Her breath was heavy from her panic, running the flight of stairs, and if she were being honest, the effect Bogs with the hazel eyes was having on her. She moved forward dumping the bags on her small kitchen island.
“The guys from the SUV? They are now in the building showing a picture of you to all my neighbors. I just ran into them.” She widened her eyes. “They asked me if I’d ever seen you, Taylor.”
“Oh fuck.” Taylor turned into the living room dragging her hands through her long black hair. They’d been friends for years. Taylor was well aware of what a horrible liar Kenzie was.
“I tried to sound convincing.”
Taylor snorted. “Yeah, we’re fucked.” She paced around the small room.
It was true.
“What are we gonna do?”
“We?” Taylor turned and shook her head. “We, aren’t gonna do anything. I’ll handle it.” She kicked the foot of the couch. “Shoulda never come here, dragging you into this.”
For all the trouble Taylor, had gotten into, she never purposely involved Kenzie. Unfortunately, Kenzie involved herself. When she had gotten the call from Taylor a few weeks ago, she had insisted she’d come to Houston and stay with her until everything was sorted out.
“I’m in it, Tay. It’s at my doorstep, and don’t think for one second you’re leaving to figure it out on your own.” She nibbled on her nail, which barely had a nail left.
“Kenzie, I’m not putting you in the middle of my shit.” There it was, the protective side of Taylor. Not many saw it but Kenzie did. Taylor had been taking up for her and having her back since the ninth grade.
“You would do it for me.”
Taylor turned and stared back at her. Taylor’s eyes softened and the stress lines marring her forehead seemed toease. For as flawed as their friendship was, loyalty never wavered for either of them. If the roles were reversed, she knew Taylor would have her back, no matter what.
“What’s the plan?”
Taylor rested her hands on her hips, sighing. “You’re not gonna like it.”
Kenzie dropped her head to her chest, completely deflated. This would end badly, her gut said so. “Let me guess. It’s going to make for a great story someday.” Those were Taylor’s infamous words she recited before Kenzie was dragged into a scheme or shenanigans that usually ended up in the principal’s office, her kitchen table at home, and the police station. Twice.
“It will.” She sighed. “Hopefully we won’t be telling it through the glass wall of a prison.”
“Oh God. I need to sit down.” She ambled to the couch and dropped into the cushion, tugging her knees into her chest.
“I’m kidding.” Taylor chuckled. “Look, it’s really simple. I need to find Drew, get him to the bail bondsman, and then my ass is clear, and I can be done with that douche forever.”
“Yeah, okay, but you’re forgetting the key point to this plan. You have no idea where he is.”
“True. I need to lure him out of hiding.” She smirked. “And if I know Drew, which I do, the carrot I’m going to dangle will be impossible for him to resist.” She crossed her arms in a confident stance, cocking her hip to the side.
“Ew.” Kenzie gazed down her best friend’s body.
“Not me. Trust me, I’m a dime a dozen for Drew, that much I’ve learned. I’m talking about money. He’s on the run, and he’s got more enemies than friends. He may have people helping him now but Drew wears people down. Sooner or later, he’ll be on his own again. What Drew needs is money and I’m going to get it for him.”
Was she insane? “You’re going to give him money? Why?”
“Well, I’m not actually going to give it to him. Instead, I’m going to lure him out from the rock he’s hiding under and have him follow me straight to the bonds company, Lock-Hart. They’ll get him, put him in jail, get their money back, and get the hell off my ass. It’s perfect.”
Kenzie closed her eyes, rubbing her temples in a circular motion. She felt a migraine coming on. They were usually induced by Taylor’s asinine schemes. “Yeah, okay, but there’s one small problem with this plan. You don’t have any money, Taylor.”
“Not now, but I’m gonna get it.”
Kenzie shook her head. “I’m afraid to ask.”
“It’s actually pretty brilliant. See, through Drew I met Dante. He runs an underground fight club downtown. Cash only business.”
Kenzie burst out laughing. “And you think they’ll lend it to you.”
