Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
BIRDIE
Even though it was well before Kalani was supposed to get home from work, I knew something was wrong as soon as I pulled into my driveway.
I put my purse on my shoulder and stuck my hand inside the secret pouch holding my gun before I opened the door and got out.
I was an older woman living in the middle of nowhere.
I wasn’t stupid. But I was often high, so I was sometimes paranoid. But this was different.
I looked around, carefully surveying the area, before I cautiously walked toward the front door. I was only a few steps away when movement to my right caught my eye. I turned with my purse raised awkwardly. “Stop right there.”
“Easy, Birdie. It’s just me,” Coochie said as he stepped into the light.
I sagged in relief when I realized it was my old friend. Then I tensed for the very same reason. His presence could only mean one thing. “What did she do?”
“She killed a man at Charli’s Place.”
I swallowed thickly and ignored the tightness in my chest. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine,” Coochie said and gestured to my purse. “Can you put the gun down?”
“Sorry,” I said and resituated my purse on my shoulder. “If she’s fine, why are you here?”
“I’m here for Cooter’s patch,” he said. “If you want to use it.”
I sucked in a sharp breath.
I remembered the day Cooter gave me his patch better than I remembered most things in my life. What was supposed to be a fun weekend to celebrate my thirtieth birthday turned into a shootout at a biker bar.
Thirty-Six Years Ago
“Are you almost ready?” my sister asked for the third time.
“Yes,” I huffed and opened the door. “Let’s go.”
We were in Kahakai to celebrate my thirtieth birthday. It was also the first time I’d been out since my divorce, and I was nervous. I wasn’t looking for another relationship, but I still wanted to look and feel like the person I once was.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about,” Jewel said. “You look great, and you know some of the people who work there.”
“Thanks,” I said. “And I know one person who works there.” Coochie and I met as teenagers and had been friends ever since.
He joined the Kings of Anarchy MC after his divorce and had been a member for several years.
When I told him about my divorce, he invited me to Kahakai to celebrate, like he did.
Since the divorce coincided with my birthday, Jewel and I decided to make a weekend of it.
“There she is,” Coochie said when we walked into Liquid Anarchy. He stepped out from behind the bar to hug me. “You look great!”
“Thanks,” I said. “So do you.” It’d been at least a year since I’d seen him, maybe two.
“Come on over to the bar and have a seat,” he said. “I’ll get your drinks.”
“Oh, we haven’t ordered drinks yet,” I said.
He grinned and winked. “Birthday girls don’t order drinks.”
Before long, I’d forgotten about my nerves and was having a great time playing a game of pool with Jewel, Charli, and Polly. “I’m going to get us another round of drinks,” I said and gestured between me and Jewel. “Do either of you need anything?”
Charli placed a hand on her growing stomach and grinned. “I’m good.”
“Same, but I need to pee again,” Polly said and patted her own growing belly before she made her way to the bathroom.
I left Jewel and Charli at the pool table and ordered our drinks at the bar. While I was waiting, two men sat at the bar. I glanced at them and realized I recognized them. They were members of the club in Kailua. They weren’t wearing their cuts, but I knew it was them.
“Here you go,” Coochie said, placing the drinks on the counter.
“Thanks. Hey, do you know how to make a stinky pink gator?” I asked, making up a name for a drink.
Coochie shook his head. “Never heard of it. What’s in it?”
“Do you have a pen?” I asked and grabbed a napkin. “I’ll write it down for you.” When he handed me a pen, I quickly scribbled a note.
The two guys at the end of the bar are new members of the Depraved Sinners in Kailua. They’re trouble.
“Sorry. I know it’s a lot,” I said and passed the napkin to him.
He read the note and nodded. “Yeah, we can handle this. You sure?”
“Yes,” I said and picked up the drinks. “Thanks.”
When I returned to the girls and handed Jewel her drink, she took one look at me and asked, “What’s wrong?”
I opened my mouth to tell her about the two bikers, but all hell broke loose before I could.
“Get the fuck out!” Cooter boomed as he stormed toward the bar.
I turned in time to see one of the bikers pull a gun from his pants. He kept his eyes on Cooter while he pointed the gun at Charli. “Her first,” the guy said.
I didn’t think. I just reacted and dove for Charli, taking her to the ground as gunshots rang out behind me and a burning fire erupted in my shoulder.
“They’re down!” someone yelled.
“Birdie!” Jewel screamed.
“Charli,” I mumbled.
“I’m okay,” she said shakily. “But you’re not.”
“You will be,” Cooter said and ripped something from his cut. “You saved my wife and unborn child tonight. Keep this. If you ever need anything, bring it back to me.” He placed his motto patch in my hand as I closed my eyes and succumbed to darkness.
“Yes, I want to use it!” I said incredulously.
Coochie raised his hands with his palms out. “I didn’t want to make any assumptions.”
“Why wouldn’t I use it? Because she killed my son?”
“Birdie,” Coochie said gently. “I’ve never judged you.”
“Fuck.” I inhaled deeply. I’d spent so much time defending my decision to support Kalani that I automatically went into defense mode. “Sorry. Old habits are hard to break. Let’s go inside. I need a few minutes to dig out the patch. I think it’s in one of the boxes we haven’t unpacked yet.”
“You don’t have to have the actual patch right now,” Coochie said. “I just need to confirm you want to use it for Kalani.”
“I already said yes. What else do you need?”
“Take a breath, Bird. Nothing’s gonna happen to her before we get back,” he said. “As long as she cooperates.”
“Well, that won’t be long.”
“It will,” he said confidently. “I threatened you.”
“You what?”
Once again, he raised his hands in defense. “I did it for her own good. After hearing her beg us to call you, I knew you were the key to keeping her in line.”
“I don’t like anything you just said.”
“For fuck’s sake,” he groaned. “You’ve met your granddaughter.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I hoped she was giving them hell.