Lincoln Knight.

Lincoln Knight.

What the hell am I doing standing outside of Rumblin’ Knights, looking up at the flashing sign even though the garage is closed? I shouldn’t be here. I should call Ellie and organize a meeting with the club. They’re less ... frustrating. They won’t drive me up the wall. I have a feeling Lincoln is going to come on strong and hard, and while he might get the job done, he’s going to get to me while he does it.

I know all this, yet here I am, still standing here, still staring, still wondering if I should step inside where I know he’s waiting for me or if I should run in the opposite direction.

And I think of him, and my heart aches.

I know I have to do this.

So, I walk forward and up to the locked front door and knock.

A few moments later, a woman appears and unlocks the door, opening it. Her cheeks are flushed, her hair wild, and she smells like sex. My chest clenches, and anger bubbles up inside me. He asked me to meet him here and he’s been screwing another girl while he waits? I don’t have time for this. I thought he was going to take me seriously, but clearly he is not.

“Lincoln is inside.” The girl smiles, all giddy like.

Nope.

I turn and start walking off without a single word to her.

“Hey!”

Lincoln’s voice rings through the night just as I reach my car. I unlock it, refusing to look back. I pull the door open, but it’s quickly slammed close by a big, burly hand. I spin around, nostrils flaring, anger bubbling in my chest. “Let my door go right this second, Lincoln Knight!”

“What are you stormin’ off for?” he asks, and my god, I can smell perfume and sex on him. And dammit, screw him.

“You’re in there, having sex ...”

His brows go up. “Last time I checked, was a free country.”

I growl, frustrated. “Look, I couldn’t give a damn what you do, but I do know that this is important to me. No, scratch that, it is every-fucking-thing to me. And I need someone who is going to take me seriously. Someone who actually gives a damn. You’re just out for something to do, and you’ve made that clear. So, if you don’t mind, I’ll go to the club and I’ll ask for their help. I don’t time to waste on you.”

His nostrils flare now, too. “First of all, I am takin’ you seriously. I’m here, when I don’t fuckin’ have to be here. What I was doin’ before you got here is neither here nor there. I’m done. It’s finished. And I’m waitin’ around for you so I can help you, which I do not have to do.”

“Then don’t!” I snap. “I’ve changed my mind. Now let me go.”

“No.”

“Lincoln,” the pretty brunette calls. “I can’t find my keys.”

Growling, Lincoln calls out, without moving, “In my truck.”

“Your truck is locked.”

“Better go and tend to your girlfriend,” I snap.

With a frustrated growl, Lincoln steps back. “Be here when I get back. We’re going to sort this out.”

He turns and strides toward the girl. I get in my car and slam the door, staring at it.

As if.

I don’t answer to anyone.

I put my car into drive and speed off, not looking back. Screw Lincoln Knight. He’s nothing but a player, and a jerk. I pull out my phone and call my sister who has been my rock through everything.

“Hey,” she answers on the second ring. “How did it go?”

“It didn’t, he had just finished screwing some chick when I arrived.”

“Oh, my god,” she gasps. “What a douche!”

“You’re telling me. I’m going to call Ellie, see if the club can help.”

“That’s what I thought was best from the start, but you don’t listen to me,” she teases.

I laugh. “Yeah, well, maybe I should. I’m heading home now, I’ll call you when I’ve spoken to Ellie.”

“Okay,” she says. “Talk later.”

I hang up with her and dial Ellie. She answers after about four rings. Ellie and I have caught up a few times now, and I really like her. She’s had a hard time, and her story is haunting, to put it mildly. Without too much detail, she got taken because of a drug deal gone wrong involving her boyfriend, Slater. Who is Lincoln’s brother. Ten years it took them to find her, and all that time she had been trapped with a monster. His pet. His slave. They got her back, but she lost her memory, so it has been a slow road for her.

But her and Slater, they found each other again. After so long.

That’s kind of nice.

Ellie would have to be one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Kind, warm, and giving. She understands me, too. Which is something very few do.

“Hey there, Shania,” she says when she answers. Her voice is soft.

“Hey, Ellie. How are you?”

“I’m good, how are you?”

“I’m okay. Listen, I was wondering if you’d still be willing to talk to Slater and ask if the club will help me.”

She goes silent for a moment, and my heart clenches, scared she is going to say no. “Of course. Last time I heard, Lincoln wanted to take control. Is ... that not going well?”

I huff, and I know it sounds bratty, but damn him. “No, it’s not going well. Let’s just say he and I do not meet eye to eye, and it just won’t work. I can’t stand him, to put it mildly. I think it’s best if we don’t work together.”

Ellie giggles, soft but it makes me smile.

“You two are hilarious,” she tells me.

“I’m sure we are to onlookers. However, it should be known that I would almost happily put him down ...”

Ellie bursts out laughing. “My gosh, you’re hilarious. I’ll talk to Slater and see if he can talk to Malakai. Do you want to catch up soon? The club is actually having a cookout tomorrow night, if you’re not busy.”

It would be a good opportunity for me to catch up with everyone, say hello, make myself known. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

“Great!” she chirps. “Come past my place tomorrow at around six; we’ll go together.”

“Sounds awesome. Talk to you then.”

I hang up, and my stomach rumbles. I came straight to Lincoln’s stupid ass garage after work, and I haven’t eaten. I pull through a drive-thru and eat all my fries on the way home. I’m not sorry, not even a little bit. I pull up in the driveway of the small apartment I rent and get out, taking a bite of my cheeseburger. I come to a complete stop when I see Lincoln sitting on my front steps.

I don’t know what’s worse, that he is sitting on my front steps, or that he’s currently watching me stuff a cheeseburger into my mouth like I’m starved. My cheeks flush, but as always, I play it off with sarcasm. When all else fails, sarcasm wins. If you stick to it, that is.

“We’ve been over this,” I say, once I’ve swallowed my food. “Stalking is not cool.”

Lincoln stares at me, and then at the cheeseburger in my hands.

“What?” I mutter, taking another bite and raising my brows at him, daring him to challenge me.

“Nothing,” he mutters. “Continue stuffing your face, I’ll wait.”

I swallow and wiggle my finger at him. “Actually, I’d rather you didn’t wait. I’d rather you leave. I have things to do. I don’t want you here. In case that isn’t clear to you by now.”

“I’ll. Wait.”

Oh.

He growls the words out, and I can tell right away he’s pissed. Majorly pissed.

What the hell has he got to be pissed about?

I’m the one who should be pissed.

I throw the rest of my cheeseburger into the bag in my hands and glare at him. “Listen, buddy, I’m not here for whatever game you think you’re playing. I have things to do. I need help. I don’t know why in the hell you’re pissed, considering it was me who arrived to find you banging some chick, and I don’t really care. Now, I’m going to get the help I need, and it isn’t going to be from you. If you’ll leave and take your mood with you, I’d more than appreciate it.”

Lincoln Knight stands and steps forward, one hand curls around my shoulder and hauls me against him, so I have to tip my head back and look into his angry dark eyes. Oh, boy.

“I don’t like when people walk away from me. I especially don’t like when people run away from me. You think I don’t have better fuckin’ things to do, then to deal with your sassy ass? I do. Plenty. Now, we’re going to go inside, you’re going to shut your mouth, because fuck I’m pissed, and we’re going to figure out how to help you. We clear?”

“I beg—”

He leans in close, cutting me off. “We. Clear?”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

“Anything more comes out of your mouth, that isn’t a ‘yes Lincoln’ then trust me, I’m goin’ to put somethin’ in there, to shut you the fuck up.”

My mouth gets wider, and now I’m too stunned to say anything. But boy oh boy, I’ve got plenty to say. Lincoln doesn’t let me, he mutters out a, “Good,” and then he’s pulling me toward my apartment, and I’m stumbling after him, angry and shocked, but also a little in awe at his masculine strength.

Can anyone say hot?

Dammit.

This is not going to plan.

~*~*~*~