I glanced at my crew, a ragtag bunch of misfits who had become my family. They were all watching the kid now, curiosity and wariness warring on their faces.
“And just where do you suggest we go, lil’ boss?” I asked, a hint of sarcasm lacing my voice.
The kid’s smile widened, and he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. “The Rosewood Ski Resort, of course.”
Taking the paper, I frowned. “Uncle Jack’s place?”
“Why should we trust you, kid? For all we know, you could be leading Gator into a trap,” Juju, ever the cautious one, spoke up.
The kid’s grin didn’t falter. “You got nowhere else to go. Can’t stay at the Sons of Hell clubhouse, ’cause my Princess will warn her sister. Plus, Ms. Josie’s got loads of rooms. Plus, you will be there in time for the wedding.”
“Weddin’?” My eyes snapped open wide as I asked, “Who’s gettin’ hitched?”
“Your Uncle Jack is getting remarried in two weeks,” Cameron informed. “And I get to be in the wedding!”
Juju leaned closer and whispered, “Boss, you know what that means, right?”
Hell yes, I knew what that meant!
It meant mymômanand her sisters would be in attendance, which meant all of New Orleans would be there. Mymômanwould tan my hide if I failed to show up to a family weddin’. Family meant everything in the bayou, regardless of where you laid your head. I couldn’t skip this shindig even if I wanted to.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. The whiskey wasn’t helping my headache, and the kid was starting to get on my nerves. But he had a point. Uncle Jack’s ski lodge was the only place.
“Fine, kid. We’ll take your lead. But if this is a setup, so help me, I will feed you to the gators.”
“You wound me,” the brat said, placing a hand over his heart. “I’m just trying to help a brother out. Now, pack your bags, and let’s get this shit show in the air. I promised King I’d be back for dinner.”
With a final cheeky grin, he turned and headed for the front doors while my brothers headed to grab their gear.
“You trust Carnage, boss?” Juju asked.
“Not as far as I can throw him, but I’ve got no choice. Can’t duck out on a family weddin’ and if this paper is right, I need to fix it before mymômanfinds her and starts interferin’.”
“She ain’t gonna be happy to see you.”
“She never is.” I smiled, remembering the last time I saw her.
“Last time you saw her, she threatened to cut your dick off and shove it up your ass.”
“She didn’t mean it.”
Juju gaped. “She was holding a knife to your balls!”
“Will this do?” George Steiner asked as I walked into the Irish Rose Tavern later that night, after I flat out refused to stay at Uncle Jack’s ski lodge. That place was just too damn fancy for the likes of me.
Not to mention my boys.
“Merci beaucoup.” I grinned, stretching out on a well-worn, used sofa. Now, this was more like it. This place had that lived-in warm cozy feelin’ I was certainly used to. Plus, I knew King kept the place stocked with all kinds of good tastin’ whiskey.
“Scribe keeps the fridge stocked, so there is plenty of food, and all the alcohol you can drink is downstairs. Help yourselves.” The good doctor grinned from ear to ear, and my boys wasted no time helping themselves to the house spirits as he headed for the door.
Without saying another word, the good doctor left, and I jumped to my feet. “Juju, crack open a bottle. I’m thirsty,” I said, walking over to the window to look at the small town of Rosewood, Virginia. It was a cute, quaint town, but it was no New Orleans, that was for sure, but my woman lived here, so I had to respect the place.
Standing in front of the window, I wondered what she was doing tonight, then smirked.
I already knew what she was doing. She was watching her show. The only show that mattered to her.
Still, even being so close, I wasn’t sure she would be happy to see me. We didn’t leave on the best terms the last time we were together...
