Whisker nodded. “Is that it?”
“Yeah,” Birdie said. “I just wanted you to know why she did what she did.”
“Which part? Killing the kid’s uncle or stabbing me?” I asked.
Birdie grimaced. “Killing the kid’s uncle. I mean, I’m not saying she’s in the right, but she stabbed you because you scared her. And that should’ve been it. But it wasn’t, because she wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if she let that little girl’s uncle get away with selling her. I’m sorry she stabbed you. How’s your leg?”
I blinked, completely caught off guard. “Uh, it’s good. I can walk.”What the fuck was wrong with me?
“Great. When can I see my granddaughter?”
“Now. You can stay with her while we discuss the next steps,” Whisker said.
Birdie looked at Coochie, seemingly worried.
“Prez, do you have some words for my friend?”
Whisker sighed. “You have my father’s patch. We’re not gonna hurt either of you, but we have a body to deal with and some other loose ends to tie up. We can’t let you leave until that’s taken care of.”
“Thank you,” Birdie said.
“Sugar, take her down to see Kalani.”
I got to my feet, hoping like hell Coochie stood up to accompany us because I didn’t want to be alone in a fucking cell with the two of them.
SIXTEEN
KALANI
“Thank fuck. I forgot how boring prison was,” I said when the door opened, not bothering to turn my head to see who it was.
“Kalani,” Birdie said.
“Birdie!” I shouted and jumped to my feet.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine. Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?” she asked.
“I thought you were missing.”
Birdie’s forehead wrinkled in confusion for a moment. “Oh, because of the phones,” she said knowingly. “Sorry. I guess I got water in that crack on my screen, because my phone is fried. Which wasn’t a big deal until Coochie dropped his phone in standing water.”
I glared at Sugar.
He puckered his lips at me. “Don’t go anywhere.” Then he left the room, leaving Birdie and I separated by iron bars.
I scoffed. “He’s just mad ’cause I stabbed him.”
“Kalani,” Birdie scolded.
I shrugged. “It’s the truth, but that doesn’t mean he needs to be an ass to you, too.”
Birdie cocked her head to the side. “Well, maybe it does.”
Before I could ask what she meant, Coochie came back in with a chair for Birdie. Then, to my surprise, he unlocked the door to the bars separating us. “You can’t leave this room, but you don’t need to stay in there.”
