Prologue
Killer
Three months prior.
I pull up to the pharmacy, park at the side of the building, and get off my bike. I take off my gear and place it on the bike, then roll my neck. I’m tired; the tension in my shoulders and back is killing me. I need to get to the clubhouse, take a hot shower, and sleep. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to take care of myself.
I rub my face, and the scuff is now more like a beard. I like the beard, but I prefer faint scuffs.
Okay, I need to get some Tylenol, condoms, and toiletry items. I hate shopping. I usually order my stuff online, but I’ve been so damn busy on runs, and I forgot.
Then I see a girl run into the parking lot, looking around scared, wiping the blood from her split lip. Her eyes are swelling, and my heart stops a beat, and my chest constricts.
I hate seeing women abused.
I’ve seen plenty of that in the MC, with the older MC Brothers and their Old Lady. I hate it.
I should offer to help her.
I take a step when a black Range Rover pulls into the parking lot and stops next to her. She stops wide-eyed.
A young man gets out of the vehicle and runs to her, grabbing her arm.
“Karla,” the young man yells.
“Mario, let me run,” Karla yells, grabbing her arm, trying to pull away.
“Karla, you have to stop running. I promise not to let those bastards near you or to touch you. Dan needs to know that the bastard keeps going after you,” Mario says, looking at her.
They’re siblings?
The fucker needs to protect her.
“I don’t think that Dad cares,” Karla sniffles, shaking her head.
“Of fucking course, he does; you’re the fucking Castro Cartel Princess! You’re an asset to him,” Mario says.
Fuck!
This is fucking huge. The fucking Cartel’s brats are like royalty. I bet that he’s the heir to the Castro Cartel, and she’s the fucking Princess.
“Exactly why I need to disappear. I hate that I’m only an asset that Dad wants to use to his benefit, for an alliance! I don’t want to live this life! I hate Dad,” Karla says, shaking her arms.
“Karla, let me take you back home. You know that Dad will have his Soldiers looking for you. I don’t want them to have the opportunity to hurt you,” Mario says.
I grind my molars and fist my hands. I want to go over there and fuck up the brother for allowing the damn Soldier to do this to his sister.
What the fuck!
The sun is setting, and I can see her clearly. Something about this girl makes me want to protect her. She pushes a lock of dark hair from her face and looks around as if she’s planning to run.
If she runs, I’ll help her.
She’s a beauty, with a heart-shaped face and full lips. Her huge eyes are rapidly swelling and turning deep purple and blue. From this distance, I can’t see the eye color, but they look light, not brown. Her skin looks soft and smooth. It’s a light olive, sun-kissed shade.
My damn blood heads south, strongly responding to her. This is so damn odd; I don’t react this strongly just by looking. Yeah, when I was in my teens, for fuckincourse.
“Karla, don’t be stubborn. You know that you can’t get far. I promise to protect you from the fuckers,” Mario says. “Let’s get you home so the doctor can check your injuries.”
