Page 96 of Property of Legend

“I need you to run,” I whisper, stroking her neck.“Run like the devil’s on your tail.”

Then I swing up onto her back, boots tight, body low.

The Kings follow behind on whatever horse we can round up fast.At Paradise Falls, they’re all bound to be some of the best.

We gallop at full speed.

Through the creek.Over the hill.Past the old moonshine trails where my daddy used to run jars in the dark.The air stings my face, wind whipping my cut back like a black flag.

And then, I see them.

The Sinners’ taillights.They’ve got a van.Sophie’s in there.

My heart slams into my ribs.I don’t think.I just ride.

I leap off the horse mid-run, hit the ground rollin’, gun drawn before I even stop movin’.

“Kings!”I roar, gunfire already breakin’ the air.“Kill every one of those motherfuckers!”

The fight is chaos.

Lead rains.

Oaks takes one in the arm and keeps shootin’.Royal throws a goddamn hunting knife into some bastard’s eye.

But I’ve got one name in my head.One target in my sights.

Swagger.

The Sinners’ prez.Covered in ink, smilin’ like he thinks he’s untouchable.He’s draggin’ Sophie out of the van by the arm, gun to her ribs.

“You think you scare me, Legend?”he yells over the chaos.“She ain’t worth the blood!”

“No one fucks with the Kings,” I growl.

Sophie knees him, and she’s out of the way.

I don’t hesitate.

One shot.

Right between his eyes.

He drops like a sack of meat, takin’ his smirk with him.

The rest scatter.Cowards without a leash.

Sophie runs to me, falls into my arms, shakin’, dirt on her cheeks and fire in her eyes.“You came.”

I holster my piece, press my forehead to hers.“Always.”

Then I climb back on the horse, lift her up to Ribbons.Her arms tighten around my waist, and together, we ride out of the smoke.

Back home.

Back to Hell.

Chapter 54

---