“Yeah!” Cameron yelled. “What Granny said!”
“I don’t care!” I yelled back. “Nuttin’ you say is gonna make me open these doors!”
And that’s when a sheet of paper slid between my feet, like some dark omen sent from Hell to disrupt my peaceful solitude.
Gulping, I bent down and picked it up.
My hands shook as I read the words.
“Boss, what is it?” Donut asked as the rest of my boys held their breath.
“The bones never lie,” Juju whispered.
Opening the front door, I reached out, grabbed Carnage by his coat, and yanked him inside the club, slamming the doors shut behind him. I knew I shouldn’t have drank that final bottle of whiskey last night. Nuttin’ good ever came from being a glutton.
Mymômanalways taught me moderation.
Too bad I never listened.
I lived my life to the fullest, knowing that when my time came, I’d have to face my maker head-on. Just never thought he’d come in the form of a seven-year-old kid that scared the crap out of me.
Standing before the little brat, I waved the piece of paper he’d slid under my doors in his face.
“Is this for real?”
“About as real as it gets, Prez.” The brat smiled up at me as I stood there, my mouth hanging open like a fish out of water. This kid, this little whippersnapper, had just served me some serious reality pie. I knew my past wasn’t exactly saint-like, butto have my comeuppance delivered by a child was not how I imagined it.
The kid, with a cheeky grin, added, “Don’t worry, Gator. I’ve got a plan.”
Narrowing my eyes, I glared at the insolent brat. “What’s it gonna cost me, kid?”
“Nothing. I’m here to help.”
Help? This kid wanted to help me. I was intrigued, and a little scared, to be honest.I mean, what kind of seven-year-old talks like he’s some Mafia Don handing out favors like it’s nothing?But my curiosity got the better of me, and I had to know more.
“So, what, you’re here to bribe me or something? ’Cause I gotta warn ya, kid, I don’t do well with threats.”
“No threat, Gator. Just one future club president helping out another club president,” the kid said with a wink. “Unless you don’t want my help and you can handle this on your own? I mean, considering how everything’s gone in the past, I thought you’d welcome the help.”
“Kid’s got you there, boss.” Juju, my VP, chuckled.
“Kid’s a pain in the ass,” I growled, glaring at the smarmy brat.
“Oh, come on, boss,” Donut muttered, reaching into his bag for another beignet. “Been a while since we got to do a road trip. Let’s go and have some fun. Mardi Gras is still months away.”
“Statistically, the odds are in your favor. God knows you can’t mess up any more than you already have, Gator,” Worm muttered as everyone turned to look at the smartass brother with a book in his hand.
Rolling his eyes, Thore groaned, thumbing his finger at Worm. “While I ain’t got his marbles swirlin’ in my brainpan, I wouldn’t mind a change in scenery.”
Looking at Braveheart, the grumpy man just huffed as the rest of the brothers nodded like a bunch of bobbleheads in unison.
“If it helps, there will be cake,” Cameron said, sweetening the pot.
“Cake?” Donut smiled, his face covered in white sugary powder. “I like cake.”
I scratched my head, the hangover from the whiskey still lingering. “Alright, kid. You got my attention. So, what’s the plan?”
The little whippersnapper just grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “First, we get you and your boys dressed and out of New Orleans. I’m gonna need you all to lie low for a while, while I get everything else set up.”
