Page 51 of Taboo Perfect Storm

I’ve spent the day cleaning the house, unpacking the few things that I didn’t get a chance to unpack when we brought everything over here a while ago. My plan was to try and cook something, but I wasn’t sure what I was going to make. But now there’s this phone call.

“I’ll see if I can get a ride from Henli,” I say.

“Hurry.”

Thunder ends the call before I can try to ask her anything else. Staring at the phone, I frown. This is so weird. I could sit down and try to come up with some different scenarios, but I decide against it. What I need to do is stop thinking about it and get down there.

Finding Henli’s name in my phone, I call her. It just rings, then goes to voicemail. I don’t bother leaving her one. She’s probably busy with a client since she went back to work part time this week.

My next call is to Kiplyn. She’s the only other person I can think of right now who might be able to take me down to the clubhouse. Otherwise, I’m going to have to try and walk down there because whatever is happening, Thunder feels it’s important enough for me to be there to call me herself.

“Is everything okay?” Kiplyn asks as her greeting.

“I don’t know,” I confess. “Thunder called me and told me to come down to the clubhouse. I’m really confused.”

Silence.

She doesn’t respond, not for a single breath or even two. Then I hear her exhale loudly. “I’ll be at your house in a few minutes.”

“Kiplyn?” I call out. When she doesn’t answer, I continue. “What does this mean?” I ask.

“I don’t know exactly,” she exhales. “But I’ll be there in a few.”

She ends the call, and I gather my things and slip my shoes on. Standing at the front door, my single housekey in my hand, I stare out of the side window as I wait for her car to arrive. Her reaction is terrifying. Something is happening.

Something big enough that not only Thunder called me, but Kiplyn sounded full of concern.

I should not even think about what it could be, mainly because whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. My heart squeezes at the thought, at the idea, of who and what I am.

Owned.

I am Kyle’s owned wife. I am the property of Itch. What I am not is free. So, whatever they’re concerned about, I probably have zero say in it. Staring out of the window, I watch as a little blue bird glides right past me. It lands on the short fence that separates our house from our neighbors’.

I’m so busy watching the blue bird that I don’t realize when Kiplyn pulls up to the curb, until she honks the horn. I reach for the door and open it quickly, slipping through, only stopping to lock it behind me, then I hurry toward her.

Sinking into the seat, I look at her. She’s wearing a grim expression and doesn’t even flick her attention to me before she shifts the car intoDriveand eases out onto the street. I think about asking her what’s going on but decide against it.

She drivees in silence, and I’m happy to look out of the window at the passing desert scenery as we move out of the town and toward the clubhouse. It doesn’t take us long to get there; the gate guard doesn’t even stop us. He opens the gate immediately, and Kiplyn drives a little faster down the dirt road.

Only when we’re close does she press her foot against the brake and stop the car. Unlocking my seatbelt, I reach for the door handle. I’m afraid to tug it open, afraid to step out of the car and into the hot sun. Scared to walk into that clubhouse.

But Kiplyn calls out to me. Turning to her, I take the opportunity to delay even if it’s just for a moment.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in there. But we’re family, you and me, us girls. We have your back, Piper. No matter what.”

“But I’m not really one of you,” I whisper.

“Bullshit,” she hisses. “You’re just as much of an old lady as any of us, and we have your back. Always.”

“Thanks.”

Together, we open our doors, then exit the car. Slowly, side by side, we walk into that dark clubhouse. There is no smoke, no music, and no talking. But there are people milling around. Men at tables, men at the bar, women standing around the edges of the room. Except for one woman—a woman I’ve never seen before.

It’s too quiet.

“Piper,” Legacy murmurs.

“What’s happening?” I ask.

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