“Go ahead . . . shoot me. I fucking dare you to. As soon as you do, you’re dead.”

James stops fighting me and lifts his hand up to his friend. I feel the gun disappear from my head and I release his neck a few seconds after.

He instantly starts coughing and fighting for air, bent over, grabbing at his neck.

“Fuck you,” James coughs out. “Crazy, Dick.”

Turning to the bigger guy that had the gun to my head, I lift up the bottom of my shirt, showing him that I too am packing. This isn’t some little kid shit that they’re dealing with. They’re not just going to walk into my bar and intimidate me. “Get the fuck out. If that fucker ever comes back . . .” I grab James by the shoulder and pull up, until he’s looking at me. “I’ll tell him you bitches stopped by.”

Turning around, I walk toward the front door and hold it open. “I said, get the fuck out.”

Grinding his jaw, James keeps his eyes on me while whistling for his guys to follow him to the door. Once his guys are outside, he stops and turns to me. “This shit ain’t over. Enjoy your fucking night.” A sickening smirk crosses his face that makes me feel sick to my fucking stomach.

An unsettling feeling sets in as he backs away with me watching his every damn move. His eyes stay locked with mine, unwavering until he laughs and finally turns around.

As soon as they’re through the parking lot and to their bikes, I slam the door closed, before punching it as hard as I can. I feel like a cannon ready to explode.

“Fuuuck!” I start pacing, while nervously running my hands through my hair. “That shit was not cool.”

Jax appears in the bar and looks at the dent in the door. “I had my shit ready if those fuckers tried making a bad move. Fuck, I’m happy I didn’t have to kill someone tonight.”

I let out a hard breath and grip my hair tighter, while stopping to look at him. “Me too.” I take off walking back to my office, in a hurry to get out of here now. “I’ll be finishing this shit up. You can go.”

“Nah,” Jax takes a seat at the bar and reaches for his half empty glass of vodka. He lifts it up. “I’m good for a while. I’m not going anywhere in case those dicks come back.”

I nod my head, thankful for Jax. “Thanks, Man.”

My mind is so fucked up after James and his minions left that it takes my ass another thirty minutes to finish with my closing shit. All I’ve been able to think about this whole time is how I want to kill those fuckers, and it was pretty close to coming down to that. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone in my damn life.

Locking up all the cash and downing the rest of my whiskey, I walk out and lock my office behind me.

Jax stands up and slips on his leather jacket. “You good, Man?”

My nostrils flare in anger as I pull out a cigarette and light it. “I’m good. Let’s just get the fuck out of here.”

I know some shit is off as soon as I turn down my street to see three Harleys parked at the nearby park. My heart instantly stops and I know that I’m fucked, because I’m most likely going to be taking a few lives tonight after all.

Present

“FUCK!” I SIT UP IN bed and run both of my hands over my flushed, sweaty face. I can never fucking sleep. This shit happens every damn night, and I find myself drowning in a bottle of whiskey until I’m close to waking up in a hospital with a fucking IV in my arm.

Taking a few deep breaths, I reach beside me for the bottle I keep close by and toss the cap across the room. It’s the only way I’ll be able to close my eyes without feeling as if I’m dying from the memories; the fucking images in my head that haunt me until I can’t breathe, almost making it easy for me lay down and just let it fucking take me.

I’m doing my best to fight it, but someday I need to realize that my best isn’t good enough. That shit will never go away.

Throwing my feet over the edge of the bed, I stand up and strip out of my boxer briefs, before grabbing the bottle of whiskey and heading for the shower.

With the door open, I keep the light off and turn on the shower, hopping in. With one hand pressed against the shower wall, I let the frigid water pour over my heated flesh, while holding the bottle to my lips and taking a desperate swig.

My body is freezing, but my insides are fucking burning, feeling raw from the warm whiskey. It’s a fucked up combination, but at least I’m feeling something.

Anything at all . . .

I’M JUST WALKING OUT OF the salon when I get a text from Colton. Today’s only a half-day for me, so it’s nearly three o’clock. It’s not very often that I have the pleasure of getting off early.

Seeing his name flash across the screen causes my body to flood with anxiety and lose that small bit of freedom that getting off early brought me.

Exhaling, I open up his text and read it, hoping that it’s not about his family dinner tonight.

Colton: Tonight is dinner at my parents’ as usual. You’ll be there, right?

Avalon: We’re on a break, Colton. Remember?

Colton: Yeah . . . but my parents don’t know that and I don’t want a reason to alarm them if we’re only on a break. Please come.

Avalon: Idk . . .

Colton: Please. It’s not that big of a deal. It’s only dinner and you don’t even have to sit next to me. They’re expecting you and will be disappointed. I’m only asking this and then I’ll give you your space.

Feeling guilty, I know that I’m going to end up agreeing to go. It’s not that I feel bad for Colton, but his parents have been nothing but good to me. They’re going to be expecting me, and it would be rude to stand them up.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Avalon: I’ll be there . . . for them, Colton. Nothing is changing between us so please don’t push it and make me uncomfortable.

Colton: You have my word, Marie.

Colton: Shit!

Colton: I meant Avalon.

Avalon: See you around 5:30.

Shaking my head, I get ready to shove my phone into my purse when it vibrates again.

“Dammit, Colton.”

I unlock the screen, expecting it to be Colton, but it’s from a number that I don’t have saved in my phone.

Unknown: Avalon . . . come to my house tonight. I’ll be set up and ready by 6.

Avalon: Umm . . . who is this and why am I going to your house tonight?

My heart jumps to my throat when the next message comes through.