Wind Therapy - A.J. Downey Page 0,83

back door there’s a set of keys. Dump Truck is coming to get you. Ride with him to the Public Storage in Burien. The gate code is 9278, the storage locker is 98. He knows where it is and which key. I need you to follow him to where we are and drive Dahlia. Can you do all that for me?”

“I did say anything, Maverick. The question is, is she going to be cool with me or is she going to act like a dumb bitch?”

“I think she OD’ed on dumb bitch juice tonight. Tic-Tac and I will be with her. It’ll be okay.”

“On my way, sort of. I mean, I’ll be ready when Dump Truck gets here.”

“Thanks,” I said, pulling into the lot across the street from the Triangle. Dump Truck was sitting astride his bike, Dahlia sagging back against his chest. Looks like the drugs won.

“What’s the plan?” Dump Truck called as soon as I shut off my bike.

“Tic-Tac and I are staying here with Dahlia, you’re heading to my place, pick up Marisol and take her to my storage unit. She’ll drive the El Camino down; you just lead her here. We’ll take care of the rest.”

“You sure, P? I can always call up Little Bird.”

“Marisol’s used to violence,” I said. “No offense, brother, but your Little Bird is a delicate thing.”

“When you’re right, you’re right. Still, fuck the extra steps. I’ll run Marisol to my place, and we’ll grab my grocery getter. It’ll be faster than messing with gates in the middle of the fucking night.”

“Didn’t want to impose,” I said, lifting Dahlia and taking her off his hands.

Tic-Tac took her off mine, holding onto her tight, muttering to her. I knew he had a soft spot for her, even though I swore they should be oil and water, they somehow managed to jive. I’d even go as far as to say he was Dahlia’s favorite out of the guys, which was saying something.

“No imposition, man. Dahlia’s family.”

He swung his leg back over, twisting in his seat so he wasn’t sitting backward anymore, and he fired up his bike.

“Hurry up as soon as you get a chance.”

“Say no more, I’m gone,” he said and left us with a shivering and sick Dahlia who retched on Tic-Tac’s boots.

“Fucking great,” I muttered. I had no fucking idea what kind of shit that douchebag had given her.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Marisol…

It was a harrowing trip in the middle of the night, but I rode with Dump Truck back to his place where he handed me a key to Little Bird’s car. When he’d picked me up, he’d said there was a slight change of plans in favor of expediency and truthfully, I was relieved. I had no idea what kind of car Maverick kept in storage, but I was betting it was worth a hell of a lot. Driving Little Bird’s automatic SUV thing would be a hell of a lot easier and a lot less nerve-racking.

I followed Dump Truck downtown and to this weird parking lot near the football stadium. Maverick and Tic-Tac were both near their bikes, holding Dahlia up between them and sweet Jesus, she looked rough – her lipstick smeared, her eyeliner and mascara in muddy tracks down her face.

“She’s fuckin’ freezin’,” Tic-Tac declared as Dump Truck opened the back door. I turned the heat on in the cabin to blasting from the vents as they got her in the back seat.

“What happened to her?” I asked.

“Not for us to say,” Tic-Tac said, and I nodded. He was one brother I didn’t want to piss off. He seemed angry all the time, so pissing him off was a real short trip.

“Take her back to our place. You don’t mind, we’ll bring the cage back to the shop tomorrow like usual,” Maverick said, and I could tell he was agitated. Unhappy.

“You do what you gotta do,” Dump Truck said. “You need anything else?”

“Nah, bro. Take your ass home to your woman.” Maverick laid his jacket over Dahlia and shrugged back into his cut.

“Don’t have to tell me twice, holler if you need something else.” Dump Truck waved, revved his bike once and pulled back out onto First Avenue back the way we’d come from.

“Follow me home,” Maverick said and leaned across the seats to press a fast kiss to my lips.

“I’ll follow you guys, pitch this shit off the West Seattle Bridge,” Tic-Tac said.

“Sounds good,” Maverick declared and shut the door, leaving me and Dahlia in the hushed dark