Page 41 of Last One Standing
“Abatement workers?”
“Yup. It was raining, freezing, Pika had a cold, and I became desperate. I wrapped him up in all the clothes I could grab and sneaked us into a convenience store. I was going to lift some medicine for him and only pay for a pack of gum. But that didn’t work out well.”
“Got caught?”
“Mmhmm. Clerk said I had to pay or he’d call the cops. Suddenly, someone slammed a twenty on the counter and said he’d pay for it.”
“A good Samaritan, rare these days.”
“Almost extinct, but no, more like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That was how I met Brick.”
Oh, shit.“Damn, at your lowest.”
“You got it. He made grand promises, and for a while he was wonderful. I thought, sure, being around bikers wasn’t ideal, but it was better than what I had. He even helped me work again, and the next thing I knew I was so wrapped up in his web that when I wanted to be free, he’d trapped me.”
“That’s awful. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault, and besides, I’m safe now, Pika is too, and that’s thanks to you and your family. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve done.”
Now I did reach over and take his hand gently. “You don’t ever have to. We’re happy to get those Dead Kings gone. We want you and your brother to have a great life, and we’ll make sure that happens for you.”
He leaned in closer, pain etched on his face. I was going to tell him to sit back, but he cupped my cheek with his hand and smiled softly. “Maybe not extinct after all.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
KONA
I was exhaustedwhen I was done confessing everything to Angel. I wanted to return to normalcy, but I recognized that it wasn’t going to happen if I pushed myself too hard, too fast. I brushed off the offer of help, because I could walk up the stairs. As I sat on the bed catching my breath, I took a few minutes to just be. It wasn’t something I could do in the clubhouse; I had to be on all the time, be ready, vigilant. Here, it was more relaxing.
I slipped under the covers and tried to get comfortable. Angel had given me some pills earlier and informed me that someone named Aziza was coming by. I wasn’t going to nap, but he told me she’d wait.
I should’ve felt guilty for wanting to go to sleep and let anyone wait, but again, I was allowing myself to be a little selfish. This wasn’t a vacation, and Brick would absolutely retaliate once he figured out who was behind all this, so for now, I was going to live in the moment. I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep.
When I woke from my nap, I went downstairs to find Dr. Aziza Bakir sitting in the kitchen with Angel and Four. A beautiful and kind woman, she smiled at me and something about her made me feel like I’d known her forever.
“Kona and Pika—those are great names,” she said once I’d sat and introductions were out of the way.
“Our mother was Hawaiian; her name was Nalani.”
“Beautiful name. I saw Pika earlier; you both have the dark hair—is that from your mom as well?”
I nodded. “Our father, well, he vanished once Pika was born. He was a blond-haired, pasty-looking guy. It’s why we have the last name Miller.”
She hummed. “And what happened to him?”
“Drug overdose a few years after he split. I remember my mom getting the call. She cried, but she was so angry with him, I don’t know what emotion owned those tears.”
“I like that—what emotion owned the tears.”
I shrugged. “Feel free to use it.”
“I just might.” She glanced at Angel. Four had disappeared once I’d sat down—he’d said he had something to do and then was going to see Lizzy, whoever that was.
“Angel, would it be okay if I speak with Kona alone for a little bit?”
Angel’s eyes widened. “Oh, yeah of course. Kona, you cool with that?”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “Thank you.”
