Page 90 of Tiny's Testament
“Okay,” she whispers. She walks toward the van on her own.
Capone handles the paperwork with the social worker. The van rolls out of the compound slower than it came in.
One girl remains. She sits on the clubhouse steps, knees pulled close, staring at the garage like she’s trying to decide if she believes in noise again.
“She can stay a few more days,” Capone says quietly to Syvannah. “Until placement clears.”
Syvannah nods.
The girl looks up at her. “Can I… sit with you?” she asks.
Syvannah pats the bench.
I watch her sit beside Syvannah. Watch as Syvannah reaches for her hand. She begins the same slow rhythm.
In… two… three… four.
Out… two… three… four.
The compound keeps moving around them.
I exhale slowly. I thought saving Syvannah would end the fight. I understand now that this is how we end it.
Aloiki and the Twins spent ten days with us after the raid, helping rebuild parts of the compound and stirring up chaos whenever boredom set in. When they packed to return to Hawaii, every man in the lot came to see them off, even those pretending they wouldn’t miss them.
Aloiki pulls Capone aside first and slaps an envelope into his palm. The seal is gold, thick, and fancy enough to look out of place in Capone’s calloused hand.
“What’s this?” Capone asks.
“My wedding invitation,” Aloiki says with a grin. “Lu says that if you and Danyella don’t come, she’ll fly here and drag you to the island herself.”
Capone blinks, then shakes his head. “You’re getting married.”
Aloiki waggles his eyebrows. “To the only woman who can choke me out and make me say thank you. Of course, I’m marrying her.”
Trigger groans. “Christ.”
The Twins approach next, each carrying a massive bag of Kona coffee. They shove both bags into Red’s chest.
Red freezes. “Is this… fresh roast?”
“Picked last week,” one Twin says.
“Roasted yesterday,” the other adds.
“And specially shipped overnight to you,” they both say in unison. It’s creepy as fuck, but I’ve seen them do worse while they were here.
Red’s eyes fill as if he might cry, while his face burns a shade of red I haven’t seen on him in a while. “I… this is the greatest day of my life.”
Aloiki slaps his back. “Drink it slow, Brah. Or you goin’ see sounds.”
Syvannah laughs for the first time in days. Before leaving, one Twin crouches in front of Peanut, who blinks at him with royal disdain.
“You ever want to prospect in Hawaii,” he says solemnly, “we got a mini-cut ready for you.” Peanut swats him in the face, and the whole lot bursts into laughter.
The Hawaii members roar out of the gate, leaving behind the smell of sea-salt, exhaust, mischief, and something that feels a lot like family.
The garage we lost in the fire is alive again. The whole space vibrates with the noise of drills and saws and raised voices, bouncing off the half-rebuilt walls. Someone curses as they slam a thumb instead of a nail, and someone else laughs so hard it shakes the rafters.
