Kansas (Ruthless Kings MC Atlantic City #2) - K.L. Savage Page 0,4

are crooked, some of the glass is broken, but the ones of me in my baseball uniform are always perfect.

I don’t know if we have ever been a happy family, now that I see the proof lining the walls. If someone loves something, they take care of it.

The proof is in my Pop’s actions and words when it comes to my Mom, and then the house being let go and run into the ground. I’m only sixteen. I don’t know how to do half the stuff that needs to be done around the house.

This house is full of deceit, and I’m going to air it out.

I open the bathroom door, and steam hits me in the face. Undressing, I toss my clothes on the old, cracked-tiled floor. The house was made in the seventies and it still looks that way. Baby blue sink, baby blue tile, and the shower?

Nope, not baby blue.

They must have run out of the color because it’s puke green instead. Whatever. I don’t care. As long as the water is on and I can bathe, I don’t care where I have to shower. After washing my hair and body, I step out of the stall, dry myself off, and wrap the towel around my waist. I toss my clothes down the laundry chute and head out the door. My room is right across the hall.

And it’s bare bones. Bed. Dresser. Closet. TV with a PS2. I don’t like clutter. The fewer belongings a man has, the less can be taken away from him.

I shuck off my towel, get dressed, and pack a bag like Nigel said.

The doorbell rings, and it’s around six at night. Right on time.

“Nigel is here!” Dad shouts so I can hear him from my room.

“Cool, just send him back!” I yell in return.

A knock at the door sounds, and Nigel is there, standing right next to Pops. Nigel has a tight smile on his face, and Pops is happier than a clam. I run my fingers through my damp hair and flip on the PS2 to act like we are going to be gaming all night.

“What’s up, Pops?”

“Just wanted to see my two favorite people before I leave. Are you staying the entire weekend, Nigel?”

“Ah, you know how it is, Mr. Taylor, Amos and I always jump back and forth. We never know where to settle.”

“Good. It’s good to have a friendship like that.” He checks his watch, and Nigel and I share a knowing look. “Alright, I need to get ready. You guys be good this weekend. I don’t want to get a call from the cops,” he laughs.

He laughs at his own joke every time, because every single time he leaves, he says the same damn joke.

“You know you won’t,” I say.

I sit on the bed and hand Nigel the extra remote.

“I know. I’m lucky you’re so responsible.” He knocks on the doorframe and leaves, entering the room across from mom’s.

Yeah, they don’t even sleep in the same bedroom.

Red flag number 562.

“Bag packed?” Nigel whispers.

“Yep.”

“Okay, I’m going to act like Ashlyn is inviting us to a party. We are going to leave before your dad and stay in the car, then tail him,” he informs.

“You talk like you’ve done this before.”

“I watch a lot of crime documentaries.” He climbs on my bed and opens the window. “Let’s toss our bags in the bushes so he doesn’t see us leave with them.”

“You are way too good at this.” I throw him my bag and he catches it with one hand, then tosses it outside along with his. “Ready?”

No. “Yeah, let’s go.” My stomach is turning, and I feel like I’m about to puss out. I can’t. I need to do this.

We pretend to laugh and enter the living room from the hallway to see Pops locking his suitcase tight.

“Hey, thought you two were staying in?” he asks, lifting a brow.

I think what I hate most about him is how much we look alike. Same dark hair and hazel eyes. Luckily, I got my height from my mom’s side. Other than that, that’s the only difference.

“Ashlyn invited us to Rizzo’s Pizzeria. We were going to stay in, but pizza sounds good,” I explain, pretending to text Ashlyn back. “I told her we were on our way. It’s cool, right?” My nerves are still on edge. I’m worried he won’t believe me.

“Yeah, of course. Just be safe, okay?”

“Obviously.” The door creaks when I open it, and cold air whips around me. I can