Page 35 of Deadly Aloha
There was no hesitation in her answer. “I’m your Ol’ Lady, Aloiki. And I’ll belong to you as soon as you put a ring back on my finger.”
I reached into my back pocket. My wallet was thick, but not with cash or cards. The small, zippered pouch in the middle bulged so much that the seams protested. I pulled out the ring I’d refused to get rid of, even though I’d been tempted on more than one occasion to toss it into the sea.
I slid the black pearl ring back onto her finger. “Done. Now, do you want to go out there and watch the others fuck, fuck here in this bathroom, or head back home where I can fuck you properly inourbed?”
Her eyes lit up. “Option Three, please.”
My smile was wolfish. “Good choice.”
Chapter Eight
The next day I sent most of the club to Lu’s little apartment to pack up her things and end her lease. Lu wasn’t happy about not being there to help, claiming the club members were not her servants, but I argued that that wasexactlywhat they were. To her, at least. She was our First Lady, our Queen, and they would stop at nothing to do her bidding.
Neither would I.
Hiro, Kanoa, and Tangaloa remained behind. I put Mal in charge of the apartment dismantling. First, because I wanted to see how he would handle it, and second, because I wanted to see how the others would handle taking orders from him. He was more of an outsider than anyone else, but he had the most experience. It was a fine line, but I stood by my decision that he would be a good SAA for the club.
Hiro had the info on Lu’s ex. They’d had it yesterday, but I had asked them to wait to give me the info. At the time that Hiro had gotten back to me, I hadn’t known if Kanoa was going to be joining my club or not. Since my phone was destroyed, Tangaloa couldn’t text or call me.
Kanoa was an expert tracker. He was extremely spiritual and in touch with his roots. He was a no-brainer for the position ofTracker within the club, but there was no guarantee he’d want to be part of a motorcycle club. I wasn’t even sure he knew how to ride a motorcycle. But he’d accepted, and I was about to send him on his first assignment.
Red and Aftermath were still present. They’d been staying at Mal’s house with their Ol’ Ladies. Apparently, Kensi and Nadia were getting along well with Holly and hadn’t wanted to go back to the hotel. Plus, Holly was now giving both of them aerial pole dance lessons and they had an open invitation with the twins to come back for their next horseback riding lesson. I had only met Holly once. She was small, five-two, but I kept getting a vibe about her from Mal, Red, and Aftermath that there was more to her than just being Mal’s girlfriend and now Ol’ Lady. Mal had insisted that I didn’t need to have anyone guard his house becauseHollywas there. I knew better than to judge a book by its cover, but still. There was definitely something I was missing.
As soon as the others left for Lu’s apartment—they were also picking up a truck from Yooko to help bring everything back—the six of us, Tangaloa, Red, Aftermath, Kanoa, Lu, and I, squeezed our way around my little kitchen table. I really needed to find a better meeting place. Just one of many things on my to-do list over the next few days. I’d already posted a sign at my surf shop that I was going to be gone for a week or so and to call Tangaloa if someone needed something urgent. The locals knew Tangaloa’s number, and if you weren’t local or a pro, you shouldn’t be down at Banzai Pipeline anyway.
To save room at the table, and also for my sheer enjoyment, Lu was on my lap. Tangaloa was sitting on the kitchen counter sipping coffee while smoking a joint. That left Hiro, Red, Aftermath, and Kanoa squeezed around the table.
Hiro passed me a tablet. “His name is Calvin Preacher. Thirty-seven, he lives in Santa Barbara. Moved there six years ago after receiving an inheritance from his parents. Both passedin a drunk driving accident. Since then, Preacher has been living the dream life. Babes, booze, and blow.” They looked to Lu, a disappointed look on their face. “What exactly did you see in this douchebag that made you sleep with him, let alone date him for two months?”
It was a fair question. Lu stiffened on my lap. I picked up the tablet to take a look at the pictures Hiro had of this prick. I’m not sure if it was a good or bad thing that the first thing I noticed was how similar he looked to me. He was certainly ahaoleversion, but I could still see the similarities in our hair and features. I tossed the tablet across the room to Tangaloa.
Hiro gasped like I’d just tossed their firstborn.
Tangaloa caught the tablet like a frisbee. His eyes jumped from me to the picture a few times before he shook his head. He placed the tablet safely on the counter beside him. To save Hiro the heart attack, I presumed.
I turned to Kanoa. “Bring him to me.”
“I’ve already called Blayze, my VP,” Aftermath told Kanoa. “He knows Aloe Krispy only just created your chapter. But just because you don’t have your colors yet doesn’t mean you’re not a Royal Bastard. You’re welcome to stay at our clubhouse and to whatever supplies you’ll need.”
I ignored the mispronunciation of my name.
Kanoa nodded once. “Appreciate it, but I have a feeling your methods are a bit, uh,louderthan mine. Still, I’d like to see your clubhouse. If I have time, I’ll be sure to stop by.”
Aftermath slid a business card across the table at him. “It’s an open-ended offer.”
Kanoa took the card, standing. He looked to Lu. “Where did he hit you?”
Lu scowled. “You are all blowing this way out of proportion! He didn’thitme. I mean, he did, but there are women out there who suffer through a lot more abuse on adailybasis. I wasn’tabused. I wasn’t in fear for my life. Yes, he slapped me. It was a single strike across my cheek and I left as soon as it happened. He wasn’t happy, tried to get me back, but I was not going to take him back after that. Plus, it was what solidified my decision to return to O‘ahu.Please, don’t do anything that’ll get you into trouble.”
Kanoa and I exchanged a look. She clearly didn’t get it. I gave Kanoa a nod, giving him permission to try to explain.
“My actions, Lu, whether you were sitting on Aloiki’s lap or not, would be the same. But youaresitting on his lap, which makes what Preacher did to you all the more offensive. You’re his, which means you’re ours.”
“It’s just… It’s not a big deal.” She glanced behind herself at me quickly. “I’m safe and I’m alive. But Nishi… She’s out there somewhere, and I need help to find her. I’d rather you put your efforts there than hunting down my ex.”
I turned her on my lap so she could look at me without having to crane her neck. “Nishiisour priority. I’ve had Hiro looking into her abduction since the night we learned about it. I promised you that I would find Nishi, but I willneverput anyone above you, Lu. Preacher struck you. You say it was just once and with an open palm…” I shook my head. “But it doesn’t matter.No onelays a hand on you and gets to live.” I turned to Kanoa. “Get going. I don’t want him breathing a second longer than necessary.”
Kanoa stood, clasped me on the shoulder, gave Lu a brotherly kiss on the top of her head, and pounded fists with Tangaloa before heading out my front door. The longest part about Kanoa’s mission would be physically getting to the Mainland and back. Once he was in Santa Barbara, he’d have Preacher within a matter of hours.
