I could feel it in the air.
Oh well, no point in dwelling on it now. Time would tell and until then, I needed to find me some breakfast and maybe take a little nap.
Yeah, that sounded like a plan, Gator-style.
“Mornin’, boss!” Donut’s voice cut through my fuzzy thoughts like a knife through warm butter.
My club’s sergeant at arms and self-proclaimed nudist stood across the street, looking like a half-dressed beacon of cheerfulness. Thank the good Lord above that he at least had his underwear and flip-flops on. Though, seeing him like that, I couldn’t help but wonder if the sight of him in broad daylight was any better than the alternative.
“You know,” I called back, a grin spreading across my face, “if Officer LaMonte spots you strollin’ around in your skivvies, he’s liable to toss your ass back in the slammer.”
I shook my head, wondering if the man had any sense of self-preservation.
Donut just shrugged, his mouth full of beignet. “Don’t care,” he mumbled through the sugary treat.
I chuckled. “Your mama will care when she has to visit you there. She’ll tan your hide for sure.”
A thoughtful look crossed his face as he chewed. “Ain’t thought about that.”
Shaking my head, I snagged the bag of beignets from him and helped myself to a few.
The sweet, doughy goodness of the French Quarter treats was just what I needed.
As I bit into one, a little cloud of powdered sugar puffed out, and I sighed contentedly. “Damn, these are like a little piece of heaven.”
Donut nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with agreement. “Best thing ‘bout this city, ‘side from the partyin’ and the ladies.”
I had to laugh at that.
Donut might not have a lick of sense when it came to his attire, but the man knew what was important in life: good food, good times, and good company.
And in New Orleans, we had all three in spades.
“Your mama’s a smart woman, Donut. You should listen to her more often.” I winked at him as I licked the powdered sugar from my fingers, a surefire way to sweeten any day.
The morning was already shaping up to be a good one, and it wasn’t just the beignets. New Orleans had a way of putting a spring in your step and a song in your heart, even if that song was a little off-key due to last night’s indulgences.
Speaking of which, I needed to find some coffee to go with my sugar high.
“C’mon, Donut, let’s go find some caffeine to go with these beignets. I reckon we’ve got a big day ahead of us.”
As we strolled through the French Quarter, the sun on our backs and the sounds of the city all around us, I felt a senseof contentment. This was my kingdom, and I was its laid-back ruler. We passed by street artists, the scent of gumbo and jazz floating out of every open door. The city was a character itself, larger-than-life and always ready for a good time. I couldn’t help but grin as I thought about the night before and the many nights like it. The Bourbon Bar was the heart of this place, and I was its king, even if I was feeling a little fuzzy around the edges today.
“Boss, the air feels funny. Like a storm is coming,” Donut muttered, his mouth once again full of beignet as he looked around our beautiful city.
I agreed, nodding my head. “Felt it too, but this is New Orleans, after all. Our city speaks to us all the time.”
“Juju was up early reading the bones.”
“They say anything?”
“Only that something is coming.”
Frowning, I grabbed another beignet from Donut’s bag when I felt a buzz in my pocket.
Reaching for it, I looked at the caller ID, then at Donut, who gulped as he stared wide-eyed at my phone.
Chapter Seventeen
