Page 33
I was confident Birdman had learned how to take a clue and fucked off at last. Things were calm for several steps. When the phone began to vibrate halfway up the wall. It was the worst possible timing, I looked like a goddamn creature of flight myself, with both arms out for balance and my feet moving over the bricks with more grace than I’d ever managed.
It was worth it most nights, but now…
My hand was in a race to reach my pocket, before Forty made it to consciousness.
It wasn’t much of a race at all, my hand inched down my belly, and crept over my belt. I scarcely breathed, until Forty’s bedroom light flicked on.
When it did, light flooded the backyard, and parts of the brick wall. I’d never sucked in a breath so violently as I did, when my eyes met his. His lips curled, and I realized what I must have looked like patiently pawing at myself halfway to his daughter’s bedroom window.
“N–” Was all I got out, my intentions of denying what it looked like with a wave of my hands, ended with a complete loss of balance.
Diane’s blackberry bush caught me, and I batted dry, fruitless wisps of thorny limbs. By the time I got myself loose, I almost wished it had been the cold, hard ground that caught me instead.
The phone began to vibrate and sing again, sending a hot wave of anger over my already wounded pride and stinging flesh.
There was no time to unleash on him, and any plans of chunking the phone were instantly dashed, when the yard I was currently standing in illuminated.
“Cocksucker,” I growled, while scrambling across the lawn.
Dogs barked around the neighborhood, and I heard a screen door slam.
“Kal? Forty, what in the world is going on?” A strange, female voice demanded in the distance.
I didn’t hear his answer, but I swear, I heard the distinct, ‘kuh klick’ of his twelve gauge. I shot off the sidewalk, behind someone’s tarped car and between a pair of houses.
I didn’t even risk a look back when I reached the bike, I just took off like my life depended on it.
Had it been in my mind?
Hell if I knew. The only thing I was certain of was that me and my father were about to have words. I pulled my phone out and punched his number at the first red light I came to.
“Where the fuck are you?” I growled, the minute he answered.
His deep, menacing laughter answered me, “Boy, come on down here and get you some. I’ve been waiting on you all night. I got something for your sorry ass. You better believe it.”
He sounded drunk, so I didn’t bother responding.
I hung up and accelerated through the red light since the other lanes were empty. I had myself all pumped up to beat his ass and finally teach him a lesson, only slowing as much as absolutely necessary when I turned into the driveway. It was probably a good thing I wasn’t going at the normal speed, because as soon as I passed the entrance, my mother’s sharp scream competed with a familiar pop.
A bullet pinged off the streetlight a half of a breath later, leaving me in darkness.
Chapter Fifteen
Two Bulls
Kingston
I didn’t need to see. My brain knew what the fuck had happened, even if I couldn’t believe he’d done it.
His recklessness scared the shit out of me. I wasn’t sure if I should brake or give it hell. The area around me flashed red as I did a little of both, in my panic.
The gun sounded again and I twitched hard, laying it down at the end of the sidewalk where I was left sprawled out and staring up at him on the porch.
“Get the fuck inside, dumbass.” He scoffed, like I was wasting everyone’s time with theatrics, and finally lowered his weapon.
I could taste iron, and all I saw was red, as I picked myself up and dusted off.
I wanted to take out my own piece and light up the whole side of that cheap-ass trailer. If my mother hadn’t been so vocal, making me aware of her presence, I probably would have.
