“Yes,” Mac said.
“You don’t even know what I was going to ask.”
“Everyone will be there.”
That meant Luxious, Hawke, Samson, and Rem would all be there. What did it say about me that I wanted to see them? I sighed, knowing the answer. I was losing my damn mind.
My phone alerted me to a new message. I stupidly scrambled for it, and I was unsure why I was hoping it was one of the kings. That hope was slaughtered the moment Wakeman’s number showed up.
I audibly swallowed and forced the nerves down as much as I could. “Hey, Mac, I have to go.” My stomach instantly knotted. It was never good hearing from him.
“Keegan, are you okay?” Mac asked.
No. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
The small peek at the message let me know I wouldn’t like the context. I hadn’t heard from him since the last delivery, and I tended to stay away from jobs for a while. I avoided creating any habits or patterns that could be traced. The last thing my plan of freedom needed was for me to end up in jail.
“You sure?” Mac sounded worried, and it brought a smile to my face.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re a mother hen?” I asked, trying to brush off the seriousness our conversation turned to.
“Kee, you call me—”
“Yeah, I know.” I closed my eyes and forced myself to relax.
Mac was a friend I hadn’t expected to place any trust in. I’ve always kept friends at a distance. It was safer that way, yet Mac had wormed his way in.
He’s not the only one.A sigh left me as I pushed all thoughts of the four who were jumping over the line of enemies and past friendship.
“It’s all good, I promise,” I said, knowing it held no weight. When had that word ever meant anything but lies?
“Alright, so I’ll see you at the party tonight.”
“What?” Oh, right, I’d agreed to show up. “Only for an hour.”
“I’ll be waiting. See you later, Kee.” Mac hung up, ignoring my time restraint at the party.
I’d slip out somehow. The phone in my hand felt heavy, and I let out a deep breath. “This will all be over soon.” I clicked on the message.
Wakeman: Next week Friday, usual place. Mrs. C needs help with grocery pickup.
“Fuck.” I hated doing pickups for him. I didn’t respond, deleting the message and memorizing the address of where I needed to go on Friday. And here I thought I got out of seeing him.
I hurriedly dialed MJ and put the phone to my ear as I got off the bed.
“Hey, Kee, what’s up?” MJ asked. The sound of the happenings in the garage played in the background.
“I need a car on Friday.” Distracted, I browsed through my clothes as I selected a decent outfit. Tight black jeans that had more holes than fabric. A plain blue top.Good enough.
“Any specifications?” Fuck, MJ was reliable, probably one of the very few reliable people I knew.
“Yeah, the usual.”
He grunted. “I’m sending someone with you.”
“No.” Of course, he’d instantly picked up on what I had to do. “You know he will just get pissed off. Not worth it.”
“I don’t like it, but you know what you’re doing, Kee.”