“I tried getting into the camera system and it came up empty. Whoever the hell did it knew enough to somehow delete the footage.”
“What the hell,” Tiny whips his head my way. “No way.”
“Feel free to go inside and look, but I tried. Last thing on there was yesterday around three p.m. and didn't start back up until forty five minutes before I came downstairs.”
Ghost shakes his head. Pulling a cigar out of his pocket, he lights the fat stog up and puts it between his teeth. “Who would’ve done this?”
“The same person that ran Horse off the fucking road,” Tiny growls through a clenched jaw.
“We can’t confirm that someone ran him off the road yet,” Ghost grumbles at Tiny.
“With all due fucking respect Ghost, this should open your eyes a little to that. What happened to the street cams where he got in the accident? For two hours the video mysteriously shut off. Now this camera that I installed my damn self, mysteriously cut footage? I’m not fucking buying it,” Tiny shouts.
Ghost nods his head, seeming to think over what Tiny said as he looks up and down the street. “Can you hack into all the cameras on the street to see anything through the night?”
Tiny mumbles inaudibly under his breath, and I catch one thing that, even in this fucked up situation, has a smile pulling at my lips. Tiny does not like when his talents are questioned, but in some fucked up way, Ghost is always badgering him. Every single time, Tiny shows him that he can do it.
“What the fuck, man,” I say to no one in particular as I shake my head and continue to stare at the car that I spent countless hours working on.
“We’ll figure it out. Did you call my dad, see if one of the prospects could grab the wrecker and haul it to the shop?”
“Nah, not yet. I only called you and Tiny. I’m supposed to go get Pebbles in an hour and take her to breakfast before her appointment. We’re supposed to find out what the twins are today.”
“Oh shit. Okay, go ahead and take care of your shit. I’ll take care of this,” Ghost says, stubbing his cigar out on his boot heel.
“At this point, I don’t even fucking care what you do with it, it wasn’t selling anyways.” I wave my hand at the damn car that’s been a pain in my ass ever since I finished it a few months ago.
Multiple people have been here to see it, but no one has made any offers worth considering. I’ll be happy to have it off my hands, it just sucks I couldn’t get a profit from it to gift to Pebbles for the twins.
After going back upstairs to my apartment and showering, I dress quickly and head back down. I pass Tiny, who is tapping away at the security computer with his laptop propped next to it. When I get outside, I see Ghost is still here, but now Wes and Bones are with him working the car onto the wrecker.
“This is some fucked up shit, kid,” Bones grumbles while cranking the electric winch, pulling the car up on the flatbed.
“Don’t I know it,” I say with a sigh and shake my head.
Ghost walks over as he ends a phone call, shoving the device in his pocket. “I talked to Flame, and he said nobody else upstairs heard anything.”
“Fuck,” I sigh. I check the time on my phone, noticing I only have twenty minutes before I have to go to Pebbles. “I gotta go. Are you sure you got this?”
Ghost gives me one of his sinister smiles before nodding and replying, “Go find out what kind of ankle biters we’re about to have running around here. I’ll take care of this.”
I nod to Bones, and Wes salutes me before I throw my leg over my bike, pointing it in the direction of Pebbles.
* * *
She’s waiting for me in her driveway looking absolutely fucking breathtaking in a sundress that hugs her curves, accentuating her growing belly. Her long copper locks are hanging loosely behind her in waves as she stands with her arms wrapped under her lower belly like she’s holding the weight up.
I park my bike next to the SUV, hopping off before coming around the side and pulling her into my arms.
My movements startle her at first, but after a few seconds, she relaxes in my arms. Pressing the side of her face against my chest, I can feel her sigh against me, and just the small release of breath rights every wrong in my fucked up world right now.
I release her a minute later, taking the keys from her small hand and running my fingers through her soft hair.
“What was that for?” she asks, timidly.
“It’s been a fucked up morning.”
Her soft giggles hit me right in the fucking chest as we both get in the car. “It’s only eight a.m. What could have happened?”