Page 59 of Exile & Lula

“She makes me happy.”

“Why?”

“She—”

My explanation fell away at the sound of a motorcycle rolling up. Zodiac parked next to the Mazda and frowned.

“Your sister is a fucking speed demon. I want you to consider what kind of maniac is making that claim, and why you should worry for those girls’ safety.”

Nova poked her head out the front door and yelled, “Zodiac’s here, too!”

My sister disappeared back inside, leaving me with Zodiac, who casually climbed off his customized black bike.

“This here is a swanky setup,” he said, swiping both hands through his dark blond hair and glancing around. “No wonder you don’t want to come home.”

“What happened to giving me three days before you came to get me?”

“Your sister got impatient. I think she worried I wanted to fuck her, but I really don’t.”

“Dude, the kid,” I grumbled when he spoke that way in front of Lyric.

Zodiac leveled his gaze at my niece and insisted, “I really don’t want to fuck her.”

Lyric shrugged and looked around. As I stroked the child’s back, I couldn’t hide my irritation at Zodiac.

“Where do you plan to crash here?”

“I’ll get a hotel.”

“They aren’t keen on that.”

“Who’s the ‘they’ in this scenario? Are we talking about your lady love or Clint Reed?”

“The Crimson Guard, so Clint, I guess.”

“What’s he afraid will happen?”

“Tricky and the LM Jokers could jump us.”

Zodiac rewarded my comment with a slow, sneering grin. “I’d like to see them try.”

“I thought you wanted to handle this new alliance with kid gloves.”

“I never said that. I only told you boys not to wag your dicks at the ladies in the Crimson Guard. That doesn’t mean we’re treating them like children.”

“I’m a child,” Lyric told Zodiac.

“Yes, and a very good one. She got me a beer whenever I asked. I approve of obedient women.”

“You’re trying to piss me off,” I muttered.

“Yeah, a little. I wasn’t in the mood to babysit your sister or ride up here. But with you MIA, someone had to step up and keep her safe.”

Lyric patted my jaw and explained, “Zodiac is my jackass uncle.”

“Did your mama tell you that?”

“No, Skylar did.”