Page 162 of Hard Rain

“I paid that last week,” Axel called back.

“Did ya?” Snook squinted. “Who the hell owes me twenty bucks?”

“Whip! You finally gonna keep this one?” Stacy yelled.

“Thinking’ so,” Whip drawled.

“About damn time!” someone else hollered.

Laughter bounced off the old wood walls.

Crash disappeared behind the bar while Whip stopped to shake hands with half the room.

Axel scanned the familiar faces.

“Well, hell.”

The voice came from the back hallway.

Axel turned.

Memphis walked out carrying a case of beer. He stopped short, then looked from Whip to Axel.

“About time you got home. I go on vacation, and you change houses… and partners.”

Whip only grinned.

“Missed you too, bro.” Axel pulled his brother into a quick hug.

“You finally wore him down huh?” Memphis murmured for his ears alone.

“Something like that.” Axel clapped his brother on the back.

“Where’s Rae?”

“Still in Washington.” Memphis shrugged. “Called yesterday. Decided to extend her stay another week.”

Axel smiled to himself.

Sounded like their little sister. Once Rachael decided she wasn’t done with someplace, good luck convincing her otherwise.

The front door swung open again.

“Thought you assholes would start the party without us.”

Knox strode inside, Grant a step behind him, carrying a cardboard tray loaded with takeout boxes.

“You were late,” Crash called.

“We had priorities.”

“You stopped for pizza.”

“Exactly.”

Memphis snorted. “You’re lucky I like you.”

“No,” Knox shot back. “You’re lucky I like you.”