Property of Journey (Kings of Anarchy MC: Florida #3)

Prologue

June

Four Weeks Ago

The credits roll on A Walk to Remember, and I feel like my heart has been ripped from my chest. How the heck do you end a movie without giving the main characters a happily ever after?

I sniffle. That’s just wrong.

“Are you crying again?” Stella, my best friend in the whole wide world whispers as she playfully nudges my shoulder with hers.

Smiling a watery smile, I knuckle the moisture under my eyes carefully so as not to completely ruin my mascara. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She snorts. “Uh, huh.”

My lips twitch. Stells and I have been friends since the ninth grade.

Like me, her home life was… different. Where I had a mother who was crazy and often forgot she had a kid at all, her parents died in a tragic car accident.

We’d bonded over our childhood trauma and have been inseparable ever since.

“Whatever.” I stick my tongue out at her. I’m a cryer. Who can blame me, though? Mandy Moore dies for crying out loud. That’s sad! I feel the flutter in my chest again. I couldn’t even imagine finding the other half of my soul, only to lose them almost as soon as I found them. Heartbreaking.

Madison leans over from my other side, her thick silver and pink hair sliding into her face. “Sweets, you literally ugly cried through the last twenty minutes.” She giggles, digging her fingers in the thick strands and dragging them over her shoulder.

I roll my eyes. “I did not,” I protest weakly, hearing the stuffiness in my voice.

Oh, who am I trying to kid? The truth is, I’m a sad sack when it comes to movies where the couple’s happily ever after didn’t end with them getting a long life of love and happiness. Actually, now that I think about it, I cry even when the main characters DO get their happily ever after.

“I heard you sniffling from here, babes,” Brooklyn, another part of our Girl Gang, says as she stretches her arms over her violet head and yawns.

“Okay, okay. So I’m a crybaby.” I wave a hand out. “Sue me.”

Brooklyn laughs as she climbs to her feet. “We love you,” she says absentmindedly as she pulls her phone out of the pocket of her Pretty Kitties hoodie, checks the time, then shoves it back. “Tears, snot, and all,” she finishes, smiling.

Snot? I wrinkle my nose. Eww. That’s just yuck.

“Right?” Leslie laughs, agreeing with Brookie.

Twisting in my seat, I scoff, smiling. She doesn’t have any room to talk. “I heard you sniffling too, ma’am!”

Eyes twinkling, she shrugs her shoulders like she doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.

Giggling, I gather my knockoff Louisy bag that I got for a steal in Destin and the half-empty buttered popcorn tub, and file out behind the Girl Gang.

“Alright, ladies.” I smile. “Who’s ready to go live?” I unzip my bag, pull out my iPhone, and open the Tokker app.

“Wait! Let me fix my hair.” Madison runs her hands through her hair that always looks like she’s ready to audition for a shampoo commercial. “Okay.”

I hit the green button to go live and within seconds people are joining the stream. The little counter in the corner climbs rapidly. Fifty, a hundred, two hundred.

“Hey, loves!” I say into the camera, giving my biggest and brightest smile. “I’m just leaving Midnight Movie Madness with the Girl Gang!” My followers are used to getting an update about Movie Madness. “Tonight we saw A Walk to Remember and 13 Going on 30. They were so freaking good!”

My girls appear over my shoulder, all smiling faces and fingers up in peace signs as they squeeze into the frame.

“That was A-Maze-A-Zing!” Stella chirps, making me laugh when she uses my favorite Benchwarmers quote.

“So dang good,” Madison agrees.

“Top fifty, for sure,” Leslie adds, sleepily.

Brooklyn gives two thumbs up before yawning and covering her mouth with her hand.

The comments section is flooded with emojis and messages.

QueenBeeeee2024: You guys are adorable!

MakeupJunkie09: Love your lip color June! What is it?

Hottie123: Stella looks gorgeous!

Brooklyn squeezes my arm, the signal that she’s ready to call it a night. I can’t say that I blame her. She usually dances on Friday nights at Pretty Kitties, but picked up a day shift today so she could come with us tonight.

“Say goodnight to Brookie, guys.” I stick out my bottom lip in a pout as I angle my phone towards her.

Brooklyn waves at the camera, her smile soft. “Night everybody. Check out those movies if you haven’t seen them, and be sure to hit that subscribe button.”

My heart warms. I have the best friends a girl can ask for.

“Night, Brookie,” I say, giving her a squeeze.

Madison and Leslie move in next for hugs. “We’re riding with B,” Madison says, squeezing me around the shoulders, then moving to Stella to do the same. “Text us when you get home safe.”

“You too,” I say, hugging Leslie next.

Once they disappear through the glass doors, I hook my arm through Stella’s and hold my phone up as we push through the doors toward the parking lot.

“Okay, Stells,” I say, flicking my eyes to my bestie then back to the camera. “Can we talk about how good Mandy Moore was in that movie? It literally had me in tears, you guys.”

Stella giggles and points a finger at me. “She totally was.”

“No lie, and what about Shane West?” I sigh dramatically. “Can we say Hottie with a Body?”

“Total hotness,” Stella agrees.

“And hello… The bad boy who falls for the good girl?”

Stella lifts her fingers to her lips. “Chef’s kiss.”

“Right! The best trope,” I agree, watching the comments roll in.

RmnceReadr4Lyf: Bad boys are my weakness!

PinkLuvr689: Now I need to rewatch it

Junes#1Fan: You’re so pretty even when you cry!

I laugh. “Aw, thanks, June’s number one fan. I definitely ugly cried. My mascara is probably everywhere.” It was worth it.

Stella leans around to look at my face. “It’s holding up pretty good, actually. What brand is that?”

“It’s LashQueen’s Better Than Your Momma’s Mascara,” I say, zooming the camera in on my face. “See? No raccoon eyes. I’ll do a full review in my tutorial tomorrow.”

Junes#1Fan: Runs and adds it to the shopping cart!

Hocoqueen2026: Yasss! Love your tutorials!

CodeRedSales: <3

We round the building and a shiver runs down my spine. I don’t know what it is about an empty parking lot at night, but it always gives me the heebie-jeebies. “Okay, random poll time. Does anyone else get freaked out walking to their car in the dark?”

RmnceReadr4Lyf: OMG! Yes!

PinkLuvr689: Same girl.

Junes#1Fan: Scared of things that go bump in the night?

“Glad it’s not just me.” I smile, ignoring the last comment. You know what they say. It takes all kinds to make the world go round.

Stella pulls out her keys and clicks the locks. The headlights flash, and the doors unlock with a thunk.

“Alright, loves,” I start, walking around to the passenger side. “I’m gonna call it a night. Make sure to tune in tomorrow afternoon for my full Midnight Movie Madness recap and my updated list of MAC dupes.” I blow a kiss to the camera. “Love you guys! Sweet dreams!”

The comments flood with hearts and wishes to have a good night as I end the livestream.

“That was so much fun,” Stella says around a yawn.

My heart feels full. “Wasn’t it?” I love nights like these with my girls. It’s Chicken Soup for my soul.

Unzipping my purse, I drop my phone inside, then look over the top of the car at Stella. “Feel like a Taco Hell run?”

Her lips turn up. “You read my mind. I’m starving.”

I reach for the door handle, mentally cheering that we’re grabbing tacos before going back to my place when a black van comes out of nowhere. It speeds through the empty lot, then comes to a screeching halt in front of Stella’s car.

My brows hit my hairline. “What the—?”

The side door flies open, and a man in a black ski mask hops out.

A chill licks down my spine. God no. This can’t be happening.

The world slows down to a crawl as I watch him look from me to Stella. His gaze holds for the longest heartbeat, and then he’s moving.

Fear like I’ve never felt before wraps around me. “Stella, run!”

Her terror filled gaze swings to me. She has no time to react, it happens that fast. One second she’s standing in the door of the car, and the next he’s got an arm around her waist and a hand over her mouth.

Now the fight is on.

Stella bucks her hips and thrashes wildly, trying to get out of his hold.

Panic courses through my veins. I have to do something.

Adrenaline propels me forward. I sprint around the front of the car, my heart thundering in my chest. The masked man is dragging Stella toward the van, her feet kicking uselessly against the pavement.

“Let her go!” I scream, my voice piercing the night air.

I grab onto his arm and yank as hard as I can. “Let go of my friend!”

The element of surprise works in my favor. His grip on Stella loosens just enough that she manages to twist away, falling to her knees on the asphalt.

“Suka!” he snarls, the word laced with a heavy Russian accent.

Before I can even process what’s happening, his hands are around my throat and he’s squeezing for all he’s worth. My hands fly to his wrists, clawing desperately as my lungs burn for air.

“Get off her!” Stella tries to pull him off me, but he’s too strong.

Just as I’m starting to think that this is it, this is how I’m going to die, a single thought flashes in my mind.

My purse. I have mace in my purse.

With one hand clawing at his grip, I fumble blindly with the zipper and manage to get it open.

Where is it? Where is it? Frantically, I search for the canister and– There! My fingers close around the small tube, and I yank it out. With the last of my strength, I flip the safety off and jam my thumb down on the nozzle, aiming for his face.

The hissing sound of the spray is followed immediately by his howl of pain. The pressure on my throat releases as he staggers backward, hands flying to his eyes.

“Blyat! My eyes!” he screams, stumbling blindly.

I gasp, sucking in precious air, but there’s no time for relief. He’s swinging wildly, his fists cutting through the air in rage-fueled arcs.

I try to back away, but I’m not fast enough. His fist connects with my eye in a blinding explosion of pain. The force knocks me off my feet and I go sailing backward, hitting the concrete with a thud.

Oof!

The world spins and stars burst behind my eyelids .

“June! Get up!” Stella’s voice cuts through the haze. Her fingers dig into my arm as she pulls at me. “We have to go! Now!”

I blink, trying to focus. The masked man is still there, on his knees now, rubbing furiously at his eyes and cursing in Russian.

Stella’s tugging becomes more urgent. “June! Please!”

I stagger to my feet, my head swimming with the sudden movement. Stella grabs my hand, pulling me toward her car.

We scramble inside, and slam the locks down. Stella’s hands shake violently as she fumbles with the key, missing the ignition twice before finally getting it in.

“Start, start, start,” she chants, turning the key. By the grace of the Gods, the engine comes to life.

Movement catches my eyes out the windshield. “Oh shit.” The driver is out of the van and rounding the hood. With narrowed eyes, he rushes towards the man on the ground.

“Go, go, go!” I shout, banging my hands on the dash.

“I’m going!” Stella yells as she yanks the shifter into reverse and stomps on the gas. The tires squeal and we’re yanked forward, then suddenly thrown back when she slams it in drive. We shoot forward, narrowly missing the van as we careen out of the parking lot.

My heart feels like it’s going to pound its way out of my chest. I can’t stop shaking. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.”

“Are you okay?” Stella asks shakily as she yanks the steering wheel, taking a corner too fast. “June, are you hurt? Talk to me!”

I swallow, wincing at the pain in my throat. “I think I’m okay,” I croak, reaching up to touch my eye. It’s swelling and tender beneath my fingertips. “Did that just happen?”

“Yes.” Stella shakes her head frantically, checking the rearview mirror.

My mind races, trying to make sense of what just occurred. Was this some random attack? Were they trying to rob us? No. That’s not it. He didn’t demand we give him anything, he just went straight for Stella.

“He was trying to take you,” I say. “He wasn’t after our stuff. He was trying to kidnap you.”

“I know,” Stella agrees, her breathing coming in short, sharp bursts. “I need to call my brother,” she decides, fumbling for her phone. “Journey will know what to do.”