N9ne: The Tale of Kevin Clearwater (King, #9)(83)

“Yet you kept fucking asking,” King says, slapping Preppy playfully on the back.

I’ve gone without having any sort of family in my life, and now, these men are taking me in as one of their own. “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to say.”

“You ain’t supposed to say anything,” Bear says. He stands and makes his way over to a cabinet, but it’s just a door front that opens to a mini fridge and liquor cabinet. He pulls out a bottle of whiskey. “You’re supposed to fucking drink.”

“Oh, I’ll get my shit,” Preppy takes off to the adjoining apartment and comes back with an armful of baggies, filled to the brim with all sorts of powders and pills. “Sorry, guys. This is all I could get on such short notice.”

King laughs as Preppy spreads his shit out on the coffee table.

“I thought this was a meeting?” I ask as Bear snorts a line off his wrist.

He looks up at me, wiping at his nose, and licks the rest of the blow from his skin. “What the fuck is it you think we do in meetings?”

Preppy passes me the bottle. He sits down on the floor in front of the leather couch and tugs on my leg until I do the same. Bear and King join us on the floor across the low table. “I’m proud of you, brother.”

Not wanting the surge of emotions I’m feeling to spill into my words, I take a deep pull from the bottle.

“Now, stop being a pussy, and shove some blow up your nose, brother. You ain’t gonna morph those two nostrils into one if you’re a pussy about it,” Preppy says, dumping out a huge bag of blow into a bowl.

“Nobody wants one nostril,” King tells Preppy.

“Yes, they do. Everyone knows that one nostril is halfway to unicorn.” He uses a small straw to snort a line and hands it to me, locking eyes with mine. “Be a unicorn.”

“What time did you start on the hard shit?” I ask Preppy.

He shrugs. “Eight.”

“No, you didn’t. We were here at eight,” Bear argues.

Preppy dismisses him with a wave of his hand. “Eight this morning.” He explains. “Dre and her Dad took the kids to New York for the weekend, and Daddy has an itch that needs scratchin’.”

Bear’s gaze drops to the bowl of blow. King’s follows.

“Does that bowl have…” King leans in and takes a closer look. “Mini Mouse on it?”

“It wasn’t my first choice,” Preppy replies with a one shouldered shrug. “Daisy Duck was in the dishwasher.”

I realize I’m still holding the key. I tuck it into my wallet for safekeeping.

“That thing comes with a lot of responsibility,” King says, his tone turning serious. “You ready for what comes with it?”

“I’ve never been readier.” It’s the truth. I came to Logan’s Beach to find my brother. I’ve found more than a brother. I found Lenny. My family. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for each and every one of them.

“You may have lost a lot of our money, but you’ve gained our respect,” Bear says. “Money can be made again. This shit here? Is fucking priceless.”

I frown. “Wait, Preppy didn’t give you…” I glance at Preppy who looks away whistling, finally our eyes meet.

“Oh, yeah,” Preppy snaps his fingers as if he’s just remembering. “I totally forgot to tell you guys. Nine paid us back, with interest.” He snorts a line, using a metal straw shaped like a tiny vacuum cleaner.

“I’m going to fucking kill you,” Bear warns, cracking his knuckles.

Preppy rolls his eyes. “Don’t be stupid, Bear. Wait until I’m not high anymore because honestly, if you kick my ass now, I’m not gonna feel a thing, and then, where would the pleasure be in that?”

Bear narrows his eyes at Preppy, then nods. “Good point.”

“A toast,” King announces, pouring whiskey into four solo cups. Passing one to each of us. We hold up our cups as I look around the table at each of my new brothers.

King’s eyes meet mine. His toast is a loud yell from the depths of his chest.

“To the Prince of Logan’s Beach!”



* * *



If you enjoyed Nine’s story you’ll love Grim’s! Click here to download Perversion, FREE with Kindle Unlimited subscription

PERVERSION





King of The Causeway





A Preview





Ray


King steps out onto the porch dressed in his usual all black with a plain black baseball cap on his head. “Hey, Pup.” His voice is a deep bravado that tugs on every nerve ending in my body. I thought it would fade over time, but it hasn’t. Every day with him only amplifies my feelings.

Heart and body.

He sits on the step above me and looks out into the front yard where our kids are playing.

Nicole Grace is toddling around chasing her brother and sister. Sammy and Max are shooting each other with massive water guns, gifts from Bear. I’m rocking the newest addition to our family in her bouncy seat next to me as I take in the laughs and squeals of delight coming from my crazy brood.

“I’ve got to go meet with Nine. He’s got some shit that needs to be sorted out at Preppy’s house. You good here for a while?” King asks.