Page 32 of Darling Psycho

When he turned toward the door, it was Jay’s emotionally dark voice that stopped him. “You needed no one before.”

“My needs are different now.”

Without another word, Lawless walked out.

Knowing only one thing. If Jay pushed the limits and didn’t heed Lawless’ warning, he’d have to kill his oldest friend.

And he wouldn’t hesitate.

Climbing onto his bike, Lawless’ blood was burning beneath his skin.

Unmoored in his goddamn head.

The thought of murder always got his juices rushing.

Call him a romantic fucker.

He had no morals and very few rules.

And the few he kept crumbled to dust and ash as his speed increased.

Only one direction in mind.

She was barely a whisper over a decent age, and he wouldn’t...couldn’twait for a second longer.

TEN

“The intruder in her breakfast nook.” – Angela

When you lived with a furry friend, a morning routine rarely changed.

Today was no exception when Angela was awoken -as always- by a rough tongue licking her forearm. Oscar’s way of telling her she’d slept long enough, and he needed attention, but mainly he wanted food.

She groaned and flipped her tired eyes open.

Pulling all-nighters writing papers was her norm.

She wanted to graduate. As her test scores and professors told her, Angela was above average smart, but that didn’t mean she enjoyed her classes. She only persevered because the goal outweighed the means, and she longed to be an attorney, fighting the corners of those who had no one.

She’d once been that girl, alone and fighting for her life. And then exceptional people from the MC world stepped in and saved her. So, for every late-night study session or cramming for a test for weeks on end, Angela knew it was all to pay them back somehow.

No longer a terrified kid with no way to help herself. Angela was plenty resourceful now, and she believed with her whole heart that if she could prevent it, she would let no one she loved to be hurt.

That meant, though she was tired, she rolled over in bed, gave the meowing ginger cat a scratch behind the ear because he would have waited a while for his attention, and in cat years, it was considered neglect. Poor Oscar. She loved him like he was her child and spoiled him like one, too. He had five beds dotted around the cabin to be comfortable wherever he was. Mostly, he followed her around like a shadow. She bought him only the best cat food and even the slightest change in his demeanor, and she rushed him off to the vet. While Angela fostered many kittens before re-homing them, Oscar was her constant companion.

Fuck, she wasn’t twenty-one yet, and already she’d turned into the cat lady on the mountain.

When Oscar started pawing at the door, she rolled out of bed.

“I know you’re hungry, but maybe wait until I open the door before you claw through it, huh? You’re so impatient, Oscar; you get that from your father. It’s certainly not from me.” She told him like the cat would turn around and talk back.

But she lived alone. Who else was she to talk to?

“Fine, we’ll get you fed. I need coffee anyway.” But Oscar had already taken off at a quick run. Well, that was weird. Usually, he slinked around her legs, almost causing Angela to trip.

“If you’ve knocked up the local slut, and she’s meowing at the back door, don’t expect me to pay child support,” she muttered after she’d peed and washed her hands. Then, following him out, she added, “you might need feline reform school if you’re turning into a manslut.”

There was a moment before Angela registered what she was seeing, but her heart knew first and slowed to a sluggish beat. She came to a halt in the alcove that separated the family room from the massive kitchen with its double-wide gas range and hood and marble countertops. The cabin looked rustic and farmhouse-like from the outside, but the inside had a gorgeous, uncluttered city feel from the tiled floor, thick rugs, comfortable couches, and the TV mounted on the wall with a backlight and surround sound speakers. Twelve-foot-high ceilings gave the place height while still feeling homey. Had a home been stolen from her imagination, she would swear it was the cabin. She was more surprised it didn’t look like a bachelor pad. Instead, it was designed as a home for a family of four.

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