The tree sways at four. And drops with a heavy rustle at seven.
There’s a groan around the crowd.
He raises his hand in the air. “Thank you. I will take all the titles and all the whiskey.”
“Fucker wins every single year,” Atom says over my shoulder.
“I’m not saying I’m the best in the world,” Catfish drawls, walking towards us. “But I do think I have the most refined wrist action.”
He motions like he’s jerking off.
I almost spit out my hot chocolate.
24
CATFISH
“So, we’re about two hundred thousand short, but if we keep Wren with us for at least four months, we can cover that, even if Wren doesn’t find the rest of the money,” Grudge says, resting his hands on the top of his head.
We’re in his office the following day, finishing up the conversation we started yesterday but had to end prematurely because of Lucy’s arrival and the tree-cutting competition. Out in the clubhouse, it’s a hive of activity as we get ready for the tree-decorating family party. Wren is helping Babyface and Taco put out extra chairs and tables while the old ladies make a fuss in the kitchen.
“Yeah, that’s about the size of it. If we get that money from King, we’ll make it to spring. Or we can take on a few more runs in the trucks in January and February. Maybe even speak to some of the clubs in the south, see if they need a little extra manpower for anything they got going on. If we could off load a couple of our guys from our books and shunt them onto someone else’s for the winter, that would help reduce the risk too.”
Grudge nods. “I’ll ask around. Was going to chat with Knox in Florida later this week, anyway.”
Knox, also known as Fort Knox, because he’s utterly impenetrable. He grew up running moonshine through the swamps and citrus groves north of Tampa. But he rose through the ranks of the Iron Outlaws by proving himself a genius at planning ambushes and escapes. He’s regarded as one of the best former road captains; he’s fiercely loyal and a quiet tactician. It’s no wonder he was tapped by national to lead a chapter.
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I think Michigan had some shit they needed help with. I’ll ask there too.”
My mind flips back to what Wren told me. About the foster parent who tried to assault them. It makes me feel sick to my stomach that a man could think, even for a second, about getting into bed with a child. If there’s trouble in Michigan once Wren is safe, I’d be happy to help. I wonder what the chances are of me doing a detour to Lansing if I do go.
“You and Wren. You’re keeping it professional, right?”
“Don’t you have enough problems of your own to deal with without getting in my face?”
“It’s not that. It’s just…fuck, I worry that King won’t pay us the fifty grand a month if he thinks one of us is fucking or claiming Wren.”
“Does everything have to be that mercenary?” I ask.
His brow furrows. “To be certain it’s a non-issue, I’m gonna switch Jackal and Shade out. They can stay in the house with Wren. I want you unpacked and out of there tonight.”
“Fuck you. There’s no way I’m?—”
My sentence is cut off by the sound of Grudge’s phone ringing. And thank fuck it does, ‘cos there’s no way I’m moving away from Wren. We understand each other. Some of thebrothers talk about how the person you end up with should be your soft place to land. But I like the idea of having someone in my life who’d want to protect me too. I want someone who feels like we’re in something together. Someone I don’t have to keep secrets from or sugarcoat things with. Someone who wants to be part of the solution with me.
“King,” Grudge says. “I’m here with Catfish.”
I hadn’t realized it was a video chat.
“Brothers,” he says. “I need to speak with Wren. Catfish, are you with them?”
“They’re outside in the clubhouse. What’s going on?” I ask.
“Grudge, can you get them while I talk with Catfish?”
Grudge looks at me like he just grew a second set of eyes, but I shrug. I have no idea what this is about.
