello, sis,” Travis said as he stood from the seat, opening the door all the way. The action herded her toward the front of the car, away from where she could pop out to see Will waiting for the signal.

Travis must’ve followed her line of thinking because he reached over the top of the open door and loosely grabbed her arm. “I tapped the brakes for you, so your shadow is gone. Besides.” His tone turned artificially sweet. “You’re safe with me; I’m your brother after all.”

“You’re no brother to me, Travis. And I told you I was done. Not to come around anymore.”

“Technically, you told me not to come to your house, so …” He trailed off as he shifted his body so he could close the door.

He walked them back in an attempt to trap her, but she stopped her backward retreat.

“Anyway, I need your help.”

Taylor was so over it with Travis and men like him in her life.

She.

Was.

Done.

“No more help. I told you. Forget you even know me, Travis. Don’t come to my work, my home, hell, don’t run into me in public. You see me on the street, turn and walk the other way.”

“Not going to happen. We’re family, and family is forever, Taylor. Like it or not, that’s facts.”

“Family? FAMILY?” She yanked her arm from his grasp. “That’s rich coming from you. Family doesn’t treat each other the way you and Dad treated me. So no, we are not family. I choose my family now, and you are not among them.”

“Like that biker trash you’re fucking? The one with a hot piece of ass daughter? They’re who I need help with actually, so it’s perfect that you’ve sunk so low.”

Taylor didn’t hear anything but noise after he called Prowler trash and made a comment about Cass that turned her stomach.

“Leave now, Travis, or I’ll make you.” She spoke with a calm, steady voice.

“You.” He laughed as he stroked her cheek. “You’d never hurt me, sweetheart.” When his hand started to trail down her neck, she didn’t think, just reacted.

Grabbing the offending appendage, she bent it back until Travis screamed and went to the ground. But she didn’t stop there. After driving the heel of her other hand into his nose, she raised her foot and planted it hard against his chest until he ended up flat on the concrete.

“DON’T EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN.”

Everything started to blur. Taylor had finally fought back, and she felt …

amazing. Adrenaline shakes aside, there was an exhilaration to finally fighting back.

She had been training for a day like this since she ran from Billy, but she never thought she’d have to guts to actually fight back.

Not to mention, she thought it would be Billy, not Travis, but still.

When he’d touched her, she was right back in her childhood home around the time her dad stopped coming to her room, and Travis started. She’d known then it was only a matter of time before one or both raped her, so she ran.

Then she found herself in a toxic pattern. Going from one abusive relationship to the next. Each time, she ran. Never fighting back, never standing up for herself, just getting the hell out of Dodge. But Taylor was done running. She was fighting back from now on.

It barely registered that another man was lifting Travis up by his armpits and loading him into the SUV beside her.

“Fuck.” Travis shook off the assistance as he stepped up into the SUV. “Took you long enough,” he yelled at the other man before turning to her through the open window.

“You fucked up, Taylor. Remember, you left me no choice. I just needed a little help, and everything would’ve been fine, but now, you’ve forced my hand.”

When she met his eyes, the look on his face was blank.

Emotionless. It was disturbing. More so than when he looked at her with lust. With a bloody nose and a sprained wrist at best, his features should’ve been twisted in agony or something, but they weren’t.

He was simply there. It was creepy, no emotion at all.

“Enjoy your life while you can, sister .” Even the words he meant as a parting shot were monotone. She couldn’t decide whether that made them more threatening or less.

In a daze, Taylor got in her car and headed home.

She didn’t remember much of the drive. Thank God she didn’t get into an accident. Donning a sports bra and shorts, she headed to her garage.

It wasn’t his threat that occupied her mind or even the flat tone he delivered it in. It was the fact she’d stood up for herself that did it.

An overwhelming sense of power pushed all other thoughts to the background. She wailed on the heavy bag for well over an hour before deciding to run a few miles. She still had some adrenaline to burn off.

She’d stood up for herself.

Ear buds in place and Carcass blasting in her ears, she set a punishing pace.

She opted to exit their neighborhood gate to change the scenery a little.

Around the back side of the neighborhood, just on the other side of the wall behind her house, she noticed an old beater parked along the road.

She had to run past it on the sidewalk anyway, so she slowed her pace to have a look inside.

As soon as she came alongside the back bumper, they peeled out, spraying road debris on her legs.

“Rude much?” she shouted toward the taillights.

Finishing up her run, she headed back through the gate, which now hung open. Ugh .

She walked up to the keypad and started punching numbers like that would fix the damned thing, or something.

It was perpetually broken. The HOA had replaced it twice in the last year, and yet it was still only secured fifty percent of the time.

Of course, they still collected one hundred percent of their dues each month.

The only thing their two hundred bucks a month went to was landscaping, the five private roads in the community, and the damn gate.

You’d think they could do better. “Maybe I should run for president and make the damn gate a priority.” She muttered to herself as she entered her neighborhood.

The events of the morning and lazy HOAs aside, she was determined to enjoy tonight.

Prowler wasn’t the dating type, but he was making an effort, so she’d be damned if her brother would spoil the night for her.

Her makeup for the night was a breeze. Skipping the foundation, she opted for heavy eyeliner and mascara, with a red lip.

She donned a red lace thong and push-up bra that Prowler had yet to see before rummaging through her closet.

“There you are. Come to mama.” She pulled out her favorite ripped jeans. The pair that every girl has for date night that makes her ass look amazing. Yeah, those.

She paired it with a sliced-up Exmortus tee from the last time she saw them live and her concert boots. They were black and covered in chains and buckles, plus a silver CU dangling down the back of the left one and NT hanging down the back of the right one.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she felt beautiful. “One finishing touch.” She told her reflection, reaching for her battle vest, until she remembered they were riding to the show, and she needed sleeves. Trading the denim vest for a long-sleeved, faux leather jacket.

No sooner had she pushed her arms through the sleeves than her doorbell rang.