Chapter 21
twenty-one
JUDE
After an entire day of traveling, I feel like a new person as I turn into the alleyway between the market and coffee shop. A long hot shower was just what I needed. Now Greer.
Never underestimate a man determined to get to his woman. Within twenty-one hours, we were home, and I helped unload the games into one of the storage units at the casino before heading back to the prospect house to shower.
I wish I could have flat-out told Greer to expect me to come in early, but discussing specific times and locations over the phone isn't smart. The problem? Now Greer isn’t answering her phone. She must not have gotten the message that I’m coming home earlier than expected.
Her cute little Volkswagen isn’t in the spot marked resident either.
Where are you, Baby Doll?
She’s hanging out with Allie tonight. I distinctly remember her saying that P.J. was dropping Allie off and that they were going to have some girl time.
But I got the impression that they’re staying at Greer’s place. It’s nine o’clock at night already, and she works tomorrow. Where is she? Is she keeping secrets from me?
With quick steps, I thunder back to my bike and pass by the most likely places she’s gone…the grocery store, diner, pharmacy.
P.J. brought Allie to Parran to be with Greer, so they have to be in the area.
Something dark crawls into my soul when I realize where many of the locals spend their nights.
Parran only has so many places to socialize.
Old people have bunko at the VFW Hall, and the younger ones have The Gator Pit.
I’m no stranger to the dive bar myself. The single men of Parran, and some who are not-so-single, use the bar as a hunting ground for a bed partner.
On multiple occasions, we’ve had to teach someone manners after refusing to accept a lady's “no” the first time.
I don’t want to think of Greer in there without me to protect her. It would be different if we were together.
The other alternative—her out with another man—is something that makes me go back to the blackest part of my mind. She wouldn’t. She’s said as much.
Coming back from a trip to find your woman not at home is a shit feeling.
I barely remember my ride to the outskirts of town, too caught up in my own “what ifs,” until I reach the cinderblock building lit with neon lights.
I’m relieved when there’s no powder blue convertible.
Only a long row of civilian vehicles and an orange motorcycle that doesn’t belong to anyone in the club.
Norma-Jean is outside already, cigarette dangling from her lips while she waits for her first gentleman of the night. The town is so small that I’ve crisscrossed all of it searching for her in half an hour. That’s time we could have spent together.
She’s going to pay in the sweetest of ways.
As soon as I find her.
“You waiting on someone?” Norma-Jean asks, blowing a stream of smoke in the air. The smell carries in my direction, mingling with the diesel from the pickups and beer.
“Looking for my woman.”
“Ain’t nobody in there but the normal folks. Malachi ran everybody else off. He’s in a temper on account of the health department closing down the kitchen.”
“Did a redhead show up here? She’d have been with a blonde in a walking cast.”
“Nah, only Betty Aubert running around while Clyde’s out of town again.”
I shake my head at the woman. Allegedly, Clyde likes it when his wife sleeps with other men.
She has his permission, as long as she tells him every dirty detail when he gets home.
I don’t understand it at all because I like knowing Greer is mine and only mine, that I’m the object of all of her attention.
“You good?” I ask. Norma-Jean might be in the oldest profession in the world, but the club looks out for her like we would any other woman. All she has to do is drop a word that a man was too rough with her, and it’s handled.
“Ain’t nobody messin’ around with me. I got my regulars.”
I pull my phone out of my cut the minute it alerts.
Flinch
Did you know your old lady is here?
Jude
Where is “here?”
Flinch
Casino. I left her at the bar because I thought you were still here unloading the shit from Missouri and wouldn’t hear your phone back there.
Jude
How did she even get in?
Flinch
Her cousin is dating one of the fighters. I just found out myself the other day. I was going to tell you when you got back.
Jude
Don’t let her wander around.
As pissed as I am that Greer is at the casino, it’s the arena itself where shit goes down.
After cranking my bike and nodding a quick goodbye to Norma-Jean, I leave the roadhouse’s lot full throttle.
I didn’t think to check the casino, not with how hard it is for the average local to be allowed inside. Only the wealthiest can afford the steep membership fees. Most of our clientele own vacation homes locally or come into town to fish during the day and gamble at night.
Excitement fuels every mile I drive until I pull into the storage facility that serves as a front. I notice the powder-blue compact car in the middle of the lot. We’ve been apart too long, my woman and me.
Parking backward in the long line of motorcycles, I nod at the prospect left to watch over them and stomp inside with determination in every step.