Page 40 of Stripping Keys
“Tell me and I’ll help.”
Grinning, I tell her all that I put together in my head. She nods and listens without interrupting. It was actually nice to be able to do this with her and not have her look at me like I was an idiot, or even us getting into it. By the time I finish, she simply nods.
“We can get you out of here. I’ll give you as much of a head start as I can get you, but it won’t be much.”
“I don’t need a lot. Just enough to get on the road. My car will do the rest. They can catch up to me after I get where I need to go. I’ll even call Calyx when I’m on the road.”
Marley nods again, her smile dropping slightly. “I wish I could be more help, but I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s all I need, Marley. I know what I’m doing. It’s something I’ve done plenty of times.”
Well, I’ve done things similar and always with backup, but she doesn’t need to know that. I can do this. I know it.
“Then let’s get you and your car out of here.”
“You know where my car is?” I ask. Keys had my car, I knew that, but I didn’t know where exactly he put it.
“Yeah, they’ve got it behind the clubhouse, covered up.”
“Good.” I didn’t need the keys to my car like Keys thought I did. I could easily start her up without. I made my car so I could in case of an emergency, and I didn’t have what I needed.
Getting up, the two of us start toward the back of the clubhouse like we were heading toward rooms instead of going out the front. Go out the front, at least one of the guys is sure to go with us.
“One of the prospects is at the gate. I’ll send a text, cloaking the number to get you through. It won’t take long for them to figure it out, but it’ll get you out of here. Call me when you can to let me know an update.”
“I can do that,” I tell her, stopping at the back door. I look at her, my head tilting slightly to the left. “I know we said we’dbe friends instead of siblings, but regardless of everything, I still love you and am glad you’re my sister.”
It’s not something I would normally say to Marley, but it’s the truth.
Marley’s smile grows big, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Same, Mar. We fight and that’s us, but we’re family. We do what we do to have each other’s backs.”
Nodding, I lean in and hug her.
This getting over ourselves is definitely different.
I clear my throat and step back from Marley and check my back pocket for my phone. “I’ve got the phone. They’ll be able to track it. Calyx can track my car. They call me, and I won’t answer. I can’t. I’ll be focused. Just tell them I said this was ending today. No one else is getting hurt.”
“I’ll tell them,” Marley agrees.
“Tell West I said, I’m going for it. He’ll know what that means. He’ll be pissed and cuss a lot, but he’ll do his part. Just give me about ten minutes before you tell him that.”
Stepping to the door, I open it just enough to slip through. I was wearing just a pair of black leggings and a tank top with flip flops for the time being. I didn’t need to change yet. I’ll do that when I get closer. Like I told Marley. I have everything I need in my car.
It doesn’t take me long to find my car covered up. Removing the tarp, I press my finger to the print identifier I installed and unlock the door. Getting inside, I do the same thing, and my car starts right up with a beautiful purr. I love how great my car sounds. The engine purrs so beautifully that, at times like this, it sends a giddy feeling along my spine.
Taking my phone out of my pocket, I place it in the drink holder. Putting the car in reverse, I back up ever so slightly before putting it in drive.
I crawl toward the gate, it opens without hesitation. The prospect waves me through. Good. Marley was able to do what I needed without issues.
Outside the gate, I floor it, my car getting up to speed in seconds, only to exceed well over the speed limit.
Five minutes later, I placed the call into Calyx that I need to put in.
“What the hell are you doing, sweetheart?” he demands as his greeting.
Grinning, I keep my grip on the steering wheel light. “What needs to be done, Calyx. You know me. I can’t let things go. I’m not someone who can sit on the sidelines. I told Marley what I’m doing, and she’ll relate the intel to them when they find out. They’ll track me. Just as you will. But this ends.”
“Fuck.” Calyx snarls. “You better believe this will be the last damn time you do this. You hear me?”
