Page 79 of A Brother At My Back

Something crashed and a kid screamed toward the back.

“Here we go,” Hayley sang, and she and Shelly both headed in that direction.

“Tell Dante he’d better be behaving himself,” Mandy called after them. “And send Melody for some coffee if she needs a break!”

“Will, do!” Shelly called back and disappeared through the archway, calling out, “Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on here? You giving your mama trouble?”

“It can be a little bit of a madhouse at times, especially with all the kids,” Maren said.

“Who you tellin’?” a moody teen boy sitting at the bar playing a handheld video game muttered.

“Sage!” Maren snapped and I could see the resemblance.

“Little brother?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he answered. “What’s it to you?”

“Good luck ever getting laid with that attitude, kid.” He scowled at me and got up, stalking away like a thunderhead. Maren sighed and I apologized.

“Sorry, I don’t relate to kids the best, my filter is kind of out of whack when it comes to them.”

“It’s fine, he’s that age and since my dad died it’s just me. Well, me and Nox.”

“Which one is Nox?” I asked.

“Shredded guy, tall with dark hair. Um, I know that’s like a third of the guys in the club,” she laughed, “But they’re all in Church or out looking for somebody right now.”

“With a name like the Sacred Hearts, I should have guessed there was some sort of religious angle. Catholic, am I right?”

“Oh, these boys don’t actually go to church, honey,” Everett said.

“That’s just what they call it when they do one of their official meetings,” Mandy said.

“Oh, should have figured it meant figuratively, not literally.”

They shared a laugh that I was comfortable being part of, too.

“So where are they all?” I asked.

“Probably out back around the fire pit. They’re planning on building what they call a chapel this spring,” Maren said. Everett hissed a little and Maren jumped.

“What?” I asked.

“I might have just overshared,” Maren said apologetically.

“Ah, gotcha,” I said, adding, “If it makes you feel any better, I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

“It does, but still, you’re new around here and better safe than sorry,” Everett declared. “Club business is just that – club business.”

“I understand,” I said and leaned back against the bar.

“Good deal,” she smiled at me and yelled, “Coffee’s up!”

I heard a little laughter and Mali groaned, “Thank fucking God.” I turned and found her leaned over a table in the common area.

“Hungover?” I asked.

“Yup.”

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