Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

Ty

S eventeen hundred, eighteen hundred, nineteen hundred, two thousand dollars.

I stuff my winnings back into the envelope and shove it into the pocket of my hoodie. Street fighting is a brutal occupation. It’s not for the weak. As a person who grew up in the system, you have more demons than you can carry. And you need an outlet to let them out, or at least a way to silence them.

Beating my opponent to a bloody pulp does that for me. It’s a type of therapy, one that pays rather than takes.

All that money, I use to provide for what’s most important to me: Lakelynn. She’s the center of my universe. I watch her day and night, provide for her when necessary, and protect her without a second thought.

As if summoned by my desires, she appears around the corner. She walks into the bar’s back entrance. I fucking hate this shitty-ass place.

She’s been working for months now; I wish she’d quit. The pay is shit, and the customers are worse. Lakelynn deserves better than this. She deserves the world. But instead, she chooses to deal with these assholes. Do you know how many motherfuckers I’ve murdered out here for simply looking at her?

Too fucking many to count, that’s how many.

Good thing we live in a big city with tons of criminal cases. While it makes this city unsafe for some, for me, it has its advantages. Cops don’t have time to dwell on every drunk, drug-addicted cocksucker who gets killed. They’d rather concentrate on important people. Those other poor saps get tossed into the “homicide, case unsolved” pile and forgotten.

It helps me keep Lakelynn safe. Since we met eleven years ago, she’s been my reason to live.

She just doesn’t know it. Yet.

There’s a lot she doesn’t know, like who I am and how I get inside her apartment every night, but I know everything about her. Nothing happens in her life without me knowing about it.

And it’ll stay that way until I say so. It’s safer for her. She’ll get the life she deserves, and no one will get in the way.

I’ll make damn sure of it.

I wait a few moments, giving Lakelynn time to get to the employee lounge, before entering the establishment. The back door is for employees only, but no one’s ever guarding it.

Music and chatter filter in from the front. I creep to the lounge, hanging out by the door where those within can’t see me.

“His son is taking over?” Lakelynn’s high-pitched voice of astonishment catches my attention.

“Starting tonight,” her coworker, another female waitress, replies. “I hope you don’t depend on tips to survive, because Keith takes over half whenever he’s in charge.”

“I don’t…”

Damn right she doesn’t. That’s what I’m for. Lakelynn knows I’ll leave cash on her kitchen counter to keep her afloat. It’s the only way she can afford the pricey apartment in downtown Atlanta.

“Good,” the woman says. “I’m going to start looking for a new job. Keith is bad news.”

Footsteps come closer. I step back, further into the shadows, as she passes. Lakelynn follows soon after.

Unaware that I’m behind them, they walk into the main room and get to work. I stroll in, staying close to the walls. It’s darker here. Shadows are always my friend. A few people close enough to spot me do a double take as I pass. It’s nothing new. Most people stare at me.

I don’t blame them. Who wouldn’t be suspicious of a man who walks around in a white face mask and hoodie all the time? I’m the definition of “stranger danger.”

They go back to their business once I’ve moved out of their sight. Most of them are too drunk to concentrate on anything for longer than a few seconds.

I sit down at my usual table in a darkened corner. Unless you saw me step in, you wouldn’t know I was here. My blackened attire sees to that. Even my hands are covered with gloves. The only thing noticeable is my mask. It’s not the most inconspicuous thing to have on, but it does leave a lasting impression when noticed.

My burner vibrates in my pocket. Very few people have a way to get in touch with me, and even less people have this number.

I pull out my phone, keeping an eye on Lakelynn to make sure no one gets handsy while she serves patrons.

Answering the call, I ask, “What?”

“Free-for-all. Saturday. Southside Underpass. Midnight.” A click sounds from the other side, signaling he’s hung up.

I put my phone away. Since I’m a well-known member of the underground fights, these calls happen often. Some are out of town, but I prefer the ones in the city since I can stay close to Lakelynn. I only leave town for fights when money is low.

We haven’t had that problem in a while. Even though I leave her enough money to live comfortably, old habits die hard. She’s used to surviving on very little, like I am. With both of us growing up in the system, we’re easily satisfied.

Lakelynn continues serving customers until the bar closes at two in the morning. I stay in my spot in the corner, watching.

I’m not the only one who’s been keeping an eye on her though.

Keith has been too.

Indulging in his ownership of the establishment, he’s consumed a considerable amount of alcohol. I don’t like the look in his eyes. They’ve darkened as the night wears on.

He wants her.

He wants her in a way I’ll kill him for.

Lakelynn is oblivious. She’s so busy working, she isn’t concerned with what’s going on around her. Again. She’s always been this way, and that’s one of the reasons I stay close to her. I watch her to make sure she’s safe. She’s no longer na?ve about the ways of the world since what happened to her in that the Rylee’s foster home, but she’s fought so hard to block it out that she ignores what’s around her, focusing solely on her present tasks. Almost robotically.

As the bar empties, I get to my feet. I can no longer hide in this corner with them cleaning the joint. I exit out the back and walk to the alley beside it. Leaning against the brick wall, I light a cigarette.

Slowly, employees file out as they finish their tasks for the night. I peer around the corner every time the door creaks, but none are Lakelynn. Considering how many people have left, I’m beginning to worry. She’s been in there over an hour, and most of the employees have left.

The only person I haven’t seen yet is Keith.

And Lakelynn.

Unable to stay still, I creep back inside. Music plays on the radio making me frown. All the lights are off except for a few in the lounge. I stroll into the room. It’s empty.

Where the fuck is she?

I shut the music off. The sounds of a struggle echo in my ears. Someone knocking into wood. Shoes skidding across linoleum. Papers scattering. Pencils rolling across the floor.

Clenching my teeth, I snatch the napkin holder off the nearest table and storm toward Keith’s office, where it’s coming from. I slam the sole of my boot into the door, and it crashes into the wall.

Lakelynn’s upper body is laid over the desk, her ass in the air. Tape covers her mouth and her cheek is smashed into the wooden top. Keith stands behind her, pinning her hands behind her back as he hikes up that fucking miniskirt he makes the waitresses wear.

Lakelynn’s teary eyes widen at the sight of me. Muffled sobs escape her as she cries. Fear and hope mingle in her eyes, showing her uncertainty of my presence. She doesn’t know if I’m here to save her or help him.

“Who the fuck are you?” Keith growls at me.

“The grim reaper.” I throw the metal container in my hand.

He stumbles back as it bounces off his head. I march forward, and Lakelynn scrambles out of the way, tugging at the tape on her mouth.

I pick Keith up with my hand around his throat and toss him. The thud he makes when he hits the desk before falling to the floor gives me slight satisfaction, but not it’s enough. He grabs the desktop to stand, sobbing like the pussy he is.

Can’t handle it when it’s happening to you, can you, buddy?

I remember someone else who couldn’t either: Mr. Rylee. The memory of him only fuels my anger. Pulling out my switchblade, I flip it open and stab it through the center of Keith’s hand, nailing him down.

Keith’s screams mingle with a sharp intake of breath from behind me. I turn, surprised to find Lakelynn sitting against the wall, watching, panting.

Why the hell is she still here?

I thought she’d be long gone by now.

Her eyes are wide, but not with fear as I’d expect. Curiosity swims within. Maybe even lust.

Nah. That’s not possible.

I shake off my thoughts. That’s wishful thinking. Lakelynn’s not a freak like me. At most, she’s probably just thankful Keith is getting what’s coming to him after he attacked her.

“Leave!” I order.

Her gaze bounces between me and her attacker.

Why is she hesitating?

Must be the shock.

Keith whimpers, pulling my attention back to him.

I spot Lakelynn’s discarded tape on the floor and pick it up. Grabbing Keith’s hair, I yank his head back and slap it across his mouth. At his muffled sobs, a smile curves my lips.

When I turn back to Lakelynn, I almost chuckle at the fact that she’s still there. She hasn’t moved. Unsure if I should be impressed by her courage to stay and watch or worry about how much shock she might be in, I decide to make use of her presence.

“Hand me that pen, beautiful.” I motion toward the mess on the floor.

She glances at it, then back to me. When I put out a gloved hand, she crawls over, grabs the pen, and passes it to me.

“Now run.” I remove the cap and shove the tip into Keith’s hand next to the knife.

His sobs turn to screams again. It jars Lakelynn out of whatever trance she’s in, and she scrambles to her feet.

“Good girl,” I say as she leaves.

Slamming Keith’s head back onto the desk, I lean down to eye level with him.

“Now...let’s have some fun, shall we?”