"Lucky, for the love of God, can you shut the fuck up and listen? Seems like if you had, we wouldn't be in this situation."
"You're going to talk like that to me in front of my boy?"
"Your boy is a grown man and one you allowed to be in this shit. Now, I love him just as much as you. He's in it. Let's think about how to fix all of this without any bloodshed."
"Luck, let's hear him out," Creed pleaded, taking a seat. He was desperate, especially because Braelyn's doctor's appointments were costing him each time she went.
"Thanks, Creed. You're a good man. I see how you want to be all in. We both fucked up, me and your dad, but this can work."
"Hurry the fuck up, Whistle. I ain't got all day." Lucky cut his eyes at his friend, who flicked him off, then looked at Creed. "Remember this shit was to pay off Choppa."
Anytime someone wanted fast money, Choppa would grease their palm, but he also didn't play fair when he changed the terms… mostly to work in his favor. Over the last two years, the farm hadn't been producing as it should, so in the heat of the moment, Lucky paid Choppa a visit, and years later, he had collected more than they could afford to give.
"If we get this loan, we can recover and pay Choppa's loan sharking ass off. We keep the workers on, cut the hours, but pay them enough to keep them afloat. They know we're facing hard times. Tariffs are high as shit, and trucking companies are charging more to get our products out.
"You're a good man, Lucky. Your heart's in the right place, always has been, but listen to me as your friend. We take the hit now, pay the bank back with a lower interest rate, and get Choppa the fuck out of our lives. We still keep an eye out for Griffin, though. Trust me, all thieving motherfuckers pop back up when funds are low. That's when we'll get his ass."
"I don't know. Choppa doesn't like to be outsmarted," Creed advised, sweat rolling down his face.
He'd cautioned his father not to get in bed with Choppa after the way he saw how he moved whenever people struggled to make a payment, from busted lips to broken bones, some with permanent disabilities.
"Luck, what would Grandpa have done?"Creed probed.
That was Lucky's issue because neither his father nor grandfather would have ever gotten in bed with a loan shark like Choppa, let alone a crook like Griffin. Back then, the community came together to help each other out. Lucky, though, was the one the town looked to for help. His heart was huge, and unfortunately, he'd bitten off more than he could chew.
"No time to think about that, son. What's done is done," Lucky answered, then looked at Whistle. "I say me and you go check out the compound for ourselves one more time, rally up a few of our men, but not you, Creed. You've done enough. If something happens to you, I won't forgive myself."
"No, no." Creed shook his head. "I need to earn my keep. Send me. It was new territory. Maybe we went to the wrong one. I can head on back and let you know when I see them. Striker can even come with me."
"Like hell you will. It could be a fucking setup since you've probably already been spotted," Lucky argued. "I'll go. My fuck up, my clean up." He grabbed his shotgun and looked at Whistle.
"Nope." Whistle shook his head. "I don't have a good feeling about this, Lucky. We should all sit tight. Something feels off, and our heads ain't clear."
"And do what in the meantime?" Lucky barked. "Just lie down and take it?"
"I ain't sayin' all of that, but we could show up, be outnumbered, and then ambushed. Remember, that's where they shit, eat, and sleep, not us. I need you to goddamn think, Lucky."
Whistle tapped the side of his head near his temple, looking at his friend.
"We can't just go in blindly, full of rage, guns blazing. Slow and steady always wins the race," Whistle added.
"Slow is what the fuck the farm is producing. Hell, damn near nothing once I pay my people then attend to the land because the animals have to eat."
"We'll make do like we always do," Whistle countered, grabbing and tossing his beer back. "You never should've entertained those sons-a-bitches anyway. Besides, Dolly's probably turning over in her grave now about Creed."
"You're saying you're more scared of Dolly in her grave than me killing that son of a bitch?" Lucky barked.
Whistle's eyes quickly narrowed, then looked at Creed. "Really, Lucky?"
"I didn't mean that, son. Come here."
Before Creed could move, he pulled him into his chest, his hand behind his neck. "I'm just frustrated. You know I love your mama more than I love myself. Hell, he's right." He looked at his firstborn and grinned. "Your mama would kick my ass."
"It's cool, Luck, but what about Starlah? She'll know something's off. She always does. She's been like that all her life."
"Maybe we can send her to Darlene over in Cedar Spike until this shit blows over," Whistle suggested.
"Fuck Darlene. She barely looked at me at my darling's funeral and refused to budge when I asked her to move back here. Said her sister settled by marrying me, like some city nigga would have made her happier. She was happy, and we had a great life together before fucking cancer happened. Hell, it would have still taken her, no matter who she gave her heart to."
