EXILE #2
“Why?” Sabrina asked.
“I’m dating your sister.”
“Oh, is that still happening? I thought she’d be tired of you by now.”
“I’m surprisingly addictive,” I replied, winning a scowl from Sabrina.
Lula smiled at me and whispered to Vanessa. The blonde studied me and whispered something back. I heard them snickering. Despite barely knowing these people, I was certain they were talking about fucking.
“I would like to speak to you alone,” Sabrina said and opened the bathroom door.
“Leave him alone,” Lula whispered in a harsh tone. “It’s not Exile’s fault you feel helpless.”
“Of course it is. He’s dangerous and in my sphere,” Sabrina snarled at her sister and then gestured with her head for me to enter the bathroom.
I wanted to tell her to fuck off, but that seemed like the wrong move with a bitchy woman destined to become my sister-in-law.
Once we were inside the large bathroom, Sabrina shut the door and eyed me.
“I like you,” she said, startling me with her mood change. “I want you to stay in Little Memphis and marry my sister. Why are you going back to your shithole town? Louisiana smells like rotten fish.”
Rather than argue the smell issue, I asked, “Why are you acting so hostile if you like me?”
“Because I’m a bitchy person. I like to sound grumpy even when I’m not. My dad’s the same way,” she said and then snarled, “Are you saying there’s something wrong with the way Pax lives his life?”
“He seems like a good dad. I’m glad he took Bebe and Lula in when they were struggling.”
Sabrina suddenly smiled. “My dad’s great. So is Lula. Jarred was a nothing guy. Like, now, he’s fun and likeable. Where was that shit when he was married to my sister?” she asked and shoved me. “The fucker was saving his A-game for another woman. You'd better bring yours for Lula.”
“I am.”
Sabrina nodded. “I’m worried the Void will grab Lula again, and we’ll never see her again.”
I wasn’t sure how to react to Sabrina’s voice cracking. She looked around, seeming oddly young.
“When she was taken, no one knew where to look,” Sabrina said, fighting tears. “If you hadn’t found her, she’d be gone forever. I need to know she’s safe.”
“I’ll keep her safe.”
“But you’re going back to Buttfuck Rouge,” she said and sighed. “If you’re not around, I’ll need to move into her place. Do you have any idea how much of a hassle that’ll be for my love life?”
“I can’t claim I’ve considered your love life, but Lula said your girlfriends are patient, so I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Sabrina sized me up. “How long will you be gone?”
“A few days, maybe.”
“If you’re coming right back, why leave at all?”
“You’re not the only one with a sister who’s been attacked. Mine needs me to come home.”
Sabrina deflated. “Oh, yeah, she got shot. Is she heavily traumatized? Should we move her to Little Memphis and claim her as a fox?”
“I don’t know about that.”
Gaze turning sharp, Sabrina asked, “How do I coax you into living here full time?”
“I don’t have the power to answer that right now,” I said, winning an immediate glare from Sabrina. “But you’re missing the part where I’m in love with Lula. I have a vested interest in finding a solution without you bullying me.”
“I wasn’t bullying you. I was coaxing you, dumbass,” Sabrina said and then slugged me in the arm. “You love my sister.”
“I want to keep her, but things are complicated.”
Rubbing her chin, she asked, “Would killing your president make things less complicated?”
“Don’t kill Zodiac.”
“I feel like killing him could be a good thing for many people. You should consider the idea.”
“Other than destroying my club, who would it help?”
“One, you would live here. Two, Tricky wouldn’t be so pissy since he’s gotten big boy butthurt over Zodiac. And three, your president wants to plow my cousin’s field, and her field needs to remain unspoiled.”
“Those are fine reasons, but Zodiac wants to protect your club. That makes him an asset. Killing him would leave your people more vulnerable.”
Sabrina blinked rapidly as if her brain was rebooting.
She suddenly nodded. “I see your point. This is why I’m not in charge.
I would shoot every threat and move on with my day.
But you’re right, killing an ally would be a mistake.
This is the kind of smart thinking that makes you a good fit for my brainiac sister. ”
“Does that mean we can leave the bathroom now?”
Smirking, Sabrina shook her head. “No, we should wait until Lula comes to save you.”
“Why stress her?”
“If she’s focused on my disapproval, her mind won’t be on Cher and Stevie.”
Folding my arms in front of me, I sized up Sabrina. “How do you have two girlfriends?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
“Are they with each other or just with you?”
“We’re a threesome.”
“Who did you date first, or did they date each other first?”
“I grew up with Xandy. We were together before I met Moe.”
“Was Xandy angry that you wanted another woman?”
“No. Xandy doesn’t get mad. She’s the most chill person you’ll ever meet. I’m the crankiest person you’ll ever meet. It’s why we work.”
“You’re not the crankiest person I’ve ever met.”
“Aw, you poor thing.”
Grinning, I asked, “Where does Moe fit in that perfect relationship you’ve got with Xandy?”
“She’s just Moe. No one has ever loved her like Xandy and I do. Not everyone gets lucky with a good family. Sometimes, people have to find a new family once they grow up.”
“I found that with the Black Rainbow.”
“That’s nice, but they don’t live here. You should learn to love them less.”
“I’ll try, but I’m a stubborn man.”
The aggressive knocking on the door signaled Lula’s patience had come to an end.
Sabrina grinned at me. “Good thing you’re stubborn. Lula would no doubt chew up and spit out an easygoing man. She needs someone who pushes back, or she’ll get bored.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I opened the door to find Lula standing in front of Vanessa.
“He’s sufficiently afraid of me now,” Sabrina announced and walked past her sisters. “Men behave better when they know their place.”
Lula studied me as if I might have been harmed in some way by her sister. Tugging her into the bathroom, I shut the door and planted a kiss on her frowning lips. Lula reacted like I hoped by wrapping her arms around me and holding on as if I alone could keep her safe.