“Duly noted,” I said with a laugh. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
She nodded, following me toward the door and as I reached for the knob I remembered the guy who bought her car. I turned around and looked at her.
“Why’d you sell your car?”
She shrugged her shoulders.
“There are other things more important than a car,” she explained.
“Like?” I probed.
“Riggs, I don’t have a job. Anthony offered to hire me at the gym but let’s be serious who would you rather see at the front desk Brittany or me? I’m going to start showing soon. I’ll have a big belly and swollen ankles, not your ideal eye candy,” she huffed. Besides, I lost my medical insurance after I dropped out of school, so for now I need to pay for my doctor’s visits.”
“Stop,” I said, lifting my index finger to her lips. “I’m dead fucking serious, Lauren. I don’t want you taking some job at the gym, and I don’t want you selling your shit worried about paying for a doctor. I’ve got you,” I said, then leaned close and repeated my words. “I’ve got you,” I drawled. “That means whatever you need, I will make sure you have,” I declared. “You should’ve told me about the insurance,” I said, dropping my hand from her mouth.
“Why? What does it matter?”
“You’re fucking car would still be parked on the street if you had just told me what you needed,” I hissed.
“Riggs…”
“Nah, Lauren. I get you’re uncomfortable with this shit, leaning on me and all that, but suck it up because we’re doing this together. No more secrets,” I ordered. “I’m serious, if you and Pea need something you come and tell me,” I stressed.
“Fine,” she sighed. “I don’t like it but for Pea, I’ll swallow my pride,” she whispered.
I nodded.
“If you want something else to swallow, give me a call,” I teased.
“You’re a pig,” she said, punching me in the arm.
I winked at her, stepping through the door.
“You love it,” I quipped, turning around to look at her one more time. “For the record…” I shoved my hands into my pockets, pulling out my leather fingerless gloves and fitting them to my hands, “…if I had to choose between you and Brittany, I’d always choose you,” I lifted my eyes, watching as her mouth opened slightly.
“Good night, Kitten,” I said.
“Good night, Tiger,” she whispered.
And just like that, we were Kitten and Tiger again.
I don’t know why that made me smile.
Or why it made me feel better about things but it did. I walked away, running down the stairs and not because I was running away from Lauren but running to my bike, desperate for the open road to help me make sense of it all.
I stepped outside and turned to where I parked my bike and noticed it was missing.
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
I glanced around the street when I felt someone walk up behind me.
I didn’t have time to turn around because whoever it was grabbed me, putting me in a headlock before they covered my head with a bag. My gun was lifted from my waistband and I went to elbow the motherfucker in the ribs but I was too slow, something crashed against my skull and everything went black.
Chapter Twenty-One
The persistent banging on the door woke me up. I untangled myself from the blanket I had thrown on me and rose from the couch. I grabbed my handy baseball bat I kept hidden beneath the couch.
You never know when you might need one.
I stumbled toward the door, closing one eye and peering into the peephole to see Bones staring back at me. Well, not really. I dropped the bat, leaning it against the wall so he didn’t think I was a maniac and proceeded to open the door.
“Hi,” I greeted, pulling my sweatshirt together and zipping it up. “What’s up?”
“Can I come in?” He questioned, looking passed my head and into the apartment.
“Of course,” I said, as I moved aside, giving him room to enter the apartment. I was about to tell him that Riggs wasn’t there when my cell phone rang. I walked into the kitchen and pulled the phone from the charger, noticing Anthony was calling me. I lifted my eyes to Bones.
“Excuse me one second,” I said before answering the call. “Hi,” I said.
Bones moved closer almost as if he was trying to listen in on my conversation.
“Where’s Riggs?” Anthony hissed into the phone.
“I don’t know. Why?” I asked, covering the receiver and looking back at Bones. “It’s my brother,” I said, feeling the need to explain.
“Because his bike is parked in front of my gym and whoever he pissed off dumped red paint all over my door and his fucking bike,” he growled.
“What? Hold on,” I dropped the phone to my side and peered at Bones. “Why are you here?”
“Just a friendly visit,” he replied, offering me a crooked smile as he took a step back. “Everything okay with your brother?”