Page 79 of Pen Me

Rumi choked on a few sobs and stared at me, “Get her there!”

“I will,” I promised.

She ran inside and Menace shut the door.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

When the Past Haunts

Henny

I was fresh from the gym and saddled up to a barstool in the clubhouse, marveling over how cold the beer was when Ziggy came marching out of the chapel like the Irish were on their way. Just the way he walked was enough to leave me hopping off the stool, bottle in hand to meet him halfway.

“What the fuck is—?”

“Come on, get your phone.”

“What?” He shoved at me, urging me out the door without explanation.

“You got your phone?”

“What the fuck? Yeah, I–” I reached for it, and he spun me around and shoved the door open and me through it.

“Come on. We will take the truck. Call Auggie,” he rushed.

My feet glued to the pavement, and I tucked my chin like he’d thrown a shot at me.

“What the fuck did you just say?”

“I said call Auggie, goddamn it!”

I stepped back, noticing the way his face skewed with anger.

“What the f—?”

“Stop asking questions, and dial, Henny. Please. Octavia needs— Call. I don’t have time to be explaining this shit over and over. Call and get in. We ain’t got time, Hen!”

I shot into the passenger side of his work truck and squinted at my phone. The screen was cracked, but if I squinted, I could see the contacts still. So, it was functional, despite how much grief the guys gave me about replacing the damn thing.

Once the screen read Auggie and I heard it ring, I hit the speakerphone and glanced at him, just as he hit the pothole on the edge of the lot.

My head connected with the window, making a loud thump just as Auggie picked up.

“What the fuck does your pretty ass want? Boy, you know better than to call me—”

“Shut the fuck up, Bitch!” Zig spat, making my eyes nearly jump out of my skull.

I tried to make the referee signal, but it was too late.

“Motherfucker, which one of your side pieces you think you’re talking to right now? Hm? I ain’t your fuckin’ momma, boy. You don’t call my line with that disrespect. I’ll fuck your lil’ punk ass up.”

“I’m sure you will. Listen, Sunshine– Octavia is unresponsive.” Zig’s tone conveyed his eyeroll effortlessly.

“Wh—?” she started, but Zig kept right on talking, while I stared at him, digesting every word, as she did.

“Rumi found her unresponsive. Sammy is hauling ass toward the main road. She doesn’t know where the hospital is. Theydidn’t have an address on the fishing hut to give to emergency services.”

“Motherfucker,” Auggie spat.

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