Page 25 of Locke

I wash up and clean myself before reentering the bedroom and seeing Kiki in one of my t-shirts. I can’t help but stop and take her in. My eyes travel over her when she turns to look at me, a sated look in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her. I can see something is off in her eyes.

“I … I just want to be wanted for more than sex.”

“You think I don’t want you for more than that?” I ask, confused.

“After what you told me, I wasn’t sure.”

“I want you, Kiki. All of you. There’s not anything about you I don’t want. I just … I need to take things slow, yeah? I don’t wanna rush into things like I did with her.”

“I get it. I don’t want that either,” she says. I nod my head before walking over and brushing my lips over hers.

“I’ll be back.” She smiles, and I turn to walk out of the room and into the hallway. I make it to the office, and everyone is inside. Hodge eyes me but doesn’t say anything.

“Nice of you to join us,” Gunner says as I take my seat next to him and light up a cigarette. I don’t respond because there’s nothing to say. I wasn’t here on time, and that’s my fault.

“We got word on the Spike and his crew. We know where they’re stashin’ some of their drugs and guns, but we don’t know where they’re runnin’ girls out of.” Gunner looks around the table as everyone shifts in their seats.

“This is personal for the most part. They did give us a little hell with Spike, but not enough for us to fire back. We’ll vote on it. I don’t expect anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. We need to watch them. I want to know how many guys are in there at any given time. That means we need a team to go out,” Gunner explains as he looks around at us once more.

“I’m in,” I say before anyone has the chance to respond. Gunner nods his head before raising his hand to stop everyone from speaking.

“This is a vote. You’re in, or you’re not.” He goes around the room, and of course everyone is in. We’d never turn our backs on the Prez or his blood family.

“That’s settled. I want Hodge, Locke, Remy, and Knot on this for now. The rest of you just sit back and relax until we know more. That’s it.” The guys all stand ready to leave. As I stand, he glances over at me and shakes his head. “Stick around a minute.” I inhale nicotine into my lungs and sit back down in my chair, blowing smoke into the air.

“What’s up?”

“Listen, I know Kiki likes you. I know she looks at you more than she did, that asshole Spike. I know she has some kind of feelin’s there. What I don’t know is what you’re thinkin’ or feelin’. Now I’m not askin’ you to share your feelin’s with me like a bitch. I’m just askin’ where your heads at.” He looks me in the eye. I should have seen this coming. I take a deep breath and look at my cigarette in hand before looking back at him.

“I really like Kiki. She makes me feel different, in a good way. Somethin’ I haven’t had in a long time, but I don’t wanna hurt her, Gunner. I know the kind of man I am. I know what I did in the past, and that’s not some shit I want for her,” I admit to him.

“Listen to me, Locke. I don’t think you’d hurt her. Not on purpose, anyway. You’re not that kind of guy. I know you’re a good guy deep down, and I know you had a shit past. But that’s where it all is now. In the past, brother. We can’t hold onto that shit. We have to learn to let it all go.”

“I get that, I do, but some shit is just harder than others, yeah? I’m doin’ what I can, Gunner.”

“Then keep doin’ it. Normally, I would have your fuckin’ balls for touchin’ my daughter, but at least she chose someone I fully trust. And I’ll trust you with her too, Locke.”

“I appreciate that.” He nods his head as he stands to his feet, dismissing me. I snuff out the rest of my cigarette in the ashtray and stand, walking out into the main room where I see Tina.

“Where’s Kiki?”

“I don’t know. Thought she was with you.”

“I was in a meetin’.” She shrugs her shoulders as I nod my head and walk back down the hall. She must still be in my room. When I walk in, she’s curled up in the middle of the bed, sound asleep. I watch her for a long time. Watching her breathe, her eyelids flutter. She’s fucking beautiful. Perfect. And I don’t want to ruin her. I don’t want to ruin who she is.

I slowly walk over, climb onto the bed behind her, and wrap my arm around her. She doesn’t stir or move.

We lie like this for a long time when someone knocks on the door. I call out for them to open it, hoping I don’t wake her up. Hodge opens the door and looks at me, holding his sister.

“If you don’t wanna take watch tonight, I get it, brother.”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Maybe you need time with her.” He nods toward Kiki.

“She’s the reason I’m takin’ watch, Hodge. I’m not gonna let that motherfucker anywhere near her.” He nods his head before he smirks and backs out of the room, closing the door behind him. Kiki shifts, pressing her ass against my cock. She has to be awake. She has to know what she’s doing.

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