“Dom?” Afemale voice echoed back to me through the small speaker. “Dom, is that you?”
“No, this is Gauge. Dom’sfucked up somewhere. Who’sthis?”
“It’sJolie…”
“Oh Jesus, not your crazy ass again. Big brother ain’tcomin’ home tonight, okay? Deal with whatever family shit you’ve got going on yourself.” Ihung up, but before Icould slam Dom’sphone back down on the table, it was ringing again. Iglanced at the screen, seeing that it was Jolie again. Or Ipresumed it was. The name on the screen flashed up as ‘Tiny Bitchy Satan.’ Isnickered and pressed decline before putting the phone down in front of me.
Ipicked up Dom’sbottle of Jack and took along swallow, scowling as Dom’sphone took off ringing once more.
Ihit accept that time, shoving the phone to my ear and then wishing Ihadn’tas Jolie’sscreeching voice almost burst my eardrum.
“Don’tyou fucking hang up on me you piece of shit!”
“Fuck you!”
“No, fuck you!” she screamed back.
“Fuck you back to hell, bitch!”
“Iswear to God, Gauge!” she raged, and Ichuckled. “Get me my fucking brother, now!”
And Iwould have hung up on her again if it wasn’tfor the fact that she sounded like she was gasping for air. Wheezing breaths echoed down the phone, and Ifelt apang of something inside of me. This didn'tsound like atemper tantrum anymore. Or maybe it did, but there was real panic in her voice that made me sit up straighter.
“Like Isaid, he’sfucked up somewhere,” Isaid gruffly. “Ican find him, but he’sin no fit state to walk, never mind deal with whatever shit you want to lay on him.”
Silence, barring her panicked gasps, filled the phone.
“Jolie?” Iasked warily. After everything that had happened recently with the club and the Reverend, Irealized that Ishould have perhaps been more tolerant toward her in case this was aclub problem. The Reverend’smen had taken our women and killed one of our brothers. They had no qualms about doing whatever needed to be done to get what they wanted. “Jolie, what happened?”
“I...Imessed up,” she said after aconsiderable pause.
“How so?” Istood up as Greasy came back, waving him off with my left hand. Iheaded over to Shooter’soffice, shutting the door behind me to drown out the party'snoises.
“Idon’twant to say,” she replied, the softness in her tone hardening. “Ishouldn’thave called.”
“Well you did.”
Silence.
“Jolie, what happened?”
“Don’tworry about it. I’ll deal with it.” And with that she ended the call.
Istared at the black screen in irritation for along moment before heading back out to the party and seeking out Casa. He was sitting on top of the bar, his arm slung around Harlow, who was standing in front of him smiling.
“Gauge! Here he is. The daddy of the Highwaymen!” he cackled as Igot closer, and everyone close to him laughed along.
“Yeah, yeah, keep laughing, motherfuckers.” Iglared, silencing them all. “Casa, need aword. It’surgent.” Igestured for him to follow me, already knowing he would.
Back in Shooter’soffice, Iclosed the door and turned to him. “Ineed to find someone, and quickly.”
“You stalkin’ again? Ilike it, you dirty motherfucker!” Casa laughed, already moving around to Shooter'scomputer. Unlike everything else in that shithole, the computer was top of the line, all seeing and all knowing. Casa had installed it himself. “Who is it then?” He cracked his knuckles, grinning widely, his inebriations almost nonexistent. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he started the machine up, already pulling up computer programs.
Isighed before Ispoke, knowing it was going to bring up questions. “Jolie,” Isaid carefully.
Casa paused in what he was doing, turning to look up at me slowly, his smile widening into ashit-eating grin. “Dom’sgoing to be pleased.”
“It’snot like that.”
