“Not long. You still have the key to Blaze and Layna’s place in Miami Beach?”
“Yeah.”
“Go.”
Me and Siren. Alone. Inhaling past the soreness in my chest, I took as deep a breath as I could. “Kendall’s still out there.”
“Not my problem. Hide my truck.”
“It’ll be in my garage with the keys in it but you’re gonna have to dump it.”
“You can buy me a new one after you pay my legal fees.”
“Shit. You gettin’ arrested?”
“Don’t know yet.”
“You’re not in cuffs or you wouldn’t be talkin’ to me,” I stated the obvious.
“You’re wasting time.”
I rubbed a hand over my face. “You know where to find me.”
“Wait to hear from us.” Neil hung up.
I pulled into the garage and dialed another number.
It rang five times then, “Surf’s not up but the party’s raging!”
“It’s Talon.”
“Braaaahhh,” Braige slurred as music pumped in the background. “Wazzup? I got lotsa hotties here. Come show us some looove.”
“You gonna remember this conversation in the mornin’?”
Braige laughed. “Damn, dude, you sound waaaay sober.”
“Braige,” I snapped. “Walk outside. Now.”
“Ohhh shit. Okay, hold on.” The music in the background faded to a dull bass. “All right, man, I’m outside,” he said, sounding marginally more sober.
“I need you to watch the shop for a week or two.”
“Dude.” He sighed. “Surf’s up in Tahiti, man. Big storm coming. You know this. I told you me and the boys are flying out. Call your leather lady.”
“Can’t, Kendall’s busy.” I upped the ante. “I’ll let you use my equipment.”
“Whoa.” Pause. “Seriously?”
“Yeah.” Fuck. “Seriously.”
“Only one board?”
“Make a couple.” He could make ten for all I cared at this point.
Braige laughed. “Must be some hot chica, brah.”
I didn’t answer.
He laughed harder. “All right, I’m cool. I’m on it, man. When do you need me?”
“Startin’ tomorrow. And before you make the deposits each night, take your usual cut.” Braige lived to surf and nothing much else was important to him but he’d never fucked me. He’d watched the shop plenty of times, just never for this long. If I’d had another choice besides closing the place, I would’ve taken it.
“Cool, cool. You got it. This a new number or something? If I need to reach you?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, brah, later. I gotta get back to the hotties. Keep rippin’.”
“Later.” I hung up and dialed Kendall.
“I’m not leaving.”
I leaned forward to rest my aching arm on the steering wheel. Tired, I played hardball. “Fuck if I care.”
“If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be calling.”
“Just doin’ Candle a favor.”
“Right.” She snorted. “Because you and Candle are so tight.”
Siren made to get out of the truck. I grabbed her hand then held a finger up. “You got two choices, Kendall. I’ll pick you up and you can have a free vacation or I can call Candle and tell him you aren’t doin’ shit to protect yourself.”
“Who says I’m not protecting myself?”
“They know where he lives. Why the hell do you think Stone called everyone in?”
“I don’t have anything to do with Stone’s pussy biker gang,” she snapped. “I couldn’t care less what he or Candle does.”
“I don’t have time for this bullshit. You wanna live, I’ll come get you. If not, quit wastin’ my fuckin’ time.”
She sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
“Fine what?”
“I’ll take the vacation, asshole.”
“Be ready in twenty.” I hung up and looked at Siren. “We can’t stay here. We’re gonna go south for a few days.”
She nodded but she wouldn’t look at me.
“I’m gonna grab a few things inside. You need anythin’?”
She shook her head.
“C’mon.” I opened my door. “We’re switchin’ vehicles.” I got out and grabbed her bag and tossed it in the Challenger’s trunk.
Slow, like she was hurting, she got out of the truck and moved to the Challenger’s passenger side.
“Hold up.” I scanned her body for any new injuries but didn’t see anything. “You okay?”
Staring at her feet, she nodded.