Blood & Water

Chapter 14

Coco was jammed in the downstairs powder room, a tiny bathroom with barely enough room for him to turn around when he heard the front door open.

"Kevin?" Carrie called out urgently.

The word was muffled and Coco didn't know Carrie well enough to recognize her voice so he prepared to greet her with a loaded pistol but when he opened the door Angel was standing there with his finger to his mouth. He nodded toward the kitchen door and the two of them scurried out the back just as Carrie entered the dining room. They were out and moving quickly but there was no missing her pained wail as she stumbled upon her dead husband. Angel stopped, looking back at the house, and felt himself start to tear up.

"How'd you know?" Coco asked, still lowering his voice.

Angel swallowed hard. "I saw her coming down the street from Joey's room. I had to put him back and get your ass."

Looking at him cautiously, Coco lit himself a cigarette as the pain from his injury grew steadily worse. "What she gonna think?"

"I dunno," Angel said sadly. "I don't think she's gonna be able to think. I gotta call the fucking prospect and find out why she's here."

*Less Than 1 Hour Before*

Carrie hurried out of the trailer and into the clubhouse for something more than the lukewarm beer EZ had in the barely functioning mini fridge. She smiled at the few people who even bothered to look up and caught up with EZ who was on the phone with his back to her.

"The baby is at the house," EZ said quickly. "Get Angel and get outta there."

Now that wasn't what Carrie heard. Between the music, chatter and her not really paying attention, she caught a mangled, muffled mix that sent her into a panic. All that truly made sense was "Baby, Angel and get out," and that was more than enough for her.

Turning on her heel she ran out of the clubhouse and sped out of the lot. EZ didn't even realize she was gone until he returned to his now empty trailer.

"Fuck. FUCK." He shouted, immediately calling Angel and Coco again and again but neither of them answered.

*Current Time*

They did finally call him back when they were sneaking around Kevin's waiting for Carrie to eventually reach out.

"You fucked up," Coco snarled as EZ answered the call.

"I tried to call you," EZ said shamefully. "I'm sorry. Is everybody okay?"

"Your cousin ain't," Coco said with a mix of humor and darkness that only he could pull off.

"Tell him to get up here," Angel ordered, showing Coco his phone lighting up with Carrie's name and picture on ID the caller. "Now."

—

When EZ arrived he stepped in for Coco who left to not only get patched up but also update Bishop on the mess and to keep any suspicions low. If Carrie saw his injury she would immediately know, even in her grief-stricken state, it was much more than what they were selling.

"We good?" Angel asked him quietly.

Coco nodded. "Yeah we're good but we still gotta talk."

Angel nodded and did not wait a second longer than he had to. As soon as Coco was out of sight, he yanked his little brother with him toward Carrie's.

"What's the story?" EZ asked as they trudged over the lawn.

"Why'd she bolt? What made her come up here?" Angel asked, looking at his brother accusingly.