Chapter Three
The sweltering heatencased Muerto as he rode past the businesses on Main Street. The trees that lined each side of the road stood mute in the summer air. He sped past telephone poles that dotted the dry landscape on his way to the clubhouse. The earth was baked as hard as concrete, and the cracks that zigzagged on it were like wrinkles on an old face. Rain had been sparse that summer, and the usual wildflowers that lent a punch of color to the landscape were in short supply.
The summer sun beat upon his back, forcing beads of sweat down his neck. In the distance, reddish-brown rock with patches of green pines loomed, their craggy peaks absent of the snow they sported most of the year. Muerto pushed his black skull bandana closer to his hairline.I can’t believe the pool hustler with the cute ass is my tenant.His chest shook as he laughed.If she fucks the way she moves, this could be a lot of fun.He had no doubt that she’d end up in his bed, as most women did. He hadn’t been blind to the way she checked him out the previous night at the pool hall, and a woman who ran her eyes over a man’s body was a woman who wanted that man. That’d always been his motto, and the number of women who’d enjoyed his sexual skills over the years had reinforced it.
As he slowed down to take a sharp turn, he heard his phone ringing. Knowing it could be one of the brothers, he made the turn and then pulled over. A brother had to always be available if there was a club emergency or a member needed his help. He glanced at the number and saw it was his sister. For a split second he debated on whether he should answer it before he placed the phone to his ear.
“What’s up, Laura?”
“Where are you? You were supposed to be over here like twenty minutes ago.” Muerto racked his brain trying to remember why he was—“You forgot, didn’t you?”
“No. Just running behind, that’s all.” He made a U-turn and headed back to the main road. He’d hoped the reason he was meeting Laura would come to him.
“Okay. I just want everything to be perfect for Ma’s birthday, that’s all.”
The birthday party. That’s right. Fuck.“I do too. I’m on my way.”
Muerto parked his bike in front of Laura’s home in a working-class neighborhood where all of the houses were either red or brown brick and had green squares of yard in the front and back. In the summer, the porches were filled with gossiping mothers watching their kids as they frolicked. Every once in a while the high-pitched tunes of the ice cream truck would pierce through the laughter and the children would scramble over to the curb, fidgeting in place as they waited for the white van with colorful popsicles plastered on it to appear.
As he wiped his face and neck with a rag, his two nephews and his niece came tearing out of the house, waving at him as they raced by. Laura came toward him, shaking her head. “Sorry about that. They heard the ice cream truck.”
“What can I say? That’s some stiff competition.” He smiled at her. “How’ve you been? You look tired.”
She shrugged. “I’m okay. It’s just so damn hot. Let’s go inside.”
He followed her up the porch steps into the house. Cool air surrounded him. “When did you put the AC in?”
“A couple of months ago. It’s been a lifesaver. That guy you recommended gave us a killer price. Do you want a pop or some water?”
“A beer would be great.”
“In the middle of the afternoon?”
“Yeah.” He sank down on one of the cushy chairs and crossed his leg over his thigh. “So does Ma know about her birthday party?”
She handed him a Coors. “No. You didn’t hint at anything, did you?” He shook his head and she visibly relaxed. “I’m trying to keep it a secret. It’ll be real nice. You said that you’d help with getting a place to have it. I’m thinking of having about a hundred people.”
“Really? Fuck, that’s a big party. I thought it was just a few close friends and family.”
“Well, you know how that goes. If I invite Aunt Martha, then I have to invite Cousin Julia, and on and on it goes.”
“I guess. I’ll get the place. We’ve got about a month, right?”
“Six weeks, to be exact. Don’t forget to do it. We need to secure a place now before it fills up. A lot of people get married in the summer. And speaking of that, it’d be great if you could bring a nice girl to the party. Ma worries that you’ll never get married and have a family. I worry about it too.”
“How the hell did this go from me getting a place for a party to you meddling into my personal life? I’ve told you before to leave it alone. I can guarantee you that I’m not lonely.” He took another gulp of beer.
“I didn’t say you didn’t have women to fill your nights. I’m talking about the quality of the women. I know the type who hang around at your clubhouse.”
“What’s wrong with them? They’re nice chicks. You don’t even know them so don’t go judging them.”
Laura stretched her legs out on the couch. “Would you bring them over to Ma’s to introduce them?” He shook his head. “I knew it. Why can’t you find a decent girl? Someone youcanintroduce to Ma.”
“What makes you think I want adecentgirl? I like them wild—it’s more fun. Anyway, I don’t wanna settle down.”
“Ever?”
He shrugged. “How the fuck do I know? I’m just not interested in a relationship right now. Leave it alone or I go.” He set the can on the end table.
