“I expect that red beard will be all up in that cherry!”
“Can we buy tickets to the show?”
It takes active attention to my rage to tamp it down. The comments keep coming.
“He’s untying that bandanna with his fuck-me eyes, isn’t he?”
“Maybe he’s already done it!”
I refuse to look at either one of them, but when I scan the other half of the room, I notice Iron Jack is watching me.
Goddamn, does that man miss a fucking thing?
Betz and Marietta finally leave, and Iron Jack slams his fist on the table. “Everybody get a drink and let’s get this going.”
The tray scoots around, and people take a mug. Adam and I stand at the same moment to reach for the last two.
“Whadya think, old prospect? Is this one good enough for the mouse you brought us?” It’s Two-Shit, and I know he’s asking the question not to start shit with me but out of curiosity. I count him as a friend.
Of course, Chain and Fancy punch each other, laughing. They were the ones who pulled the prank at the bar. “Maybe Merrick will fight him for her.”
Jesus Christ. “I don’t know him,” I say, “and Marietta can choose her own goddamn fuck buddy.”
This gets a big laugh.
“Watch out,” Chain says, “Merrick nearly took out this old man over the girl.” He jerks one of his gray braids. “Yanked my chain.”
The room roars again.
Adam shifts in his seat, casting a quick glance at me. He’s not sure what this is all about, that’s clear.
Oddly, it makes me feel better about the situation. He’s all right.
“All right, shut your fat mouths,” Iron Jack says. “After Wednesday night, you know we have a serious situation at hand. I want to recognize Hoss, who took the brunt of the altercation. Thankfully, they look worse than we do.”
Hoss raises his hand, and I see his arm is in a cast. Black, swollen fingers stick out of the end. I didn’t realize anyone was injured, but Iron Jack had seemed to indicate that things had gotten ugly.
Iron Jack’s gaze travels around the room. “We have a snitch that tipped us off that their next mark is the mouse. They want to rough her up and take turns. We’re not going to let that happen.”
Rage courses through me again. What sort of fuckups are these?
“Two-Shit and I have got campus,” Fancy says. “Though maybe we should have four instead of two.”
“Done,” Iron Jack says. “Who’s available during the day?”
“I can do morning,” I say.
“Good,” he says. “Who else?”
“I might as well go,” Hoss says. “I won’t be much good for the demo for a couple of weeks.” He rests the cast on the table.
“Perfect. Maybe you and Merrick can go in his truck and be on foot inside the building. Fancy and Two-Shit can stay mobile on their bikes.”
Everyone nods.
“The rest of you should be on either the sheetrock gig or the gas station demo,” Iron Jack says. “We’ve got a bid in to rebuild it, so that should keep us busy if we get the work. I figure we will since we’ve been on the job already. Freddy, you be ready to order supplies if it goes through.”
“I have the list from the bid,” Freddy says.
