Page 56 of Whiskey Shivers

“Oh yeah?” he demanded, and his bravado was about to get him in far more trouble ‘n he an’ his was already in.

“Oh, yeah,” I said. “Now you ain’t the highest rankin’ official in this little menagerie you got goin’ on in our territory, so I suggest you learn right quick just who is in charge of this show before we have to spank your ass and learn you some fuckin’ manners.”

He straightened up, raised an eyebrow and tried lookin’ down at me from where I leaned on the bar, which probably might have at least looked more impressive if it ain’t for the fact we were the same damn height.

A hand fell on Chicory’s shoulder, and he was moved back, a man my age stepping sideways past him and putting himself in front of him.

“And you are?” I asked.

He crossed his big arms over his chest and looked down at me from his three inches or so of added height, and said, “Tonight, I’m the man in fuckin’ charge.”

I barked a laugh and let it roar.

These dumbfucks were abso-fuckin’-lutely clueless, and it showed.

I felt Cypress looming at my back and read the name flash on this asshole’s cut.

“Well now,” I squinted, making a show of it. “Hatchet. I do believe you might wanna walk that statement back a pace or two.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” he demanded.

I straightened up and went toe to toe with this upstart motherfucker. “Because I’m the VP of the Voodoo Bastards, boy – and you’re inmyfuckin’ house, drinkin’ my fuckin’ booze and the way I hear it – some of you boys are dirty fuckin’ poachers, stealin’ food off my boy’s line and money out his pocket. Now, we been mighty fuckin’ generous, lettin’ you all call Swamp Daddy’s your home lately but, bitch, get one thing fuckin’ straight in that inbred swamp critter skull of yours. When you’re onourturf,I’myour fuckin’ daddy.”

His nostril’s flared and predictably, he swung on me. But he was at a disadvantage with his bulk, and I ducked and came up on the inside of his swing with a mean-ass right hook right into his fuckin’ ribs. A pure fuckin’ money shot that had him grunting and taking a step back.

It was like the world held its collective breath, the energy of the bar shifting and crackling as citizen patrons rose and went for the door, and the bartender that’d served me and mine started shrieking some shit, but it was too late. It was fuckin’ on, and the Bayou Brethren and the Voodoo Bastards clashed in an all-out free-for-all.

It was a free-for-all they were gonna fuckin’ lose and they did, the cops storming the place and throwing me and my boys down on tables and against the bar. I grinned savagely in the face of one of their boys who was glaring murder at me from inches away as we each struggled against the cuffs going on. Then I was jerked up and back by my colors and marched for the fuckin’ door.

Mission fuckin’ accomplished,I thought to myself.And away we go.

My only regret at this point was that’d I’d let my passion for the club get the best of me and I’d made it more about the club than the poachin’. That was alright, though. Me and my boys knew what needed to be said when the questions started comin.’ We could make it about the poachin’ first, then follow it with the ol’ razzle dazzle of “fuck you, I want a lawyer.”

It was an old refrain, a well-loved song and dance.

Fuck you, ain’t sayin’ shit’, I want my fuckin’ lawyer,was a biker’s greatest hit.

It was about to get sung like a chorus as soon as we hit the station.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

Corliss…

Friday, when I got up, I realized it was just me and Alina and that La Croix hadn’t returned.

I was equal parts relieved and unnerved by that.

“So, it’s just you and me, huh?” I asked as Alina slid a mug of black tea at me to start the day with.

“Oh yeah,” she said. “I’m used to it by now. Some of the boys will be along tomorrow to check on us and run us to town if we want. Personally, I don’t need anything. Do you? If you do, I have the sat phone and could give La Croix a call.”

“Oh, no,” I said. “I’m good.”

It was sunny and cool despite all the natural light pouring into the place from the windows. I got therealtour in the full light of day, and I had to say I didn’t think such a thing was even possible. We were in a house, built on a barge, one hundred percent sustainable and self-contained and one hundred percent off the grid. It was a modern marvel. I was so impressed I forgot to be concerned that we were out in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a satellite phone with which to call if there was any kind of emergency.

Alina and I talked amicably, and each got a shower and dressed. I had to admit, I absolutely adored the bathroom.

I managed with minor difficulty to shower on my own and Alina, bless her, offered to wash my hair in the sink if I needed. I managed to do it one-handed, but boy my good arm was exhausted by the end of it and felt like a wet noodle.

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