Page 24 of Deadly Aloha
He shook it, his grip tight. He was a few inches taller than me. Though he also had black hair and a tan, his skin was naturally paler than mine. “My woman didn’t really give me much choice in the matter,” he stated with a look that said he didn’t like the interference in his personal life. “She would have protected them with or without me, and let’s just say her versionof protecting would have been a lot bloodier than mine if trouble had come calling.”
Red and Aftermath exchanged a look, like they were trying to figure out if they’d been wrong to trust their women in this man’s care.
“Shawn Mallory,” the man said, offering his hand to the Royal Bastards duo. “But you can call me ‘Mal’.”
“Wow,” Aftermath gasped, aghast. “A name I can actually pronounce. How did you get away with that?”
Mal chuckled, offering his hand to Red. “I’m from Alaska.”
“Good to meet you,” Red said. “I’m Red and this is Aftermath. We really appreciate you watching our women.”
“Which one of you does Kensi belong to?” Mal asked, dropping his hand. “Because you owe me a new sex swing.”
Aftermath’s jaw dropped a second before his fists clenched. “You motherfucker! I’ll kill you for touching my wife!”
Aftermath charged forward, but Mal held his ground. “I didn’t touch your wife.”
The mountain of a man stopped, his fist just shy of connecting with Mal’s face. “What?”
“My girl decided to show your women our sex dungeon.” Mal looked like he was trying hard not to roll his eyes. “Kensi took a flying leap into our sex swing and it collapsed. Believe me, I will be having a word with our contractor about faulty bolts, but your wife still tore the straps.”
Aftermath’s mouth bobbed open and closed like a fish.
Mal turned to Red. “I take it Nadia is yours then. There’s a good possibility you’re getting an aerial dance pole installed in your bedroom. My little owl decided to give her lessons last night.” To Aftermath, he added, “After the sex swing incident, I didn’t think it was a good idea to let Kensi try that too. Though she did have a blast on the regular dance pole.”
Aftermath and Red exchanged a look again, though this time it was more baffled than concerned. “Where are our women?” Red finally asked.
Mal took a step back, indicating the open front door behind him. “After the three of them went skinny dipping in the hot tub, they fell asleep binging serial killer documentaries in the movie theater. Second floor, all the way down the hall, last door on your right. Do not startle my little owl. I promise you, it will be the last thing that you do.”
I knew from our phone conversation before that he called his woman ‘Little Owl’. I didn’t know why, and it was none of my business.
As Aftermath and Red headed into the house, Mal turned his green eyes on me. “Now’s your chance to explain why my woman was not in my bed last night and why I had to protect two Ol’ Ladies from a motorcycle club in Los Angeles.”
The message Tangaloasent out last night, or I guess at the asscrack of dawn, was to be at my house at noon and to bring someone whom you either thought should be an officer or wanted to sponsor as a member. Though the message did not go out to Hiro, they showed up anyway.
I was going to need a bigger house. We were all crammed into my kitchen and living room. While the basement was the entire size of my first floor with no separating walls, all my gear and set up were down there. It would have been just as packed with a lot more expensive equipment. My living room was open to my kitchen area, so we just flipped the couch around to face the stove instead of my TV.
Tangaloa and I were leaning up against the small L my countertop provided, much as we had been only days ago when Jameson had called me. I wondered if it was irony or fate that we were once more standing here. Only this time,wewere Royal Bastards now too.
Virgil had come. He brought with him a young Hispanic named Rafe or Rafi. I couldn’t remember. Shit, I was actually going to have to get to know these people, to care for and about them. Like about theirlives, not just if they lived. Well, apparently the rest of my life was going to be a test of my patience, because it was too late to back down now.
Though Kanoa was still with Lu, he sent over ahaoleby the name of Sebastian. The only reason I remember that name is because I hadn’t even introduced myself to him yet and he’d already made the decree that he wasn’t joining if we were forcing him to take the road name ‘Crabs’. While hilarious, I’d already told Tangaloa that I would allow any original member to choose their road name. Prospects and any members that were not an Original would be subjected to shit names for shit reasons.
Nohea came. I didn’t bother asking him what he did with the Bloody Scorpions bodies. With a nickname likeMano, there was a good chance he ate them. He also brought with him a former priest of all things, though he still wore the white collar thingy. I didn’t know a lot about the Catholic religion, but I had to wonder if that was legal. Then I realized, I didn’t care. The not-priest who was dressed like a priest was named Lonnie Elwood. Based on his accent, he was from Canada, though he didn’t specifically say.
Red and Aftermath were sticking to the back corner, observing but not interfering. Their ladies were still at Mal’s house with his woman, who I learned was named Holly.
Mal, of all people, was present. After Red and Aftermath had gone inside to see their women, I’d had a long talk with Mal. Asa former cop, I hadn’t been sure how much I wanted to tell him, but to my shock, he’d put some of it together himself. Enough for me to wonder if I had to call Nohea to get rid of another body.
That was when the real shocker had come: Mal confessed to killing the man who’d harmed his girl in unspeakable ways. He’d just come out and said it, almost like a challenge. I didn’t understand why, a bit too tired and too shocked at the confession to put it together myself. That’s when Mal told me that he wanted in. And who better to have watching my club’s back than a former cop? I’d told him to be at my house for the meeting, and he’d showed. Despite the fact that he didn’t know a damn soul, he’d strode into the place with confidence, taken a seat, and was watching everyone with hawk eyes.
For having not known his name until this morning, I liked the guy.
When the twins showed up and I didn’t see anyone behind them, I asked who they’d brought. The fuckers had pointed to each other.
Not knowing how long this meeting was going to take, and still needing to get over to Lu’s place prior to getting to the nightclub for the shoot I’d booked tonight, I called the meeting to order.
Just as I did, the front door opened again, and Rory walked inside. I didn’t let my shock over seeing him here show. Only snapped, “You’re late.”
