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“Morning to you too.” I laugh.
“What time is it?”
“Time you sort yourself out. I want everyone in the back room in thirty.”
Clearing his eyes, he leans back in his chair and smirks. “Is that an order, Prez?”
Snorting, I grunt, “Fuck yeah. Get moving. We’ve got shit to do.”
He disappears up the stairs and by the time I’ve poured a coffee, the bar is filling with brothers.
Dad breezes in like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and I guess he doesn’t now. The cares have been passed on to me.
“Morning, old man. You still feeling good about this?”
“Son, for the first time in years, I didn’t have to get up before everyone else and put myself five steps in front of everyone else. I got to…” he pauses, remembering himself. “Actually, you don’t wanna hear how I got to start my day without anyone interrupting.”
Cringing, I exhale hard. “Just because you say I don’t wanna hear it, doesn’t mean I don’t know what you’re saying. Thanks for that.”
He laughs and brothers stall. It’s rare when Dad laughs, like really laughs.
“You’re welcome. Come on, let’s get this rolling.”
Slapping me on the back, I step into the back room. I automatically go to my left toward my old chair, but correct myself and continue straight on. Dad heads left and takes my old chair while I take his.
I would sneak in and sit in his chair when I was a kid but even then, it was only a someday promise. Sparky steps in front of me, handing over a slither of fabric. His VP patch.
“My boy will do us both proud,” he says quietly.
I nod. By the time I sit and pick up the gavel, all eyes are on me and waiting.
I slam the gavel down and it clicks—there really is no going back. This is it. This is my life now.
“I’m sure this isn’t just awkward for me, but I’m sure we’ll get over it. So, if anyone has anything to say, say it now.”
“I don’t find a fucking thing awkward. You look good up there,” Pope says, and I laugh.
“Thanks. So, first order of business, we all know who I’ll be choosing as my VP.”
I slide the patch across the table toward him and that’s when he looks at his dad’s cut and notices the missing patch.
Sparky slaps him on the back and says, “We’ll swap chairs next time. I’m too old these days to be up and down all the time.”
“That’s what Aunt Bon said.” Myles snorts.
“The fuck? That’s my mom, asshole.”
Myles holds his hands up and Sparky leans forward in his chair. “I’ll have you know, you little shit, there’s nothing old about me inthatdepartment. My old lady still gets hers and more.”
“Dad! That’s my mom!” JJ shrieks.
“Oh please, like you don’t know. You’ve interrupted us enough over the years.”
“For fuck’s sake. Can we not?”
“Alright, personally, I’ve had enough of hearing what you old-timers get up to with your old ladies for one morning.”
I hear Dad snort beside me, and I carry on, “All jokes aside, we still have Effie Rathbone to deal with. So far, we have nothing to go on. Instead of trying to find her, we’ll lure her out. She owns three hair salons, two nail bars and a mini spa. We gather everything on them, the floor plans, how many employees, opening/closing times, everything. Then we hit them.”
