Page 4 of Outlaw

No. If I’m going to stop them, I have to really stop them. No half measures. Christ, I thought this was just going to be a quick trip back home – in and out – but now I’ve got this on my plate.

I turn my back on the Lions and keep my eyes on the door to the back. A few more customers enter, but it’s Violet who comes out and greets them. I guess she figures she already did her friend her one favor for the day and isn’t going to give up any more of her tips.

I finish my beer and listen to the ol’ boys chat about business. They’re speaking vaguely, in code that no normal person would understand, but I do. Drugs, thieving, gambling – they’re still involved in all of it. Just listening to them makes me feel ashamed for ever having been a part of their little club. But I was a kid with no family who grew up tough. What was I supposed to do?

Then the door to the back opens and she steps out. For a split second I forget all about the scum sitting next to me – I see her and all that goes out of my mind. Christ, she’s so perfect. A guy like me doesn’t deserve a girl like her. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting her with every fiber of my being.

As she walks, I can tell she’s not sure of herself. There’s no way she doesn’t know she’s beautiful, but she doesn’t know how beautiful. Not yet. Her having to find out by working at Ta-Tas would be a goddamn crime too. She’s headed back over to the Lions’ table when I motion to her. She glances up, locks eyes with me, gives me a small nod, but goes to their table first.

“Is everything all right?” she asks. Even her voice is heavenly. “Can I get you boys another round?”

“We’re good for now, sweetheart,” Thump says. I clench my fist so hard my nails dig into my palm. Sweetheart? I could break his fucking face for that. He pulls a piece of paper from his jacket and hands it to her. “This is the address for tonight. Wear somethin’ cute and don’t be late. You do well, then we’ll talk about arranging something long term. Sound good?”

“Sounds good!” she replies, doing her best to sound as cute as possible. My anger is threatening to boil over – not just directed at them, but her too. How could she be so fucking stupid? Didn’t anyone in town warn her away from these guys?

I keep my head turned as the Lions get up and head out the door and only look up when she comes over to my table.

“Sorry about that,” she apologizes, brushing a lock of hair from her face. “What did you…”

Her voice trails off as our eyes meet. Am I making a funny face? I’m pissed. Maybe it’s reading on my face. She takes a breath and starts again.

“What did you need—?”

“Are you stupid?” I snap. My question catches her off guard, causing her body to go tense.

“Wh—excuse me?”

“Are you stupid?” I repeat. “Or do you just have a fetish for being kidnapped by low-life pieces of shit?”

“I’m sorry…” she says slowly. “I should go—”

“You know who those guys were, don’t you?” I ask. She just nods, angering me even more. “You do? So then what the fuck are you thinking agreeing to go over there tonight?”

“They seemed nice,” she stammers. “It’s just a…you were listening to them?”

“Answer the question!” I bark. She glances behind her, but Violet is busy at the bar.

“Sir, if there’s not going to be anything else, I have to get to work—”

She turns away from me, but I quickly reach out and take her by the wrist. The feel of her soft skin and the warmth of her body shoots through me like a magic fucking spell or something, and almost throws me off. She tries to jerk away, but I pull her close to me, my lust and rage mixing together into something dangerous.

“Those men are not nice,” I hiss. “They’re scum! They’ll rope you in tonight and you’ll never leave.”

“Let go!” she protests.

“They’ll keep you there,” I continue. “They’ll threaten anyone and everyone you’ve ever loved if you don’t work for them. You understand what I mean by that?”

I want to throw her on the back of my bike and take her far, far away from here – somewhere where she will be safe from this disgusting world we live in.

“I—?

??

“I mean they’ll have you turning tricks for money!” I tell her. “Money that will be theirs. Is that what you want? Is it!?”

“Hey!” Violet snaps, rushing over to her friend’s side. She glares at me with the eyes of a girl who’s met her fair share of assholes. And now she thinks I’m one of them. If she only knew.

“Get your fucking hands off her!”

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