“Don’t stop. No eye contact, just keep walking,” Ren whispers, and I smack him again.
“These are our friends from California,” I tell them.
Ivory and Angel come up to the doorway, looking the twins and Tauren up and down.
“They came because they were worried about us,” Ren adds.
“That’s nice,” Ivory murmurs lethargically.
My forehead lines.
“Did you slip him a sedative?” Dash asks in amusement.
Angel chuckles. “He took a painkiller. Because of his face… And he was driving melocoabout Joy’s dad.”
“So… youdiddrug him,” Ren laughs.
I can’t lie, it’s crazy seeing The Ivory all beat-up. Such an evil dude with black eyes forming, and a split lip, in his expensive yet stillregularclothes; some slacks and a Henley. Not wearing a suit for the first timeever.
He’s like Barney Stinson. He came out of the womb in a suit. So this is peculiar to say the least.
Honestly, though, it’s also kinda cute.
“Our other friends kicked his ass.” Byron grins.
“Are you staying?” Ivory asks them. “If so, you can take my bedroom if you like. Angelito and I can stay downstairs.”
“That’s so… thoughtful.” I narrow my gaze at him.
“Yea, what the hell,” Dash grunts.
“Let’s go find Velle.” Lemuel hustles us along.
“Bye!” Ivory waves at them. “Good to meet you…”
“Why does it feel like we just met Pennywise?” Colson grumbles.
“The hair on the back of my neck is standing up,” Cyrus whispers.
“That’s a normal reaction, trust me,” I mutter.
The longest two days in history wind down to a surprising tranquility.
The cartel is gone. Joy’s crazy dad and his crew also left, which is a relief, because things were tense as hell with them here. Things are still a little tense, but that’s mainly due to us not knowing what’s going on with The Ivory.
I think Velle knows something is up, but he’s not telling us. He’s mainly just trying to keep an eye on everyone, especially while we have guests.
It’s a far stretch to say that Cyrus, Colson and Tauren areinnocent. But it’s also a far stretch from engaging in a taboo relationship to being a murderous sociopath.
Itis. I don’t care what any braindead morons think.
They were nervous at first, but I think having the Pen family walking around them everywhere like a security detail has comforted them, while letting the others know that theseinnocents, as it were, are not to be trifled with.
And for the first time, at least since before the storm, but definitely the first time since we got back, the island is quiet. Notsilent; it’s not that ominous echo of nefarious shit you just know is going on within the walls. There’s noise, but it’s normal.
People talking and laughing. Engines from the cars bringing supplies to and fro and Peters driving Alex up and down the coast on Velle’s Harley. Birds chirping, ocean waves calmly crashing, and fire crackling as nature’s own melody.
And music.
