Page 77 of Between Brothers

Chapter 33

Blue

Dani set a steaming black mug with the club’s logo down in front of me and I reached out with shaking hands to grab it. The tape holding the IV Doc had running into the inside of one of my elbows pulled and I winced.

It was just fluids, and I think some antibiotics seeing as I’d more than likely had unprotected sex somewhere on my coke and booze fueled misadventure somewhere… I’d be getting a full panel and I’d have to come clean with Hayley about it – that is, if she even wanted to ever see me again.

I took a slug of the straight black coffee in the mug and winced. Dani took the seat across from me and looked me over, both worried, but with that neutral look that said she was trying very hard to hide what she was really feeling and thinking.

“Whatever it is, just tell me,” I said miserably.

“Just know I say this with love, but you really are an asshole this time.”

“I know.”

“I want to chew you out.”

“Please do.”

“You sure about that?”

“Yes.”

“You really sure?”

I contemplated her for a moment, one dark brow elegantly raised and Shelly dropped into the seat next to Dani’s.

“Too late, I’m on it.” she said to her then looked at me and said, “Just what the fuck were you thinking?” I grunted and slid my eyes to the side and to the floor.

”That’s just it, I wasn’t.”

“No, you weren’t and who do you think got to suffer for it?”

“Shells, go find yer ol’ man. Dani, you too.”

Oh shit.

The girls wordlessly got up and disappeared and I sat waiting. There was the click of a zippo cap and the familiar fwoosh! of it lighting up. The cap clicked shut and it was the ominous echo of boot heels against concrete as Dragon circled around and came into view.

“You look like hell,” he said and I nodded.

I didn’t say anything. I mean, what was there to say?

My president sighed and said, “Yer gonna have to find yer voice this time. Ain’t no one left to speak for yah.”

I gripped the coffee mug between my fingers until the nailbeds turned white and sucked in a breath. The dig had hurt. It hurt like hell, but he was right… Cell was gone.

“I’m on my own.” I hadn’t meant for it to come out like that… out loud, but it had and Dragon huffed a derisive laugh.

“Is that what you really think, boy?”

I looked up sharply and he narrowed his eyes, dropping into the seat Dani had vacated and kicking back. He ashed his cigarette into my coffee and I relinquished the cup. He slid it closer and burned a hole in me with his gaze.

“I asked you a question,” he said and I swallowed hard, shaking my head. He raised his eyebrows and I sucked in a deep breath, the air, tainted by his cigarette smoke, gave me the courage to respond. He smoked the same brand as Cell…

“I didn’t think so, until just now…” I said honestly and he gave a nod.

“Good answer, and yer right on both accounts. Yer not alone, that’s what being a member of this club is. Cell may be gone, but you’ve still got the rest of us. You know… your brothers, who I might add, have been lookin’ after yer girl for you while we been waitin’ around for you to pull yer head out yer ass.”

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