Page 29 of Rough

“Not sure,” Crip said. “Sounds like an unorganized bunch. Pete called and said a handful of ‘em stopped in for a couple of beers a few nights back. Now there’s ten of ‘em in there. The Goblins or some shit.”

“Goblins?” I laughed. “No shit?”

“Fuck, I don’t know, Peeb. Something like that.”

“There’s ten of ‘em?”

“That’s what he said.”

“And you and me and Cholo’s headed over there to whip ‘em? The three of us?”

“I didn’t say we were headed over there to whip ‘em. I said we were going to scare the shit out of ‘em.”

“Scare ‘em, huh?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Gonna take some Halloween masks? Jump out from around the corner of the bar when they come outside and yell boo?”

“Listen, smartass. You’re a big intimidating former college football star. Cholo’s a Chicano thug who used to be a Golden Gloves boxer. I’m a former Navy SEAL. And, in case you forgot, we’re 1%ers. Our presence will scare ‘em.”

“Settle down, Boss. I ain’t worried about me. I’ll scare my third of ‘em without a mask. You and the Mexican can scare the rest.”

“Follow my lead on this. I don’t want you going apeshit on anybody like you did that night in Five Points.”

“No going apeshit,” I said with a nod. “Got it.”

He locked eyes with me. “I’m serious.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“It’s hard to tell, Peeb. Your face has a fuckin’ permanent grin on it. I never know when you’re serious.”

“Ask me.”

He shook his head. “You ready?”

“Ask me.”

“You give me a headache. Brother Cholo’s gonna join us right before we hit the freeway. He’s sitting at the 7-Eleven waiting on us now. You ready?”

“Ask me if I’m serious.”

He let out a sigh, shook his head, and then looked at me. “You serious, Peeb?”

I grinned. “Yep. Now, remember that face. That was my serious face.”

“Be a tough one to forget. Looks like all the rest.”

I tried to formulate a scowl, but ended up grinning in the process.

He laughed. “You ready, Mr. Serious?”

“Born ready, Boss.”

He turned toward his bike. “They see your big ass on that Sporty, and that might be enough to scare ‘em. Either that, or they’ll be bent over in laughter, and it’ll make it easier for us to whip ‘em.”

The fucking Sportster. I’d completely forgotten I was riding it. One more day, and I was supposed to have my bike back. I made a mental note to ask Tegan about the money she owed me and started the little piece of shit up.