Whisker’s eyes shot to me. “You’re not an uncle, and she stabbed you.”
“Because I restrained her from behind and threatened her life without giving her a chance to explain,” I said. “Fuck. I would’ve done the same thing.”
Why in the hell am I defending her?
“She could’ve killed me, but she didn’t,” I continued. “And she hasn’t tried since we’ve had her.”
“You sound disappointed,” Biscuit laughed.
I shrugged. “I haven’t given her the opportunity, but she’s found plenty of ways to be a pain in the ass without inflicting bodily harm.”
“All right. That’s it for now,” Whisker said. “I need to see what’s going on with the flood barrier. Sugar, release Kalani and Birdie. Make sure they understand they are not to leave the clubhouse, but she stays with you until I say otherwise. Have a prospect fill in for you if you’re needed elsewhere.”
“Yes, Prez,” I grumbled, causing several of the brothers to laugh. Fuck. I didn’t want to put up with that wacky bitch and her antics for the next few days, but being part of the club meant sometimes I had to do shit I didn’t want to do.
Exhaling heavily, I got to my feet and looked at Coochie. “Shall we free the birds?”
“The birds?”
“Yeah, Birdie and Cuckoo.”
Coochie shook his head with a smile. “I wouldn’t let her hear you say that.”
I shrugged. “Why not? I like to keep things interesting.”
“They’ll keep things interesting enough without any help from you. If Kalani’s anything like Birdie,” he said and paused. “Eh. Why spoil it?”
“Nice try, old man,” I said as we walked down to the basement. “I’m still gonna call her Cuckoo.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
When I opened the door to the cell, Birdie and Kalani appeared to be in the middle of a serious discussion. The room fell silent as they both looked at me. After several beats of silence, Coochie stepped around me. “You’ll be free to go after the storm passes. Until then, you have to stay in the clubhouse. Since neither of you are an old lady or related to a club member, you need to stay with a brother, for your own protection. Kalani, you’re with Sugar, and Birdie’s with me. Any questions?”
Whisker didn’t say shit about Birdie having to stay with Coochie, but I let the old timer have his fun and kept my mouth shut.
Kalani raised her hand and waved it excitedly.
“What?” I asked.
She scrunched her nose at me and turned to Coochie. “I’m supposed to work tonight. Can I call and let them know I won’t make it?”
“Where do you work?” Coochie asked.
“At The Stinky Dog in Makani.”
“You work at a bar?” I asked.
“Yes. Why?”
“You don’t strike me as the type to do well in customer service,” I said.
“That’s because you’re an asshole.”
“Kalani,” Birdie scolded.
“What? He took the bitch route to do it, but he just called me rude.”
“I’m pretty sure The Stinky Dog is closed like everything else on the island, but we’ll get you up to see Beaver,” Coochie said.
