A LIL' LESS LOST (The Kingsmen Book 2) by Tara Oakes Read Free Book Online Page B

hardened, cruel, unforgiving and ruthless. She knew the deal, she knew in very broad terms the things I must be able to do. She had grown up around those things, seen the consequences for them every time her pop got jammed up and sent away, or the brothers we had to bury and mourn. She had loved me regardless once. I was hoping she could still love me now, after all this time, after all that I had done. I wasn't concerned for myself, my own soul... that had been condemned long ago. There had been a time shortly after Lil's had left when I was reckless, not caring if I lived or died. Now I had a reason to live again, two reasons, and I couldn't fail either one of them today.
    Deep breath after deep breath escaped my lungs. I once had read about breathing techniques and meditation styles the Samurai had once used before battle. These things calmed me, helped me to think in a way that connected my mind and my instincts. Both of them needed to serve me well in what was about to go down.
    Pops was foolishly optimistic if he believed we would simply be able to hand over deeds and ownership to Shade in return for Lil's. I had known since I heard her voice on the phone yesterday that there was no way he was going to let her go. She had seen too much, been too affected by it. She would be a liability to him, and no man in a position like Shade would jeopardize himself by letting a loose end like that simply walk away.
    I knew that she would be safe until the transfer was finalized, Shade's personal little insurance policy. But once everything was handed over all bets were off, and I would need to get to her first.
    The orange casting in the sky was spreading and deepening as the early sun slowly lifted itself. I had seen the morning dawn dozens of times from this rooftop. When Lil's left me I had come up here, facing the darkest moments of my life, seething anger at myself and certain I had somehow let those deep secrets, the horrible things I had done, leak out to make her finally see the part of me that I kept hidden, the part of me that didn't deserve her love.
    I had never felt pain like that before. I've been shot, stabbed, had bones broken, but nothing compared to the damage done when Lil's left and took that love away from me. By some miracle, she was given back to me and I will do whatever I need to do to protect it and keep it safe. I will gladly give my life for her... for them both if needed. I watched as the sun filled the low lying horizon, taking in its beauty and the breathtaking hope it brought for the new day. If this was my last morning, my last sunrise, then I would die a happy man knowing my Lil's would get to see it again.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
     
    Clink and Tiny had made it back shortly before breakfast. The ol' ladies had set out doughnuts, coffee and bagels on the bar. Every charter in riding distance was well represented and more than a handful of nomads had shown up. There were only a few times that I've been around for when we rallied together like this, most of them being happy occasions.
    With so many brothers here, the boardroom would not be able to handle church today. We packed into the main garage area, standing room only, and pops climbed onto the hood of a black Durango, one of the cars that was here for repair. Some of the brothers were great mechanics and the club brought in a small but steady legitimate income through this shop.
    The murmurs were dying down and quiet was settling over the crowd, waiting for pops to begin. These men had come here willingly, offering their muscle, their heat, and even their lives if needed. Every man had an equal interest in what was about to go down. When one of us was threatened, we all were threatened.
    “I want to thank all of you brothers for getting here so quickly. I don't get to see you all together like this that often, but when I do, it warms my fucking heart to see the core, the foundation of this club with my own eyes. Loyalty... brotherhood. Many