Page 35 of Violent Skies

“She showed up and the next day Birdie was racing for money and we were getting our asses kicked in an alley, you can’t argue the facts,” Rafe pushes and I turn to Murphy for help but he avoids eye contact.

I slam on the brakes and the Boss swerves slightly on the slick tarmac until I’m parked in the middle of the back road highway with nothing but desert for miles. Both of them holler complaints as Murphy’s laptop slides forward into the dash and Rafe hurtles into the back of the seat with a rough thud.

“Both of you listen to me right fucking now,” I snap. “We have hauled our ass out of bed for worse reasons, more than once.”

“Can you at least pull over, you’re going to get us killed,” Murphy groans and I throw the car into park just to prove my point. He surveys the road nervously waiting for a car to come over the hill. “Riggs.”

“Cress is family and it wouldn’t matter if she showed up with blood on her hands, we owe it to her to figure this out. She’s the only innocent person in this family and you both better start remembering that before I kick you out of this fucking car.”

Both brothers go still, jaws tight, eyes furious from being yelled at but neither say another word. “She’d do it for you, open her door, take care of you.”

They stay silent. They know I’m right.

“Check yourselves.”

“Alright,” Murphy says and my eyes flicker to Rafe who still looks ticked off but he nods in agreement so I can straighten out the car. I pull it back into the proper lane just as an oil tanker comes over the hill and Murphy stares at me wide eyed.

“Next time keep your mouth shut,” I say without looking away from the road.

Akamu’s street is quiet, lined with cars parked in front of old brick houses and decorated with whatever they can find to create a colorful backdrop against the sandy palette of the Arizona desert. It’s hot here and it seeps through the mustang on a mission to make us all sweat even with the air going.

“Tinā-Mu better have that air conditioning pumping,” Rafe groans as I slide into a parking lot.

“You’re staying here,” I say to him.

“Hell, no. You aren’t leaving us in this car to sweat to death, and she loves Murphy. If this is going to work, we all need to go in. She’ll feed us, we can get her talking, and before long she’ll spill something,” Rafe argues and I look over at Murphy who has a smug grin on his face.

“You just want cookies.” I shake my head.

“No one makes cookies like her. I didn’t come because I like sitting cuck in your car,” Rafe grumbles.

“Fine, but don’t be stupid, and don’t bring up Cress.”

Both of them agree to the terms and we all get out, taking the pristine path up to the bright green front door. I can hear the soft music playing that she always had blasting around the house and I know she’s home. It’s odd her phone is shut off, but at least we know she’s here and okay. The entire drive I was slightly worried what we’d be walking up to. It’s been a while since we visited and Akamu isn’t exactly known for her common sense when it comes to the outside world.

Koa did everything for her and by extension we did everything Koa needed us to do. She became a through-branch in the tree that Koa attempted to burn to the ground on his way out the door. I swallow tightly before knocking on the door, Murphy fidgets beside me and Rafe leans against the frame with his arms crossed as he stares at the welcome mat we’re standing on.

When she opens the door her scowl turns to a soft smile and all the worries evaporate. She’s exactly the same, a little older, a little slower and much more gray but she still smiles like she’s offering you a warm hug and doesn’t hesitate to show her excitement for our visit.

“The Monroe Monsters,” she scoffs and reaches out to squeeze her hand around Rafe’s forearm. “You’ve been working out, ragdoll,” she teases him and Rafe breaks immediately. A bright smile forms on his face and he looks like a little kid again. “There’s my boy.”

“Missed you, Tinā-Mu,” he mumbles, leaning forward to kiss her cheek. She lets him pass and moves on to Murphy.

“Mop,” she coos, “the new glasses suit your face.” She flicks his chin with her finger before bringing him in for a tight hug that Murphy folds into willingly. “There’s cookies in the jar beside the fridge, go quick before your brother eats them all.” She pats his face and lets him by.

Her eyes darken as she turns to me.

“Mama,” I nod in respect.

“Riggs.” She looks me over with a scowl on her old face. “Have you been eating? You look skinny, and what’s this?” She tugs on the long curls around my ears. “Once a hooligan, always a hooligan.” Her voice lowers and the corner of her lip curls into a smirk. “You wait nearly two years to visit, you must need something.”

“Rafe thinks he can trick you into telling us secrets about Koa,” I tell her without hesitation.

“That boy,” she scoffs, rolling her eyes. “What’s wrong? Why do you need secrets? Every secret he kept led him to no good.”

“We’re in trouble.”

“Well, stop looking for trouble.”