Page 6 of Crossing Lines

Lord knew she had way more crazy in her than the average man could handle.

It was taxing, but I’d not trade her for anyone or anything in this world. I wanted to be the man who she grew old with. Laughed—cried—with. The man who held her heart. I hoped I’d always be able to make her happy. I’d do all I could to make that a reality, in any capacity I could.

The few friendly faces in the bar, my friends—our friends—helped to ramp up my nerves, yet calm them in turn. My life changed for the better the day I met Stella Malone. Each day since has been a welcome rollercoaster of mood swings, takedowns, and having her in my arms. I’d always known she was meant to be mine. I wanted to show off just how much she meant to me, not by just my words and actions, but with a symbol of our eternity. This band meant more than marriage. It was a symbol of love, trust, and family.

I took another swig of my beer as my chest tightened with worry. What if she said no? What would I do then? Would she still be able to be with me knowing I wanted more than maybe she did? I cursed myself as I set the bottle down. I hoped to God this wasn’t going to blow up in my face. Just as I was shaking that train of thought away, the door to the bar opened with a crash, and Henry Cornell came barreling in.

“Hey, Trace! You...you best get...get outside.”

“Why?” I asked, standing. My hand reached for the badge in my pocket but rested on my gun hidden just under my shirt at the last second.Would I need it?

“There’s some chick…she’s beating...the shit out of…your truck.” He staggered, chuckling. He was ten shades of drunk already, and it wasn’t even midday.

Fucking hell. I guessed it was five o’clock somewhere, right?

I shook my head and rushed to the door to see what he was talking about. My feet carried me out to the lot, moving at a quick pace only to come to a halt, midstride. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Stella,myStella, was beating the hood of my truck with her fucking bat. I gave the whole scene a good, hard look, amazed and a little taken aback. The windows had been busted out on both the driver and passenger sides. The head and tail lights were busted, pieces of them scattered under her feet.

“Stella Grace! What the fuck are you doing?!”

She turned, glaring at me.

“Don’t you snarl at me, Tracey Everette Daniels!”

The look in her eyes was one I’d never seen before. She reminded me of a feral wolf on a hunt. I slowed my strides, but just barely. I had to figure out what was going on quickly. My gaze swept over my truck again, and I seethed. Whatever her problem was…it better be damned good. I was going to tan her ass for this!

“Trace,” Dani Lynn’s voice came first from behind me, then she was in front of me. I came up short in order to keep from running over her.

“She’s destroying my fucking truck!” I snarled. I was definitely going to have a chat withmygirl.

“What in the hell has gotten into her this time?”

“That kid has anger problems.”

“That whole family does.”

The voices cut off as Drew and Charlie pushed up beside me. “What in the hell is going on?” Drew asked me, though his gaze was locked on his wife.

“Fuck if I know, man. Fuck if I know,” I responded. I shook it off and made the move to go to Stel, to try and calm her down, but Dani Lynn stopped me with a look.

“Wait, let me. Trust me.” She turned back to try and talk to Stella—who I might add, was smashing the driver’s side windshield of my truck.

“Stel, what the fuck? Put the bat down, crazy!” Dani Lynn moved closer, her hands out to her sides. “Come on, woman, let’s talk it out.”

“This is all his fault!” Her ragged scream made my stomach clench.

“What’s my fault?” I ground out.My fault? What in the fuck had I done?She must be delusional or…I didn’t even know.

“Man, what did you forget?” Charlie asked.

“Or run over?” Drew added. “I’ve never seen her this far off the rocker.”

I tuned Drew and Charlie out. They were right; she’d never been this far into crazytown. Never.

“This is worse than the fucking squid in her soup bowl.” I turned slightly to see Chip comin’ up beside me. I pulled my gaze back to my girl. God, that day she’d shot up a table in a semi-crowded restaurant. Guess the bat was a better weapon today.

“Are either of you going to stop her?” Chip looked between Drew and Charlie, both of whom looked green at the thought.

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