“Did I miss hell freezing over or did you just turn down tail?” Axe coughs into his fist, trying to control his laughter. “You joining the monastery or something?”
“The fuck, man? We’re working.” I throw a lazy punch out toward Axe’s jaw, he has no time to dodge out of the way.
“Shit!” Too busy clutching his stomach from cracking up, he jerks back and grabs the side of a meeting room chair to avoid falling to the ground.
I shake my head. “Get your head in the game. We’re taking the club in a damn good direction. Making big moves translates to bigger payouts. It’s a shorter route to the end game. Yes, I know it’s dangerous shit, but that’s the life we chose. Besides, doing this now gives us a chance to get out faster. Make sense? High risk, high reward.”
My best friend since childhood sobers up. Scrubbing a hand down his face, he drags two fingers down his black goatee. I know that skeptical look.
“It always sounds great in theory, man. I’m just…tired.” Axe lets out a sigh and rearranges himself in the large leather rolling chair. “I can’t do any more time after that last stint.”
“Stop exaggerating. It was two fucking nights in county jail, you big pussy.”
“Yeah and it fucking sucked.”
I take another drag of the cigarette, flicking open the pack and offering one out. “You’re a goddamned lightweight.”
Our gazes lock. Axe jerks a smoke out of the pack and lights up. I’m one of a handful of people who get away with talking to Axe like that. He has little to no patience, and would beat the shit out of any man just for looking at him the wrong way. It’s a wonder he hasn’t done time.
“Something like that,” he mutters around the cancer stick. Thick smoke hits the air, and Axe looks down at the floor.
“Look, there’s nothing wrong with that, brother. No one wants to be caged up like an animal, but you got to have my back. If I say I got this, then I meanI got this.” I finish the last of my cig, extinguishing the butt under the sole of my black leather shitkickers. “I. Got. This.”
For a second, I’m sure Axe will keep arguing. Or maybe fight me. He cracks his knuckles, straightens his back and buffs up his chest. But after a bit, he relaxes into his chair, toying with the new cigarette between his teeth.
“All right. I got your back. I won’t talk about jail time again. Just don’t say I never brought it up.”
“Don’t worry about it, bro.” I put out my hand, and Axe slaps my palm. We get up from the chairs, ready to get to work. I give him a pat on the back. “We’re golden. Believe me, I get it.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime.” I feel my phone buzz in my back pocket. Jamming my hand into my jeans, I shut off the meeting reminder and stretch. “I’m out.”
“You sure you want to go there alone?”
“Definitely. Tonight’s the easy part. You keep the pussy warmed up for me until I get back.”
“I can’t promise there’ll be anything left, with the night I’m planning to have.”
“Good luck with that.” I open up the door and glance back, lips pressed together in a thin line. “Make sure you wrap that thing up.”
“What the fuck are you, my mother?”
“Nah, but if you’re planning that kind of crazy night, I’ll pass on the second-hand pussy for now.”
On my way outside, I dodge a couple more sack demons on the way to my bike. Shoving my hand into my back pocket again, I pull out the phone to double check the address and directions. My calm response to Axe about tonight’s meeting is an act. I can’t let on that this new client is a bit trickier than normal.
“A run of the mill deal,” I mutter to myself. “In. Out. Done.”
Even I know that’s bullshit.
