Page 1 of Keegan's Promise

Chapter One

Landry

Fearslithersthroughmyveins as I hurry down the sidewalk, peering over my shoulder. My breath comes in raspy pants, and my legs threaten to give out beneath me, but I can’t stop now. As if to remind me why, a motorcycle engine revs somewhere behind me. Getting closer.

“No, please,” I whisper, trying not to sob out loud. “Not now.”

I take a right at the corner, hurrying my steps as fast as I can. My knee throbs faintly and my side twinges, but I don’t stop. I don’t dare look over my shoulder again either. There’s a crowd gathering up ahead. Even from a distance, the people surging toward the convention center doors are intimidating. Half of the women are dressed in miniskirts, tiny shorts, and crop tops, displaying tattoos all over their bodies. Some of the men are shirtless, as if to show off the ink painted across their bodies. Others are fully dressed. Fauxhawks, mohawks, leather, and piercings are everywhere I look.

There’s no way I’ll fit in with no tattoos and a wrinkled T-shirt, but there’s safety in numbers. At least, there always has been before now. Garrick has never tried to grab me in front of a crowd of people. Neither have any of his people. They’re too smart for that.

An engine revs behind me again, even closer than before. I rush toward the crowd, elbowing my way through. People shout complaints and protests at my back as I squeeze between them, bumping them out of the way, but I don’t slow down long enough to apologize. If I do…

No.They aren’t taking me. I’d rather die than go with them.

I haven’t spent the last year running just for them to catch me now. I don’t care what my uncle promised Garrick to get himself off the hook for what he owes. They can do whatever they want to that monster. Imprison him, torture him, kill him. I don’t care. But I won’t take his place. I won’t be some MC slave until they get tired of me and sell me off to someone else to play with.

I choke on a sob at the thought, fear choking me again.

“Breathe, Landry,” I coach myself. “Just breathe.”

Right. Breathe.

It’s easier said than done when I’ve been running for the last hour straight. Ever since I heard them outside the ramshackle apartment I’ve been renting. My knee still hurts where I jumped through the window to escape before they broke down the door. They would never have seen me if I had just landed on my feet.

But I’ve never been very graceful. I landed on my knee…and Garrick nearly caught me.

It’s the closest he’s come since I ran over one of his people not long after my uncle sold me to him. I don’t think they realized I could hear every word of their disgusting little deal that day. My freedom for Uncle Danny’s life. No, thank you.

I grabbed what I could and slipped out while they were still making their plans. By the time they realized I was gone, I was racing through Dallas, trying to get as far away as possible.

When they found me last time, I hit one of his people with my car. I don’t think I killed him…but if Garrick catches me, I know I’ll pay for it anyway. He won’t ever let me go now that I’ve not only run but hurt one of his men in the process.

I don’t know how he found me here. Maybe it was stupid to stay in one place for so long. But I thought Colorado Springs was far enough away. I thought I was finally safe. I got a job and an apartment. I let myself relax a little.

It was so stupid!

Garrick found me anyway.

I stumble as the crowd suddenly thins around me, people flowing to the left and right. My feet refuse to move as I gape around me, trying to figure out what exactly I’ve rushed into. My gaze lands on a massive sign to the right.

“Colorado Springs Tattoo Convention,” I mumble aloud, on the verge of panicking. What the hell is a tattoo convention?

Judging by the booths set up all around me with artwork hanging all over them, it’s some sort of…tattoo expo? I don’t know, but I stare with wide eyes as a tiny blonde hops up onto a table a few yards away, tugging her top down like it’s no big deal to flash her boobs to everyone.

The massive guy with facial piercings standing beside her says something, and she throws her head back, laughing.

“Hey!” A hand clamps down on my arm as the guy with piercings yanks a curtain closed.

I cry out, cowering away as a surge of terror shoots through me. Garrick found me. Oh, sweet Jesus. He actually foun–

“You gotta pay if you want in.”

I blink up at the man holding onto my arm, trying to see through the panic. He’s got a mohawk and big gauges in his ears. Those brown eyes definitely don’t belong to Garrick.

“W-what?” I stutter.

“If you want in, you gotta pay.” He points at the same sign I was looking at just moments ago.

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