His hands went to my ass, and he lifted me up. “Really fucking crazy, so get used to it now, baby.”
Punc
Mid-morning the following day, Punc heard the mower sputter out next door. He hurried outside and caught Jim Hader before he went into his garage.
Jim took off his boonie cap and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Good morning. If you want to take Nome, I’m not sure he’ll do you any good. He’s wearing the cone of shame, since he got snipped on Friday.”
Punc grimaced. “Poor pooch. We don’t need your dog. I’m not sure how much Catalina shared, but the girls are in a bind.”
Jim narrowed an eye at him and put on his cap. “What kind of bind?”
Punc hesitated, not wanting to share about Frank Darren. “It has to do with their dad.”
“Doug,” Jim scoffed. “Say no more. Though I’m not sure how I can help.”
“A buddy of mine is going to come by, and I wasn’t sure if he could park his truck in your drive. We don’t want to tip Doug off that the girls have company.”
Jim stared at him for a beat. “Is this buddy of yours a biker, too?”
Punc nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Being a biker had gotten Punc judged plenty by other men. The way Jim looked at him now, he wasn’t judging so much as he’d shifted to being cautious. “How long will his truck be parked here?”
“If all goes well, less than an hour.”
“When is this happening?”
“It should be tomorrow morning - though the situation is fluid, so maybe this evening.”
“Fluid,” Jim said with a chuckle. “That’s a new way to describe Doug.”
Punc kept quiet.
Jim sighed. “Catalina’s a good kid, and her sister’s doing her best to fill the void. Even though I’d normally say no to this, my gut says those two need all the help they can get after Beth’s passing. Tell your friend he can park here.”
Catalina came home at a quarter to noon. Before she could retreat to her room, Savannah shared the plan for the day.
“Wait. Why am I going to this clubhouse? I could just—”
Punc shook his head. “I want both of you where I know you’re safe, and Doug can’t get to you.”
Confusion stole over Catalina’s expression. “Doug? You mean Dad? We haven’t heard from him—”
“He was here last night, sweetie,” Savannah said.
“Really?” There was a hint of hope in Catalina’s voice as she sat down next to Savannah.
“Did you know what was in the boxes in the garage?” Savannah asked.
“No. Before Mom died, I had to get rides from Bella or someone else since Mom drove the Buick to work, so I hardly ever went in the garage, and I didn’t care about the boxes. I take it you opened them.”
Savannah nodded. “All counterfeit shit, but my message about those boxes got him to pay us a visit. He was in jail the past couple months.”
“Tell her the rest, babe,” Punc said.
Savannah frowned, then focused on Catalina. “Dad knew the police were after the boxes when he left them here.”
“Okay,” Catalina said.
