Page 18 of Locke

“It’s safe.”

“What about Spike?”

“Your dad’s here. The other guys are here. You’ll be fine. I filled them in on what happened,” I tell her, trying to keep it short and sweet.

“Did you … do they know?” I shake my head. I wouldn’t tell them I fucked her on the side of the fucking road. How the hell could I tell them that?

“I didn’t tell them. Just what they needed to know.” She sighs, and it seems to calm her slightly. The fact she thinks I would tell them that pisses me off a little. I finish pulling my door closed when Kiki speaks once more.

“Locke … just … be careful, okay? Spike was on a lot of shit when I left. He did things-”

“What things?”

“Things. He just … fuck,” she whispers before looking down. He did something to her. I can tell by the way she’s acting, and I don’t fucking like it. I reach for her and grab her face, forcing her to look at me.

“What did he do?” I growl this time. Kiki swallows hard before stepping back and pulling her shirt over her head. I’m not sure what she’s doing until she sobs and turns around to show me her back. That’s when my stomach rolls. Scars. Deep scars line the back of her body. I want to reach out and touch them, but I don’t. She pulls her shirt back over her head and turns to face me now.

“Fuck,” I roar before punching the wall. A cry falls from her lips, and I can’t help but grab her, pulling her into my arms. I hold her, letting her sob as she gets it out of her system.

“One day, you’re gonna tell me what he did, but not today. If you tell me today, I will fuckin’ kill him without warning.”

“I can’t tell you,” she whispers into my chest. I pull back, grab her face in my hands, and look her in the eye.

“You will, Kiki. You will tell me.”

“I’m so ugly now. I hate the way I look.” Shaking my head, I grab her hand and bring it to my chest, where my heart beats erratically.

“You feel that? That’s what my heart has done since the first day I saw you. There’s nothin’, and I mean nothin’ ugly about you. This is what the fuck you do to me.” Before she has the chance to say something further, I grab her and pull her into me. I press my lips to hers, knowing this is all kinds of fucked up, but I kiss her like this may be the last time.

“I need to go,” I tell her, pulling back only a little before kissing her once more. This is wrong, but I can’t stop myself with her. I don’t want to. Fuck the consequences.

“I know.”

“You’ll be okay. Your dad is here,” I tell her. She nods her head before I kiss her once more and pull away. I grab my bag from the floor and heft it over my shoulder before walking down the hall. I stop to take one last look at her over my shoulder before heading into the main room.

“You ready?” Hodge asks me. I nod my head and follow him and the others out the side door and over to the bikes. I tuck my bag into the saddle bag and climb on, revving the engine.

As we pull out, I see her standing in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. Something inside me flares to life just looking at her. Something that’s been hidden for so long.

I ignore the urge to go to her. The urge to take her with me. I shake my fucking head, knowing this is never going to work. I’m never going to be able to be with her. Gunner isn’t going to allow that to happen.

I shove all that aside and focus on the ride. It takes a few hours to get to Georgia. I love it. I love the ride. It’s a freeing feeling that just settles within you, and everything else just eases away.

We make great time and arrive at our destination. We set up at the hotel before heading out to do a little recon. It doesn’t take long to spot the motherfuckers.

“Are you kiddin’ me? It was this easy?” Hodge asks as we watch the idiots enter an abandoned warehouse.

“Seems to be. Wonder what they’re doin’ in there?” Remy asks.

“Why don’t we find out?” I suggest with a smirk on my face. This is what we were sent out here to do we might as well get to it.

“You a little bloodthirsty?” Hodge asks with a grin as he looks over at me.

“A little.”

“I’m ready when you are,” Remy adds.

“Then, let’s hit them. Fuck, just got here and already have the assholes in sight. This should make for a shorter trip,” I tell them.

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