He’d found us a town run by bikers that had vouched that we’d been there for years—though I hadn’t joined the club like the others had. Too much authority gave me hives, and I’d never give anyone else control over anything I said or did ever again.
“But you’ll go to that stupid country club?” he asked.
I scoffed. “The only reason I go there is because I got that free membership with work. And they’re discreet. I get four free beers a week. Plus, they leave me the hell alone.”
Plus, the club was owned by one of the Dixie Wardens MC club members. I knew it was safe to be there, even if I hadn’t joined their club.
“Good choice going there,” he mused. “They’re bound by a hundred bylaws. Plus, Jawbone is where all the rich, hoity-toity people come to ski, and that country club you like to frequent is only a couple of miles away if you ski there. Did you know the president came there to play golf this year?”
Actually, I had.
I’d heard about his plans, and I’d been very careful about staying out of town for the week leading up to his arrival, and the week after.
I wouldn’t look the same as I had when I’d gone into prison. My face was darker. My hair had gone from a buzz to longer and “Very Uncle Jessie” according to my sister. My beard, however, was the newest addition to hide my identity.
Which I fucking hated.
I was not a fan of a beard.
Goatee? Yes. Mustache? Also yes.
Beard? No.
I felt like I was playing dress-up.
“Yeah, I knew,” I said. “Only went to work and home for a month. I was living off the Beanie Weenies you stocked my pantry with last year.”
He chuckled. “That was a gag. Your sister said you hated them.”
I grunted. “I used to. I thought they were the worst meal that you could ever be fed, but then I went to prison for years, and I realized that there are a lot worse things.”
Apollo grunted. “I’m going to text this lady’s information. You want me to contact her, or do you think you can handle that?”
I grunted again. “I’ll do it.”
“Look at you, growing up so fast,” Apollo drawled.
“Fuck off, man.” I paused. “How’s my sister?”
Apollo’s voice changed when he talked about Dru.
I was happy that Dru found someone who loved her the way that she deserved.
If anyone deserved that kind of love, it would be her.
She’d spent her life always second best to my other sister, Daniella.
Our parents had always chosen Daniella over either one of us. But it was Dru who had to put up with her shit on her own after I was incarcerated.
“She’s great, man,” he said. “Currently napping on the couch.”
“She’s drooling, isn’t she?”
“I’ll never tell.”
I laughed. “The fact that you said I’ll never tell and not no means she’s drooling up a storm. Send me a picture.”
“She’ll kill me.”
