Chapter 22

Shane

I was cautious when I arrived, parking my bike a couple of streets down from Satan’s Perch, but the only way to access the alley behind the club brought me uncomfortably close to the front entrance. I was on high alert as I made my way back.

Meeting Dallas outside was a spot of luck. I thought I was going to have to break into the club through the backstage entrance to find her, and I didn’t relish the idea of being in an enclosed space with my worst enemies. Our meeting turned out better than I hoped for, even if she did tell me to go fuck myself.

Jake was right, she was different now. Not only had she changed her appearance, but Dallas was the sassiest, angriest version of herself. She always had that fire inside, but now it burned brazenly, without direction or consideration. Dallas wanted to burn everyone and everything that got close to her, and I didn’t blame her. I wanted to burn most of them too.

Even though I didn’t like that she had to become this person, it looked good on her. She hadn’t let her abusers ruin her. She hadn’t let them win. It took all the steel she possessed, but Dallas hardened herself into an impenetrable fortress, and I was proud of her. I’d worried about her every day for the last three years, wondering what kind of wreck I would find when I returned. It wasn’t that I doubted her strength, just that I didn’t underestimate Wes and Preston’s cruelty. I thought she would buckle and that I’d be coming down here to lift her broken body from the ashes and take her to safety. As it turned out, Dallas didn’t need anybody to carry her. She just needed someone to help clear the path so she could sashay out of her prison of her own accord, and I respected that. I never wanted her more.

I emerged from the alley and started south down the street, thoughts too wrapped up in Dallas to notice the figure walking toward me. I should’ve crossed the road, but I was feeling cocky and alive and wasn’t being vigilant.

I recognized Nelson Vurdock only a second before he recognized me. It wasn’t a long enough second for me to hide, so I prepared myself to fight instead.

Nelson was just as ugly as I remembered, only he’d gotten bigger and fatter since our last meeting. It was like his big personality and overinflated ego were pushing his body out at the seams, and I half expected a button to pop off his shirt, which was at least one size too small, and come flying at me like a bullet. To top it off he now kept his long dark hair in a tight top knot that only exaggerated his swollen features.

“I better be fucking hallucinating,” Nelson boomed.

I offered up a polite smile. “I’m afraid not. Terrible luck for both of us.”

“For both of us?” He cackled. “You’re the one with the bad luck. Does anybody else know you’re here, or were you trying to fly under the radar like the pussy you are?”

“You’re the first of the merry band of idiots that I’ve come across,” I replied.

“This is going to be good.” He made no move to come for me, but cracked the knuckles on each of his hands and grinned at me with crooked, yellowed teeth. They hadn’t been that bad three years ago. From the packet of smokes in his front pocket, I assumed he’d picked up a new habit.

“Preston and Wes are going to kill you, you know that right?”

I shrugged. “They can try if they want.”

“Yeah, you’re all tough now, but I remember when they chased you out of this town with your tail between your legs.”

I snorted. “Not exactly how it went down. And I always intended to come back.”

“Why? For Dallas?” he sneered.

My jaw ticked, and Nelson caught it, his grin widening.

“Don’t you know she’s Wes’s bitch now? He owns her. He gets to do whatever he wants with her, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it. I would tell you to go home while you still can, but there’s no way I’m letting you leave my sight.”

I tried not to let his words get to me, tried to keep my calm even though I couldn’t stand the thought of Wes laying a single hand on Dallas. I learned a lot of things in the military, and one of them was discipline. Keeping my cool against Nelson’s brand of smug douchebaggery was a piece of cake compared to keeping my cool in the line of fire.

I casually thrust my hands into my pockets and shrugged. “What are you gonna do, big guy? I bet you’re not much of a runner, are you?”

He frowned. No way in hell was I going to run away from Nelson tonight, but the mental image of him trying to catch me, face red and breaths heaving, was enough to make my lips curve into a smile.

“I think I’ll request that Wes breaks that smart mouth of yours first,” he muttered. He started to rifle around in his back pocket, and I knew our volleying of insults, weak as it was, was at an end. I couldn’t afford to have Nelson call Wes or Preston out here now. Not yet. I had to be ready for them, and right now the only thing I was ready for was a good night’s sleep. And inflicting a little punishment.

Nelson pulled his phone out of his pocket, but I darted forward and smacked it from his hand before he could dial. His eyes widened in alarm, and he lunged for me clumsily, swiping out with both hands like he was Frankenstein’s monster. I laughed and stepped to the side. He lumbered right past me.

“I don’t think it would be fair for me to kick your ass, but I’m going to do it anyway,” I said, kicking his back and sending him sprawling onto his face.

Nelson groaned and pushed himself up onto his elbows.

“Why am I going to kick your ass?” I said, pretending to interpret his groans as language. “I’m glad you asked. Because, Nelson, you’ve pissed me the fuck off, and I’m not the kind of guy you want to piss off.”

I waited for him to get back to his feet. He turned and glared at me, cracking his knuckles again like he thought it might do some good. I rolled my eyes.

“I’m going to make you wish you were never born,” he bit out.

I laughed. How original.

“Come on then, big guy,” I taunted. “Do your worst.”

Nelson came at me, throwing lefts and rights without any coordination or plan. I dodged most of them, delivering jabs and crosses into his side and face when he opened himself up to attack. His breaths came hard and fast, like a rabid bear with asthma. To his credit, the few hits he got in had some power behind them, but Nelson had always been all bark and no bite. He was lazy. He’d probably never taken on a fight in his life that his friends couldn’t win for him. He’d been an enthusiastic participant in my beating under the bleachers several years ago, but only once I’d been knocked down. I hadn’t forgotten. It felt good to give him a taste of his own medicine, even better to do it with such ease.

Nelson grabbed me by the collar and tried to throw me to the ground, but I held my ground and head-butted him in the nose. He moaned and released me, staggering back as blood streamed down his face. I pulled back and slammed my fist home into his jaw, and his head spun to the right.

Nelson dropped back onto his hands, and I stood over him, catching my breath and evaluating the damage. His face was a bloody mess, bun askew and a few buttons popped open on his shirt. He made no attempt to get back up but held his face in his hands and groaned in pain. I broke his nose. Excellent.

“Had enough?” I asked.

“Fuck you!” It came out nasally and thick.

I chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

I squatted down in front of him and caught his eye, wiping all traces of humor from my face.

“Tell Wes I’m here, and that I’m not the scared little kid I used to be,” I instructed. “Tell him that I’m coming for him, and anybody who gets in my way is going to get the same treatment you did. Got that, or do you want me to write it down for you?”

Nelson glared daggers but didn’t say anything. He knew when he was beat.

“Great.” I slapped my thighs and rose. “I’m off. Great to see you, Nelson. I’ll be around.”

I turned back in the direction I was heading before and walked off, smiling. It felt like I was a step closer to my goal.

I found my bike and hopped on, heading back toward the highway and away from town for the night. I’d accomplished all I came to do today and more, and I was due for a shower and a good night’s sleep.

I thought that talking to Dallas might help me figure out what I could do to get her out of here. She hadn’t been much help, though I couldn’t blame her. Who was I to come in out of the blue and say that I was going to save her? Her attitude didn’t deter me. I was still going to get her and her dad out of Sitka Valley and away from the Gromleys for good, I just didn’t know how yet.

I couldn’t afford to pay their debt, that was for sure.

It seemed hopeless, but I never turned from a challenge.

And I would never, ever give up on Dallas Keane.