Strays (Red Kings #1) Read Online Free
Author: Emma Kendrick
later.
“Why in the world would I let you drive my truck?” The pair started their journey across the parking lot towards the light blue Ford that was in need of a new paint job. It was the only vehicle she could afford while she was working after school in Queens, but it had gotten them all the way to Georgia with no problems and it was still going strong. The heat didn't work most days, but that wasn't a necessity with the warm climate of the south.
Tyler grunted and rolled his eyes, slowing his pace for Jackie's sake. “I'm driving because-” he yanked the keys out of her unsuspecting hands, “-I'm older and therefore in charge. And I want to drive.”
Jackie smiled as she arrived at the passenger side of the truck, waiting for Tyler to get in and unlock her door. “You're only older by a few months, jerk.” She looked around the lot, her eyes landing on a single motorcycle sitting in a shadowy parking spot. Naturally assuming it was Tyler's beloved machine, she turned to him and asked, “Are you just going to leave your...” She trailed off, recalling his earlier statement about how long it took him to walk to the diner from the music store. Her breath left her as she realized one of the bikers from the other night was probably about to kill her for being a witness to their criminal activity. “Oh God...” was all of the warning she could get out before a large shadow appeared behind Tyler. Her eyes went wide with fright and she opened her mouth to scream, but one glare from the same eyes that had intimidated her into silence before made her snap her jaw shut.
Tyler turned around quickly, his eyes growing large at the sight of the fierce biker. “Y-you can take whatever you want, man,” he stuttered quickly, holding up his hands in surrender. “You want my wallet?”
The taller man's face remained hard and impassive, his cold eyes stuck to Tyler in a harsh glare. “I don't want your stuff.” The raspy sound startled the pair, the rumble chilling them straight to the bone. Jackie shuffled her feet nervously, the gravel in the lot crunching loudly as she shifted her weight. The dark eyes rapidly moved to stare her down and she stopped fidgeting in an attempt to not anger him further. Tyler turned his head to the girl on the other side of the truck, trying to signal her to run. The rough voice made him snap his attention back to the front. “I don't want your girlfriend either, relax.” The man placed a hand on top of the truck, looming over Tyler with a sick expression of amusement. “I hear you're a hacker.”
Tyler looked around nervously and swallowed, not expecting anything other than a typical mugging. “Wh-what? I don't know what you're talking about. Where'd you hear that?”
The outlaw's face quickly clouded with frustration and anger. It was obvious that he hated people who didn't tell him the truth. Jackie silently pleaded with Tyler to not upset this guy. She had seen exactly what happened to people who lied to him.
Dean grabbed the back of Tyler's neck and yanked the younger man forward. “I heard it from your big mouth earlier today. Wouldn't be surprised if the whole damn restaurant heard you two arguing about your illegal habits.” Tyler at least had the decency to look embarrassed at being so easily overheard. “Let's talk.”
3
December 19th
Ever since she was little, Jackie had tried her best to avoid awkward situations. She steered away from things she didn't know and went to familiar, comfortable places where she could blend in.
But here she was now in the middle of the Eastside Mechanics parking lot surrounded by bikers, sticking out like a red paint splatter on a white canvas.
This was the last place that she wanted to be at, but Tyler had dragged her along for moral support. That horrible night at the diner was the reason she was here,
“Why in the world would I let you drive my truck?” The pair started their journey across the parking lot towards the light blue Ford that was in need of a new paint job. It was the only vehicle she could afford while she was working after school in Queens, but it had gotten them all the way to Georgia with no problems and it was still going strong. The heat didn't work most days, but that wasn't a necessity with the warm climate of the south.
Tyler grunted and rolled his eyes, slowing his pace for Jackie's sake. “I'm driving because-” he yanked the keys out of her unsuspecting hands, “-I'm older and therefore in charge. And I want to drive.”
Jackie smiled as she arrived at the passenger side of the truck, waiting for Tyler to get in and unlock her door. “You're only older by a few months, jerk.” She looked around the lot, her eyes landing on a single motorcycle sitting in a shadowy parking spot. Naturally assuming it was Tyler's beloved machine, she turned to him and asked, “Are you just going to leave your...” She trailed off, recalling his earlier statement about how long it took him to walk to the diner from the music store. Her breath left her as she realized one of the bikers from the other night was probably about to kill her for being a witness to their criminal activity. “Oh God...” was all of the warning she could get out before a large shadow appeared behind Tyler. Her eyes went wide with fright and she opened her mouth to scream, but one glare from the same eyes that had intimidated her into silence before made her snap her jaw shut.
Tyler turned around quickly, his eyes growing large at the sight of the fierce biker. “Y-you can take whatever you want, man,” he stuttered quickly, holding up his hands in surrender. “You want my wallet?”
The taller man's face remained hard and impassive, his cold eyes stuck to Tyler in a harsh glare. “I don't want your stuff.” The raspy sound startled the pair, the rumble chilling them straight to the bone. Jackie shuffled her feet nervously, the gravel in the lot crunching loudly as she shifted her weight. The dark eyes rapidly moved to stare her down and she stopped fidgeting in an attempt to not anger him further. Tyler turned his head to the girl on the other side of the truck, trying to signal her to run. The rough voice made him snap his attention back to the front. “I don't want your girlfriend either, relax.” The man placed a hand on top of the truck, looming over Tyler with a sick expression of amusement. “I hear you're a hacker.”
Tyler looked around nervously and swallowed, not expecting anything other than a typical mugging. “Wh-what? I don't know what you're talking about. Where'd you hear that?”
The outlaw's face quickly clouded with frustration and anger. It was obvious that he hated people who didn't tell him the truth. Jackie silently pleaded with Tyler to not upset this guy. She had seen exactly what happened to people who lied to him.
Dean grabbed the back of Tyler's neck and yanked the younger man forward. “I heard it from your big mouth earlier today. Wouldn't be surprised if the whole damn restaurant heard you two arguing about your illegal habits.” Tyler at least had the decency to look embarrassed at being so easily overheard. “Let's talk.”
3
December 19th
Ever since she was little, Jackie had tried her best to avoid awkward situations. She steered away from things she didn't know and went to familiar, comfortable places where she could blend in.
But here she was now in the middle of the Eastside Mechanics parking lot surrounded by bikers, sticking out like a red paint splatter on a white canvas.
This was the last place that she wanted to be at, but Tyler had dragged her along for moral support. That horrible night at the diner was the reason she was here,
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