14. Player
Chapter fourteen
Player
My father sits flipping his Zippo lighter on the bar top, lost in thought and a million miles away.
I take a sip of my beer and lean toward him. “What’s got you distracted?”
I hope it's not my sister. I really don’t want to be put on the spot about last night. The last thing I want to do is tell him where I dragged her out of last night.
“I had another offer on the land south of Millsboro.”
“Granddad’s old farm. How much?”
“They doubled my asking price.”
I whistle. “What the hell do they want that land for? Who are these people?”
He shrugs. “No clue. When Jimmy was handling it, he told me they wished to remain anonymous.”
“That’s fucking weird,” I say.
“He said companies like Walmart do it all the time. They don’t want the seller to increase the price when they find out some big company wants their land.”
“Dad, it’s in the middle of nowhere. They’re not building a Walmart out there.”
“I know that.”
“It’s too far out to even build a subdivision, and it’s not even good farmland from what you told me.”
“Not really. The soil is crap, and it's rocky. About the only thing it's good for is hunting land.”
I huff a laugh. “Not much white tail out there anymore. Why don’t you just sell it? Make a mint.”
“I can’t. That land has been in our family for generations. I’m not gonna be the one who sells it off.”
“But it’s just wasting away.”
“The original homestead is still there.”
“Dad, that’s nothing but an old log cabin that’s falling apart.”
“I know that. And when I’m gone, you and your brothers can sell the damn place, but it won’t be me, understand?” He’s pissed now and his voice is raised.
“I understand. Just chill out.”
“This is the second time these jerks have doubled their offer. I need to know what the hell they plan to do with it.”
Drae sits on his other side. “Maybe the government wants to put a nuclear site there.”
He’s joking, but Dad doesn’t laugh; he just glares at Drae.
Drae wisely changes the subject. “So we goin’ to California for the national meet this year?”
Dad drags a hand through his hair. “Shit. It’s in June. How many weeks away is it?”
“About eight. We goin’?”
“Yeah. I forgot that’s coming up. What with Cici graduating and the move and everything.”
“You throwing her a graduation party?” Drae asks.
“Hey, that would cheer her up. A big party at the beach house. We can do a bonfire and volleyball or whatever she wants,” I add.
“Sure, I guess. You two can be in charge of that.”
Drae and I exchange a look. Great. Neither of us are thrilled with that task.
We work out the details of the trip to Cali, and Drae and I each get assigned several tasks like making motel reservations on the way out there. There are too many of us to just wing it, and nobody wants to camp out. Hauling sleeping bags sucks.
At least the place we’re going is in southern California, so it should be nice weather.
“We stoppin’ in Vegas this year?” Drae asks.
“Sure. Get with Cruz and make the route. He’s the Road Captain after all,” Dad says.
“Who’s stayin’ back this year?” I ask.
My father drags a hand down his face. “Guess the prospects and Conman. That’ll give us an even dozen.”
“What about the chase vehicle?”
“Right. Draw straws to see who gets stuck drivin’ it,” he mutters.
I can tell he’s distracted, and I wonder if he knows about Sissy and last night. My eyes cut to Drae, and I give him a look, then jerk my head.
He gets my message.
Leaning over, I kiss Taylor’s forehead. “Be back in a minute, darlin’.” I turn to the prospect bartending and tap my hand on the bar top. “Get the lady another one, Billy Jack.”
“Yes, sir.”
I wander outside and light up a smoke. A moment later, Drae joins me.
We connect eyes, and I lift my brow. “Does he know?”
“No. Not from me, anyway. He hasn’t said anything to make me think he knows.”
“How’d the drop off go?”
“Fine. I coasted up to your father’s place real quiet and let her off. She said she had a key, and I watched until she was inside.”
“That all?” He knows what I’m asking, and his eyes shift to the side. “Drae. Answer me.”
“She was upset. At first, she wanted me to take her back to the old place. Said she wanted to see it one more time. Begged me, even. I told her it was late, and she needed to get inside and go to bed.”
“And?” I take a drag off my cigarette; my eyes locked with his.
He sighs. “I told her if she still wanted to go, I’d take her by there today. I was afraid if I didn’t at least offer that much, she’d get in her car and go alone.”
I nod, my eyes flicking to the horizon. “You ever find out who she went up there with? Who gave her a ride?”
“She just said a friend.”
I shift on my boots. “But you thought it was Molly?”
He shrugs. “The chick next to her looked like Molly, but I could have been wrong. I can’t swear on it.”
I shake my head, thinking. “It doesn’t add up. What the hell would Molly be doing with Sissy? She’s years older than my sister.”
“I don’t know. I mean, if she wants to get close to power and things with you seem to have obviously taken a turn, she’s got to know she’s not going to get any of your time anymore.”
“No shit.”
“She already tried your father a long time ago. That went nowhere.”
“Wouldn’t put it past her to try again, though.”
“Maybe.” He shrugs again. “She could be trying to befriend Sissy because she’s the club princess, and it keeps her around.”
My eyes drill into him. “You ever get with her?”
“Fuck no. She ain’t my type.”
“Blonde and stacked ain’t your type? Since when?” Then my eyes sharpen. “Because you’ve got your eye on some other chick, don’t you?” My fucking sister. I shake my head. “That’s goin’ nowhere, Drae. You get that, right?”
“Yup. I get that.”
“Gage would kill you. Hell, if he didn’t, I would.”
“Look, I know all that. I’m not crossing that line, VP. What more do you want from me?”
“I guess I want to know you’re not making secret plans with my sister to ride her around town like you’re her private escort or something.”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t reply.
I drag a hand through my hair.
“So, you want me to tell her I’m not coming today?”
I fling my cigarette and whirl on him. “Fine. Take her for one last goodbye at the old house. Then you are done with her. No more.”
He gives me a curt nod, and I brush past him, flinging the clubhouse door wide and going to Taylor.
What other bullshit has this day got in store for me?
I should be happy. I should be on cloud fucking nine.
I had a night of incredible sex with Taylor after all this time.
And even though we got interrupted, it was still the best night of my life in fucking years.
As I approach the bar, I see my brother, Beck, laughing it up with Taylor. I shove him aside and take my spot.
My eyes land on my father. He’s staring morosely into his whiskey glass.
I still haven’t gotten to the bottom of whatever is bothering him.
Could be anything. His buddy being murdered, moving out of the home he shared with my mother all these years, worrying that Sissy hates it, worrying he fucked up… Who knows.
Maybe I just need to give him time.
Checking the clock behind the bar, I see it’s 1:00 p.m. Taylor’s shift starts at four.
I spin her on her bar stool to face me and press my forehead to hers. “How about I take you out for a nice lunch?”
“Sounds great.”
I grin. “And maybe after, we can go back to my place for an afternoon nap.”
Beck leans toward her on the other side and loudly whispers in her ear. “You know what that’s code for, darlin’.”
“Fuck off,” I snap at him, over her head. “Get your own woman.”
Taylor waggles her brows. “A nap does sound good.”
I lace our fingers together and walk her out to my bike.
As we stand strapping our helmets on, her eyes meet mine. “I overheard you talking about a trip out to California. When is that?”
“June. Lots of stuff coming up. Sissy graduates next month. Dad’s gonna throw her a party out at the beach. Then we’ve got the National Meet in Anarchy. It’s gonna be a haul, so we’ll probably leave the week before to give us plenty of time to get out there.”
“California. That’s so far.”
“Yeah.” I pull her to me. “You gonna miss me?”
“What do you think?”
“You better. Cause I’m gonna miss the hell out of you.”
I give her a kiss, we climb on the bike, and roar out of the clubhouse lot.