Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“I have a son, Jackson.”
“Yeah, but there are these things called babysitters. You might try it once and a while.”
“I know. It’s just...”
“It’s just what?”
“The last time I was in a bar I was with Malcomb.”
I closed my eyes and smiled as I thought back on that night. It was the night of my senior prom, and I was itching to get into a little trouble, so I suggested sneaking into the Fury bar for a couple of drinks. To my surprise, Malcomb agreed, and the whole crew snuck in. I had no doubt that Cotton and the brothers knew we were there, but they didn’t say a word. They trusted Malcomb to make sure that we didn’t get too carried away and let us have our good time.
And that we did.
We spent the entire night dancing and drinking like there was no tomorrow. I couldn’t remember ever having so much fun.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Jackson asked, “Is that the night you puked on his dad?”
“Afraid so.”
We’d all made plans to stay at the hotel in town, but when it came time for us all to leave, Cotton miraculously appeared and demanded that we stay there in their guest quarters. I was about to thank him when the room started spinning, and my tongue got thick. Before I knew what was happening, I’d gotten sick all over his jeans and boots. Poor Malcomb spent the remainder of the night holding my hair back while I hugged the commode, and he never complained about it. Not once.
“I thought so,” he scoffed. “I’d say it’s time for you to make some new memories, doll.”
“I think you might be right.”
“I know I am. It’s time you cut loose and lived a little.”
“That’s easy for you to say. You cut loose all the time.” Just thinking about all the times he’d talked about going out had me sitting up in bed. “Wait! You should come with me!”
“Woah... what?”
“Come up this weekend and go to the bar with me.”
“As much as I would love to...,” he grumbled like I was asking him to pick the scales of a snake. “I can’t. I have to work this weekend.”
“Since when do you work weekends?”
“Since now. We have some potential clients coming in, and the boss wants me to schmooze them a little.”
“Well, you’re good at that.”
“Yeah, but so are you. You just go to that bar with your friends and turn on the charm. And before you know it, you’ll have them eating out of your hand.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
“Then, what exactly are you worried about?”
“What if he’s there?”
“You’re gonna have to face him sometime.”
“Yeah, I know. I just wish it wasn’t so hard.”
“Maybe it won’t be.” Jackson sounded almost hopeful as he said, “Maybe, just maybe, it will be good, and you can finally put this guy behind you.”
“If only...”
As much as I would love some closure with Malcomb, I knew I would never be able to put him behind me—at least, not completely. He was my son’s father, and whether he wanted it or not, he still held my heart in his hand and always would.
CHAPTER 7
Savage
A great deal of money passed through our hands on a monthly basis, most of which had come to us illegally. We had to launder that money, so we started a construction company. It was just supposed to be a front, but in less than a year, Guardrail had turned it into quite a business. It not only provided us with the means to launder our ill-gotten gains but also provided us with a legitimate company that made us a good bit of money on its own.
So, when we weren’t off doing runs or having church, we were out at the construction site, working on our latest project, and today, that project was installing a swimming pool in a luxurious mansion that belonged to one of our clients, a wealthy businessman with a taste for the finer things in life.
My brothers and I were working tirelessly under the scorching sun when I heard Rooster complain, “Fuck. It’s hot as balls out here.”
“It’s not as bad as it was yesterday.”
“Are you on crack? It’s only noon, and I’ve already soaked through my clothes, and I’m pretty sure I’ve chaffed my taint.” Rooster wiped the sweat from his brow as he whined, “I won’t walk right for a week.”
“Like you ever did.” Torch gave him a smirk as he teased, “Hell, that chaffing might be the best thing that ever happened to ya.”
“Gotta wonder how you know about my walk.” Rooster cocked his brow. “You been looking at my ass?”
“Fuck no.”
“You sure about that?” Rooster reached behind him and grabbed an ass cheek. “I mean, it’s a good ass. I can see why you’d wanna stare at it.”