Page 3 of Property of Heart
“Thanks,” I tell the man wearing the same denim vest with the Kings of Anarchy patches as Karev, and hand the knife back to him.
He takes the knife and pulls a little bottle filled with fluid from his pocket.Intrigued, I stare as he cleans the knife before sliding it back in its sheath.
“Don’t thank me yet.You’re gonna damn well help me dig a hole to bury that fucker in,” he casually states.
An engine starts somewhere down the dirt road followed by the sound of motorcycles.Panic hits me and I rush forward to hide behind the biker.
“They’re leaving,” he calmly states.“Come on, I have a shovel in my saddlebag.”
The first question entering my brain tumbles over my lips without thinking, “Did you come prepared, or do you always have a shovel on the go in case you need to bury a body?”
He turns to face me.“Do you always kill the second a knife lands in your hand?”
The memory hits of what I just did and have done in the past.
I wince and mutter, “Not always.”
He slowly tilts his head and asks, “The killing, is it because you’re violent, blind rage, or a self-preservation instinct?”
“Self-preservation.Although Karev would just say I’m a magnet for trouble,” I sigh, and hate hearing the defeat in my own voice.
Being considered a failure in the eyes of your biological family is a shitty thing.Well, it’s my own conclusion, one I made four years ago when I found out who my biological parents were.It’s how I ran into Karev.He’s the only one who somewhat keeps in touch, and I let him.
Let him, as in he’s been persistent while the rest of my so-called family turned their back on me...again.They dumped me the second I was born, and again when I only wanted to know about my family.Shortly after I found them, I heard from Karev that both of our parents died.He didn’t give me any details as to why and how, but I guess it didn’t make much of a difference either since they didn’t even want to know me.
“Youarea magnet for trouble,” Karev rumbles, his voice makes me jump.“Fuck, Floraline, me getting the jump on you shows why you’re a magnet for trouble.All while I know you damn well have good instincts.”
His eyes stray toward the dead guy in the dirt and he shakes his head before he glares at the biker.“I told you not to give her a knife.”
He did what?I can feel my eyes widen and bounce my gaze between the biker and Karev.
The biker shrugs.“Shit wasn’t gonna end well either way, and the shit you said gave me the knowledge she could hold her own.”
Karev rubs a hand over his face from his expression I can tell he’s clearly frustrated.“Still, there’s a reason I told you not to, man.She gets nightmares, and has a...”
Dammit.I wish I never told him and stop him from throwing out more personal shit.“I’m fine.You can go away now.Sorry I reached out at all.”
The rumble of motorcycles approaching makes me hide behind the biker again.I wonder why I didn’t hear Karev’s bike, but he’s always been sneaky so he might have parked further down the road.
I lean my forehead against the biker’s back and inhale his scent.The mixture of fragrances has a soothing effect on my body.Spicy, clean, manly...and a hint of beer?
“My brothers, Lina.No one is going to harm you,” the biker rumbles and steps to the side.
His words should be assuring, and yet it was his scent that instantly calmed my jittery nerves before he said anything.
Intrigued by the way my body responds I ask, “What’s your name?”
“Not happening,” Karev grits.“Lina, stay here while Heart and I have a little chat.”
“Not happening,” I fire back and mimic his tone of voice.
Heart snorts and I shoot him a grin.
“Lina,” Karev snaps.“Remember what the fuck I told you.”
My heart sinks and the reminder Karev just threw at me feels like a physical blow.He might not share our family background story, but he did feel the need to tell me I couldn’t have a relationship with a man.One of the reasons involves me and a knife.
“Yo, Heart.Prez said you needed us,” a voice rumbles and I watch three bikers walking toward us.
