“That’s right,” Romeo quickly agreed, then scoffed when he realized what Josephine said. “Hey!”
“Listen up, you idiots,” I sneered. “You’ve got about ten minutes to get that one fucking brain cell you share working before King gets here because you two are going to explain how his son got drunk!”
“What did you just say?”
No one moved.
Gulping, I slowly turned to find King, along with the rest of my brothers, their wives and kids, all staring at me. Carefully moving Josie behind me, Romeo and Gator both pushed off the wall and stood in front of us, quickly saying whatever came into their asinine minds.
“Kid just had a little too much fun, King.”
“Yep.” Gator nodded. “He just wet his whistle a bit. Happens to all of us, eventually.”
“ENOUGH!” King roared, ignoring the jabbering morons as he pointed at me. “You. Speak!”
“These idiots let Cameron drink moonshine. He’s sleeping off his stupor in the back room. Frank and Lidi are watching over him.”
Bailey gasped as my brothers all stared wide-eyed at me.
Taking a deep breath, King walked forward, glaring at me. “Let me get this straight. I entrusted my son to a doctor, who, until five seconds ago, had a superb reputation in this town as a stand-up, level-headed guy. Instead, you allowed the President of the Bourbon Kings and this Casanova playboy over there to watch my son. The one kid in this fucking town that needs supervision more than a super max prison inmate!”
Before I could reply, King hauled off and punched me in the gut.
Doubling over, I grunted, trying to catch my breath.
“Yep. Expected that.”
“And you!” King roared, turning on Romeo. “I’m calling your prez and demanding penance in the ring!”
Romeo paled as King turned to Gator, who stood tall, arms crossed over his chest. “You owe me big time, Gator.”
“Name it and it’s yours,” Gator challenged, standing his ground.
“Where is Cameron?”
Escorting King down the hall, I said nothing as I walked in to find Frank curled up next to the little boy while Lidi monitored the banana bag attached to his arm. The poor kid looked green around the gills as he smiled happily at King. “Yo! Daddy-O! How’s it hangin’?”
Shaking his head, King walked over and sat on the bed next to the boy, running his hands through Cameron’s hair.
“What am I going to do with you, kid?”
“Drop it like it’s hot.” Cameron chuckled as King grinned.
“He’s gonna be fine, King,” Lidi stated. “Frank and I will stay with him until he passes out.”
Nodding, King got up and followed me out of the room.
Sighing, he ran his hands through his own hair. “It’s always something with that kid. It’s never going to end, is it?”
“That boy could be fifty years old, King, and you are still going to worry about him. That’s what makes you a great dad. I should know. I had one myself for a short time,” I said then added, “I’m really sorry I dropped the ball with Cameron. It’s all my fault. I knew I shouldn’t have left him with Gator and Romeo.”
“It’s not their fault. No one can contain Hurricane Cameron. That boy just finds trouble. Nothing you or anyone can do.”
“I know it doesn’t make things better, but tomorrow Cameron is gonna wish he drank that Sprite. Hangovers from moonshine are ten times worse than regular alcohol. That kid is going to regret every life decision when all’s said and done.”
King grinned. “And what better time than to teach him a valuable lesson?”
The hour was late and everyone had long gone home as I used Jack’s office to get some work done. The only source of light came from the small lamp on Jack’s desk. As I sat there, engrossed in the patient files, I caught a glimpse of Josephine. She walked in, her back turned toward me, as her hips swayed and she slipped out of her snug blue jeans.
