14. Roman Empire
Roman Empire
"How's your shoulder?" I ask Beau as he takes a bite of a mushroom and swiss burger. "Does it hurt?"
"Nuh-uh," Marlow says with a mouth full of fries, waving her index finger over my garden salad. "You're not changing the topic yet." She swallows, chugging half her Coke. "So, he actually pushed you into the pool?" She snorts, wiggling her brows. "Did he have to give you mouth-to-mouth?"
Beau chokes on his food, wiping his chin. "Please tell me he didn’t.” His crystal blue eyes glow with desperation as he adds, "Savannah, you're not?—"
"Oh my God, no! Ew." I cringe, dropping my fork. "Definitely not. I can't believe you'd even think that."
Marlow rolls her eyes. "The lady doth protest too much."
"The lady is a lady," I retort. "And the man in question is, by all standards, definitely a tramp."
Marlow tilts her head and bats her lashes. "Sure, whatever you say, Savvy, but I see the way you guys look at each other in the bar, okay? There's a little something-something between you."
I scoff. "Yeah, pure irritation."
"I don't know," Marlow sings in an annoyingly observant tone. "There's a thin line between irritation and infatuation." She glances over at my brother, who's still recoiling from the idea. "Right, baby?"
"How would I know?" Beau grumbles, picking at his fries. "I liked you the second you walked through them doors."
"Awe..." Marlow pouts, snuggling up against Beau's uninjured shoulder. "Baby..." She plants a quick kiss on his cheek. "I love you."
"Yeah, I love you too," Beau says softly, peering over at me. "Is Marlow right, Sav? Is there something going on, 'cause I swear to God Almighty, I'll cut the son of a bitch."
My eyes widen. "You'll cut him? Is that how you deal with problems nowadays? My God, Beau."
"You're my sister, Sav," Beau states. "And I won't have anybody taking advantage of you."
"Taking advantage?" I ask, suddenly offended. "You think I'd let someone take advantage of me? Maybe you forgot because you've been gone for so long, Beauregard , but no one takes advantage of me. Ever."
"Plus"—Marlow chuckles—"I'm sure our Savvy here would give it to JP freely."
"Marlow!" I snap, shooting her a hardened glare. "Stop it! There ain't nothing going on with Jesse and me, okay? So just drop it." I release a frustrated breath. "Before you go and start a shit storm."
“A shit storm? With who?" Marlow perks up a brow. " Andy? You're worried about Andy?" She snorts. "That bitch is all bark and no bite, trust me. You don't need to worry about her."
"I'm not!" I insist, shaking my head. "I just don't want rumors to start, okay? It's bad enough I'm shacking up with Jesse. I don't need everybody thinking I'm banging him too."
Marlow snorts. "Dude, everyone already thinks you're banging."
"What?" Beau hisses. "Who's everybody?"
"Everybody's everybody." Marlow shrugs as I sink into my seat. Oh no...please let her be wrong. "Babe, you missed a lot this past week."
"Clearly," Beau grunts, aggressively shoving fries into his mouth. "That's just great. Now I'm going to have a word with the boys."
"Please don't," I beg, humiliated. "Marlow's just making up stories, okay? Please don't say anything." I reach over and take my brother's hand. "I'm serious, Beau. Don't."
"Fine," he says with a strained tone. "But if I find out that?—"
"You won't," I insist, nodding far too vigorously. "You don't have to worry about anything?—"
"Ahh...a family reunion." Marlow, Beau, and I whip our heads toward the familiar and daunting voice. Miguel grins down at us as he stands at the edge of our table. "How nice." He glances over at Beau, who keeps a neutral expression. "I heard about Nevada. Everything good?"
"Nothing we can't handle," Beau states flatly.
"Hope so," Miguel muses, turning his attention to me. "So, Savannah, now that your brother is home, how long will you be staying in Hawkridge? A week?"
"Umm..." I swallow. "I'm actually going to be spending the rest of summer here."
Miguel's lips curl into a faint smile. "Is that so? Hmm...good to know. Perhaps then you'd allow me to take you out sometime. What do you say?"
"She's busy," Beau pipes up. "We got loads to catch up on and?—"
"And there's the fundraiser," Marlow adds, coming to mine and Beau's rescue. "She's going to have her hands full with that. Lots to do, Miguel. Lots."
"Fundraiser?" Miguel raises a brow. "For?"
"Toys for Tots," Marlow explains, glancing over at me. "The Sons do it every summer in for the Children's Hospital. You should come. It's in a few weeks, just outside the data station on Highway 9."
"I'll be there," Miguel says, concealing an irked response. He smiles down at me. "I'll be seeing you around, Savannah. Don't be afraid to say hi."
"Afraid?" I ask, giggling as I anxiously play with my hair. "I ain't afraid of you."
"Good." He smiles, shooting Beau and Marlow a stern look. "I would hate for you to judge me based on other people's experiences." He knocks on our table two times as he sighs. "Enjoy your meal."
"What was that?" Beau whispers as Miguel exits the diner. "How do you know Miguel?"
"I don't," I reply. "He's just a regular at the bar."
"Since when?" Beau asks Marlow. "How often does he come in? "
Marlow shrugs. "Mostly when Sav's working. Clearly, he's got a thing for her."
Beau purses his lips. "I don't like that. You need to stay away from Miguel, okay? He's bad news."
"I know that," I state. "Jesse's already given me the whole spiel."
Beau frowns. "He has?"
"Yes." I roll my eyes, sighing. "I know he's a big bad cartel man, okay? I'm not an idiot, Beau. A free dinner isn't worth being a known associate of the FBI's Most Wanted."
"Right." Beau swallows, nodding. "Well, just be careful. We don't need any more problems right now."
"It's going to be fine," Marlow says reassuringly to Beau. "Those Vipers are pussies. They won't do shit across state lines."
"Here's hoping," Beau says as his phone vibrates. "Shit, Billy's calling a meeting. I'm going to have to go."
"What happened with the, uh— the Vipers?" I ask, gaze shifting to Beau's bullet wound. "They're the ones that did that, right?"
"I'm not supposed to?—"
"Give her something, baby," Marlow cuts in, stroking his forearm. "You don't want her worrying, do you?" She nods in my direction. "Tell her what's going on. She's your sister. She has a right to know why you're getting shot at."
Beau contemplates for a couple of beats before he sighs with defeat.
"Vipers run Nevada, plus parts of a few other neighboring states," he explains begrudgingly.
"They're trying to move into our territory by blocking our hauls.
We've been dealing with 'em as they come, but Billy thinks we gotta cut the head off the snake, if you know what I mean.
" He clears his throat. "JP's not in agreement, so the motion's been tabled for a while now, but after what happened in Kippens, Billy might get his way after all.
" He taps his phone. "Guess we'll find out soon. "
"That sounds dangerous," I whisper, goosebumps popping up on my arms. "What if they retaliate?"
"Then we'll be ready," Beau says with a casual shrug.
"I know Jo's got a couple of other ideas up that scheming sleeve of hers, so maybe we'll be able to avoid a bloodbath.
Too early to say." Beau catches my concerned gaze.
"Stop that. I already have one woman I need to reassure that I won't die on a daily basis.
I don't need another, okay?" Beau winces, pulling his wallet from his pocket.
He places a twenty on the table and hands Marlow a couple of hundreds.
"Here, take this and go enjoy the rest of the day.
" His lip twitches as he adds, "Y'all can go shopping for that bathing suit . "
"Thanks, baby," Marlow says in a soft tone as she kisses my brother. "You need a ride back?"
"Nah," Beau says as we pile out of the booth.
He nods at a biker seated at the bar. "I'll catch a ride with Zee.
You ladies have fun, okay?" He smirks at Marlow, feathering his fingers along her arm as he whispers, "Maybe buy that little red number you showed me last week? You know, the one with the?—"
Marlow blushes, giggling. "Oh, you liked that, huh?"
"Guys." I clear my throat, uncomfortable. "I'm right here."
Marlow rolls her eyes, scowling. "Don't be so uptight, Savannah. What do you think we do in our spare time? Build Lego?"
"Yes," I say flippantly. "That is exactly what I think you do, and nothing else."
"Oi." Marlow sighs, shaking her head. "We've gotta loosen you up." Her eyes light up as she gives me a crafty once-over. "Oh, we are so gonna have fun." She quickly kisses Beau on the cheek and grabs my wrist. "Bye, baby! See you later."
"Where are we going?" Bits of gravel shoot into my boots as Marlow drags me out of the diner toward her car. "Slow down! You're gonna make me scuff up Jesse's momma's boots."
Marlow abruptly halts a foot away from her beat-up sedan. She looks down at my shoes. "Those are Laura's?"
"Yes," I mutter, grinding my heel into the ground. "Jesse gave 'em to me a few nights ago when I cut my foot open." I shoot her a tiny scowl. "You were probably too drunk to remember."
"Uh-huh." Marlow blinks, smirking at me. "Right, and there's nooooothing going on, huh? Whatever you say." She rounds the vehicle, and we both slide inside. She adjusts her rearview mirror. "Well, Savvy, if you like those boots, then you're gonna love where we're headed."
"Am I now?" I ask, dreading whatever plan she's concocting in that red head of hers. "And why's that?"
"'Cause"—she flashes me a calculating grin—"I think it's time to upgrade your wardrobe. If you're gonna be spending the summer here, it's only polite to look the part. "
I snort as she pulls out of the parking lot. "You wanna give me a makeover? Really?"
"A little leather won't hurt," she says, chuckling. "Plus, I'm sure it'll drive Jesse wild. It's a win-win."