Page 5 of Locke

Kiki

I sit next to Duke and watch as the others talk and drink. It still feels a little strange to be here after all these years.

“What are you thinkin’?”

“That it’s nice but weird to be here,” I tell Duke as he slides his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side.

“What do you mean?”

“This is the complete opposite of what Spike’s club was like. I mean, everything is different.”

“What was his club like?” I turn my head and look at Duke, knowing he’s just trying to get an idea, but I’m not ready to talk about that yet.

“I don’t … I don’t really want to talk about that.”

“I get it, sweetheart. But I’m here when you do. I know not every club is sunshine and roses. We’re just glad you’re back here where you belong. No more runnin’ off, you hear me?” I smile and press a kiss on his cheek.

“No more running off.”

“Good. About killed your daddy to see you go and not come back. He was a bit of a mess while you were gone.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“I know. You were love-struck, and no one can blame you there. It happens to the best of us at some point in life. Now you know what’s out there and what’s at home waitin’ for you.”

“I know. I don’t plan on going anywhere again, Duke. It was … not something I’d want to do again.”

“That’s a start.”

“So tell me about the new guys. What am I missing?”

He runs down the list of new guys, telling me about each one. A few things make me laugh, and others make me question their sanity.

“That one right there is Locke. Good guy. Dark past. He doesn’t talk about it, though. He likes to keep shit bottled up inside, and then when he explodes, he fuckin’ explodes.”

“You’ve seen that first hand?”

“Yeah. Once. It wasn’t a pretty sight. He lost his shit, and that was that. We cleaned up the mess because that’s what we do.”

“And him?”

“That’s Remy. Locke’s best friend. He came to us before Locke did. A little fucked up, but not as bad as his friend, though. We all have a story, yeah?” He glances at me.

“We do. Locke just seems … darker than most.”

“He is. He takes a little time to get warmed up to people so if he’s a little short with you, that’s why. He’ll come around, though. He makes a good VP and that’s what we needed around here.”

“How did that happen? He steps into that role?”

“His story to tell, not mine. Just know he would do anything in his power to keep this club and the people in it safe.” I nod my head, not wanting to question him further.

“Is Tina still around?” I ask. Tina was one of my best friends before I took off with Spike. She told me I was making a mistake, and I shouldn’t leave, but I didn’t listen, and I took off anyway. She was a good friend, just trying to make her way through life the best she could.

“She comes around every once in a while. She isn’t here all the time like she used to be. She’s different now. Life has changed her in the last two years,” he tells me.

“How so?”

“She’s on a lot of drugs, Kiki. Whatever secrets she hides, she masks them with drugs now.” My stomach sinks. I know she used them before, but I can’t help but think that she used them more because I left. It was hard to leave her behind, but I was so dumbstruck with Spike. I couldn’t see past him, and that ruined a lot of things in my life.

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