Billy scrambled off the floor. “What the hell, Shannon?”
“What’s going on here?” Arnie appeared, and Shannon’s expression changed.
“Oh thank goodness,” she exclaimed, laying her hand on her chest. “This man is trying to rob us.”
I snorted. “You have that the wrong way around. You robbed me. This—” I indicated the bike, dusty from sitting in a locker “—is my Indian motorcycle. These two stole it from me over a year ago.”
“I have all the paperwork to verify it at the office,” Charly spoke up. “I’ll send it to the police.”
Arnie cleared his throat. “I don’t want any trouble here. I have rules, and I’ll enforce them.”
I wanted to snort. Enforce them? With what? The grease from his comb-over? Even Red could take him with one hand tied behind her back. He barely came up to her shoulder.
“The police will sort it out,” Charly said, lifting her phone to her ear, her ring catching the light.
Shannon shrieked again. “You’re engaged?”
I winked at Charly, loving how she lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. She almost looked scary.
“That’s right. We are. You have something to say about it?”
Shannon peered at the ring, a smug grimace curling her lips.
“Oh god, you gave her your mother’s ring? Still a mama’s boy, Maxx, I see,” she said snidely. “Too cheap to spring for a new one.”
Before I could say anything, Charly stepped in front of her, snarling and defiant.
“Listen, you heartless shrew. You know nothing about this man. What you scoff at and make fun of is his beautiful soul. Something which you don’t have. And if you think your words will bother us, you’re wrong. You’re a thief, a liar, and a horrible person. So, your opinion means nothing to us. By giving me his mother’s ring, he shows how much he loves me. He trusts me with something important to him.” She paused. “Which is why you never got your greedy hands on it.”
Shannon blinked at her, and Charly stepped back and looked her up and down. “Good luck in prison though. I hear hair dye isn’t allowed, so your roots are gonna grow out. I’m sure you’ll still be, ah, popular with the prison population, though.”
Holding back my laughter, I wrapped my arm around her waist and kissed her head. “Call the police, Charly.”
Billy held up his hands. “No, Maxx, please, man. Don’t do that.”
“Why the hell not? You stole from me.” I looked around the locker. “Where’s the Ducati?”
“Um, we sold it for parts.”
My grip on Charly tightened, and she patted my arm. I had liked that bike, but I was grateful if they stripped one, it was the Ducati, not the Indian.
“But look, man, your tools are back there, and your dad’s bike is safe. Take it. Take it all and let us go.”
Shannon cursed at him, and he shook his head. “For once, Shannon, shut the hell up. I’m tired of listening to you. Ever since we started, my life has been a living hell.”
She gaped at him. I doubted he had ever spoken to her that way. Billy didn’t have much of a backbone. For a while, I had lost mine as well, and she took advantage of that. In retrospect, losing the bike had been a blessing since she went with it.
I studied Billy. He was gaunt and drawn-looking. Unhappy. Shannon looked the same as I remembered. But I noticed for the first time how hard she looked. Her eyes were cold and vacant. Her expression dissatisfied. Had she always looked that way, or had I gotten used to the sweetness of Charly’s face?
Whichever it was, they deserved each other, and I was glad Shannon was gone. I had to admit, though, I felt more pity for Billy than her. He had to put up with her.
“You know, he’s right,” drawled Arnie. I had forgotten he was even there. “If you involve the cops, they’ll seize the bike and everything for evidence. God knows when you’ll get it back.”
Billy nodded furiously. “Take it. Let us go. We’ll never bother you again. You’ll never see us again.”
“As if I could trust anything you say. You’ll double-cross me and try to steal it again.”
He shook his head. “No, I won’t. I’m done. With all of this. I am sick and tired of it all.” He looked at Shannon. “Especially you.”
That caused a string of curses and accusations from Shannon. Charly peeked up at me, her eyes round as Shannon threw a major temper tantrum, including stomping her feet and flinging her arms around.
What the hell had I ever seen in her?
Finally, I reached my limit, and I whistled. Loudly. The piercing noise stopped Shannon mid-tirade.
“Enough,” I commanded. “Just do what Billy said and shut the hell up, Shannon. Jesus, you chap my ass.”
She opened her mouth, and I held up my hand. “One more word. One. And I’m calling the cops.” She closed her mouth, glaring daggers at me instead.