Chapter 39
Hound Dog
M elody had me worried, normally she wasn’t sick, maybe injured from bumping into the kitchen corners or being mauled down from a rival gang, but never sick.
Ever since the little talk with B.B, I had started to let go piece by piece on duties. The fool was right about me needing to let go and keep trusting that the brothers would figure it out and I could relax.
It gave me a chance to really think about a life with Melody. Her worry that I was tracking her cycle for my own purposes was cute, but it did get me thinking about “what if” and then images of a very pregnant Melody humming while truly barefoot in the kitchen. I felt wrong thinking of it, but the kitchen was her happy place outside of music.
Whatever made her happy made me happy in the end.
I walked into the Blue Sax after stopping by the other businesses. Friday nights were chances for a brighter future, a step in the right direction. Twitty was behind the bar tonight, and B.B was zooming in and out of the back and up the stairs to the lofted area. Memories of Melody at that piano last time sent shivers down my spine.
“Whatcha want, Prez?” Twitty asked.
“Whatever is on tap and ain’t fruity.”
He nodded and turned his back on me.
The Blue Sax was getting busier, and people were walking in, trying to find their friends. Most of them probably were attempting their stardom tonight. The look of nerves and excitement spread across the floor. Twitty handed my beer, it’s icy cold cooling my hand, shaking the thoughts of wishing Melody would one day be up there.
“If I didn’t know any better, you look like a love sick puppy right now, and it’s kind of cute.” B.B’s voice rang behind me as he sat next to me, reaching behind the bar to pull a bottle of whiskey out.
Did I really look like that? Like I longed for someone? Normally that would be something I’d joke with Memphis about. “What can I say? I’m a very lucky, happy man.”
“That you are brother, and fucking finally. If I knew that little peach of a woman you got was the answer to so many of our problems, I would’ve found her quicker. Maybe have her jump your bones sooner. Get that dick wet a bit.” He started to ramble on before taking a swig of the amber liquor.
“Careful what you say, she’s not a piece of ass or a sweetbutt,” I cautioned him.
He waved his hands. “That’s not what I meant. She is a saint. You are the burly, grumpy sad sack that didn’t know a good thing when it hit him. Now look at you. Hogs are taken care of, the businesses, illegal and legal, are both thriving, mother chapter is happy, and you got a woman that absolutely loves you.”
Well that was one thing we hadn’t crossed yet. I darted my eyes away from him, but he leaned over, “Oh boy, did I find the Achilles heel? You have said those magical words right? I mean three simple, meaningful words, but I thought it was obvious.”
I slammed back my drink and signaled Twitty for another.
B.B scoffed. “Nash “Hound Dog” Lane hasn’t said I love you to his woman?”
“She hasn’t said them either.”
“Oh no, you’re not pinning this one on her. You fell for the woman first, and you ain’t said I love you. Jesus Hound, seriously, what’s the hold up? If I was you I’d be professing my undying love for my woman and sealing the deal.” He tried to joke it off and I played along with it.
“That would mean you need to find a woman that will keep up with your antics, and make an honest man out of you,” I retorted back.
“Oh, don’t you worry about that, and I’m afraid to say it.”
“Again that would require you to have a woman.”
He deadpanned. “And I said don’t worry about that.”
The fucker trapped an innocent woman. “You didn’t.”
“She just doesn't know it yet.” He smirked, that cocky bastard.
Fender and Hank came through cocking an eyebrow at the interaction we were having. Fender brushed through his short hair, “I feel like we’re missing something.”
“Would it surprise you that B.B may or may not have a secret basement and if we hear screaming and begging from somewhere that we should be concerned?” I pushed B.B to the side before he told Fender something.
Fender and Hank looked at each other, even more confused. Hank spoke up. “I mean it wouldn’t be uncharacteristic, we all know the fucker is somewhat twisted in the head.”
“And yet I’m perfect the way I am,” B.B grinned.
A roar of laughter spread amongst us, it felt good to laugh again, laugh with my brothers. We were interrupted when a busty, dark haired woman that looked like she belonged in a dirty magazine under a teenager’s bed approached us. Her hips swayed, the curve of her smile tried to charm us, but I didn’t like this. She was absolutely nothing I wanted, not here, not anywhere close to me.
Her smoky voice sounded. “What’s a big fella like you doing all alone, with no one to be by your side tonight?” she looked to the side before darting her eyes back at me. She completely ignored the rest of the guys. Her attention was on me.
“Not interested,” I snarled out.
“Oh, playing hard to get, big boy? That’s okay. I know how to change your mind,” she hissed as she plunged herself into my lap faster and pressed a venomous kiss on my lips. My hands gripped her upper arms, pulling her off of me. I yanked her off, still face to face.
“Who the fuck do you think you are? When a man fucking says that he’s not interested, it’s not a fucking invitation,” I growled, practically throwing her off of m
The taste of her was like poison, my guts wrenched. I couldn’t stand it, my skin crawled, I couldn’t think. As I closed my eyes for a swig of a drink, I tried to erase the feeling that lingered. When I opened my eyes, she’d vanished. It had me worried that I was dreaming or it was a nightmare. But when I turned toward the guys, their shocked expressions were confirmation enough.
“I know I was high that time, because what the fuck was that?” Hank bursted out.
I had no idea, and I didn’t want to go find out. I mean, it wasn’t the first time that a bold, yet desperate woman approached myself or any one of the brothers, but it was the first time that someone violently threw themselves on me.
I tried to push the memory back in my head, afraid that I might need to tell Melody of this, and hopefully she wouldn’t be mad at me. Oh God, I feared the wrath of Melody’s anger. I learned she could be a quiet anger type of person, but I didn’t want to test that theory either.
B.B kept peeking at the door and looking around the place. One by one the singers were getting ready for the night. B.B kept checking his phone, his expression grew from smiling to concerned. Otis made a joke, “Dude, I know that some of the talent needs some work, but why do you look like that?”
“Like what,” B.B spat out.
“Like you’re waiting for someone?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He closed off.
“Let’s welcome to the stage, Ms. Melody Rae,” the host announced.
B.B’s head banged on the bar top, Otis and Hank stood there with mouths agape. My liquor glass fell out of my hands.
“What did he mean by Melody Rae?” I asked calmly before I needed to ask for forgiveness for what would happen if no one spoke.
The host said her name one more time, everyone in the room turned their heads expecting someone to come through or rush to the stage. The host looked around before moving on to the next name.
“Someone better start talking, and now.” My voice deepened.
Otis threw his hands up. “Don’t look at us, you said she was sick.” Hank took a step back, because he knew that I was ready to explode on my supposed VP.
I turned to B.B’s direction, the guilt was all over his face. “What. Am. I. Missing?”
He sighed before trying to curve a smile. “She was going to surprise you. She had told me she was on the way.”
One thing was missing though. “Where is she, B.B?”
“That is a very good question that I do not have an answer to. I’ll call Woody, he was supposed to be watching over her, right?” I could hear the nerves in his voice. As much as I wanted to lay him flat on the ground, I couldn’t. Maybe they had good intentions, but why did the guilt of easing up on my ways, trusting that everything would be okay, go against everything in me?
“Um, Prez, don’t think you need to call Woody,” Hank said, nodding to the back corner of the stage. He was alone. Melody wasn’t with him. Woody's eyes found us at the bar, Otis signaled him over. Woody’s head hung low like a puppy in trouble.
My heart raced, thoughts rapidly fired in my head.
“Prez,” Woody said when he approached the bar.
“Prospect, where is my ol’ lady?” I didn’t hesitate to ask.
He cocked his head. “She was right there at the door when she told me to go on. I thought she was coming to find you.”
Otis chimed in, “Obviously not.”
All color vanished from his face. Woody shook his head in disbelief. “No, no sir. She was right there at the door. No, I’ll find her. Please. Ah, fuck’s sake.”
Woody disappeared into the crowd of people before I could say anything. Then it all came together. She ran. If she was standing by the door, she had a full view of the little venomous trap. She saw everything. She ran without confronting me. She thought I’d do something like betray her.
Her worst insecure thought came true without knowing the truth. I tried to call her, but it went to voicemail. I tried and tried again. Sending her countless messages, although I know she was not one to text. I was holding out for hope.
I tried to use the app thing that Blaze put on my phone to track her phone. But it was still saying she was in the Blue Sax.
“We’ll find her,” B.B said, joining in the search for Melody.
I didn’t pray but I hoped that we would find her and I’d make it up to her.