“This shit with Butch, real sorry, Jesse. The whole club is still in shock. None of us saw it coming.”
I nodded, not really wanting to talk about it, but I had known I would have to when I came here. All the other charters had been desperate to talk about it too, but I’d so far avoided it. Clearly that wasn’t going to happen for much longer.
Not that I could blame them.
“Thanks, the club appreciates it,” I replied, my throat feeling tight.
He reached into his cut and pulled out a cigar before handing it to me. “It’s the life we choose to lead though, right?”
I took the cigar and nodded at Beefcake. “Damn straight.”
“Anything I can do, you let me know,” Beefcake added.
“Think we could do with a drink,” Casa said, knowing me well enough to cut in.
“Of course, of course, let’s go get a drink. You still with that woman of yours?”
We headed to the door, and he pulled it open and we all filtered out, heading back into the main clubhouse.
“Yeah,” I replied, lying through my teeth.
“Woman is fucking beautiful, but we’ve got plenty of bitches here if you wanted a break from the usual, brother. Take what you need,” Beefcake said before heading off to his seat.
Bridge patted me on the shoulder and stalked off, leaving me and Casa alone. I pulled out my cell and tried to call Hardy again, but it only rang out and went to voicemail. I hung up and slipped my cell in my pocket and looked around, finding Dom, Pipes, and Max sitting together drinking beer out of red plastic cups. A sexy little brunette was draped across Dom, her face buried in his lap where she was bobbing her head up and down while she gave him a blowjob—not that you could tell from the blasé look on his face. He saw me and Casa and pushed the brunette away, ignoring her angry glare. Instead he tucked himself back in his jeans and zipped them back up. He walked toward us, with Pipes and Max following close behind.
“Everything cool?” he asked, his tone devoid of emotion.
“Yeah, the Bangers are with us, no matter what goes down,” I replied.
“Any news on Hardy?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Just ringing out constantly.” I frowned, wondering what the fuck else could go wrong with that crazy-ass night.
“I tried Rider and Gauge but there was no answer from either of them,” Dom said, dragging a hand down his beard. “I don’t like this, Jesse. Something ain’t right.”
“I feel you, and I agree, but fuck knows what’s going on. Meeting they were going to was nothing but a meet and greet. Nothing heavy.”
“Let’s wait it out, see what Hardy says in the morning. We’ll figure it all out,” Casa said and Dom nodded in agreement.
The blonde from earlier had spotted me and was on her way over, her eyes making their way up and down me. “Fuck me, I could really do without this shit tonight.”
Casa turned to look and then he grinned. “You want me to take care of that problem for you, boss?”
“Fuck yeah, go knock yourself out,” I laughed and patted him on the shoulder.
“No problem. All in the line of duty and all that shit.” He laughed and took off, cutting into the blonde’s path and directing her in the opposite direction.
“Yeah, you’re a real fucking saint, Casa.” I shook my head and laughed. “Let’s get a beer. Not much I can do until I get ahold of Hardy and find out what he wants to happen.”
We walked outside to where another keg was and I got myself a beer, downed it in one, and then got a second, feeling better as the shitty beer sank into the pits of my stomach. Pretty sure I hadn’t eaten anything since the night before. Not that I remembered it, because I’d been so fucking drunk—drunk enough to cheat on Laney—but I’d seen the pizza boxes scattered across my living room table.
Goddamn, I was an asshole, but that was what I’d aimed to be. Had to make her see that I was no good for her. Had to make her understand that she needed to get away from me. Couldn’t blame her for leaving my sorry ass; it was more than I deserved and then some.
Someone had started a couple of fires in the metal drums around the place, and an orange glow lit up the dark sky. I stared into the flames, wondering what the hell I was going to do. It was turning out to be one of the craziest nights in a long time. First I fucked up my relationship with Laney, and I had no doubt that it was well and truly fucked this time and I wasn’t delusional in thinking I couldn’t come back from it. Then Hardy asked for my help, which was fucking unheard of, and then the Highwaymen got a declaration of war from a start-up charter and we found out we’d been betrayed by the Reverend, of all people.
Shit was crazy.
Nah, this shit was more than just crazy; this shit was fucked right the fuck up.
