Free Steel My Heart by Vivian Lux Page A

saw himself through their frightened eyes. Big black biker with a slumped over drunk white girl draped on his seat. It was his first day as a free man and yet he felt like a criminal all over again. He revved his engine at some gawkers in anger and three of them jumped back in terror. He was debating just pulling up onto the sidewalk and plowing through them when the light finally changed.
    Emmy's building was right on the square, overlooking the leafy expanse of Rittenhouse Park. J. had grown up in Philadelphia, but this was not his Philadelphia. This was a paradise made only for the rich.
    It hurt more than it should have to know Emmy was one of them.
    "Okay girl, this is your stop, time to get off." Emmy was slumped against his back. He could feel her soft breasts pressing against his back but was too keyed up to enjoy it. "Emilia, wake the fuck up," he growled.
    She moaned a little, but stayed plastered against him.
    "For fuck's sake." J. turned around. Grasping her around the waist, he half wrestled, half carried her across the wide sidewalk in front of her building.
    "Outta the way," he growled at a startled looking old man who nearly walked into them.
    The lobby doors slid smoothly open and he felt the blast of air conditioning hit him in the face. "Who are you? Is that Miss Hawthorne?" a voice boomed across the marble hallway.
    J. saw the badge first, then the pistol second. "Stay right there and put your hands up!" the guard called. He was aiming at J.'s head.
    "If I put my hands up, I'm gonna drop the girl." J. knew he needed to keep calm.
    The guard seemed befuddled for a moment. "Then move slowly."
    "Where do you expect me to go?" J. saw the guard wasn't moving to call the cops, so he relaxed slightly. "Hey look man, I'm not looking for trouble. This girl's ID says she lives here. You recognize her?"
    "Of course I do," the guard spat, but lowered his gun slightly.
    "You know where she lives?"
    "Yes of course."
    "Then why don't you come over here and help me make sure she gets home okay. Sound good?"
    The guard looked at him suspiciously. Then he sighed and holstered his gun. "What happened to her?" he asked, with some concern.
    "Had a bit too much to drink."
    "She was drinking with...you?"
    J. bristled. "Look asshole, I got her home in one piece, didn't I?"
    The guard stepped back and looked him up and down. "Sons of Steel, huh? I remember you guys from back when I was on the force. How the fuck did Miss Hawthorne end up with one of you ?"
    J. had had enough. "Guess you'll have to ask her that, won't you." He dragged Emmy over to the bank of elevators. "Get her up to her place. I'm done here."
    "Yeah, I think you'd better be." The guard took Emmy into his arms and pressed the button. "Get out of my building and stay out."
    "Not a fucking problem," J. spat.
    He felt the guard's eyes on him through the door and all the way out to where he had parked his bike on the sidewalk.
    "Fuck all of you," he growled to the people crowded around it.
    Kicking the bike to life, he roared away from their stares. He didn't need this shit. This was the exact opposite of keeping his head down. Causing a scene with a former Philly police officer was something he'd have to tell Teach about. It would probably earn him some lumps. He would ask for one knock to the head.
    Maybe that would knock loose the memory of her lips on his.

Chapter 12

    Emmy

    The first sound I was aware of was a crash from the kitchen. The echoing clatter pierced my eardrums and I clapped my hands over my ears.
    I was in my own bed, under the sheets. Rolling over in confusion caused a sudden pain to knife through my head. "Oh my god, fuck," I moaned out loud. The words were thick and muffled. I was parched and nauseous at the same time.
    Why was I hungover?
    I tried rolling over again, and this time was successful in making it on to my side. I rested for a moment, waiting for the spinning to stop before I opened my eyes. Tentatively, I peeked through one slitted