Obsessed by Bella Maybin

floor.
     
    “Now that’s it. I don’t wanna hear another word about it. That bitch made her own bed and she can sleep in it,” said the president.
     
    James raised his gaze to meet the president’s. “It’s the wrong move, Hayes.”
     
    “Get the fuck outta here!” yelled the president. “Another word and your ass is goin’ back in the middle of the circle. Only reason I’m not turning the boys loose on your ass right now is because you’ve done good work for us. Now, like I said, get out that door in a hurry before I change my mind.”
     
    James stood completely still for an agonizingly long moment before bending toward the door. The thought of disrespecting the leadership any further didn’t sit well with him. As much as he hated their decision, he had to abide by it.
     
    “And remember,” shouted Hayes. “Your ass represents the EG twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. So don’t go gettin’ any dumb ideas about goin’ after that girl on your own. If I find out you’re even thinking about doin’ that, I’ll feed you to the dogs myself.”
     
    The words followed James out the door. They seemed to hang in the air around him. Feed you to the dogs…
     
    It was eerily calm outside. The slight breeze caused a few dry leaves to ruffle in the grass, but otherwise, there wasn’t a disturbance to be heard. James took a deep breath and mounted his ride. The perfectly polished chrome tank reflected a gruff, unshaven face. He slid a pair of dark sunglasses in to place and looked west down the highway. A million different thoughts fought for his attention. He tried to drown them out with the roar of his engine, but it wasn’t loud enough.
     
    ***
     
    The room is dark and cold. I can feel the bruises on my body, but I can’t see them. How long have I been here?
     
    Everything is slow. It’s like a fog...or a dream. When I’m awake, all I can remember are two mysterious blue eyes. Are they looking at me? Are they looking for me? I’m not sure. Either way, they are all that gives me comfort.
     
    Click-clack, click-clack.
     
    That sound again. I’ve heard that sound, I just can’t place it. It makes me curl up into a ball and feel afraid. I don’t remember why.
     
    The light from beneath the door is gone now. A shadow blocks it. I can’t stay awake…
     
    ***
     
    Cool water dribbled down James’ chin. It had been years since he had been to the desert, but it was the only place where water tasted so right. The chaos around the club was too much. He hadn’t been able to think there. The desert was the only place where a man could think.
     
    Boom! Boom! Boom! The shots from his .45 sent the makeshift targets skittering backward. Dirt kicked up from the ground and sprayed in patterns around the impact points.
     
    As the late afternoon sun set in the sky, James tried to remember the girl. Something about her was clawing away at him, but he couldn’t quite place it. She was definitely pretty, but not in the “in-your-face” kind of way he was used to. Her name was...Katie? He wasn’t sure. Maybe she told him...or one of her ditzy friends said it.
     
    James continued to fire the weapon randomly. His strong hands expertly handled the recoil, even though he was hardly paying it any attention. He thought about what his gang meant to him, and how it was the only family he had. Never did he imagine, he would risk throwing that away. But, the image of the girl, desperate and vulnerable across the back of that bike, kept coming back to him.
     
    Why the hell did she have to go back to the bar that night? James tried to explain it away. She was looking for some excitement, was all. He wanted to give himself a reason he could live with...something he could use to put her out of his mind. She thought she was invincible and didn’t respect her environment. She got a little too big for her britches and it got her in trouble.
     
    But he couldn’t lie to himself. James knew the reason she came