3. SoCal Hospitality
SoCal Hospitality
"You're where?!" Momma's screeching tone fills my ears as I stand outside San Diego Airport and wait for a taxi. "I thought you were going to get your hair done! Please tell me this is a joke. You are not seriously in California right now!"
"Will you relax? I'm sure they've got salons in San Diego.” I flag down a cab and roll my carry-on to the curb. With a grin, I nod at the driver as he helps load my luggage into the trunk. "Hair stylists aren't exclusive to the south, momma."
"Savannah!"
I let out a labored sigh as I hop into the back seat and hold up a finger to the driver. "Listen, momma, I'm here already. There's no point in yelling at me. That ain't gonna magically teleport me home, okay? So take a breath and relax, huh? I'll be home before you know it."
"I am coming to get you! Where are you staying?" She pauses. "Well?"
"I'm going to hang up now, momma," I say, cringing. I barely had enough money for the one-way ticket and a cab ride, let alone accommodations. Let's hope she's as gung-ho about flying me home in a couple of days as she is right now. "I'll text you later, okay?"
"Sav—"
I hang up on momma, and give the taxi driver a sheepish smile. “Sorry about that. We’re going to…” I find the PDF from Mr. Moore and zoom in on my brother’s last known address "Umm...I'm going to 1424 Dungrave Drive in uh"—I squint—"in Hawkridge."
The driver frowns. “Hawkridge?”
“Yes, Hawkridge.” I reread the document and turn my phone around to show him the address. "See?"
He runs a hand through his thinning hair. "Okay..." He starts the engine, tapping the steering wheel as I buckle in. "Um...anyone know where you're heading to, Miss?"
I frown. Is he going to kidnap me? "Yes, of course."
"Good, good," he mutters, clearing his throat. He turns the dial on the radio. "Any requests? It's a bit of a long drive.”
"No," I say, sinking back into my seat as anxiety spikes in my chest. "Anything's fine."
Maybe I should've asked Mr. Moore to dig a little harder to find Beau's phone number so I could call him first. Tell him that I was coming.
But what if he didn't answer? What if he decided to take off again?
This might be my only chance. Daddy always says the element of surprise is crucial to winning a battle.
And I intend to win. No losing allowed. Not today.
As the minutes tick by, the big city lights and towers shrink into rancher-style residential homes and rusty pick up trucks until all that surrounds me is dirt roads, patchy fields, and rocky mountains.
"We're almost there," the driver says, sensing my confusion. "Hawkridge is just through that opening." He points toward a lumpy hill, and I swallow. Where in God's name am I? "You uh...you visiting a friend or something?"
"My brother," I say, chewing on my bottom lip as Hawkridge comes into view.
Despite the barren perimeter of the town, there are several newly built houses scattered around, making the older homes look even more run down.
It's like everything is half-built. Nothing cohesive.
Odd. The driver turns onto Dungrave Drive—or at least I think it's Dungrave.
Apparently, street signs aren't necessary here.
"1424," he says, stopping the car. He looks out the passenger side window, scratching his chin. "You sure this is it?"
"Uh..." I blink at all the beer cans spread out around the front yard. Oh, boy. There's no going back now, is there? "I guess so."
The driver gets out of the car and helps me with my bags. I hand him the fare silently, my pulse racing with anticipation. Here we go…all or nothing. I listlessly stride to the front door, sucking in a long breath as I clear my throat and ring the doorbell multiple times.
"Hello? Anyone home? Hello?" I pause, swallowing as I knock this time. "Beau? Beau, you there?"
The door swings open and I gasp, jumping back as a haggard young man with dirty boxers steps outside. Oh my…
"Can I help you?" he asks, rubbing his eyes, the stench of booze permeating the surrounding air.
"Umm..." I narrow my eyes, double-checking the man's face to make sure it's not Beau. It's been a while, but I would hope I remember my own brother. Maybe I got the wrong house. "I'm looking for Beau? Beau Kingsley?"
"I don't know any Beau.” He licks his lips. "But maybe I can help you find him." The young man winks at me. "Wanna come inside?"
I blink, gripping the handle of my suitcase as I take a preemptive step back. Ignore and move on. Don't let him smell your fear.
"You don't know Beau? He's um..." I grab my phone from my purse, hands shaking as I scroll through my photos until I find the most recent picture of him. "Does he look familiar to you?"
Smelly Boy frowns at the photo. "That's Radley." He glances up at me, confused. "You're looking for Radley?"
"Radley?" I cock my head, also confused. "What?"
He points to the photo. "That's Radley King. He's my roommate."
He changed his name? To Radley ? Despite my shock, I chuckle to myself. Radley. Like Boo Radley. Clever kid. Always was.
"I'm his sister," I say, hoping that tidbit warrants a smidgen of respect. "Is he here?"
"His sister, huh?" He gives me a slow once-over as he leans against the door frame. "Didn't know Rad had a sister."
I wince. Ouch . "Is he here?"
"Nah," he says with a shrug. "Haven't seen him in a week or so."
My jaw locks. "Well, do you know when he'll be home? Or where he might be?"
Another shrug. No one is useful. No one!
"He might be staying at the clubhouse."
I blink. "Clubhouse?"
Doesn't-know-how-to-use-deodorant nods down the street. "Five minutes up the road. Hard to miss." He gives me a smug grin. "Want me to show you?"
"I will manage myself," I huff, yanking the handle of my suitcase. "Thanks for your help..." I pause, waiting for his name.
"Lucky," he says, tossing me a greasy wink. "As in your lucky day."
"If today's my lucky day, then I wouldn't mind misfortune for the rest of my life," I murmur, giving him a fake smile. "You take care now."
"What was your name again?" he calls out as I dang near run off the front porch, my poor shoes scraping against dirt and broken glass. "Hey!"
"It's Savannah," I holler back, trudging up the sidewalk in a huff. I should've called ahead! Damn it. "Savannah mother trucking Kingsley."
This is not at all going according to plan. I was meant to show up, have Beau answer the door, hug and cry and then drag his idiotic ass back to 'Bama. Instead, I am dragging my own idiotic ass up an unpaved road toward what looks like a prison yard.
Oh, Beau…what did you get yourself into?
A few townspeople stare at me from their front yards as I pass, and I force myself to ignore their hushed whispers.
I am here for one reason and one reason only.
The clubhouse comes into view, and I skim the fenced-off building, taking in the rows upon rows of parked Harleys and pick-up trucks until I find what resembles a front gate.
A defeating combination of fatigue and irritation swarm around my belly as I march over to the chained gate and scream, "Hello?
Anyone home? Hello?" I rattle the fence aggressively, repeating myself until a man who looks like a dang Yeti with tattoos comes striding over, a pair of dark sunglasses sitting on the tip of his nose.
He crosses his arms, pursing his lips at me as I ask, "Are you the owner of this. .." I pause, blinking. "Establishment?"
"You're trespassing," he grunts, spitting chewing tobacco on the grimy ground. "You should leave."
"You own the sidewalk now?" I cock my head, glaring at him through the crisscrossed wires. "I'd only be trespassing if I were inside the fence, not out here."
Boulder-man takes off his sunglasses, looking somewhat baffled. "What do you want, little girl?"
"I want my brother," I state confidently, straightening out my posture to make myself look tall, powerful, and strong. Not so little now, am I? "I want B—" I stop, clearing my throat. "Radley King."
"Your brother?" He frowns, looking over his shoulder as a few more bikers emerge from the main building, beer and cigarettes in hand. Great, an audience. "Rad's your brother?"
"Yes," I say, losing my patience as the distant rumblings of a motorcycle engine grows louder. What a noisy mode of transport. “Is he here?"
"Nope," he says, unlocking the gates. I spin around, narrowing my eyes at a black motorcycle speeding directly toward us. "You might wanna move. Gate opens out."
"What—" I wince, the rusty hinges of the chain link piercing my eardrums as the gates open.
My hair flies off my shoulders as a biker zooms past me, nearly knocking me off my feet.
Before the man can close the gates on me, I grab my luggage and bolt through the closing doors.
"Hey!" I call out, marching toward Speedy Gonzales and the Yeti. "Hey!"
"Now you are trespassing," Yeti says, crossing his arms as he smiles down at me. He glances over at the dangerous man straddling the motorcycle. My word, what a large specimen. Maybe the water is different out here. “What do you say, JP? Should we shoot the princess?"
Shoot? They gonna shoot me?!
I balk, unable to form words as "JP" dismounts his bike, removing his helmet and sunglasses. A pair of amused hazel eyes skim across my flustered face, and my pulse skitters under his scrutiny.
"I don't know..." JP cocks his head, grooming his beard as he soaks in my discomfort.
"She would look nice hanging over my mantle.
" He smirks at me, raising a brow. "What do you say, babe?
" He wipes the pad of his thumb across his bottom lip as he arches over and meets my stunned gaze. "Wanna be my focal point? Hmm?"
I swallow, my heart racing as I take a step back. Not today, Satan. Not today. "I just...I just want my brother."
"She's Rad's sister," Yeti mentions, elbowing JP. "Did you know the kid had a sister?"