Read Online Ball Peen Hammer by Lauren Rowe - Free Book Online Page A

He continues striding toward the front door, obviously done with me.
    “Ryan, wait. Ryan .”
    Ryan stops and looks at me.
    “I’ve got a situation that can only be described as an emergency.”
    Ryan looks concerned. “What happened?”
    I grimace, not wanting to tell him.
    “What is it, Keane?”
    “It’s bad.”
    Ryan’s eyes darken with anxiety. “Did you get some girl pregnant?”
    I make a face. “No. I’m always really careful about that.” I look at Z. “Unlike you, dumbshit.”
    “Hey, antibiotics cleared that right up.”
    We both laugh.
    Ryan exhales. “What is it? You owe someone money? Is some guy named Johnny T-Bags threatening to break your legs?”
    “No, I’m good on money. Tips have been really good.”
    “Then what?”
    I pause.
    Ryan throws his hands up in a gesture of impatience. “I don’t have all day, fucker. Spit it the fuck out.”
    I slowly hand Ryan my phone, my head bowed. “Read all Daxy’s texts in order, starting from the bottom, and then look at the string of texts with someone named Maddy Milliken.”
    “Maddy Milliken? Is she related to Kat’s friend Hannah Banana Montana Milliken?”
    I roll my eyes and slap my forehead. Jesus. Where the fuck was Ryan four days ago? “Just read everything,” I say. “It’s too much to explain.”
    Ryan grabs my phone and takes a seat on my couch, and for what seems like forever, he sits, his head lowered, his gaze concentrated on my phone. Occasionally, Ryan laughs or says, “Oh, Jesus,” but, mostly, he remains very quiet.
    Finally, Ryan looks up. “Peen, you’re the biggest idiot I know, hands down.”
    “I know,” I say.
    Ryan whips his hard glare onto Z. “And you’re a close fucking second.”
    “Sorry,” Z says. “I was just trying to help.”
    “Help me, Ryan, please,” I say. “I don’t wanna fuck things up for Dax.”
    “What am I gonna do with you, Keaney?” Ryan says, rolling his eyes. “Shit.”
    “I don’t mind fucking shit up for myself—obviously,” I say, motioning to my blue hair. “But I don’t wanna fuck things up for Dax. All his dreams are about to come true.”
    “Yeah, I know. Shit . Gimme a second.” Ryan looks up again, biting the inside of his cheek.
    “I must admit I can’t understand how me driving with this chick is supposed to have anything to do with Dax’s record label...” I begin.
    “Shut up, Peen,” Ryan barks. “I’m thinking.”
    I wait.
    “Dax is being crazy about the record-label part, but it doesn’t matter,” Ryan finally concludes. “He’s under pressure and we gotta support him on this one, even if he’s being paranoid. The main thing is he wants to keep everyone happy in Reed’s inner circle, and I get that. Sort of. Regardless, if he promised to help Hannah, then we gotta help him deliver on his promise. We’re not gonna let him look like an idiot with the people who hang out with his new boss.”
    I nod.
    “Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do, shit-for-brains. I’ll call this Maddy girl and pretend to be you.”
    I breathe a huge sigh of relief. Ryan’s our family’s fixer. If he’s on the job, everything’s gonna be fine.
    “I know just what to say to her,” Ryan continues.
    “Thanks, Ry.”
    “Now go to your room and get your shit packed for L.A. and then get your sorry ass to bed.”
    “Wait, what? You’re gonna make me drive to L.A. with this chick?”
    “You got a better idea?”
    “No,” I admit. “But I can’t go to L.A. tomorrow . I promised to take my wife to the Mariner’s game on Thursday.”
    “Yeah, with my tickets, you twat-head.”
    “But we were gonna have a romantic night out.”
    Ryan looks at Z. “You got someone you can take to the game on Thursday night, Z?”
    Zander smiles. “I sure do.”
    “Traitor,” I say.
    “Go get packed,” Ryan commands, his patience clearly at its breaking point. “You’re going to L.A.”
    “Seriously, man,” I say. “Don’t make me sit in a car with this Maddy