Page 1 of Unbound

1

STERLING

My cowboy hat is the only thing keeping the icy rain from pricking my skin as it pours down in sheets at the truck stop outside of Shreveport, Louisiana. I parked my black Ford truck in the last covered space near the big-rig pumps, but now I’m practically wading through puddles to get to the door.

“… pretty little thing like you doing out here in this? Your boyfriend inside?”

When I finally reach the glass door and tip my hat up, I see a bulky man to my left hovering near a small figure with a black hoodie covering their head.

The hooded figure nods.

“Cat got your tongue, sweetheart? I could get you a bite to eat. Then you can come warm up in my rig, if you’d like to get out of this rain.”

The hooded figure shakes their head, and I spot a string of long golden hair sticking out of the side. It could be a teenager or a small woman from this angle. The figure is hunched over, shivering in the cold with damp shoulders like they barely escaped the downpour.

“Didn’t your mama ever teach you manners, girl?” The man’s hand snatches her arm.

She yelps in surprise.

“Hey.” I step closer to him, my boots spaced out with my right one slightly back. I square my shoulders and clench my fists.

He turns to me, his tanned face hard, mouth set in a cruel grin that fades when he sees me.

I know I’m a scary-ass-looking Marine. My dog tags are hanging out of my T-shirt. The scar my little brother gave me when he hit me with a shovel when we were kids runs through my left eyebrow, and people ask all kinds of questions about how I got it.

His face blanches. “You the boyfriend?”

The girl turns to me, emerald eyes widening to saucers when she sees me. Her lower lip starts trembling, and she sinks back against the concrete wall behind her.

I look back at the man’s hand on her. “She doesn’t want shit from you. Beat it.”

He lets go of her arm and steps toward me. “Nobody asked you, did they?” he says, his rancid breath assaulting my nostrils.

I pop my knuckles, tilting my head to the side. I speak slowly, my voice low. “You have one more chance to get the fuck away from her before I remove you by force. Your choice.”

The man glances back at the girl, who’s watching us with fearful eyes. He debates his next move for a few seconds before deciding he wants to keep the stained teeth in his mouth. He sidesteps me, spitting on the sidewalk.

“Bitch isn’t worth it anyway,” he mumbles under his breath.

My hand snakes out, latching around his throat. He chokes out something unintelligible.

I jerk him closer, gripping his neck tightly as I speak directly into his ear. “Now, I didn’t wanna have to hurt you. But if you don’t apologize for calling her that, you’ll leave me no choice.”

The girl is gaping at me, looking like she’s about to bolt or burst into tears. She covers her mouth with a shaking hand.

The man tries to pull my arm away, but he’s no match for my strength. He spends his days sitting in a truck and his nights accosting women outside truck stops. He’s all bark and no bite when he’s being called out for his bullshit.

He’s gargling his words. “I didn’t … I ga—help!”

I squeeze harder before loosening my hold just a fraction. “Apologize. Now.”

“Fuck, I’m sorry!”

He’s clawing at my hand, trying to scratch me with his short nails. I barely register the pain, adrenaline fueling me.

With one final squeeze, I shove him away. He stumbles into the rain, nearly falling face-first into the mud. He glances back at us, eyes darting from me to her before he decides whatever he needs inside must not be worth it. He saunters off toward one of the big rigs while rubbing his neck.

When he’s fully out of sight, I turn back to face the girl. She’s shivering so badly now that her teeth are chattering. Her arms are crossed over her stomach in the oversize hoodie, but when she peers up at me this time, her eyes are no longer fearful. They’re brimming with curiosity. She has no makeup on and a fading black eye that’s mostly yellowed.