Page 57 of Property of Sugar
“Of course it is,” Slit groaned exasperatedly.
“Wait here while I clear the house,” I told Kalani.
“Fuck no.” Slit hopped out of the truck. “I’ll clear the house. Be right back.”
“Boy, I really flustered him,” she said, scrunching her nose as she watched Slit enter her house. “You sure he’s okay to carry a gun?”
“Around most people? Yes. Around you? I’d say it’s a no for most people.”
“Yeah, I don’t think it’s safe for most to carry a gun around me either.” She winked.
“All clear!” Slit called from the front door.
“When is Birdie supposed to be home?” I asked as we walked inside.
“Tomorrow, I think. Maybe the next day.”
“I want you to come back to Kahakai with me,” I told her. “I don’t think you should be out here by yourself tonight.”
“Okay,” she said, agreeing much easier than I expected. “I’ll go ahead and pack a bag. You guys make yourselves comfortable and help yourselves to whatever’s in the kitchen that isn’t alcohol or weed.”
“Why is she being friendly and hospitable?” Slit asked. “It’s weird.”
“I don’t know. I guess she’s happy.”
Kalani came back downstairs moments later. “I need to charge my phone and left my charger at work,” she said from the kitchen. “I’m gonna grab my other one out of the old truck.”
She came back inside a few minutes later. “Got it! I’ll be back down soon.”
At some point, I heard her turn on the shower upstairs, followed by a strange tinging sound.
When I got up to see what crazy-ass shit she was up to, my phone vibrated with a text.
“Whisker said Ashley left,” I told Slit. “I’m gonna let Kalani know.”
When I knocked on the bathroom door, the shower was still running, but I didn’t hear the strange noise.
“Yeah?” Kalani called through the door.
“Hold on,” I said as my phone vibrated with another text. “Whisker said Ashley left the bar and appears to be headed this way.”
“I’ll be right down,” Kalani said.
When she came downstairs, she put two bags by the back door before joining us in the living room. “So, do we have a plan? Are we winging it?”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but we’re not doing anything.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s a tracker on Ashley’s car. If she comes here, one of the brothers will grab her before she gets to the house. If she doesn’t come here, they’ll follow her and get her when they have a chance.”
She sat back with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest. “I am disappointed. What kind of outlaw motorcycle club are you? Stopping a lady from killing? We live in a different day and age now.”
Slit closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
“Unclench your asshole,” she said and stood. “I’m going to make a snack. You can continue being rude without my presence. Enjoy your peace.”
“I’m sorry,” Slit sighed. “I don’t like to be distracted when we’re doing shit like this, and you are a distraction.”
