Page 61 of Slashes in the Snow
She tugs her hand out of mine when she sees Hawk. They are going to have to learn to play nice later, ’cause we are getting the hell out of here.
“Ignore him,” I tell her. “The only person you need to be concerned with is me. No one else matters,” I speak softly, wanting to keep her calm.
Kira gazes at the three men staring back at her. They’re all similar to me. Rough, rugged, edgy, and fearless.
But the way they look doesn't seem to bother her. It’s the way she looks that does. When she puts her hand on her head and hides behind me, I die. I drop dead of heartbreak right on the spot. Kira has never shown insecurity. Never shown weakness. Not once, even during our worst times. Our nastiest fights. She has always stood tall and proud and confident. But this? This is tearing her down.
“Hey.” I put my arm around her.
“I need to fix this fast.” Her voice is so tiny.
“Then I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
“I don’t know where to go. I can’t walk in to my regular salon like this. It will get back to my mom immediately.”
“Fuck,” I hiss.
“Um, Prez?” Vet clears his throat. “If you need some place to take her, Petie’s ol’ lady owns a salon in West Hollywood. I’m sure she’d fix her up.”
I look down at Kira. “Whatya think?”
“What other choice do I have?” She’s at a total loss.
“All right, call Petie. Tell him to let his ol’ lady know we’re on our way and text me the address.
“Dahlia. His ol’ lady’s name is Dahlia. She’s real nice,” Vet addresses Kira.
“Thanks.” Kira clings to me.
“All right, let’s go.” Just as I take my first step toward the door, the alarm trips.
“Sonofabitch.” Kira skyrockets through the ceiling.
“Fucking Christ.” I punch the code in, then slam my fist into the keypad, cracking the touch screen. “I’ve had just about enough of this goddamn thing.”
“That’s one way to fix it,” Hawk grunts.
“Well, someone needed to do something.” I drag Kira out the door with Vet, Hawk, and Breaker behind us.
Handing Kira my helmet, I give my guys instructions. “Head back to The Lion’s Den. Check on Popeye. I’ll be back later to sort this shit out.” I throw Kira’s backpack to Vet. “Drop it at my place.”
They all give me the thumbs-up, and we drive off to our different destinations.
Kira rests her head on my back the whole ride. It’s like I can feel her despair seeping out through her cheek.
All I keep thinking about is how I want to hold her, hug her tight, and promise that I’ll never leave her again. Promise that she’ll always be safe. That she’ll always have me.
Promise that I’ll never break another promise again.
That’s what I really want to tell her. What I really want to confess. I failed her. I failed us, and we were only just beginning.
I have a lot to work on. Pledging your loyalty and actually sticking by your word are two very different things.
I like to think I’m loyal. I try my hardest to be, but I seem to fail miserably when it comes to the people closest to me.
I rest my hand on Kira’s as we pull into the strip mall parking lot where Dahlia's is located.
The neon sign reads “Rockin’ Redners.”
