GAUGE
“She gone?” Dom asked as Istepped back inside. His eyes widened when he caught sight of my face. “Shit, sorry, brother, that’sher signature trademark; Ishould have warned you.”
“You owe me,” Igrunted. “Isuggest you get your ass home tonight though. Sounded like something pretty damn important was going down.”
Dom sidled up to me, grabbing abeer for himself. “There’salways something important going down with them. That'swhy Idon’tlive there anymore.”
“Still gotta take care of what’syours though,” Ireplied.
“Yeah,” he replied before pressing his lips together. Clearly he had more to say, but he obviously didn’twant to share it. Which was fine by me. Iwasn’tOprah fucking Winfrey.
Ilooked down at my hands, which were on the bar. Rough, dirty hands that were capable of fixing alot of shit. Bikes, engines—you name it, they could fix it. Those same hands were also capable of alot worse. Murder, torture, you name it, they could and would do it with no questions asked. Imoved one of my rings around my finger. It was ascuffed, silver wolf'shead I’dbeen given as akid by my older brother. He was gone now, headed to Hades after arun-in with arival gang one night. But Istill wore his ring all those years later. He’dalways said Iwas alone wolf, just like him. We’draised each other. No mom or dad to teach us right from wrong, so we’dgotten mixed up in all the wrong sorts of shit. It was how we lived, how we survived. We did whatever we needed to do to make it through each day, no matter the consequences. And it had been worth it, right up until he got killed.
Luckily, I’dbeen running errands for the Highwaymen back then and Hardy’sold man—Jon Hardy—had taken me in. Nothing legal, of course, but Iwas agood runner and Ihad no qualms about getting my hands dirty.
Ilooked at the wolf ring now.
Ialways took care of what was mine.
That’sthe way Iwas taught, from both my brother and Jon. I’dmade mistakes over the years, granted. Laney and her mom were two of them, but Idid what Icould now to make that shit right.
Iturned to Dom. “I’mserious. You don’tknow when that shit can be taken away.”
“Yeah, yeah,” he replied, taking aswig of his beer. He sighed and put his bottle down. “Look at you, all wise and shit.”
Ismirked. “Iknow, right.”
“Must be because you’re getting old.” Dom smirked back and started to walk away.
“I’mnot fuckin’ old, brother. Why does everyone keep saying that to me? I’mwise, like Yoda. There’sadifference!” Icalled after him.
He stopped in the doorway of the clubhouse and looked back at me. “Yoda was as old as dirt, brother.”
Ithought it over and came to the same conclusion with agrumble. “Whatever. I’mwise, not old.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
Dom’ssmile fell away. “Well, Jolie ain’twise, brother. Girl don’tknow what’sgood for her.” Iscowled at him, but Dom gave me apointed look. “Stay away from my sister, Gauge.” And then he turned and left.
Ishook my head and looked around the room. Most people weren’tpaying any attention, but Crank sure as hell was. He laughed and turned back to Sketch.
“Fuckin’ women,” Igroaned as Ilit acigarette and thought about Jolie’ssoft skin under the palm of my hand.
The fact that Dom was warning me away from her formysake, and not the other way around, pissed me off something fierce.
Shooter sat down next to me. First time he’dbeen out of his office in hours. He grabbed the bottle of whiskey, not waiting for Devlin to serve it in aglass, and he took along drink of it right from the bottle.
Her eyes widened and Igestured for her to fuck off for awhile.
“Everythin’ okay, Prez?” Iasked.
“When is shit ever okay, Gauge?” he replied, and slammed the bottle back down. “Got Beefcake heading up later with acouple of brothers. Says he has adeal he thinks we might want in on.”
He was avoiding, but that was fine. Neither of us were the sort of men to talk about our feelings and how fucking hard life was.
“Is that ideal? With all the shit we’ve got going on right now anyway?”
