Stryker

7 - Noted

Stryker

I pounded that cunt into the damn concrete! If Roman hadn’t pulled me away, there’d be nothing left of him. Not that he’s still breathing; the asshole is long since dead.

When Shepard took a call from Coral’s phone from her frightened friend, telling him in the most panicked voice that Coral was in trouble, he had me, Roman, and BlackJack all follow him. We were just around the corner at a bar, already on our bikes, about to make our way back to the clubhouse. I took the fuc.k off and arrived minutes before them. I had to get to Coral; nothing else mattered to me right then.

The bastard was so close to Coral. I honestly thought he’d hurt her. My heart was in my damn throat. Ain’t no way I’d stand by and watch a man hurt any woman. I remember it enough from when I was a kid to know the damage it does. However, this is Coral, the woman who should be mine. There is no one alive who’d be that way long should they hurt her.

Don’t fuckin’ ask me why I feel that way about her; I can’t explain it. Trust me, I’ve tried to explain it to myself a million times; there’s no answer I can come up with other than she’s forcing her way into my heart. This is dangerous.

Back to the asshole.

I grabbed him and beat the hell out of him, or the life, depending on how you look at it. There ain’t nobody alive gonna hurt my girl and live.

My girl?

Where the fuc.k did that come from?

I don’t even know her, I’ve spent the past month avoiding her. Not that it’s been easy, it hasn’t. No matter what I do, I can’t get her out of my head.

There’s something about Coral that captivates me. I look at her sometimes, and all I see is my girl. She should be mine. I honestly don't know why, but I know she has to be.

I don’t know yet how I will do this and how I can possibly make Shepard understand why I want this. I know I shouldn’t want this; she’s forbidden fruit.

Ain’t that just a kick in the teeth?

Wanting what you can’t have always tasted so much better. I bet Coral tastes so fuckin.g sweet I’d never get enough.

No matter what I have to do, I’ll make her mine. I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want Coral.

I know the second I walk into a room if she’s there. The air becomes too warm. I can smell her perfume before I even see her. The second I do see her, my heart pounds wildly in my chest. She smiles at me each time, such a sweet smile that tells me she wants nothing more than for me to talk to her.

And what do I do?

I ignore her like she’s got the damn bubonic plague.

I thought I could push past this. I thought I could ignore Coral and what I was feeling for her. I was doing well until I saw the junkie about to attack my girl tonight.

I can’t go on like this. I don’t know what Coral has done to me, but I need her. I’ve never needed anyone in my life before. She walks in, and I'm fucke.d!

I’ll make Shepard understand one way or another that I want Coral for my own and not just to fuc.k her. Don’t ask me why I want that when I’ve never even thought about it before, but I can’t deny that I see a future for us, a good one.

How stupid do I sound?

I’m a biker, a low down, dirty fuckin’ biker. We’re supposed to fuc.k bitche.s and move on to the next one before the day’s out. That has never been me, I’ve always been the loner.

Yeah, I’ve fucke.d women before and walked away. Never gave one the idea that there could ever be anything more between us. I don’t have any family of my own. Yeah, I’ve got BlackJack and his family, but they aren’t really mine. I’ve got the club and the brothers, but none are really mine. I’m loyal, fierce, hardworking, but shi.t, don’t I deserve someone to love me for who the fuc.k I am?

I don’t even know what the hell love is. No one’s ever loved me, I’ve never loved anyone else. Yeah, I want to fuc.k Coral, who in their mind wouldn't? She’s beauty personified, but I want more. I’ve never wanted more. However, I want it with her. Fuc.k, do I ever.

“That’s enough, brother.” Roman pulls me away from the sack of crap on the floor. I’ve literally beat him to death.

Good.

I turn to face Shepard; he’s smirking at me. Fucke.r knows how dangerous I can be. I’m a quiet guy, but I’m a fuckin’ dangerous one, one of the more dangerous men in the MC. I have fuc.k all in my life, but my club and I will do anything for them. No matter what that might be.

My eyes lock with Coral’s; she’s shaking, eyes wide. I’ve frightened her, and as much as I hate that, she needs to get used to it; this is who I am. I did this for her!

“Get this mess cleaned up. I’m gonna make sure Coral gets home. Once you’re done, you can go home.”

Shepard doesn’t wait for a reply; he’s already on his bike, Coral on the back, and he’s gone.

Roman and I dispose of the body. The usual place in the woods. Thrown in a damn hole and left for the wildlife to feast upon. Like anyone will give a shi.t that he’s even gone. Cunt looked homeless. Probably didn’t even have any family, or maybe he did. I couldn’t give a shi.t either way.

“You alright, brother? You seem really pissed.”

I stab the spade in the dirt, picking a good heap up and throwing it on the makeshift grave. “He could have really hurt her.”

“I know that, but he didn’t. Shepard’s pleased with you. You know what Coral means to him.” I grunt and hand Roman the spade. He shoves his and mine in the underground bunker we have not far from where we bury shitheads like the one we just put in the ground. “She’s had a shi.t life. Shepard would’ve killed half the damn state if Coral had been hurt tonight.”

“Yeah. What’s that all about?” Shepard’s a good guy, but his need to protect this girl is bordering on crazy.

“He’s known Coral most of her life. He’s seen the things that girl went through, so have I.” I narrow my eyes, pulling off my leather gloves and stuffing them in my back pocket. “Ain’t my place to give you any info, Brother. That’s Coral’s story to tell. All I will tell you is she went through hell as a kid. I know what you’ve got in mind.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.” He stands taller. “Just be careful, Stryker. You mess with her heart, ain’t no one will save you. Shepard will tear you limb from limb.”

“Noted.” I climb on my bike. “I’m goin’ home. I need to shower this shi.t off my body. Don’t wanna wake the boys.”

Bullshit.

I’ve never once woken them up coming in late. I promised Taylor I’d stay over there tonight because I promised to take the boys fishing early in the morning. However, I don’t want to go to BlackJack’s because I want to see Coral, I need to know she’s okay. I’ll still pick the boys up early enough for fishing. I’d never let them down.

“Just remember what I said.”

I nod, rev my engine, and gun it back to my place.