SAVAGE
Agreat deal of money passed through our hands on a monthly basis, most of which had come to us illegally.
We had to launder that money, so we started a construction company.
It was just supposed to be a front, but in less than a year, Guardrail had turned it into quite a business.
It not only provided us with the means to launder our ill-gotten gains but also provided us with a legitimate company that made us a good bit of money on its own.
So, when we weren’t off doing runs or having church, we were out at the construction site, working on our latest project, and today, that project was installing a swimming pool in a luxurious mansion that belonged to one of our clients, a wealthy businessman with a taste for the finer things in life.
My brothers and I were working tirelessly under the scorching sun when I heard Rooster complain, “Fuck. It’s hot as balls out here.”
“It’s not as bad as it was yesterday.”
“Are you on crack? It’s only noon, and I’ve already soaked through my clothes, and I’m pretty sure I’ve chaffed my taint.” Rooster wiped the sweat from his brow as he whined, “I won’t walk right for a week.”
“Like you ever did.” Torch gave him a smirk as he teased, “Hell, that chaffing might be the best thing that ever happened to ya.”
“Gotta wonder how you know about my walk.” Rooster cocked his brow. “You been looking at my ass?”
“Fuck no.”
“You sure about that?” Rooster reached behind him and grabbed an ass cheek. “I mean, it’s a good ass. I can see why you’d wanna stare at it.”
They would’ve kept at it all afternoon if I hadn’t stepped between them and said, “Alright, you two. Enough of the bullshit. We’ve got work to do.”
And just like that, they both shook it off and got back to work.
My father was always the one who kept the guys on track, and it never took much. Just a quick look or commanding statement and the goofing came to a halt. It felt odd having them react similarly to me, but at the same time, it felt good.
Damn good.
I glanced over at my father and found him staring back at me with a proud smile on his face.
He gave me a quick nod, then went back to his conversation with Guardrail.
We still had a lot to do to get the plumbing and electrical ready for the shotcrete, so I did a recheck of the layout and got busy prepping the plumbing for the deck jets.
One task led to the next, and before I knew it, the guys were starting to disperse. I finished up what I was doing and started gathering up my things. I was preparing to head out when Dad came up to me and said, “Your mother wants to know if you picked up your suit.”
“I haven’t gotten around to it.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I’m not going.” Dad gave me one of his looks, and I knew I was about to get blowback. “I’ve got a lot of shit going on. I don’t have time nor the desire to go to some stupid wedding.”
“It’s important to your mother.”
“I know.” My throat tightened as I told him, “But Londyn will be there.”
“And what if she is.”
“I haven’t seen her in almost five years.
I didn’t see her when she came asking for me at the clubhouse.
I didn’t see her when she came home to see her folks.
I didn’t read her fucking letters or answer her calls.
It damn near killed me, and now, because of some fucking wedding, I’m supposed to just forget about all that and pretend like it never happened. ”
“Maybe it’s time.”
“I can’t, Dad. It would be too hard.” I grabbed my cooler and started towards the parking lot. “I would think you, above anyone else, would get that.”
I hoped that would be the end of our conversation, but no such luck. Dad stormed up behind me and asked, “Tell me this... Why’d you do it? Why’d you turn her away?”
“I did it for her.” I stopped and faced him as I added, “I wanted her to have a chance to have the life she deserved, and she couldn’t have that with me.”
“And you know, without a doubt, that she felt the same way.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Then, maybe it’s time you found out.” He put his hand on my shoulder as he told me, “I get why you did what you did, son. It was an admirable thing, but you’ve given her time to do her thing. So, if she still means something to you, it’s time you did something about it.”
“And what if she’s moved on?”
“Then, you’ll have to find a way to accept it, but there’s always the chance that she hasn’t.”
He gave me a fatherly pop on the bicep, then turned and got in his truck.
I was still mulling over what he’d said when he pulled out of the drive.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Rooster came up behind me and announced, “Torch and I are heading over to Danvers for dinner and a cold one. You wanna come with?”
“Gonna have to pass tonight, brother. I’ve got some things I need to tend to.”
“Need a hand?”
“Nah, I’ve got it.”
“You know where we’ll be if you change your mind.”
I nodded, then walked over to my pickup.
Seconds later, I was on the road driving towards town.
I still had my hesitations about going to the wedding, but if I did decide to go, I would need my suit.
So, I drove over to Hagley’s and parked right at the front door of the store, then got out and rushed up to the front door.
I was about to dart inside when I felt a small body slam into mine.
I looked down and found a pair of crystal blue eyes staring up at me. The kid was four or five with whitish-blond hair that reminded me of the pictures I’d seen of my dad when he was a kid. He was holding an ice cream cone that was now smeared into my jeans. "Whoa! Easy there, kid!”
The boy's lopsided grin faltered as he looked at the mess he had made. “Oh, I’m swo-ry.”
“It’s all good.” I’d never laid eyes on him before, but there was something familiar about him—like I should’ve known him. But I didn’t. I had no idea who he was. “You got a name, kid?”
“Dalton.”
“Good to meet ya, Dalton. I’m Malcomb.”
“You’re wer-weally tall.”
“Compared to you, I am.” I glanced down at the cone in his hand and was surprised when I noticed that the ice cream was green. It wasn’t a common flavor, especially for kids, so I had to ask, “Is that pistachio?”
“Hm-hmm,” he answered. “It’s my fav-rit.”
“It’s my favorite, too.” I motioned my hand over to the front door of the ice cream shop as I told him, “Why don’t I grab us both another one?”
The boy's face lit up, and he nodded eagerly, taking my hand as we started over to the ice cream shop. We didn’t get far when the door flew open and Londyn’s mother came rushing out. “Dalton?”
“Here I am.”
“Oh, my heavens! You scared me to death!” She rushed over and took the kid’s hand as she scolded, “I told you to wait beside me!”
“Hello, Mrs. Hollings.”
“Hi, Malcomb.” She looked a bit shaken as she said, “It’s nice to see you.”
“Good to see you, too. It’s been a while.” I glanced down at the kid and chuckled. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full.”
“I certainly do.” She brushed the kid’s hair out of his face, then looked over at his cone and gasped when she noticed that the top of it was gone. “What did you do?”
I pointed to my jeans and chuckled. “We had a bit of a mishap.”
“Oh, no!” An embarrassed blush crept over her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Malcomb.”
“Don’t be. It was just a fluke.” I pointed over to the ice cream shop as I told her, “I was just about to buy him another.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary.”
“But...” the boy protested.
“We have to get back home.” Mrs. Hollings started tugging him towards her car as she told him, “We’re already late.”
“Maybe next time, kid.”
“Thank you, Malcomb!” Mrs. Hollings continued towards her car as she shouted, “Tell your mother I said hello!”
“Will do.”
I watched as she helped him into the backseat, then rushed around to get into the driver’s seat.
After a quick wave, she whipped out of the parking spot and sped away.
I found our interaction a bit odd, but with Hagley’s closing soon, I didn’t have time to think much about it.
I brushed off the remaining ice cream, then turned and rushed inside the men’s clothing store.
Mr. Hagley was sitting in his favorite chair with his feet propped up and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. He was at least ninety, frail and wrinkled, but he still had his wits about him. He knew me the second I walked in. “Well, there’s a face I haven’t seen in a while.”
“Hey there, Mr. Hagley. How’s it going?”
“I can’t complain.” He leaned forward, using his own weight to help pull himself from the chair, then wobbled over to me. “I take it you’re here to try on the suit your mother picked out.”
“Afraid so.”
“This is for the Daniels wedding, right?”
I nodded, feeling a bit sheepish. Mr. Hagley was the only tailor in town, and I had to admit, I wasn't thrilled about having to wear a suit. But it was a wedding and my mother insisted, so there was no getting out of it.
Mr. Hagley shuffled over to a rack of suits and began pulling them out, holding each one up for inspection. "Your mother said you're a size 40 long," he said, squinting at me through his thick glasses.
"That's right."
He handed me a navy-blue suit and gestured for me to try it. I stepped behind the curtain and pulled it closed, then quickly slipped out of my work clothes. I put on the suit and checked myself out in the mirror. It was a little snug in the shoulders but otherwise fit well.
When I stepped out from behind the curtain, Mr. Hagley was waiting for me with a measuring tape tucked between his lips. He slowly circled me, toying with the fabric and muttering measurements under his breath. He sounded pleased as he mumbled, "Okay, okay. Looks good. How does that feel?"
“It’s a little tight around the shoulders, but not too bad.”
“We could always go up a size, but this is the right fit.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“Of course, I am.” He slipped the measuring tape around my neck as he asked, “Now, what about a shirt?”
I considered refusing, but I knew there was no point.
Mr. Hagley wasn’t going to let me out of there until I had everything I needed.
After spending a small fortune, I said my goodbyes to Mr. Hagley and headed home.
Once I got to the house, I put away my new duds and called my mother.
I could hear the smile in her voice as she said, “Hey, sweetheart. I was hoping to hear from you today.”
“I just wanted to let you know that I picked up my suit.”
“Oh, good,” she replied happily. “Did you like it?”
“It’s fine... It’s a suit.”
“Well, I bet you look very handsome in it.”
My cut was the only jacket I ever wore, and I had no desire to change that. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice in the matter. “If you say so.”
“I do say so. I can’t wait to see you in it.”
“You got Dad wearing one, too?”
“Yes, dear.” She sighed. “He will be wearing one, and like you, he won’t be thrilled about it. But the wedding won’t last long, so maybe you two can find a way to suffer through.”
“We’ll be fine.” My encounter with Mrs. Hollings was still fresh on my mind, so I said, “I saw Mrs. Hollings today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, she was at Marvin’s getting ice cream with some kid.”
“Really? Wonder who that could’ve been?”
“No idea. I would’ve asked her, but she was in a pretty big rush and bolted before I could ask.”
“I’m sure he was just a relative or a neighbor kid. Jane is always helping folks out.”
“That’s what I figured.” Even as I said the words, something didn’t feel right. There was something about that kid that got under my skin, so I told her, “But he looked like someone we should know.”
“Well, I’ll have to ask her about him.”
“Nah, it’s not a big deal. I was just curious.” I glanced up at the clock, and my stomach sank when I saw that it was already after eight. “I better get going. We’ve got a long one coming tomorrow.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Have a good night.”
“I’m gonna do my best.”
I hung up the phone, and after a long, hot shower, I hit the sack. Unlike the night before, I had no problem falling asleep, and I slept well. I woke up the next morning feeling pretty damn good, but that good feeling was shot to hell with a text from Maverick.
Maverick:
We got trouble.
Need you at the club now.