Page 11 of Property of Player

I pull up to a pump, slide my card and shove the nozzle into my tank.

“Dad wants to ride to the casino.” Beck says, walking over and leaning a shoulder against the pump. A toothpick hangs from his mouth. He shifts it and studies my eyes. “You heard from Sissy?”

My little sister’s name is Cici, but she’s always been Sissy to us.

I check my phone for missed calls or texts. “No. Why?”

“She’s not answering Dad, and no one’s heard from her.”

“I’m sure she’s fine. She always is.”

His gaze shifts to the horizon. “What do you think about Dad selling the place?”

I shrug. “It’s a big house, and soon it’ll just be him. I get it, Beck. It’s why I left the place I shared with Debbie. It’s hard with memories hitting you in the face in every room you walk into.”

“Guess so. Still, it sucks. It’s like losing Ma all over again.”

“I know. I feel the same, but I can’t tell him not to do it.”

“Sissy’s gonna flip out.”

“Maybe not. Maybe she wants out of there, too. Besides, the beach? She’ll love it there.”

Beck huffs. “He spoils her. Now she gets to live at the beach. How fair is that?”

“You and I had a mom at her age. Cut her some slack. Besides, Dad spoils her out of guilt. You know that, right?”

“I guess.”

Glancing over several pumps, I spot my father. “So how long you think he’s going to keep on going to the casino every anniversary?”

“Who knows. Ma loved the casino. He always plays a round of craps and bets a $100 on sixteen.”

“Ma’s birthday.”

“Yep.”

A sharp whistle splits the air.

“Let’s go,” Gage barks.

I return the nozzle to the pump and screw on the cap.

Beck walks to his bike, and I fire mine up, and we all roll out onto the street.

On the way, we pass through a side street and spot a bunch of squad cars with flashing lights halfway up the street.

My father pulls to the side, staring toward them.

I maneuver my bike alongside his. “Isn’t that your buddy’s house?”

They’re rolling yellow crime scene tape around the perimeter. A CSI van is parked in the drive.

It’s Jimmy Jack’s house.

Gage tells the rest of the MC to head out, and he and I approach the perimeter. We get as close as possible, park our bikes and climb off.

“What’s going on?” he asks an officer.