Page 108 of Moonshine Lullabies

“That’s enough!” La Croix bellowed, and we fell in line.

Yeah, this was not going well… but then again, these sons of bitches were seriously fuckin’ clueless. They didn’t want anything but to stir up trouble. They didn’t really have an endgame. This whole thing waswhat the fuckto the point that they didn’t know it, but they were literally standing across from us digging their own fuckin’ grave.

We wasn’t gonna put up with much more. This was…wow.

“Here’s how this is going to go down,” La Croix said, with a grunt of consternation. “You’re going to keep your fuckin’ territory to the fuckin’ bayou and out of the city. Likewise, we’ll keep to the city and out of your bayou, however my people who live in the bayou country including family are grandfathered in for safe passage. We lived here for generations, but this stupid petty ass shit dies here or bodies really gon’ be dropping, son.”

La Croix had spoken, and nothin’ out of his mouth was one bit unreasonable.

“From here on out boys, we’re willin’ to truce. One side or the other breaks that truce and well…” he scratched the side of his cheek with the back of a nail. “Well, it’s on like Donkey Kong and we ain’t stopping. There won’t be a last man standing.”

Rebel hitched a laugh, and then he started braying like a fuckin’ donkey. The rest of his merry band of fuckwits joined in and we just waited them out – because for real?

“Whew, I needed a good laugh,” Rebel declared, wiping a fake tear from his eye. “Seems to me your place is the one that got shot up. You really wanna be threatening me?”

“Seems to me your team is the only one with a man down. You really wanna play with me?” La Croix demanded.

“Don’t count when you send your women to do your dirty work for you,” that same voice called from the back and a hand hit me in the chest when I took a step forward unbidden. I looked over and up at Saint who wordlessly checked me with a look. I nodded once, and he nodded back and he dropped his hand.

“Looks like you touched a nerve, Malice.”

“Why thank you, Spite.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Far as I’m concerned, we ain’t got nothing left to talk about,” Rebel declared.

“I don’t suppose we do,” Hex agreed.

“Autobots roll out?” Chainsaw asked.

“Autobots roll out,” Hex confirmed.

We mounted back up and they did too. We didn’t want them at our backs so we let them go first.

La Croix gave the signal to roll back to the club, and we did. I could understand the need for church after that. That was… enlightening, but at the same time, I think we all felt fuckin’ dumber for having gone.

These dudes weren’t bikers. They were barely biker cosplayers!

Like, holy shit, what the fuck, pass the Moonshine, I’m too sober for this!

Back at the club, we ditched phones and filed into the chapel and took our places around the table.

“What in the fuck did I just witness out there?” Saint demanded.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Hex said, taking in a deep breath and letting it out exasperatedly.

“Guys, I don’t even know what to fuckin’ say,” Cypress said and I shook my head.

“These guys ain’t right, bro. They’re lookin’ for any excuse.”

“Love how they’re trying to blame Jess for their one guy getting himself perished,” Chainsaw said, leaning way back in his seat, head back and peering at us all from beneath his ball cap.

“Like who in their right mind thinks they can break into someone’s house, they get stabbed or shot by the fuckin’ homeowner and that constitutes murder and not they fucked around, and they found out?” Bennie asked, and he shook his head, lookin’ like his brain was in hyperdrive turning this madness over in it.

“I have no fuckin’ idea, but what I said sticks. Guarantee they gonna break this truce, but I don’t want to be the one to do it.”

“It’s dangerous,” Louie said, and he looked up. “Not just for us, but for Tate and the girls… these guys don’t care and I don’t want to see your families get hurt.”

---