I couldn’t see his face, but I could imagine it twisting into a menacing smile.
“They just wanted to ask me some questions about Chase, that’s all,” Kai replied vaguely.
“That’s it? They didn’t ask anything about me?” Lex’s voice was tinged with something I hadn’t come to expect from the man—fear. What was he hiding?
“They wanted to know about the fight I got into with Chase,” Kai avoided directly answering Lex’s question. I was holding my breath as I listened. This was too much. The anxiety made it difficult for me to breathe.
“Well alright then,” Lex said, his voice much more relaxed. “Listen, little brother, I need you to do something for me.”
“What is it?” Kai asked. All of my muscles tensed as I waited for Lex’s response.
“I have a run I need you to do. Cops are getting a little too close to me since Violet’s death,” he challenged, anger pulsing through his words.
“And why is that? Did you have something to do with it?” Kai replied, barely containing his anger.
“I think your little fuck toy, Breeze, told them to look into me. Besides, what do you care? We both know you didn’t like the bitch. She was just a pussy to get your dick wet. And what a fine pussy that was. Such a waste.”
Anger like a hurricane unfurled inside of me. I wanted to march out of Kai’s bedroom and slap Lex across the cheek. Kai might have admitted to having feelings for me, but I didn’t like how Lex made Violet out to be a body that was only good for fucking. But something else about his statement made me pause. Was this confirmation that Lex had been sleeping with Violet? My chest constricted.
“Watch it, Lex. She was my girlfriend,” Kai replied in a growl.
“She was a liability,” Lex replied. “You know as well as I do that we can’t let anyone get close. It’s been you and me since Ma died. Don’t let some pussy get between us.”
“You’re right,” Kai replied. “But I still don’t get why you felt she was a liability. We didn’t let her get close to the business. I hardly do jobs anymore.”
“That’s going to change, brother,” Lex replied, sidestepping the question. “I need you to start picking up the slack. Doing more runs.”
“No,” Kai forced out. “I’m not doing more than I already am. The police are watching my every move.”
“And who’s fault is that?” Lex screamed. I heard a crashing sound, as if Lex had thrown something. “You’re going to help me, or I’ll make a habit of taking care of anyone you fuck. Don’t think I didn’t notice the bike outside. Don’t think I can’t smell the sex in the air.”
It felt like Lex was talking directly to me. He knew I was here. Fuck. Both of them went quiet, and I debated on continuing to hide here or meet Lex’s threats head-on. He wanted me to hear all of this. He wanted me to know what he was capable of.
I held my breath, waiting for one of them to speak.
“Send me the drop-off information,” Kai finally relented.
“Your cooperation is appreciated,” Lex said sarcastically, emphasizing every word. I heard the front door slam shut and Lex’s car peel out, spraying sand behind it.
The door to Kai’s bedroom slid open, and he wrapped his warm arms around me. I hadn’t even realized I was trembling until Kai’s hand rubbed my back. “It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out. I’ll be okay.”
I nodded against his chest. “What if he attacks you? What if he comes after me?” I asked, feeling selfish for worrying about myself. Lex was a loose cannon, determined to hurt us all.
“I won’t let that happen,” Kai promised. “But right now, you need to go somewhere safe. Fuck, stay with Chase if you have to. Is your mom working?”
“Yeah, she’s got doubles all weekend, and lord knows where my dad is.” At the mention of my father, a thought occurred to me. “Hey,” I began while pulling away to look up at Kai. “Can you find out if my father is on Lex’s client list?”
Kai’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Lex came to the shop, and he definitely knew my father. Dad’s been acting weird. Disappearing. He looks both wired and tired all at once. I think he’s doing drugs,” I admitted.
Kai gave me a look laced with pity. We both knew I didn’t need any additional issues on my plate. “I can do some digging. I’m sorry, Little Whisper.”
Letting