Page 71 of Trick or Treat

“Lindsey!”

She turned toward the sound of her biker approaching. Kurtis could see her physically relax knowing the man was getting closer. No matter. They’d have a chance to talk again later. Kurt would guarantee it. He took a couple of steps back, leaving a few feet between them. He turned and plastered a feral smile on his face.

“We gotta problem here?” Biker dude placed some hamburger and celery in the cart before stepping in front of Lindsey, forcing Kurtis to take a few more steps back.

“No. Kurtis was just leaving.” Lindsey spoke from behind the biker’s back.

“Is that right?” the man growled at him.

“Yeah. That’s right.” He held his hands up in front of him, palms out. “Just a misunderstanding,” he added as he backed away. “A big fucking misunderstanding.” He turned on his heel, winking at Lindsey as she peeked from behind the biker.

15

It was Saturday night and Trick was missing Lindsey. After having chili with her Thursday night at her house, she’d told him she was supposed to spend Friday with her mom Christmas shopping. Today she was having her annual girls’ Christmas party. She said they would spend the first few hours this afternoon shopping, then go to one of their houses and wrap presents while putting away a couple of bottles of wine. She texted him a few of hours ago saying they ended up at her house and they were just getting started. He really wanted to see her tonight, but he didn’t want her to miss out on fun with her friends. He’d have to settle on seeing her tomorrow.

They’d been playing poker and he’d won a few hands much to everyone’s surprise. He didn’t know who was more shocked, him or the brothers.

“You know, when you’re not shit-faced, you actually aren’t half bad at poker,” Jed informed him from across the table.

Trick snorted in agreement. The man was right. He was a lot better when he wasn’t three sheets to the wind. He checked his hand, didn’t like the cards he was dealt and folded. He was thinking of going to the bar for another beer when his phone started ringing. He fished it from his pocket and answered.

“Keegan?” It was going on eleven o’clock. If his son was calling this late, things couldn’t be good. Michelle probably left them home again. He felt his blood pressure already rising. He’d warned her. Now he was over it.

“Dad! Come get us!” Was Keegan crying?

Trick shot out of his chair. “What’s wrong? What’s goin’ on, Keegan?” Trick stuck his finger in his other ear, trying to cut the noise level so he could hear his son.

“Mom’s having a party here and we don’t want to be here. Come get us, Dad. Please.”

Fuck! He kicked out in frustration, sending a chair skidding across the room on its side. He had to get outside so he could hear over the loud music playing. It was a Saturday night at the clubhouse and the party was in full swing. He roughly pushed his way through the crowd, not caring if he caused a few spilled drinks along the way, and headed for the door. In his peripheral vision he could see Jackson, Race, Jed and Tuck following behind him.

“I’m on my way, buddy.” He slammed the door open and strode to his truck. “Are you and Reagan somewhere safe?” He rubbed at his chest, thinking surely this was a heart attack. He didn’t have time for a heart attack. He had to get to his kids. Now.

“Yes. We’re locked in Reagan’s room, in her closet.”

“Good. Good. You stay there until I get to you. Don’t open the door for anyone but me. Not even your mom. Got me?”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Okay. Can you tell me how many people are there?”

“I don’t know. A lot I guess. There are a lot of cars parked outside.”

“Okay, that’s good to know. Do you know if they’re drinking? Doing drugs?” Trick closed his eyes and dropped his head, dying a little inside as he waited for his son to answer.

“I know drinking for sure. They’re playing really loud music.” Yeah. Trick could hear it in the background despite his son being tucked away in a closet in a locked room. That bitch!

“Keegan, you and Reagan stay in the closet. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Hang tight.” He waited for his son’s agreement before he hung up. He would have liked to keep him on the line while he drove over there, but he didn’t trust himself not to wreck driving one-handed in these crappy road conditions. His old truck wasn’t equipped with hands-free calling. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he shouted.

“What’s going on?” Race asked.

“Michelle has a party going at the house and my kids are freaked the hell out. They’re hiding in the God damn closet.” He started to open his truck door.

“Why would she have a party at her house with the kids at home?” Jed asked, pulling his Jeep keys out of his pocket. It was freezing outside and they were calling for more snow.

“Because I jumped her shit about leaving them home alone. Patty keeps telling her that if she loses the kids, she loses the money.”

Race and Jackson jumped into the truck with Trick and Tuck jumped into the Jeep with Jed. Trick made the twenty-minute drive in ten. There had been a couple of slick spots that had he been on his bike, he’d have dumped it.

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