Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“What are you talking about?”
“Kay has felt it, too.”
“Well, I’m right here.”
“You know what I mean. I know you have a lot on you, and you always carry it yourself. I just wanted you to know that I’m here if you need me.”
“I don’t know where all this is coming from, but you’ve got nothing to worry about. I’m good. Everything’s good.”
“So, things are fine with work and your finances?”
“Yeah. No reason they wouldn’t be.”
“And things are okay with you and Kay?”
“Hunky-dory.”
He was lying straight to my face.
And it didn’t feel like it was the first time he’d done it.
In fact, it felt like he’d done it many times before.
It was too easy for him, and that gutted me. It also made me wonder who else he’d been lying to. I felt utterly defeated as I told him, “Okay, Dad. Just know that I’m always here if you need me.”
“And I’m always here for you. Even when you don’t think I am.” He gave me a warm smile as he added, “Now, finish your dinner before it gets cold.”
As we sat there, eating and talking about anything but his troubles, I couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on with him. I began to fear that it was more than just his money troubles and marital issues, but I didn’t know what else to do. He wouldn’t open up to me, but it wouldn’t be long before I discovered just how much trouble my father was really in.
Memphis
“I can’t tell you how good it is to have you back.” There was no missing the emotion in my father’s eyes as he added, “It just wasn’t the same around here without you.”
“It’s good to know that I was missed ‘cause I sure missed being here.”
“I was worried it was going to take longer for you to get back on your feet.”
“I had a lot of help, and I don’t just mean the doctors and Jess. I couldn’t have done it without you and the guys.”
“And Antonia.”
“Yeah, I’m still trying to wrap my head around that whole thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t figure out how she knew to come when she did or why she stayed after I acted like such an ass.” I shook my head, pretending I didn’t have my suspicions about Dad’s involvement in getting Antonia to come. “And she didn’t just stay for a couple of days. She stayed for the long haul.”
“Are you fishing here? Cause we both know she stayed because she cares about you.”
“Maybe. But maybe there’s more to it than that.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know.” I looked him dead in the eye as I said, “Maybe her dad’s money troubles.”
“I don’t know what one would have to do with the other, but I do know this.” He lifted his beer as he continued, “You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. That girl helped get you back here with us, and I will be forever grateful for that.”
“I’m grateful, too. I’m grateful for all of it.” I lifted my beer and smiled. “Here’s to possums and back roads. May they forever steer clear from my path.”
“Amen to that.”
Dad and I finished our beer and shared another. Then, Ghost and Goose came over, and we shared a couple more. Since I’d had so many, I decided to stay the night at the clubhouse. I went down to my room and crawled into bed.
I felt like I’d just fallen asleep when Seven started banging on my door. “Memphis!”
“Hmmm.”
“Yo! Memphis! Get your ass up!”
“Yeah, yeah. I hear ya.” I rolled over and groaned, “What do ya want?”
“Prez is calling church.”
“But the sun’s barely up.”
“Be in the conference room in ten.”
I wasn’t exactly thrilled about getting up so early after such a late night, but I knew Dad wouldn’t call church at this hour unless it was important. So, I pulled myself out of bed and threw on some clothes. Minutes later, I was heading down to the conference room.
As soon as I walked in, I knew it was bad. I just didn’t know how bad it was until Dad announced, “Lil’ Nix is dead.”
“What?”
“We lost Lil’ Nix last night, and Big Louie went down with him. He’s with Doc now, but it’s not looking good.”
Nix had been prospecting with us for months and was close to patching in. He was a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. He was barely twenty, but the guy was tough as nails. He’d put his life on the line for the club on more than one occasion, and he never questioned an order. He would’ve been a hell of a brother.
Big Louie was a local homeless guy who’d taken a liking to the Vault’s back alley, and we’d taken a liking to him. He was a good old guy who’d fallen on hard times. We’d tried to help him out, even offered him work and a place to stay, but he wasn’t having it. But over the years, he’d looked out for us, and we’d done the same for him.