Page 72 of Property of Yak

I have some questions, and my girl is not going to like them.

CHAPTER

EIGHTEEN

Julie

“What do you mean you have it handled?” Liz snaps, making me sigh.

I rub my brow as I try to pick my words carefully. “I’ll handle Ray. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Liz paces. “But I do worry, and I am worried. That wasn’t right! He just barged in here, Julie, and if I didn’t know better, I would think that you don’t see his issues as a problem.”

“What he did was wrong, I’m not denying that or trying to downplay it. What I’m asking you to do is trust me,” I plead.

“Yeah, well, I don’t really trust you right now. You aren’t making the best choices,” she snaps.

Her words hit me so hard, I can’t help but gasp.

Regret crosses her face, and she squeezes her eyes shut. “Jules, I didn’t mean it like that.”

“But I think you did,” I say quietly.

“Look, I’m worried, okay? So much has changed recently. Something happened the night you met Yak that you haven’t told me about, don’t even try to deny it. All of a sudden, you’re dating a biker and marked as his old lady, which is basically a marriage. Now when a cop busts into your place looking for something, you don’t think it’s a big deal and don’t want to call your dad? I don’t like it,” she rants. “I’m the one who acts like this, so the fact that you are has me scared to death.”

I step forward and grab onto her hands. “I know you love me and you’re just looking out for me. Trust me, I get it. I’ve worried about you for years, and now roles are reversed. It’s jarring, I know, but I need you to trust me. I know what I’m doing. I just need you to believe me when I say things are handled. Now, I need you to go.”

“Go? Why do I need to leave? See, this just proves you are hiding shit,” she snaps.

“I need you to go because Yak is coming and he’s going to want to talk.”

She scoffs. “So what? I’m being kicked out because your man is coming over? Do you not realize how fucked up that is?”

“It’s not that,” I groan.

“Besides, how do you know he’s on the way? Did you text him when I wasn’t looking or something?”

I want to tell her about the cameras but keep my mouth shut.

This is too much. It’s all becoming too much.

How in the hell did things get so twisted?

“Jules…”

Before she can finish her sentence, there’s a knock on the door. One I recognize as Yak’s.

Stepping away from her, I move and answer the door.

“Hey, Angel, you okay?” he asks as he pulls me into a hug as soon as he steps inside.

“Better now,” I murmur into his chest, for only him to hear.

“What the hell is going on? What did you do? Why are the cops barging in here?” Liz snaps, peppering him with questions.

“First of all, I need you to lower your goddamn voice and chill the fuck out. Second, I didn’t do shit,” he growls.

“Language,” I scold, but they both ignore me.