“I’m surprised you aren’t shaking it. I know Mötorhead’s one of your favorite bands.” Diablo shrugged. “What’re you drinking?”
“Jack. Double.”
Steel pointed to the prospect, who immediately grabbed a bottle of Jack and poured it in a glass. When he placed it on the counter, Steel picked it up and handed it to Diablo. The brawny man downed it in one gulp. “You want me to start securing more arms in case we go to war?” he asked as he shook his head to the prospect’s offer of another drink.
Steele nodded, and before Diablo moved away, Skull and Brutus came over. With Skull’s blond hair and Brutus’s dark, they were a strong contrast to each other. Both were muscular and had their fair share of tats, although Skull’s were basic mayhem while Brutus’s were mystical. “How’s it going?” Skull asked Steel and Diablo.
“Good,” said Steele. Diablo just scowled.
“You got your sights on one of the hang-arounds, Diablo?” Brutus pointed to an attractive woman whose arms and legs were covered in tattoos. “She’s hot. Why don’t you try her out? She’s new. She’s giving you the eye, dude.” He brought his beer bottle to his lips. Diablo stared straight ahead.
“Fuck, bro. You’re not even gonna check her out. The chick has it bad for you.” Skull elbowed his arm. Diablo visibly stiffened.
“She’s a sure thing. That’s fuckin’ gold.” Brutus laughed, and then Skull joined in. Steel smiled as he watched the two members rib Diablo, who didn’t look like he was going to take much more of it.
“What the fuck are you saving it for, dude?” Skull asked as he grabbed another drink. The prospects were required to know what each member drank and to have the drinks given to them before they had to ask.
When Steel saw the vein at Diablo’s temple pulse, he intervened. “Leave the brother alone. He doesn’t have a hard-on each time he looks at a chick like you two losers do.” He chuckled. Skull and Brutus busted up laughing, but Diablo never once cracked a smile.
He leaned into Steel. “You want me for anything?” Steel shook his head. “Then I’ll go.” He stalked off as Skull and Brutus stared after him.
“What the fuck’s up with him?” Skull asked. “It’s like he’s allergic to pussy. I’ve never seen him with a chick. Damn, his dick must be withered up or something. Have you ever seen him with a chick?”
Steel shook his head. “Nope. He’s a great sergeant-at-arms, but he’s fucking strange. Maybe he gets it in town.”
“With a citizen? No fuckin’ way,” Brutus said as he grabbed a handful of popcorn the prospect put in front of him. “And there’s no way he’s paying for it. That’d be just fucked in the head.”
“Well it’s his business. If he doesn’t want pussy, then he doesn’t. Sometimes I think life would be much easier if pussy weren’t around.” Breanna’s face flitted through his mind. “A whole lot easier.”
“Hey.” Paco came up to the trio and knocked fists together with them. “I got some news from the network. Word on the streets is that a shitload of smack is here and they’re looking for buyers.”
The jovial mood of the couple of minutes before left the group in a matter of seconds. Steel narrowed his eyes and jutted out his jaw. “We need to set up a buy. I gotta find out who the supplier is. Motherfuckers.”
“I was thinking the same. The only one who can pass for a legitimate buyer is Jigger.” Paco picked up his beer bottle.
Steel searched the room for the brother. At five foot seven with a baby face, Jigger looked more like he was sixteen rather than twenty-six. He had a sprinkling of angry tats on the side of his neck and down his arms. “Is he here?”
“I see him on one of the couches. His dick is shoved in some chick’s mouth. She’s got a cute ass from what I can see.” Skull craned his neck further.
“Go get him. He can finish up later.” Steel leaned back against the bar.
A couple of minutes later, Skull returned with a confused Jigger, his erection poking against his jeans. Steel chuckled under his breath. “We need you to do a smack buy. I know you’re planning to go for a week to visit your kid in Durango, but postpone it by a week. I want to do this buy real soon. You gotta hang out where the teens are to find out how to arrange the buy. Inspiration Point is probably a good place to start.”
“That’s still a favorite make-out place? I remember taking a lot of girls up there when I was in high school, hoping to score. Seven times outta ten I did. Good times.” Skull placed both elbows on the bar.
“Yeah, it’s still popular. You’ll also need to hang out at Jake’s Bowl and Arcade. It’s packed. Chenoa and her friends go there a lot. We can set up the particulars tomorrow,” Steel said.
Without flinching, Jigger nodded. “Sure. No problem.”
Pride welled up inside Steel. The brotherhood never questioned his decisions or complained when their plans went awry. It was the brothers’ ironclad loyalty and sense of family that got to Steel each and every time it was challenged. He clasped Jigger’s shoulder without saying a word. He didn’t have to; the look in the member’s eyes told Steel that he was feeling the bond just as strongly as Steel. “You can go and finish up with your pick of the night.”
“Looks like you gotta find yourself a substitute, dude.” Paco pointed at the woman Jigger had been with. She was now riding Sangre’s cock as he sucked her tits.
“Fuck,” Jigger said, and then Steel saw his eyes go bright. He turned in the direction of the brother’s gaze and saw Alma approaching them. Jigger glanced at Steel.
“Go for it. I’m not gonna have her tonight.” Steel laughed inwardly when he saw Jigger’s excited face; it was like he’d handed the man a million dollars. He figured he owed it to him for dragging his ass over right before he came with the sweet chick who was blowing him.
“You’re cool with it, right?” Jigger looked anxiously at Steel. Brutus, Skull, and Paco laughed.
