The Burning Bush by Kenya Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

murderer had left for me. My landlord didn’t like that answer. So for now, MFE was where we rested our heads.
    I continued walking to the warehouse. A black, beaded curtain appeared at the end of the shop’s hallway. Beads hung from the ceiling and extended down to the floor. If a regular person pushed away the curtains, they’d only find a tiny hallway heading to a unisex bathroom. Only MFE and the Rebels knew you had to knock three times on the center of the curtain to gain access into the warehouse.
    I knocked. The beads shook and sparkled around my fist. I almost walked through, but two strong hands encircled my waist.
    “Where were you?” Zulu’s voice glided over my skin and soothed me like an old jazz song.
    I twisted around. “I’m sorry.”
    “I waited by that Botanica for thirty minutes, thinking a Vamp had snatched you up.” Zulu’s solid black eyes greeted mine. He drew me to his chest, sniffing my skin and hair. “You smell like Humans.”
    “I was with Rivera.”
    “And?” The word came out as a growl. No more smooth, musical voice.
    I tucked my dreadlocks behind my ears. “Let me check on Ben, and then I’ll explain.”
    “Nona took them for pizza and ice cream.” His face remained a hard mask, showing no emotion. His cords blinked from black to white over and over, as if warning of an oncoming storm.
    “Maybe we should meet them there,” I offered.
    “I’m not going to like what Rivera had to say, am I?”
    “No. In fact, maybe we should discuss this in my shower. We both have nasty blood on our skin.” I rubbed my fingers along my holey, blood-spotted shirt.
    “And is the shower a diversion tactic?”
    “Maybe.” I stepped around him and headed to my bedroom.
    MeShack’s, Ben’s, and my rooms were located on the other side of the shop. You had to go back through the lobby and turn down another hallway to get to them. I passed by Quinn and Angel, who had returned to devouring each other’s lips. Zulu trailed behind me, low grumbles booming from his chest.
    “Would you stop that noise, baby?” I entered my bedroom, withdrawing the Pristine jars from my pocket and setting them on the only empty shelf available in my room. Surprised that Zulu didn’t comment on my stealing, I slung the files on the shelf next to my law exam study guides.
    “I really love my shelves,” I said.
    Zulu just grunted, not walking into my trap of changing the conversation. He’d built me a massive book shelf that covered two walls. I’d almost had an orgasm thinking of all the books I could fill the shelves with. Currently, most of the shelves were cluttered with Zulu’s art supplies, Ben’s games, and MeShack’s stupid old record collection.
    “So tell me why you were with Rivera?” Zulu closed the door behind me.
    “Let’s do a blood promise.” I yanked up my shirt, undressing. “I want you to promise that you won’t kill Rivera or any other habbie, or order anybody to kill him, until I’m done doing this job.”
    “Job?” Zulu asked through clenched teeth.
    “Um . . . yes.”
    “Is that the whole blood promise?”
    I nodded.
    Zulu beamed, exposing fangs. He brought his left wrist to his mouth and ripped the skin open. I flinched as the flesh tore and blood dripped down his arm. Fuck. He’s agreeing too quickly. He began repeating my words. What am I forgetting?
    “Wait.” I lifted my finger. “And no harming Rivera or any other habbies.”
    Zulu groaned.
    I tapped my foot against the lilac carpet. “And no emotionally, mentally, and/or physically harming him or any other habbies . . . or threatening.”
    Zulu roared. The skin around his throat vibrated. The walls quaked around me. Two of my Captain Habitat posters fell from the ceiling. Several Pixies fled from under my bed and slammed into my closed door.
    “Would you just stop all of the theatrics and repeat the blood promise.” I headed to my door and opened it for the Pixies. Most of them rushed out. I picked up