Page 15 of Devil's Work: Dark

“Got patched in. Didn’t want to limit myself to one pussy when the club had whores falling out the windows.”

Can’t argue with that logic. “So, what about her?”

“Oh, Rae is Dela’s sister.”

“That cunt is Rae’s sister?” I bark. Now I’m pissed.

“Shewasn’ta cunt.” He glares at me taking his life in his hands.

“Well, she is now. She’s why I have to fucking live with a bitch and her two brats for the foreseeable future.”

He opens his mouth to say something back, but I’m done with him and talk of his ex, I turn my back on him, heading for my room to pack. Green’s gone when I make my way back into the common room with my gym bag slung over my shoulder. Half hour later, I’m way on the outskirts of town turning down a drive. There are four singlewide trailers. I look for the one that says 1366 D. It’s the last one. I recognize my brother’s bike and the piece-of-shit junker that I saw parked in the parking lot in front of Dusty’s practice.

I park, cut the engine, and walk up to the door, pounding twice. It pops open and I’m staring at nothing until I drop my gaze down and see a little kid who looks like a blond Rae standing there.

“Mumma, it’s another biker man!” he yells.

“Then let him in, bud.”

“Mumma says you can come in.” He steps out of my way, then slams the door after I get all the way inside. Jesus, does this kid not do anything at half-volume?

The place is a shithole. It’s clean, but all the furniture is old and worn. This ugly-ass sofa with dusty pink and blue swishes all over it. The coffee table has chips in the veneer. Her TV looks like it was made back in 1987.

“Hi,” Rae says as she hobbles from the kitchen trying to use the crutches and wipe her hands on a ratty towel. She’s in cutoff jean shorts and a plain white tank top. A razorback with ribbing. I rub my hand over my face and sigh. This is going to be a long fucking assignment if she keeps wearing clothes that show off her long legs and hug her tits. “Ty, this is Mr. Dark.”

“Hello, Mr. Dark,” the kid says and I kid not, he holds his hand out for me to shake it. That’s hilarious.

I shake it but tell him, “Not Mister, just Dark. Just call me Dark.”

“Mumma!” he yells. “He told me to call him Dark.”

“I heard, bud. But you need to use your inside voice, okay?”

The kid smiles. “I forgot.”

Cutter walks over to Rae, giving her arm a squeeze. “I’m taking off now.”

“Thanks for sitting with us,” she says.

Then Cut walks over to the kid, messing up his hair. “Take care, little dude. It was good to meet you.” It was good to meet you? Who the fuck is this guy and what did he do with my brother? Before he leaves, Cut raps my shoulder. “They’re good people. Don’t fuck this up,” he says before heading out the door.

Now, what the hell does he mean by that?

“I didn’t know how much stuff you’d have, but Cutter helped me move my dresser out here for you.” She points to the old, shoddy piece of furniture in the corner.

“What’d you do with your stuff?”

She swats her hand in the air. “I just tossed my stuff in some boxes Miss Mable gave me.”

“I take it I’m sleeping out here, then?” I ask.

“Sorry. I don’t have enough rooms. But the sofa pulls out into a bed. It’s pretty soft. Can I get you a drink?”

“What do ya got?”

“Right now, water. I can’t get anything else until I get paid. But I’ll make it work since you’re being so nice.”

I laugh. “Let’s be clear, I’m not nice. I’m here, but you owe me. Nothing comes for free in this life.”

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