Hours after Prez killed Torie, Lucas “Mortician” Banks remained at the clubhouse. The initial shock of Outlaw’s retaliation against a woman who’d been repeatedly warned to behave was wearing off. Prez left right after he finished her. Diesel, Prez’s oldest kid, and CJ, the next eldest, drifted away not long after.
At first, Mortician’s fellow officers sat in shell-shocked silence. Not only because of Outlaw’s brutality toward a woman, but because they knew his wife had calledforthat woman’s head. If therewas something left of it, Outlaw might’ve chopped it the fuck off and presented it to Meggie on a platter.
Fuck.
Mortician doubted she’d becomethatbloodthirsty.
Even after Johnnie left with Torie’s body, conversation remained at a minimum. Mortician hoped motherfuckers were finally clued in on Meggie’s importance.
Narci loped to the jukebox and playedMany Menby 50 Cent. The music broke the tension, and the brothers began to relax. Potter rushed behind the bar, filling all the orders thrown his way.
Bishop took a turn with a song.Whiskey Whiskeyby Moneybagg Yo featuring Morgan Wallen and further eased the strain. To forget his role in Torie’s death, Mort went behind the bar to help Potter. Within five minutes, Val, Cash, Stretch, and Digger ordered stools cleared so they could sit at the bar like old times.
Val still looked shook-up, while Digger didn’t have the sense to understand if he kept fucking with Meggie he’d get more than a cigarette burn on his temple the next time Prez sought retaliation.
“Any of you in on the bet?” Torrin asked.
He was about thirty. Not only was he older than most of the newer members, but he had also been a member long enough to understand Meggie’s place. But he was also friends with Narci. Mort suspectedthatstupid motherfucker influenced a stupider motherfucker.
Torrin leaned against the edge of the bar, standing near the door to the kitchens.
Stretch sipped his beer then set the bottle down, rested his arms on the counter, and looked at Torrin. “What bet might that be?”
Narci slid into the last stool on the opposite side, right where the entryway that led behind the bar was. He grinned. “Now that Prez was forced to fuck up his piece of ass, we’re wondering how long it will take him to fuck Nyx.”
Leaning next to Mort against the counter in front of the shelves of alcohol, Potter choked.
“I’m not betting a motherfucking thing,” Mortician growled. “Stopfucking with Meggie.”
“Why?” Digger grouched. “She’s the most annoying little cunt ever.”
Val’s eyes widened. “If you want to talk about Meggie like that, get the fuck away from me. I’m not getting my fucking tongue cut out because of you, motherfucker.”
He jerked his head toward the monitors. The bank of screens showed all angles of the clubhouse and bar and served as a focal point between the shelves of alcohol.
“It has audio, fuckhead,” Val added.
Digger scowled, then looked at Stretch.
“I’ll wipe it one time,” he said. “Fuck up again and I’m leaving you to your fucking fate.”
Digger leaned in. “Can you mute the mics? I have to speak my peace.”
“You don’t have to,” Mort growled. “You want to.”
“Come on, Mort. I got to say this whether you like it or not.” Digger nodded to Stretch. “Do it. I outrank you. Third in line, so you got to do it.”
Stretch glanced at Mortician, but Mort wouldn’t give the go ahead for his brother to run his fucking mouth about a woman who’d finally gotten fed up. Was it any wonder? They hadn’t appreciated her sweetness andstilldidn’t understand it washermercy that kept them alive. He had only to point to the fucked up bet. For a couple hours after Torie’s death, motherfuckers got some fucking sense. Now, it was wearing the fuck off and they were reverting to fucking stupidity.
Meggie expected the best from Prez. Shesawthe best in him. But every fucking club brother, brother-in-law, son, nephew, friend, and husband, took her for granted. Down to a fucking man. They all expected her to stand ten toes down, be Outlaw’s wife but step back at a moment’s notice and become his old lady, ignore the bullshit that chicks and dicks handed to her on a big ass platter, and keep a smileon her face. They demanded, if not by word than by deed, that she give her all to her family and the club, and never grow tired of the cattiness, the disrespect, and the politics.
Even Mort told her everyone looked tohermarriage as the gold standard.
“Five fucking minutes, Digger,” Stretch said irritably. He tapped his watch, where a timer had already started. “Go.”
“Prez was into Torie,” Digger started, presenting the same old tired argument. “He only killed her because of Meggie. He didn’t want to do away with that gorgeous woman. I think he need a little variety to spice up his life—”
“You sure you not talking about yourself, asshole?” Cash demanded. He’d been silent for most of the evening.
