Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mercury
As we leave from visiting Skippy, I notice that Orion is a little withdrawn.
He’s not as happy-go-lucky as he usually is and that doesn’t sit right with me.
As we curve through the mountains heading back to the clubhouse, I let my mind wander to Finley and my growing attraction to her.
I was already curious about her and longing for her company, but the need to be near her has grown over time.
I’m just unsure how to make her see me, not the man who found her half-dead and broken by what was intended to kill her.
Right now, I’m her rescuer, and that’s fine, but in the long run, I want to be her everything—her confidant, her lover, her best friend. I need to use the skills I’ve honed as a tracker and apply it to building a relationship with her.
The Bluetooth in my headset goes off as Gemini speaks. “We haven’t stopped by and checked in with Midas in a while, should we take a detour and go to the bowling alley?”
“Can I get a glass of moonshine while we’re there?” Orion asks, his voice monotone, lacking its usual jovial sound.
“As long as you don’t ride while under the influence,” Aries replies. Seems I’m not the only one who doesn’t like how down in the dumps our cousin is.
“What am I gonna do? Ride bitch on your bike?” Orion inquires.
“If that’s what needs to happen,” Gemini concludes.
“Could be a good time,” Orion remarks, a spark of his old, playful self in his comment.
“As long as your hands don’t roam, we’re golden, brother,” Aries responds.
“You know you like my hands on your body, cuz,” Orion teases, but it lacks the traditional jokester tone.
Deciding to goad him so I can bring him out of his funk, I say, “That’s a you thing, Orion. You’re the one who likes to feel people up.”
“Hey, I resent that accusation. Everybody I touch is a consensual act,” Orion argues.
“Yours or theirs,” I taunt.
“Watch it, Mercury,” Orion warns.
Since I haven’t gotten the reaction I was trying to get from him, I let it go and don’t keep pressing on his sore spot. “Lighten up, O, I was only playing with you.”
“Oh, so now you’ve found a sense of humor,” he snarks.
“It happens from time to time,” I convey as we swing into the bowling alley’s parking lot.
Once we park in formation, we head inside to find Midas. The parking lot is about half full, so we won’t be able to discuss club business per se, but we can get a feel for how things are going at least.
“Hey, Midas, you got a few?” Gemini asks when we find him behind the counter.
All the lanes are busy, as is the concession stand and I realize most of the participants are kids. “Is school out or something?” I ask.
“Yeah, some kind of teacher in-service day or some shit,” Midas replies. “Let me get Johnny over here to watch the counter and we can go into the office.”
“Mind getting me a glass of your best moonshine before we head in there?” Orion asks him as he takes a seat at the bench and watches the toddlers use one of those slides to roll their ball down into the lane.
“Fuck, I’d bowl a three hundred if I could use one of those,” he muses, causing us to burst out laughing.
Once his assistant manager, Johnny, comes over, we walk to the back where Midas’ office is located. Surprisingly, it’s a decent sized room, and there are enough chairs for all of us.
“What’s going on?” Midas questions after we all sit down, Orion now sipping his blueberry infused moonshine and sighing over the flavor.
Personally, that’s one I can’t stand and I know there are sour-faced pictures of me floating out there from the time the aunts had me try it.
Needless to say, that’s not something I’ll be trying again.
“So, Hercules inspected the existing clubhouse and found mold. After a lot of discussion, we opted to raze it after making sure we got anything out that could be important, and we bought a barndominium. Here’s the thing, though.
Sutton covered the cost and that doesn’t sit right with any of us.
Do we have anything in our coffers that we can give her as a down payment toward that loan and then do monthly payments?
It’s going to need some specialized reconfiguring, so the cost will go up, of course. ”
He pulls out a ledger and says, “I started this for each of the businesses we have planned, but will eventually put it all on a computer once I find a software program I like. We were loaned two million total from the East and West Texas chapters, so we could pay her back in full and have plenty left, since I’ve already factored in the cost to get the shop up to code and running.
That business alone will ensure that we’ll be able to repay our brothers timely, plus do whatever you want to fix the clubhouse.
The bowling alley is always in the black and business has picked up now that we’re offering leagues.
I know that you said the West Texas president’s old lady is good with finding livestock, so we’ll need her to help us start that, but from what I’ve seen, it’s rather profitable. ”
“So, sperm sells?” Orion asks.
I shake my head and reply, “Dumbass, men sell it all the time to banks who freeze it for people to use.” I don’t voice the fact that the Central Texas branch runs its own stud service, but it’s for people not cattle.
“Y’all, knock it off, this is important,” Gemini barks.
“We need the barns and pasture area to raise the beef and bison, and a separate area for the bulls we’re going to breed for the rodeo circuit.
Just one or two bulls from that would definitely make bank, since it would get our name out there in a positive way. ”
“I think with everything you guys are gearing up to start, it’s going to make a difference,” Midas replies.
“We’ve needed a decent automotive shop for years, one that doesn’t fuck its customers over.
Plus, Hercules’ construction company is gaining a good reputation and now that you’re partnering with him, again, it’s only gonna improve. ”
“Thank fuck, it’s rough seeing the way some people react when they see us in town,” Gemini admits. “Being painted with the tarred brush from someone who was a complete asshole is sometimes hard to take, to be honest.”
“It can only go up, especially since you’re going to open the tattoo shop soon. Nobody likes having to go two towns over to get their ink,” Midas adds.
“We’ve got this, y’all,” I say. “Our fathers taught us well, and we’ll bring that knowledge and our own abilities to the table. Before we know it, people won’t move to the other side of the street when we come walking down the sidewalk.”
“I mean, a little fear isn’t bad,” Orion states. “We are Kings, after all, but we don’t want people loathing and hating us. We’re nice guys!”
“Unless someone fucks with us, then all bets are off,” Gemini reminds him.
“We have to see which of our brothers has talent with a gun,” I remark. “Because if it’s a Kings owned business, the reputation will precede us, y’all. I mean, if any of them has had ink laid by Abyss from West Texas, they’ll know in a heartbeat whether our artists have what it takes.”
“Maybe we should reach out to him and see if he knows of anyone who is willing to relocate,” Gemini muses.
“I have no issues with using our connections so we can get this chapter fully up and running as soon as possible,” I decree. “I’ll make the call later.”
“How’s the moonshine running?” Orion asks, changing the subject. He’s good for that, but it’s another aspect of our business so we need to know.
“Ever since I added Granny Edna to my team, it’s been hard to keep up with the orders,” Midas replies.
Looking at Orion’s empty cup, he adds, “She’s a master with infusing flavors into the ‘shine and has been adding new flavors every week to test which ones would sell the best. So far, blueberry, apple, and caramel are the top runners.” I scrunch up my nose when he mentions my kryptonite and Pisces chuckles when he sees the look on my face.
“And you’re keeping up with each one so we know when we can start repaying our brothers in Texas?” Gemini questions, ignoring the shared look between me and Pisces.
“Fuck yeah, like I said, right now, I’m doing it old school until I find the software program I like,” Midas retorts.
“Maybe Orbit could create one,” I suggest. “Because we’ve definitely got a hodge podge, and I know the moonshine at least will be off the books.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Gemini says. “Midas, let me know what you have to have and I’ll get Orbit on it for you.”
“Works for me. I’ll pull all my notes together and shoot you a text later today,” Midas replies.
“Then we’ve got a plan. Alright, brothers, let’s head back to the clubhouse,” Gemini states.