Page 29 of Last One Standing
“Nothing.” I stared at my cell, wishing for something from Pika to pop up.
“I have a bad feeling.” Shep dropped the last of the bags on the counter and sighed. “I think Brick may have gotten wind of something, is holding them at the clubhouse.”
“If that’s true, it’ll be near impossible to get them out of there. The Dead Kings are one percenters, outlaws, not good people. They’ll be armed to the teeth.” JJ crossed his arms. “If you all die trying to save them, I’ll be pissed.”
Shep chuckled and kissed JJ’s pouting lips. “We wouldn’t go in there without a plan.” Shep looked at me, determination in his eyes. “But we voted to save them, and I don’t think Brick’s just holding them there. If what Pika said is true, he punishes harshly.”
I nodded curtly. “I’ll call a family meeting for tonight.”
I helped them put the groceries away and then texted everyone to make sure they were free at eight. We always tried to eat dinner together, but people made plans. Tonight, I needed them all here.
That evening, after dinner, everyone gathered in the living room. I explained that I’d still heard nothing, and Shep shared his theory.
Noel and Nick brought out their laptops and were typing away while we talked.
“The Dead Kings tore down the original structure and rebuilt it to be their clubhouse. Now, when you do that, you have to surrender blueprints to the town, get licensing approval, all that stuff,” Noel said. “I was prepared for them to have not done that, but they did.”
“They’d have cops and shit on their doorstep if they didn’t. They don’t want unwanted attention.” Gabe shrugged.
“Seriously?” JJ scoffed. “I’m shocked they haven’t been arrested for some of the stuff they do to storefronts and their owners. But they threaten them, so they won’t press charges. How do the authorities not see this?”
“They do.” I sat back in my chair. “They’re probably just as afraid or being paid off.”
A cacophony of uh-huhs filled the room.
“All right.” Nick shifted, grabbed the remote, and turned the TV on. “I’m linking my screen so you can all see.” A blueprint appeared. “Now, this is what they claimed as their blueprint, but like us they likely withheld some things, so we need to be vigilant about it.”
“There are too many of them.” Four sighed. “Even with me helping you, it’s not gonna be possible.”
“Well, when is the time there are the fewest?” Mason shrugged. “I mean, that would be the best time, right?”
“We don’t have their schedules, Mason.” JJ rolled his eyes.
“Why not just get them away from the clubhouse?” Phoenix’s voice was a whisper, as if he thought he wasn’t allowed to speak. He was getting better, but every time we had votes or meetings, I believed part of him still felt like he didn’t belong.
“How so?” Nick and the rest of us all faced him.
“Well…I mean…what would make them all leave, or at least most of them?”
Noel gripped Phoenix on both sides of his face, earning a squeak from the timid man, then planted one hell of a kiss on his lips.
“You’re a fucking genius,” he shouted once they’d separated.
“I am?”
“That’s actually a really brilliant idea.” I winked at him, and he blushed.
“Don’t be hittin’ on my man. Go get your own.” Noel playfully growled.
“Isn’t that what we’re trying to do?” Nick gestured to the TV screen with the blueprint.
“He’s not my man!” I argued. “Pika asked for help; that’s why we’re doing this.”
Shep chuckled. “No one said it was Kona.”
Narrowing my gaze, I pointed at my brother. “Pika’s fifteen, who else would you be talking about?”
Everyone laughed, but I wasn’t finding humor anywhere. This was a serious situation, and I wanted to snap them out of it.
