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His wide smile took over his face and he hurried around the counter. “Coffee, jellies, and chocolate croissants.” He popped a takeaway cup into the microwave and hit the thirty-second button.
“I’ll take a croissant.” She picked up the white bakery and found her gun beneath it. “Who took my gun?”
“Hawk.” Cali took the cup out of the microwave and handed it to her. Then he opened the bakery bag and pulled out a croissant. “He was worried you’d wake up disoriented and shoot him. Or me.”
She smiled. “Hawk wasn’t wrong about that.” She sipped her coffee and sighed. “This is perfect. Thank you.”
“No prob.” Cali put the croissant onto a plate and popped it into the microwave. “Hawk said he’d be back around ten.”
She nodded and sat on the stool, waiting for her croissant. Meanwhile, Cali crossed his arms and stared at her. “So...”
“So...” She tilted her head. If Hawk was spreading rumors she was a sweet butt, she’d take off his head with a butter knife. “What?”
He took the plate out of the microwave, placed it on the counter, and pushed it toward her. “Do you know you don’t have a television?”
She burst into laughter. That wasn’t at all what she’d expected. “Not only do I not have a T.V., I don’t have a computer or personal cell phone. I don’t use credit or debit cards. I am technologically free.”
He tore two pieces of paper towels off the roll and folded them like napkins. “You know that’s weird, right?”
She shrugged and took a bite of the croissant. It was a perfect combo of flakiness and warm chocolate. “I’m frugal.”
“I can see that.” He found his jelly donut, took a huge bite, and spoke with his mouth full. “Or you’re on the run, living in a dump, and protecting yourself from digital trackers.”
The croissant suddenly tasted like sawdust, and she took a sip of coffee. “What did Hawk tell you?”
“Enough to know you might be in trouble.”
“It’s possible Hawk is correct.” She chewed her bottom lip and glanced at Cali from beneath her bangs. “And the last thing I want to do is involve your club.”
He finished his donut and wiped his fingers on the makeshift napkin. “If Hawk is involved, so are we.”
That’s what she was worried about. She finished her croissant, mostly because she didn’t want to be rude, and reached for the napkin when Cali took her unbandaged hand and held it up. “What are you doing?”
“Your Claddagh ring.” He turned her hand to inspect her finger. “I’ve never seen one like it.”
“Thanks.” She pulled her hand away and placed it in her lap, beneath the counter. Then she drank her coffee, trying to keep her shakiness from spilling it. “It belonged to my gran.”
He nodded, but he stared at something over her shoulder. With his eyebrows crunched and his lips pursed, he appeared deep in thought. “My mom had a similar ring. Although not as elaborate as yours.”
Her smile felt tight, but she forced herself to act like a normal person who wasn’t wearing an ancient, priceless artifact on her left hand. “Are there any more donuts?” She wasn’t hungry, but she needed the distraction.
He shook his head, as if trying to forget something, and lifted the bag. “Raspberry jelly or lemon creme?”
“Jelly—” A loud shot and the sound of breaking glass echoed around the room. The white bag Cali held exploded, and bits of pastry and paper flew everywhere.
“Get down!” Cali jumped over the counter and pushed her onto the floor.
Just as her knees slammed into the wood, another shot whizzed by her head.Someone was shooting at them?
“Fuck.”Cali’s enormous body landed on top of her. From beneath his arm, she saw him dial his prepaid cell phone. “Get into the bedroom. When someone answers, tell them we need backup.”
He rolled off of her and handed her the phone. More shots came through the room, many of them landing in the kitchen walls. The staccato noise sounded like hail hitting the tin roof, except with lead instead of ice. She slid across the floor, favoring her aching knees, and worked her way down the short hallway. When she looked back at Cali, he was standing in the middle of the room, holding two guns—hers and his. He walked toward the front door and disappeared from view. But she heard his voice ring out, “Come and get me, motherfuckers!”
The phone picked up on the third ring and she didn’t wait for a greeting. “We’re under attack. Need help.Now.”
She hung up and yelled, “Cali! Bedroom! We can get out that way!”
She crawled into the bedroom, grabbed her bag, and ran into the bathroom. There were no bullets coming through the bathroom window—yet.
