Page 16 of Legacy of Smoke
“Yeah, guess so. Fuck.” He pulled on his coat and then began firing off questions. No sooner than Sprout took a breath, Austin jumped in with ones of his own. I listed off all the places I knew that were her friends’ hangouts or homes. Some of the people were not truly her friends, they were dealers. I made certain to convey the distinction. Then I listed the clubs she’d spoken about in passing. The ones she managed to get into despite being underage.
“I’ll take the north side of town. You got Poppy?” Sprout asked.
Austin nodded. I chimed in to amend Sprout’s plan. “I can take downtown, while Austin takes the south side.”
Sprout stopped in his tracks. A few other bikers within hearing distance perked up.
“Did Poppy just call you by your government name?” Skinner, one of the nosier members was too curious. I had to set him straight.
“That’s right, Justin.”
“Dammit, Poppy.” Skinner adjusted his hat and hid his scowl behind a glass.
“You are going with Smoke’m. I’m not losing both of Pinner’s kids. On her like glue.” Sprout made a hand gesture to Austin, aka Smoke, to keep eyes on me at all times. “Not one scratch.”
“You heard him. We’ll take the bike. Come on.”
If my sister wasn’t missing, and the night wasn’t so cold and foggy, I’d be squealing for joy. A motorcycle ride… from a Destroyer! The last one I’d been on was right before my father was arrested. As soon as Austin’s head was turned, I did a little shiver dance to expel some of the excitement bubbling up inside. Then I was back to calm, composed, sensible Poppy.
Three hours later, I regretted ever setting my ass on a bike. I was numb from the thighs down.
“Walk around a bit.” Austin idled in my driveway. “You’re not used to riding, are you?”
“No. I probably embarrassed my father. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. It happens to the best of us. We rode hard tonight. Sorry we couldn’t find her.” He frowned and continued. “I’ll keep looking.”
“The bars are closed. People are in bed. You have work. Go home.” Ick, to a trailer. I decided right then that I’d invite him in. “On second thought. Stay here tonight.”
His eyebrows shot upward. “No can do. Not even innocently.”
“You know, I’m beginning to hate my father. How am I ever going to get laid?”
Austin choked on something and then started coughing. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. I want sex. Preferably before I turn thirty. So, I’m offering you one shot at all this.” With as little as I was, the sweep down to my toes and back didn’t take long.
His eyes lingered a second too long to make any protest he had not a lie.
“He’s in jail,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, and he’s got friends on the outside.”
“Yeah. You. And that’s who I want. You.” It took guts not to look at my toes after my declaration.
His jaw worked as he debated what he could say. “I am honored, but?—”
“No. Come inside.”
“Absolutely not. Nope. Sorry Poppy. Get behind that locked door so I can leave. I need to hear the deadbolt. Go.”
“I’m going to be a virgin forever.” I slammed the door shut and flicked the lock with such force it bounced back to unlocked. Bastard. It would serve him right if I left it that way. But I was sensible enough to flick it back into position.
Then and only then did Austin rev his bike and pull out of my driveway. “I wish… I wish I could be like Lily and not give a shit.”
“Hell yeah, mamasistah.”
I jumped almost two feet. “Lily you’re home.” And swaying drunk, or on something. She leaned against the wall and her eyes were glassy.
