Chapter 24
KINGSTON “FROST”
My day ended early, so I went home to shower and change.
Like always, I looked into Stevie’s room, and it was a fucking mess.
I wouldn’t have even gone in if it wasn’t for a white plastic item on the floor.
I picked it up and saw two pink lines. Two fucking pink lines.
Then I noticed the drawers opened and emptied.
I checked the GPS. The blue dot showed she was on the highway.
I’ve felt rage before with my parents and at the club, but this…
oh hell no. My face was flaming red hot, veins popping out of my forearms and neck.
The next thing I remember is riding my bike to chase after Stevie.
This bitch was heading out with my child.
Leaving. Never planning on telling me. My blood was boiling and no one could reason with me at that moment.
As pissed as I was, I never touched her.
Now, I’m pulling into my driveway to find cops and a guy with them. While I eye the guy, I realize it’s the one who got out of his car in traffic when I punched Stevie’s car.
The fucker reported me.
Thank fuck Stevie is sitting behind me, so the cops don’t have another reason to harass me.
I knock the kickstand down, and help Stevie off the bike. We walk up to the officers, one of them I know, who happens to introduce everyone.
“Hey, King.” We nod to each other and then he shifts to Stevie. “Hello, miss. I’m Officer Patel, this is Officer Moody, and this man is Grayson Shaw.”
Grayson and I glare at one another. In my fury-fueled haze, I hadn’t realized how huge the dude is. It would have been a tough fight against him, which has me wondering why he didn’t come after me.
Stevie steps up to shake their hands. “I’m Stevie.”
“Well, Stevie, Mr. Shaw contacted us about a man stalking you in traffic, breaking your window, and dragging you out of the car.”
I cut in, “I didn’t fucking drag her out of the car.”
Grayson steps closer and crosses his arms. “No, but you were acting like a psycho, punching her car. She was clearly afraid of you and you used it to your advantage.”
“To my advantage? You have no fucking clue about me or what happened.”
Stevie slips her hand into mine and Patel hurries to avoid having to put out any fires. “We found her car at the auto shop, and Gears told us we could find Stevie here. Tell us what happened.”
I scrub my face with my hand, peek at Stevie who is still holding my other hand, and I tell them everything. No point in lying.
Officer Moody asks, “Stevie, would you like to press charges against King?”
She gives my hand a slight squeeze as she shakes her head.
“No. We worked things out. Yes, it was a scary moment, but King didn’t physically hurt me.
” Grayson scoffs at her comment. “Mr. Shaw, I appreciate your help by reporting the incident. This world could use more people like you who are willing to step in. But I assure you, King is rough around the edges, but he’s never so much as lifted a finger to hit me. ”
“He doesn’t have to hit you to be toxic. A real man doesn’t put fear in women.”
I step forward, but Stevie stops me. “You’re right.” This comment has my mouth dropping open and my eyes narrowing in on her. “Nonetheless, I decided to work things out with King.”
This apparently is good enough for Grayson, because he relaxes and says he’s glad everything is okay. I’m not liking the way he admires Stevie, like a hungry man’s meal, so I pull her closer.
Patel cuts in, “Well then. If everything is fine and no charges will be filed, then we’ll leave you two alone.”
They walk to their cars and Stevie releases my hand, hurrying over to Grayson. They’re not far, so I can hear what they’re saying.
“Grayson, really, thank you for calling the police. The situation could have taken a turn for the worst, so I appreciate you following through.”
His eyes flick up to me and then to Stevie. “As long as you’re okay.”
“Yes.” Rebel sizes me up and turns to him. “I’d like to treat you to lunch as a thank you.”
My body freezes when I hear Stevie’s offer. What the fuck is she doing?
Grayson shakes his head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, but I appreciate the gesture.”
“Please. I feel like I owe you.” She turns to me, gesturing for me to come over, and I do, standing several feet from him in the same stance, arms crossed in front.
“We can all go to lunch. It will be nice.” Grayson and I consider each other as Stevie asks, “King, you don’t have a problem with that, do you? ”
I give him a deadpan look and say, “No, not at all.”
He releases a humorless laugh. “Fine.”
Lunch is set for next week and they all drive off. The only reason I agreed to it is to move forward with Stevie.
Gears dropped off all of her things already, which luckily were still in the car. I leave her upstairs in my room—our room—where she’s putting everything away.
Fuck!
This whole relationship thing is going to be tough.
Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
But it’s for the sake of family. My MC brothers are my family, yet I never had one in the traditional sense.
They’re also not a beautiful woman. Except laying everything out there?
Like Stevie said, If we are to do this, we need to understand each other. Be honest. Learn about one another.
That’s a fuckload of confessions I’ll have to puke up, and I ain’t sure I’m ready for it.
It’s been a long day, so I’m cooking ground beef for dinner. Stevie comes into the kitchen, sits down at the island, and watches me.
Looking over my shoulder, I say, “Thanks for not pressing charges.”
She scoots back, resting her arms on the table and her chin on top. “We’re giving this relationship a try. It wouldn’t work if you were in prison.”
Focused on cooking, I add vegetables to the beef, and ask, “Why do you want to go to lunch with that asshole?”
“Because what he did was courageous.”
I snort. “He got back in his car. How courageous is that?”
“Probably because he realized how psycho you were acting. Calling the cops isn’t a weak thing to do. Most people wouldn’t even bother involving themselves.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it was all about being a good citizen. The guy wants to fuck you.”
“King.”
I switch off the burner, face her, leaning against the counter with my arms folded. “What? You know I’m right.”
“And what if you are? What about it?”
Shit! I walked into that one.
Her eyebrow rises, and she asks, “King?”
I drop my arms, clench my fists, and say, “Because I don’t want anyone touching you, okay? The way he gawked at you pisses me off.”
A smile sweeps across her face. “I understand. And no one will touch me as long as we’re together.”
My head shifts to the side to avoid her gaze, arms crossing again, and I nod. This sharing shit is going to fucking kill me.
I’m curled in the corner, face wet from tears, afraid he’ll turn his anger on me.
“Look at her, you piece of shit!”
He’s pointing at my mom, who has a needle dangling from her arm. Drool hangs from her open mouth, eyes rolled to the back of her head. If it wasn’t for the slight rise and fall of her chest, I’d think she was dead.
“That’s a crack whore. She ain’t worth the spit I collect in my mouth.” His head turns to me. “And you’re part of this whore. Wouldn’t doubt it if you ain’t mine.”
He raises his hand, pretending to hit me as I cower and cover my head. His evil laugh echoes with the sound of his boots on the dirt-covered floor, retrieving a beer from the kitchen.
When he returns, his eyes meet mine while he gulps down half of his beer. “Yeah, that’s right you fucking little pussy bastard. Stay far away from me as possible. I hate the both of you cunts.”
Making his way to the front door, he kicks me hard in the thigh and I scream out in pain.
He laughs, flinging the front door open, and speeding away on his bike.
I crawl over to my mom when I no longer hear the sound of his bike.
My trembling hand reaches for the needle to remove it from her arm, which wakes her.
She swats at my hand and the needle falls to the floor.
She sways while sitting up, her hand pressing against her forehead.
Her eyes narrow on me. “What the fuck are you looking at you good for nothin’ semen demon?”
I sit back on my heels, blinking to release the tears in my eyes. “I—I just—”
“I. I. Fucking rat like your father.” Through half-lidded eyes, she adds, “I hate you. Wish you was never born.”
My hands cover my ears. I go upstairs to my bedroom where the walls are full of holes, dirt and blood smeared over them, and I collapse onto the grimy mattress on the floor.
I jerk awake, staring up at the ceiling as I focus on calming my breaths.
Shit!
Sweat covers my body. I turn my head to find Stevie curled into my side still asleep.
My hand wipes the dampness from my face. Fuck, I haven’t had a nightmare in decades. It must be all of this family shit bringing it to the surface.
My body relaxes into the bed, hugging Stevie closer, watching her sleep.
Her dark hair covers the side of her face, so I brush it aside.
Awake or sleeping, she’s one of the most attractive women I’ve ever seen.
Warm skin, toasted to a light brown from the summer sun.
Red, pouty lips I love kissing. Her little rhythmic puffs of breath have my dick twitching.
Except she doesn’t want sex. She wants us to focus on us. Emotions.
Fuck me!
In any other situation, I’d say fuck it, but this ain’t any situation. It’s us making a go of a family. I have to at least try. I groan and fall back to sleep.