I can’t see whom Vet’s talking to, but he shuts the front door holding a Tiffany-blue box. “He says it’s for you.” Vet places the box down on the bar top in front of me.
“Who said?” I ask, confused.
“The kid outside. Said he has a delivery for Slash.”
“And that was it?” A girlie, blue box.
Vet nods awkwardly. He isn’t the best with people. Relates better to animals than humans, hence the nickname.
“Is it tickin’?” Popeye pokes the box with his walking stick.
“Not as far as I can tell.” I pick it up and shake it. It’s light as a feather.
“What’s the card say?” Breaker asks over my shoulder. Everyone has now crowded around me and my new mysterious box.
I take the white envelope and slide the card out. It’s white with black writing. It reads:
Slashes are so prettyin the Snow.
Somethingabout the message gives me the chills. I rip open the box to find something puzzling inside. Locks of blonde hair tied with white ribbon. There must be a dozen pieces of them.
“What in the fuck?” Breaker expresses.
Just as I lift one piece up, my phone rings. My heart jolts, and I rush to answer it.
“Ky,” Kira cries my name in a bloodcurdling way.
My entire body turns cold as ice as the puzzle pieces snap together rapidly.
“Kira? Where the fuck are you?”
She’s so hysterical I can barely make out a word she’s saying, buthomeandhaircome through loud and clear.
“Kira, calm dawn, I’m coming. Lock yourself in the bathroom and don’t let anyone but me in. Understand?”
There’s nothing but sniveling on the other end of the line. “Kira, say you understand,” I press.
“Yes,” she shrieks.
“Gimme me a gun,” I order Popeye. We keep a few Glocks behind the bar. “Give them one, too.” I nod back to Hawk, Breaker, and Vet.
“Prez?” Vet voices.
“We’re going to Kira’s. Shoot to fucking kill.”
Popeye pops out 9mms onto the bar like it’s a fuckin’ gun range.
“Roll out.” I stick one in the waistband of my jeans as I head for the door.
“Popeye, don’t let a fuckin’ soul into this place until I get back.”
“Done,” he complies.
Outside, the morning sun is bright and warm. It heats my icy veins as the gang of us tear down the highway toward Kira’s house. All I keep hearing is her panicked voice and the way she called my name. Nothing has ever sobered me up faster in my life.
I was a fucking moron to leave.
I left her defenseless.
