Page 8 of Stripping Keys
Guess our being at the clubhouse got more of a reaction than we thought it would. Calyx is at the clubhouse now. Says we’ve made a hell of a mess.” I snicker and toss the phone in my bag. I knew Keys wouldn’t be able to trace it. It’s untraceable without the program needed to be able to do so.
West does as Calyx told us, driving the car somewhere for us to ditch it. From there, we find another one and make our way back home, where we both get a couple of hours of sleep before getting up to drive all the way back, but this time in our own cars. Since we’re already in town once, no reason for us not to take our cars. Granted, mine is one none of them had ever seen me in before. I also took my spare when meeting up with my family, but driving my Camaro shouldn’t be a surprise. It’s flashy, and I do love to be flashy. Or that’s what they think.
Soothing my hands over the steering wheel, I savor the purring of the engine and listen to the music playing on the playlist connected to my phone. The song playing now, “Dirt on it” makes me think of everything going on right now.
Couldn’t things be simple for once in my life?
With a heavy sigh, I allow myself to get as comfortable as I can while driving. As much as I would have loved to have had more sleep, there wasn’t time for me to have what I needed. I’ll just crash after West and I meet with Calyx.
By the time we make it back to town, the sun is just peeking over the horizon, the couple of hours of sleep were waning on me. All I want to do is get into a bed and pass right the hell out. Too bad that won’t happen, not until after this meeting with Calyx is done.
Maybe once West and I talk to him, I can go check back into the hotel and sleep like the dead. Unfortunately, my gut is telling me that won’t be happening anytime soon. I’ve always been good about listening to my gut. I won’t be ignoring it now.
Turning off the main road leading toward the address Calyx texted to meet at, my gut starts to tighten even more. I don’t know what’s about to happen, but whatever it is won’t be good.
I come to a stop in the driveway of a house that sits on the edge of a tree line. There are two more houses sitting about a hundred yards to the side.
This isn’t the typical type of location Calyx has us meet him at. Usually, it’s a cabin or at his headquarters. Not a house like this. I’m tempted to put the car in reverse and get the hell out of here, but before I can do just that, West is parking right behind me.
Why the hell would he do that? There’s plenty of room to park next to me.
Whatever the reason, it’s too late now. Calyx steps out onto the porch. Never before have I seen him without a shirt on. I watch him as he leans against the railing of the porch and sips from a coffee mug. His eyes were locked on me, and with his free hand, he crooked a finger that meant none other than bring your ass up here now.
I suck in a breath and climb out from behind the wheel. West is right there waiting for me.
“Come on,” he grumbles. “I need coffee.”
“Coffee? Ha, I need sleep,” I retort with a grumble. “What’s with meeting him here? There are other houses around.”
“Don’t know. He didn’t tell me anything. Just said we were to meet him at this address.” West shrugs and guides me to the steps. “Calyx, tell me there’s more of that somewhere inside.”
“Two mugs filled and ready for you both on the counter next to the coffee pot,” Calyx grunts and takes another sip of his coffee, eyes still on me.
“I’ll get them,” West states and heads inside.
“Keep quiet,” Calyx orders. “Meadow’s still sleeping and doesn’t need to be woken up.”
I stiffen at the mention of Calyx’s long-lost daughter.
“Why is Meadow here?” I ask, watching him closely. He doesn’t do anything without a reason.
“This is her and Nines’s house,” he answers without missing a beat.
Great.
Just freaking great.
The last thing I need is to deal with a member of the club here. Not when I don’t have my guards fully up in place.
“So, you decided to have this meeting here at your daughter and son-in-law’s place rather than at the usual spots. Seriously?”
“Considering this has to do with my daughter and with her being pregnant now, yeah, we’re doing this here. Nines and Blow are inside already.”
Nines and Blow.
“Did you tell the rest of the club I’d be here as well?” Anger starts to rise inside me.
“No,” he answers, keeping calm. He takes another sip of coffee and straightens from the post. “Neither man knows ofour dealings together. They just know we know each other and that we work together from time to time. I haven’t told them anything more. What I did share with them is that if they want to hear anything from you, it would be the two of them and no one else. No one is to know about this meet except them.”
