Page 25 of Brother In Arms

“What the hell is a Big Friendly Giant?” I asked, still laughing.

“It’s a children’s book, by Roald Dahl! Come on now, it’s one of my favorites.”

Data got up and stretched, and asked “Rush, talk to you bro?”

“Yeah, yeah!” I set my coffee down and got up following him off the porch.

“You guys don’t have to go,” Bailey said rolling her eyes and Data looked over his shoulder, gaze flicking her up and down.

“It’s club business.”

She frowned, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No offense, girl. It means it’s none of yours. Just the way it is.” Zeb shrugged and I wished I knew that trick, how to make a shrug jovial.

We walked across the gravel lot clean out of earshot of our mutterings and I asked, “What’s up?”

“She didn’t sleep at all,” Data said. “This shit’s weighing on her.”

I grunted and Zeb broke in with, “It’s all quiet out there, I think the locals know the club’s involved. I don’t reckon we’re gonna see much action.”

“No, it’s going to take her douchebag brother a minute or two to think up another intimidation tactic.”

“On a personal note, brother, I think she likes you,” Data said with a bit of a grin.

“She’s the P’s niece,” I said and he gave me a look like I was a moron.

“She’s a grown ass adult.”

That right there told me just which way Dragon would sway if it came down to it. Data and the old man seemed to be the closest outside of Doc. The president was still a bit of an enigma to me, but he treated us all fair, which was a lot more than I could always say for Dom, our old chapter’s president.

“Thanks, man,” I said and I meant it.

“No problem.”

We went back over to where Bailey watched us curiously and I gave parting hugs to my club brothers. They got on their bikes and rode off and I watched ‘em go. Tail lights fading into the distance before making their left at the two lane highway out of there.

I finished the climb of the last two steps and dropped back into my seat. Bailey warmed up my coffee, adding more to my mug from the carafe she had on standby.

We sat in a surprisingly comfortable silence for a time until she finally broke first and asked, “You sleep at all last night?”

“Like a fuckin’ baby, you?” She shook her head.

“I just kept seeing Renaldo, down on the ground like that…”

“Stop thinking about it.”

“I can’t.”

“It’s just going to get tougher.”

She sighed and nodded, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Go get dressed, I’ll saddle up a couple of the farm horses. We’ll go ride the perimeter. Might make you feel better.”

She searched my face and I had to smile, “Just a ride, no ulterior motives here.”

“Right,” she said and rolled her eyes. She went to slip past me and I smacked her on her ass. She yelped and jumped just about three feet in surprise, glaring down at me.

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