“Ah,” she said knowingly. “You don’t have to worry about employment because you work for the club.”
“Pretty much.” I came to a stop in front of the door to the room with the cell and knocked. No one was on the other side, but I didn’t want her to realize what was happening until after it was over.
Ushering her inside, I pretended to fumble for the light switch. Then, without warning, I shoved her forward, causing her to stumble through the second doorway. I quickly closed the door and turned on the light.
Kalani stared at me through the floor to ceiling iron bars separating us. I waited several moments for her to speak, but she remained silent. Shrugging, I opened the door to leave. “Don’t go anywhere before I get back,” I said, letting the door shut behind me.
“Be careful what you wish for.”
Once Kalani was securedin the basement behind several locked doors, I sent a text to let Prez know and went to see Beaver. His room was connected to the IT room on the second floor of the main house.
Beaver was busy on his computer while Prospect Two was watching the security cameras. Beaver looked up when I tapped my knuckles on the open door. “Need to monitor the cell. It’s occupied.”
Beaver chuckled and pointed to a monitor to his left. “Already on it. Nice shove, by the way.”
“Fuck off, man. You don’t know what she’s like.” I dropped into a chair and exhaled heavily. “I need a fucking break.”
“You’re in luck,” Beaver said. “It seems everyone is preoccupied with the storm. There’s not a damn thing other than storm prep going on around here or anywhere else from what I can tell.”
Leaning back in my chair, I propped my feet on the desk and closed my eyes. “Yeah, this is probably the proverbial calm before the storm.”
FOURTEEN
BIRDIE
Even though it was well before Kalani was supposed to get home from work, I knew something was wrong as soon as I pulled into my driveway. I put my purse on my shoulder and stuck my hand inside the secret pouch holding my gun before I opened the door and got out. I was an older woman living in the middle of nowhere. I wasn’t stupid. But I was often high, so I was sometimes paranoid. But this was different.
I looked around, carefully surveying the area, before I cautiously walked toward the front door. I was only a few steps away when movement to my right caught my eye. I turned with my purse raised awkwardly. “Stop right there.”
“Easy, Birdie. It’s just me,” Coochie said as he stepped into the light.
I sagged in relief when I realized it was my old friend. Then I tensed for the very same reason. His presence could only mean one thing. “What did she do?”
“She killed a man at Charli’s Place.”
I swallowed thickly and ignored the tightness in my chest. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Coochie said and gestured to my purse. “Can you put the gun down?”
“Sorry,” I said and resituated my purse on my shoulder. “If she’s fine, why are you here?”
“I’m here for Cooter’s patch,” he said. “If you want to use it.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
I remembered the day Cooter gave me his patch better than I remembered most things in my life. What was supposed to be a fun weekend to celebrate my thirtieth birthday turned into a shootout at a biker bar.
Thirty-Six Years Ago
“Are you almost ready?”my sister asked for the third time.
“Yes,” I huffed and opened the door. “Let’s go.”
We were in Kahakai to celebrate my thirtieth birthday. It was also the first time I’d been out since my divorce, and I was nervous. I wasn’t looking for another relationship, but I still wanted to look and feel like the person I once was.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about,” Jewel said. “You look great, and you know some of the people who work there.”
“Thanks,” I said. “And I know one person who works there.” Coochie and I met as teenagers and had been friends ever since. He joined the Kings of Anarchy MC after his divorce and had been a member for several years. When I told him about my divorce, he invited me to Kahakai to celebrate, like he did. Since the divorce coincided with my birthday, Jewel and I decided to make a weekend of it.
