Page 51 of Guarding Glenda

I took a long drag and blew it out. “Well, it’s my Waiting to Exhale moment. Too bad this shit won’t burn properly.”

Linny stifled a laugh. Pinkie turned her head. But Allie chuckled.

Holding up the empty bottle Linny had handed me, I said, “How fucking disappointing? So lackluster.”

Glass shattered and we all jumped.

Pinkie shrugged as we all looked down at the broken bottle at her feet. “You needed a boom. There you go!”

Laughter bubbled up from my belly and my head flew back. Looking at my hand, I said, “Fuck it!” and slammed the bottle down.

Allie jogged to the table I’d left mine on then came back, handing me hers and mine. “Here.”

Holding the cigarette between my lips, I took both and slammed them both down together. “Yeah!” I shouted as I pulled the butt from my lips, blowing out a plume of smoke.

We all laughed hysterically, forgetting at least for a few minutes we’d have to clean all that up.

But it felt good to laugh so hard. And even better to know that not only did I have Leigh by my side, but my girls had my back. And I finally could really exhale.

Chapter 20

Leigh

“Guess I missed all the excitement last night,” Hammer said as I approached him at one of the poker tables.

The crowd was light since it was midday. Some of the guys were probably at work, some still sleeping. But Rogers, who looked like Captain America, Bama, and Butterbean, a huge fucker with a buzzed head and a baby face, sat with him. The classic rock music was so low it was almost indiscernible.

Bama was like me and worked where he was needed. With all the shit happening, he’d been holed up at the clubhouse, with Linny, or driving around Sofie.

“Did that little fucker give you my fine?” I asked when I got to the table.

Hammer was relaxed into his chair. The others sat straight or leaned on the table.

Hammer nodded. “Yeah. And they told me you’d be in touch. You know what I gotta do then?”

Bama, who had been leaning on the table, straightened. “Prez, he didn’t come to chill. He came to get her.”

Hammer stood. “Stay out of it, Bama.”

Bama started to stand up, too, but I put my hand up. “It’s all good, man. This ain’t about you.” I squared my shoulders. “I knew what would happen if I came up here. And I’d do it again, if she asked.”

Hamner ran his hand down his face. “I was clear, brother.”

“I know. Fair is fair. I showed back up, didn’t I?”

“Well, let’s go then.” Hammer turned and headed to the door that led down what used to be the service worker hallway.

We all followed him down to one of the rooms that used to be storage for the casino. It was now where we interrogated people. Normally when someone went in, they didn’t come back out.

Rogers waved me to the middle of the poorly-lit room before he closed the door. Hammer was pulling open the cabinet that held various items that helped loosen lips.

I pulled my cut off and Rogers took it for me, then I pulled my shirt over my head and balled it in my fist.

Bama grabbed a chair from the side of the room and put it in front of me. “Sorry, brother.”

I flipped it around, sitting and bracing myself on the back. “Not your fault. Let's get this over with.”

Hammer walked over with the cat ‘o nine with black and red leather straps and black handle. “Ten licks.” His mouth was a straight line.