“Hector, I need to go.” I ended the call and jumped off my chair. “What happened?”
“Relax, Kel. Conrad and I were in a little scuffle. But we’re fine. I mean, at least my face is still perfect, right?” He snorted and took his food out of the bag with his good hand. “I hope you brought me two double cheeseburgers this time.”
I was speechless. Not really. This was so typical for Kevin. “How can you act like this isn’t a big deal? This wouldn’t have happened in San Fran.”
“That’s because I didn’t have a life in the Bay and never left the apartment. I was a nobody there. At least here, people notice me.” He took a massive bite. Ketchup dripped down his chin and landed on his white T-shirt. In that moment, he’d gone from Mr. Tough Guy to Baby Kevvy.
“Who wrapped your wrist?” I kneeled at this side and removed the sling. Fighting with him would be pointless. The last thing I wanted was for him to run away.
“Conrad’s mom. She said it would heal before I knew it. I would have come home, but you were still at work.” He took another bite and with a full mouth, he said, “You’re never home when I need you.”
I wanted to bawl like a baby as his words stabbed me in the heart. But my stupid phone rang again. This time, I recognized Hector’s number. To distract me from the immense pain my brother’s words gave me, I answered the call. “Hey, Hector. It’s not a good time.”
“I’m sorry to bug you, but I really need your help.”
Kevin groaned and tugged his arm away from me, showing that he’d heard Hector.
“If the woman was drugged, she needs to go to the ER. You know this, Hector.” I sighed and sat next to my brother, plucking a few fries, which were limp and cold.
“My friends don’t go to hospitals unless it’s life and death, and this isn’t. All you need to do is sit with the woman until the worst is over.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. My brother and I are spending the evening together. We get so little time together.” I cut my gaze at Kevvy. His furrowed brows softened and he resumed eating. “I hope you find someone else.”
“This isn’t just for anyone, Kelly. The Kings need help.”
“What are you talking about?” Was there a group of Elvis Presley impersonators needing my help for one of their fans? I rolled my eyes. Please spare me the craziness.
“No way?” Kevin shouted. “The Kings of Anarchy need your help? You gotta go, Kel. Nobody refuses the Kings.”
“Stop with the drama. I can refuse and I am. Besides, The Kings of Anarchy sounds like a cheesy gang. Pfft.” I shook my head, knowing full well they were a motorcycle club. A notorious group of bikers everyone in the area seemed to know and fear. But I could give a damn about them.
“He’s right, Kelly. They’re not a gang. They’re a motorcycle club.”
“Yeah, I know. So what?”
“So what?” Kevin repeated my words in a shocked tone.
“You don’t want to get on their bad side. They run all of NorCal and they have a long memory.”
“Don’t be stupid, Kel.” Kevin rolled his blue eyes. They were the same color as mine and our dad’s.
“Listen, I can’t go back to them and tell them you refuse to help. It would be bad for me and you.” Hector sounded very nervous. “I told them I’d bring a friend to help.”
“I’ll be okay here, Kel. Go help the bikers. We don’t want any trouble. Believe me, I know. How do you think I got this?” He lifted his sprained wrist.
“The bikers hurt you?” I was livid and had half a mind to straighten their asses out for injuring a minor child.
“No, not the bikers themselves, but someone connected to them. But I’m not really sure. Conrad and I were flirting with agirl at the convenience store. We didn’t know she was the dude’s girlfriend. Conrad got the worst of it. I tried to get between them, but the dude pushed me and I landed on my hand wrong.” He lowered his head as if embarrassed.
“You can bring your brother with you,” Hector said. “I’ll text you the address. I need to go.” Sirens went off at the fire station and the call ended. Hector was an EMT and volunteer firefighter. In San Diablo, there weren’t a lot of people in the area, so Hector had two roles in the community.
“You gotta go, Kel. I’ll be fine until you get home.” Kevin nodded his head with an intense stare.
“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you after what happened today. But I also don’t feel comfortable taking you to wherever the bikers are.”
“Their clubhouse.”
“How do you know that?”
