Page 15 of Bound by Desire
Take that, demons, I tell myself before pushing out of my chair and getting back to the shop where I can put my mind and my handstowork.
* * *
Like all theothers after a fight, the drive home is quiet after dropping Ray off at his place. The guy tonight got in a few good shots, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I relish the pain. It’s a reminder I can still feel, that I’m stillalive.
When I left the cage, he was passed out on the mat. With each punch I threw, a small bit of weight left my shoulders, but unfortunately, not enough. Even the fuck after didn’t release anything this time. If anything, the weight felt a bitheavier.
Darkness surrounds me as I pull into my place, seeing a figure sitting on the steps leading up to my apartment. They’re hunched over, a hoodie covering them, their arms wrapped around their knees. It appears like they are rocking back andforth.
Whoever it is, they are obviously here for me. No one should be here, especially not for me. Noattachments.
I pull into my spot and park. With my gun at the ready, I exit thetruck.
When the figure rises, I lift my gun, pointing it right attheirhead.
“Deke,thankGod.”
I remember thatvoice.
“Austyn?”
She pulls the hood away from her face, and her dark hair falls, reminding me of Aunt Princess. Shit, she’s a spitting image of her—hair, body, and even some of her facial features. Even in the dark of night, she stands out like hermother.
“Hey, how’s it goin’?” she asks as if we haven’t seen each other in four years and this is just a causalmeeting.
I lower the gun and holster it behind my back. The closer I get, the more I can see her face. I don’t fucking like what I see. The left side of her face has a huge bruise on it, and her eye isswollen.
“What the fuck happened?” I ask, getting closer and examiningherface.
She takes a step back, no doubt realizing I’m not the kid I once was. My body is bulky yet lean. Not to mention I’ve been told by Ray that I look like I can break a man in half. Icould.
“Upstairs, then you talk.” Ipoint.
With a large exhalation of breath, she turns and moves up thestairs.
I move around and unlock the door. She steps in, and I flip on the switch as she looks around the place. In the light, I can see the many shades of purples and greens as the bruising is no doubt setting in. This is recent. I don’t like itevenmore.
“Nice place?” It comes out more of a question, but I don’t give a fuck what she thinks of the place. The only way she could’ve found out where I live is if Emery told her. No one else knows. Well, the club keeping tabs on me could be a possibility. With the way things were left between my father and I, however, I don’t think that’sthecase.
“Cut the shit. What happened?” I toss my shit to the small table then turn to look at my cousin. She’s grown up a fucking lot. No doubt Aunt Princess and Uncle Cruz have their hands full, and that’s by looks alone. The fire in her eyes adds an entirely different dynamic that no doubt will goboomat somepoint.
“I just need a break from home. I talked to Emery; she told me tocomehere.”
“Austyn, I don’t do bullshit. Fuckin’ talk or leave.” Not that I’d truly let her leave with a busted face in a place she doesn’t know, but she doesn’t need to know that. In fact, when she gets her shit sorted and out of here, it’s best she not know the hold the family still has on my heart, my loyalty, andmymind.
Her eyes don’t meet mine as she speaks. It puts me on edge. “I got into a little bit oftrouble.”
I step into Austyn’s space, and she takes a step back, bumping into the wall. Her breaths pick up, and a small bit of fear flashes in hereyes.Good.
Her eyes lower a bit. “Please step back,” she requests quietly, and after a moment, I do. “I left with this guy I met at party. He took me on a bit of a road trip.” She’s being vague, so I cross my arms over my chest and clear my throat. “Alright, we skipped town. I wasn’t planning on being gone long, but it’s been a couple of days. We got into a fight.” She lifts her hand up to her face. “And he kicked me out ofthecar.”
“And you just happened to get kicked out at mydoorstep?”
“No.” She looks away. “Ihitchhikedhere.”
“You what!” My words are explosive. I want to beat some ever-loving sense into her brain. “You fucking hitchhiked? Have you lost yourgoddamnedmind?”
She holds her hand up, trying to placate me, but that’s not happening. “I made it here, that’s all that matters.” Her voice cracks. There is more to this story. She’s avoiding my eyes. Austyn is shaken,butwhy?
