Page 13 of Rough Start

“Nothing,” he lied, “just seeing if we got an update from Max.”

“We won’t,” Grier said, tearing the meat in half, “he’s gone to church.”

“Church? Didn’t take him for a religious man.” Grier laughed and smacked Kye on the shoulder.

“So young, so much to learn,” he teased, and Kye swatted his hand away as Grier pinched his cheek. “Church is when patched members of the Screaming Demons discuss business; however, today, all chapters of the Screaming Demons are meeting.”

“How many chapters are there?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Three, at least. One in Maine, obviously,” Grier stated as he straddled his own bike, “One in Massachusetts and the other in West Virginia. Max keeps in regular contact with them. Rumor has it we’ll be doubling our transport of packages along the coast.”

“Max acted really strange when we were talking about the cargo from the truck,” Kye said and accepted a piece of dried meat from his companion. “He almost sounded like some items were missing. What do we deal?”

“Whatever sells,” Grier answered as he strapped his helmet on. “Guns, opioids, car parts mostly.”

“I didn’t see any guns in the truck…”

“That must have been what the driver made off with,” Grier concluded. “Whoever jumped you probably came back for the rest, or he was too dumb to haul ass when he had the chance.”

“Why weren’t we driving the truck, you know, one of us?”

“You kidding?!” Grier called. “Max never puts one of his own behind the wheel. We always deal with third parties. Keeps things clean. If they’re busted, and it’s happened, they can’t ever trace the package to us. Besides, that driver was hired by the Vermont chapter. Probably why Max called Mass today.”

“I feel sorry for the asshole who gets the blame,” Kye stated before they both started up their bikes.

“Don’t, whoever fucked up the deal deserves what they get. Max runs a perfect operation, has ever since he founded the club twenty years ago. You and me, we just keep our heads down, mouths shut, and tanks full. We’ll be rich before too long.”

“Speaking of which, let’s get that package to the border. I got some stuff to buy,” Kye said, smiling.

“Aww, baby boy,” Grier chided, “with your ugly mug, no amount of money is going to buy you a hooker.”

“Shut up,” Kye retorted with an eye roll, and he pulled out of the station.

“Maybe a really ugly one!” Grier yelled after him. “My sister is single!”

* * *

Eliana tried not to let disappointment overwhelm her, but having gone three days without seeing Kye she was losing faith. Her expectation after their kiss was that they’d be closer than ever, but since that night they hadn’t been in the same room.

At school, they didn’t share any classes except afternoon study hall. Kye was in standard courses, two of which were remedial because of all his transfers. Eliana had technically finished all her required classes to graduate and was taking three prep courses and two running start classes. It was likely she’d still have to take them in her first years of college, but any bit of a head-start she could get she was going to take.

They usually ate lunch together on the bench outside of the cafeteria, and then spent sixth period in the library before hanging out after school, but alas, Kye was either skipping school altogether or wasn’t frequenting their usual spots. Either way, she missed him. His absence reminded her too much of her life before they’d met. Lonely.

Grabbing the mail from the box before entering the house, Eliana could already sense her dad had finished his stash of bottles and was looking for more because the house was in complete disarray. Knowing that his daughter usually poured out whatever she could find, Henry took to hiding his bottles in the couch cushions, in the closet, in drawers with dishes or cupboards.

“What have you done, Eliana?” he snapped as he slammed a drawer in the kitchen shut. Eliana set her backpack on the round dining table and tossed the mail next to it.

“I haven’t done anything, Dad,” she said, feeling a headache coming on.

“Oh yes, you have,” Henry bellowed as he came around the kitchen island and stood in her face. “I saw the empty bottles in the garbage! Those cost money, you know!”

“First of all, the bottles in the garbage are the ones you broke when you got home, and secondly, I know full well that a bottle of cheap whiskey from Norm’s costs $6.99 because not only have you sent me there to buy them for you, but you’ve managed to buy and drink so many bottles you forgot to pay the water bill—again!” She slammed the yellow enveloped bill against her dad’s chest before moving into the kitchen to start closing cabinet doors. Eliana’s temper was getting the best of her, and when she got this angry she preferred to be left alone.

“I don’t care for that tone, young lady. I’m your father, and you’ll show me some respect!” He was snapping at her all the while opening the letter and scanning the overdue amount with his eyes.

“Being angry at you doesn’t mean I’m disrespectful, it means I’m sick of this argument. I’m tired of drinking being the only thing that matters to you!”

“That’s what you think, is it?” He rounded on her and took hold of her arm painfully. “You think I wake up at three in the morning to go into work for booze? No, I go for you! To provide for you! I’ve been raising you by myself since your mother died.”