Page 33 of Give Me Forever Love

I look out the window and enjoy the silence. We can talk later. I just want to relish being in the car with her, my freedom and watch the city as we ride home.

Trust me, I know how lucky I just got.

I know I’d be serving serious time if it weren’t for Danny O’Brien. He was true to his word. I rub my chin with my free hand.

I owe him a thanks, and maybe one day I’ll be able to give it.

___________

Twenty or so minutes, we’re exiting her car. The sun diminishes, coloring the evening sky with wisps of brass and blue-purple. Speckles of stars glitter the atmosphere, and the summer breeze kisses my skin. With my blazer in my hand, I toss it over my shoulder and lean against the front of her car as I slide a hand into my pocket.

“Come here,” I say, opening my legs enough for her to fit between. She walks over to me and wraps her arms around my neck. Tilting her head slightly, she looks me over. Her full lips lift as she brushes her hand over the side of my neck.

“You took the deal,” she says.

I nod. “I took the deal.”

“I was so sure you wouldn’t. What made you change your mind?”

“You.” There’s no simpler answer than that. I knew I was giving up my life’s work, but I couldn’t run it in prison anyway. While signing over my club to Danny hurt, the thought of not having K every day burned.

She’s everything to me. I just love her and nothing else matters.

She shakes her head. “But Red…”

“Red is just a club.”

She exhales. “You’re one of the most complicated people I’ve ever met,” she says with an eye roll.

I wrap my hand around her back, moving it down to her skirt-covered ass. “Baby, I like fighting, riding dirt bikes, classic cars, and you. I don’t think I can get any simpler than that.”

She smiles, all white perfect teeth. “I like you, too.” I lean down and kiss her lips. I pull her closer to me as I slip my tongue past my lips, tasting hers. I grip her ass as she touches the side of my face and kisses me back, full force.

And it’s not my lips she kisses, but somewhere deep inside.

My soul.

She could rip my heart to shreds, leave all the pieces on the ground, and walk away. I’d pick them up, run after her, and put them in her hands because she owns me.

Heart.

Soul.

Mind.

Life.

I pull away and rest my forehead against hers.

“When this is all over, I want to take you somewhere.”

“When?” she asks. I feel the wrinkle in her brow. “I thought it was over.”

“Almost. There are some loose ends we’ve got to take care of and then I’ll be able to leave the country.”

“You’re taking me out of the country?” she asks, pulling back, her eyes scanning over my face with excitement.

“Yeah.”

---