“You don’t need to keep explaining yourself to us,” I told him. “We know you didn’t hurt my mom on purpose.”
“So, when is this party?” Dice asked.
“Thursday,” Silas answered.
“Do you know where?” Dice continued.
“No,” Silas shook his head. “They have three houses they use for parties, but I don’t know which one they’ll be at for this party.”
“Do you know where the three houses are?” I asked.
“Not exactly, but I know what area they’re in,” he said nervously.
“We can work with that,” I said.
After Silas told us where he thought the houses were, I called Phoenix to tell him what we’d learned.
“I see,” Phoenix said calmly. Too calmly. “We’ll decide how at church tomorrow, but we’ll handle it. You said the boy takes care of his sister. Do they need protection?”
“Probably. He mentioned being concerned because the other kid got arrested and he didn’t. Then he specifically said he didn’t have money or parents to help deal with extra problems. I watched him try to decide who was less of a threat—us or the wank stains.”
“Fuck that. Offer them rooms at the clubhouse. They can stay together or in adjacent rooms. I’ll send Diesel and Flint to your mom’s to escort Silas to get his sister. If there’s an issue with the parents, I’ll take care of it.”
“Got it.”
“Are you keeping your girls with you?” he asked.
“Yes, and Mom too, though none of them know that yet.”
“It might be a good idea for you guys to be out of town when shit goes down next week. Is that a possibility with Presley’s job?”
“Yes. She’s off next week, but I don’t think she has anything planned.”
“Talk to her about it and see if she’d be willing to enjoy a few days away on the club’s dime.”
“I’ll mention it, but I can already tell you she won’t let you pay for it if she agrees to go.”
“I’m sure we can find a creative way around that,” he said. “We can work out the details tomorrow during church. Give me a call back if anything else comes up.”
“Will do. Thanks, Prez.”
I pulled Dice to the side and told him the plan. For the sake of time, he talked to Silas while I went inside to update the girls.
“What did he tell you?” Mom asked as soon as I stepped inside.
“I thought you couldn’t hear certain things.”
“I can’t hear them from the source. Ifyoutell me, it’s hearsay.”
“I think it’s best if I tell you both a simplified, generalized version,” I said. “Through no fault of their own, Silas and his sister have caught the attention of some problematic folks in town. As such, they are going to spend spring break at the clubhouse. And since the fight can be linked to the two of you and Ariel, Phoenix suggested you stay at the farm tonight.”
“Hold on. Did you say Ariel and I are linked to the fight?” Presley asked.
“I did.”
“How?”
“Silas got into a fight with Willy Smith’s brother Bill because Bill and their younger sister Billy invited Silas’s sister to a party next week,” I said. “Do you see where I’m going with this?”
