Page 44 of When The Noise Stops

"Okay."

She lasted maybe three seconds.

"But we got y'all."

Ronny screamed laughing again.

Tiny pointed toward the RV.

"Both of you. Go."

Lila blinked.

"You can't put us out of camping."

"GO," he yelled.

Neither of them moved.

Ronny wiped her eyes.

"We got Johnnie Walker Blue Label in the RV. Peace offering? Maybe."

Tiny looked at the dark, then at me, then at her.

"Go get it."

Hawk righted his chair. Sully asked who had glasses.

Lila looked at me.

I didn't smile.

She went to get the bottle anyway.

Chapter 17

Grizz

Rattler's looked the same as it did every year. Same neon snake with the burned-out tail, welcoming guests that didn't always deserve it.

We came every year. We probably would have skipped this one if Lila hadn't insisted.

Before we went in, I gave her and Ronny a talking-to.

"One beer," I said.

"These are people I see again, so dial it back fifty percent."

I turned to Tiny. This motherfucker was the devil on their shoulder. He encouraged their madness. Last night he'd helped them toilet-paper our bikes and claimed it was only to save his own.

"And don't you fucking encourage them."

Tiny smirked and threw up his hands.

"You keep acting like I have any control over them."

Lila stepped past me.