Chapter 7 Goose
GOOSE
“Hit me.”
The clink of chips carried across the floor, steady and sharp, along with the low muffle of the crowd. I wasn’t paying them any mind. My focus was on the blackjack table where Davis was playing yet another round.
It wasn’t going so well.
He was at Laken’s table, and I’d lost count of how many times he’d lost. Laken was Skid’s ol’ lady, and she was doing her best to keep a handle on things. She stood straight with a professional smile, and she kept her voice low and calm.
But I could see the tension in her shoulders. She was struggling, and Davis wasn’t making it easy on her. In fact, he was losing it, and with each hand, his temper was rising.
“Hit me,” he ordered.
Laken dropped the card, and as soon as he saw it, Davis shook his head and grumbled, “Motherfucker.”
He shoved his chips to the center of the table with disgust and grumbled something under his breath. Damn. I took another long sip from my drink before saying, “Some things never change.”
Ghost glanced over at me, but he didn’t say a word.
I knew what he was thinking.
I was thinking the same damn thing.
Hoping to lighten the mood, I cleared my throat and said, “Used to be like that when we played little league. If we lost, Davis would throw his glove clear across the field. Once told the ump he was blind and might’ve tossed out a few choice words.
Hell, the kid was ten and swearing like he was forty and a day late on paying the light bill. ”
I waited for a chuckle.
It never came.
Memphis’s mouth stayed closed, and Ghost’s focus never left the table. Laken dealt again. Davis leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms, and glared at her like he was daring her to lay down the wrong card. I felt something sour twist in my gut.
The story wasn’t funny anymore. The punchline hadn’t changed, but the stakes had.
Back then, we were just kids. It was just a game.
Scraped knees and hurt pride.
Now, he was on my turf, bleeding money and attitude in front of men who didn’t tolerate either. And Laken, an ol’ lady who was protected by the brotherhood, was the one stuck smoothing out his rough edges.
After another loss, Davis finally pushed back from the table and stood. He said something to Laken, then turned and started in my direction. I watched as he crossed the floor. His expression had already started to soften, like he hadn’t just been one bad hand away from flipping the felt.
Just as he was about to approach, Ghost stepped away, melting into the crowd like he always did. Memphis followed a second later, clapping me on the shoulder as he walked by. Neither of them had spoken a word, but I got the message.
They wanted me to handle my brother, and that’s exactly what I planned to do. He stepped in front of me with an easy smile. “Man, I just got my ass handed to me.”
“I saw that.” I crossed my arms. “I also saw you giving our girl a hard time.”
“Ah, it wasn’t that bad.”
“But it was. That shit doesn’t fly around here. Not with anyone.”
“Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll behave.”
“See that you do, or it will be both of our asses.”
“Understood.” His eyes tracked the various tables and the steady flow of money changing hands, and after a few minutes, he shook his head and said, “Man, this is a hell of a setup you boys have got here. I bet you are rakin’ it in.”
I didn’t respond. I just stood there looking at him, but that didn’t stop him from adding, “Club has to be sitting pretty.”
Again, I said nothing.
Hell, there was nothing to say.
Club business was club business. Period.
“Yeah, yeah. I get it. You boys don’t talk about nothing.” He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice as he asked, “But what about you? How you making it?”
“I get by.”
“I bet you do.”
A woman walking by caught his attention, and a smirk crossed his face. She was tall with dark hair and a fitted dress, and confidence rolled off her like perfume. His eyes tracked her without shame as he snickered, “Damn. I wouldn’t mind getting a piece of that.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” I snapped back. “You’ve got Presley.”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.” He rolled his eyes. “But there’s no harm in looking.”
“Not sure she’d agree.”
“Nah, I don’t reckon she would.”
He pulled over a chair, and once he was seated next to me, I asked, “So, how’d you two end up together anyway?”
“Who?”
“You and Presley?”
“Ah, yeah…” That seemed to catch him off guard, but he quickly recovered. “Went into her salon for a haircut. Sat in her chair, threw out a couple of jokes, and hit her with that Crenshaw charm.” He flashed a grin. “She couldn’t resist.”
“Uh-huh.”
Presley didn’t strike me as the type to be won over by a smile and an offhand pickup line, but I didn’t push. Maybe there was more to it. Maybe there wasn’t. Either way, it didn’t matter. She was with him, and that was all I needed to know.
“She’s a good one and all, but I’m not sure it’s gonna last for the long haul.”
“Why’s that?”
“She’s one of those high-maintenance chicks.” He grimaced. “Takes a lot to keep a woman like her happy, and I’m not sure I have it in me. But I’ll make the best of it until it all blows up in my face.”
“I get it.” It seemed like he was being sincere, so I took the chance and asked, “You heading back to work tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I reckon.” He glanced down at his watch, then let out a breath and stood. “I’m tempted to try my luck at the slots, but I should probably head out.”
“Up to you.”
“I’m gonna get going.”
I reached into my pocket and grabbed my keys as I asked, “You want to take my truck or…”
“I’ll catch a ride.” He started for the door as he said, “See ya when I see ya!”
I gave him a nod, and he disappeared out of the front door.
I didn’t have high hopes for the days that followed.
Davis had showed his ass at the casino, and I feared it was an indicator of what was to come. I had no reason not to. Davis didn’t exactly have the best track record, but over the past few days, he’d really come around.
Yeah. It surprised me, too.
He’d been going to work, and he’d gone without complaint. And when he was at the clubhouse, he did his best to make himself useful. He’d fixed a couple of leaky faucets, hauled off boxes, and made liquor runs. He’d even helped out in the kitchen, making a hell of a dinner with the girls.
It was actually edible, and he hadn’t burned down the kitchen.
I’d say that was a success in itself.
But the doubts still lingered.
He was making moves in the right direction, but I was hesitant to believe all was well. I knew a few good choices didn’t erase a lifetime of bad ones.
But at the same time, it didn’t take away from the fact that his helping out around the clubhouse had meant something to me. And I had no doubt that it meant something to my brothers.
After a long night and an even earlier morning, I decided to go by the clubhouse to invite Davis to the club gathering we were planning for the weekend. I figured it would be a good way to let him know I appreciated his efforts.
But it was early. Way too early for his ass to be up.
So, I decided to stop by the kitchen and grab myself some coffee.
It was hot and strong, just the way I liked it.
I sat down at the table and listened as the brothers started to stir.
There were a couple of random coughs, a few muttered groans and curses, and an unidentified loud thud.
Just your typical morning at the clubhouse.
I found comfort in it.
I liked knowing what to expect.
And lately, it was something I’d been missing.
I finished off the last of my coffee and went over to pour myself another cup.
I was considering making myself some breakfast when Preacher walked in, looking like he’d been up for hours.
It wasn’t surprising. The man was always the first to face the day.
I gave him a nod. “Morning.”
“Morning.”
He poured himself a cup of coffee, then leaned against the counter and gave me one of his looks. It was his way of letting me know that he knew something about me that I more than likely didn’t even know myself. He took a sip from his coffee, then asked, “Late night or early morning?”
“Little of both.”
“Par for the course,” he chuckled. “Miss the days when I could burn the candle at both ends.”
“Like you ever stopped.”
“No stopping but definitely slowing down.” He raised his brow. “How are things with your brother?”
“Not too bad,” I admitted. “He’s been pulling his weight, and he isn’t half-assing it either.”
“I saw him load the truck last night.”
“Heard about that. Heard he’d helped restock the bar, too.”
“Fixed a damn good meal last night.”
“That he did.”
“You think it’ll last?”
“I don’t know.” I took a drink of coffee. “He’s not planning on staying long. In fact, he was supposed to check out a place yesterday.”
“I could make some calls… Any idea what he’s looking for?”
“No clue. I figure he’s just trying to find something he can afford. It can be a lot with all the deposits and shit, but I’ll help if he needs it.”
“Just let me know if I can do anything to help.”
“Appreciate that.” I paused for a moment, then told him, “I don’t regret giving him a chance.”
“Good.” He lifted his cup, then turned and started out of the room. “I hope it stays that way.”
Once he was gone, I exhaled, letting go of tension that I didn’t even realize I was carrying. It was going to be okay. It had to be.
The clubhouse was waking up now. Doors were opening and closing. Voices were drifting down the hall, and the guys were filing in. Life was moving forward like it always did, and it was time for me to do the same.
I rinsed my mug and set it in the sink, then headed for the door. On a whim, I turned to the left. Figured I’d take the opportunity to check in on my big brother and make sure he was squared away for the day.
I stopped at his door and knocked.
No response.
I knocked again, a little harder, and yet again, no answer.
I tried the handle and eased it open a few inches. My gut dropped the second my eyes reached his bed. Davis was dead asleep, sprawled out on the mattress like he didn’t have a care in the world, and right next to him was Chasity, one of the club’s hang-arounds.
She lifted her head, and the second her eyes met mine, I waved her off, letting her know to go back to sleep. I shut the door, and all the good I’d been feeling about my brother went right out the window.
Damn.