Page 60 of Property of Kevlar

“Thank God he’s okay. His sister got a few stitches from broken glass.”

“Sister?” Kelsey asked.

“Yeah, he’s been staying with her while they’re demoing the clubhouse.”

Kelsey furrowed her brows, imagining a tiny house up in a tree made of pallet wood, two-by-fours, and plywood, with a rope ladder and a sign that read No girls allowed. Though comical, she doubted that’s what Carrie meant.

Shaking the image from her mind, she reached for her friend. “Slow down. What’s going on?”

“Three dickheads came to the house and opened fire.” Carrie curled her fingers in such a way that her hand looked like a gun. “No rhyme or reason. They just did it.”

“Three?” Kelsey repeated as the realization hit her. She released her friend as uncomfortable thoughts crossed her mind. She took a step back, contemplating.

Kev had three friends. One of them was at her house this morning, spackling her walls after Pete’s little temper tantrum. That meant Kev and two of his friends were unaccounted for.

But no.

That couldn’t be. He wouldn’t do that.

Would he?

“I told you,” Carrie warned.

Kelsey peered at her in confusion.

“Mike said things were about to get bad. That biker dude…” She paused and regarded Kelsey skeptically. “You aren’t hanging out with him anymore, right?”

Fucking? Yes. They did a lot of that. Kelsey wouldn’t say they hung out, per se. They got each other off. That was far more accurate.

“Seriously?” Carrie pouted. “I told you they force women into prostitution, and you’re still seeing him?”

“I’m not,” Kelsey lied. “He keeps…” She flailed her hands, trying to find the right words for what was going on between her and Kev. “…showing up!”

“What does that even mean?” Carrie asked.

“I don’t know,” Kelsey snapped.

She and Kev hadn’t discussed their situationship. They merely enjoyed one another’s company. Thoroughly enjoyed.

She considered herself an excellent judge of character. If anyone gave off pimp vibes, it was Pete, not Kev. Everything she’d done with Kev had been enthusiastically consensual.

“Well, you better stop,” Carrie warned, jutting a finger at Kelsey’s face. “They’re in a war now, and I really hope you’re on the safe side.”

Biting her lips together, Kelsey agreed. Somehow, through no fault of her own, she’d found herself in the middle of a biker battle. They’d each chosen their champion—Kelsey believed Kev. Carrie was all in with Mike.

One of them had to be wrong. Who would it be?

33

Kevlar

The space was small. Apparently, it used to be a mom-and-pop run bakery. That would explain the sugary smell throughout the place. However, Kid had better plans.

Kevlar stood back, watching his little brother’s eyes glitter with ideas as the Realtor showed him around. She mentioned knowing some contractors who could retool the shop for Kid’s needs.

This was a step in the right direction. Roots were taking hold. A legitimate business was exactly what they needed. Finally, something wasn’t a headache.

Excusing himself to let Kid and Kevlar explore by themselves, the realtor took a call outside.