Page 25 of Desert King

“Desert King?” My mouth tips down. “He’s just a bully.”

“He saved this town. Kept us fed, protected, and loved. I’d do anything for the man. Be careful what you say about him. He’s beloved here.”

“Great. I guess I should just pack up and leave like he asked.”

“He must have a reason if he asked you to do that.”

“Nope. Not one. He’s just an arrogant prick.”

“They all are. But at least Tarak has a big heart. That’s what makes him different than the rest of the MC’s. He’s a good Prez.”

“If you say so. My first impression of him was that he was just a big baby.”

“Where did you meet?”

“At the Triple XXX outside of Albuquerque…”

“What?” She guffaws. “This is some story…”

“He got into some weird fight club match with Edge.”

“You were with Edge.”

“No… well, kind of… maybe?”

“That explains it. Edge is his nemesis. The two of them are huge rivals.”

“Ah, dueling MC’s and all that.”

“No. It was Mandy.”

“Who’s that?”

“Tarak’s fiancé. She dated them both. Left Edge for Tarak.”

“She dated them both?”

“Lucky girl, right? But she’s not she died.”

“That’s terrible. Was it during the pandemic?”

“Before. They fought over her. Edge went crazy with jealousy. Tarak was on a run north with the MC and Edge took advantage. He showed up at her house. The story gets crazy… some say she cheated on Tarak with Edge. The best guesses are she was filled with shame, left Edge in bed and took off in her truck. It was late, dark and she was going well over a hundred miles an hour. There was alcohol in her system—the tracks left on the road suggested she swerved trying to avoid something and lost control. The truck flipped and rolled killing her. Tarak hit the roof. There was an all-out brawl at her funeral when Edge showed up. They started shouting at each other and then Edge dropped the bomb that she was leaving Tarak to get back with him. He told Tarak that she had been with him before the accident. Tarak wentlocoon his ass.”

“I’ll bet. Wow. No wonder they beat each other up again at the Triple XXX. But what do I have to do with any of it? Why does Tarak hate me? I only met Edge twice.” What I don’t say is how his kiss made me feel or the fact that I owe him three.

“Probably because you resemble her a bit.”

“What? Me? Now, that’s crazy. There’s no way I resemble a girl two men like that would ever go to war over.”

“She was petite like you. Brunette… but she was tan you are—”

“Tell me about it. I know I’m pale as shit.”

“You want a self-tanner.”

My nose wrinkles. “No. I’ll work on it the old-fashioned way.”

“You’ll fry.”

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