Cross was still at the hospital with Bob.There had been no change in him, but Cross told us that the doctor said that was good.He seemed to be healing even though he was sedated, and that was what Bob needed.Hopefully, he would be back with the club soon.
And me?
I was with Shay and Pearl inside the clubhouse.
Lost and Piney were stationed near the doors.
We were covered.
We had to be.
Shay was curled up on the couch with a blanket over her legs and flipped through one of Bernice’s old sketchbooks.Pearl sat beside her with her feet tucked under her and sorted through a pile of receipts like they were a fascinating book.
“Did you know Bernice saved a receipt for almond milk from 1998?”Pearl muttered and squinted at the receipt.“There’s no reason for almond milk to cost that much.”
Shay laughed.“Maybe she liked it.”
“No one likes almond milk,” Pearl said and made a face.“It tastes like wet cardboard.”
“You two drink Sex on the Beaches,” I pointed out and leaned against the wall.“You probably killed all your taste buds.”
Pearl raised a finger.“That is a delicacy your ol’ lady introduced me to.Don’t knock it.”
Shay elbowed her lightly.“I don’t know if I would call them a delicacy.”
“But they are delicious.Almost as good as an Old Fashioned.”Pearl reached for a tortilla chip that had been sitting in a bowl since yesterday.“Ugh.Stale.”
Lost’s voice cut through the moment.
“Prime,” he called from near the door.“Push just called and says someone’s coming up the path toward the clubhouse.He’s following them.”
My whole body went rigid.“Who?”
“No idea,” Lost said.“Alone.Not a tourist.Not one of ours.”
Pearl cursed.“Shit.”
Shay pulled the blanket tighter around herself.“Is it him?”
“No,” Lost said immediately.“Woman.”
I exchanged a long look with Pearl.
And then with Shay.
There weren’t many women who came to Skull Island alone.
None who walked toward the clubhouse like they knew exactly where they were going.
My phone rang, and I was surprised to see Anchor’s name.I connected the call and put it to my ear.“I know.I’m coming.”His voice echoed from the hallway just as he entered the room, phone in hand.“I saw.Camera picked her up near the bend.”He tucked his phone into his pocket.“Let’s go see who the hell this chick is.”
By the time we got outside, Push was already talking to the woman.She was tall with sharp eyes and black hair pulled back in a messy bun, but still somehow intentional.She wore black jeans, a dark leather jacket, and boots meant for walking through trouble.She also had a backpack slung over one shoulder like she could run a marathon with it.
She wasn’t scared, not even a little.
Push stood in front of her with his arms crossed and jaw clenched so tight it could cut steel.
“I told you last time you weren’t allowed past the haunted house,” Push growled.
