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“Let’s get some rest,” said Nine. “God knows we’re all old as dirt and need it.”
“You say that, but look over there,” smirked Gaspar. He pointed to his parents’ cabin, both sitting on the front porch with candles lit around them as they sipped a glass of whiskey, eating some sort of cookie his mother no doubt made.
“What the fuck?” muttered Ghost, waving at the couple. Mama Irene waved them over.
“What are y’all doin’ up so late?” she asked.
“Mama, we’re a lot younger than y’all. What are you and Pops doin’ up?” asked Gaspar.
“Oh, we got a taste for some beignets and whiskey, so Irene started a batch after dinner,” smiled Matthew. “Nothin’ like a good beignet and a glass of whiskey to get you to sleep like a baby.”
“Y’all help that man with HIV?” asked Irene. Gaspar frowned at his mother, looking at the other men.
“Uh, Mama Irene, how did you know about him?” asked Ian.
“Hmm? Oh, you know news flies around here. Besides, I’ve been up there a few times to bring donations of blankets and sheets, towels, that sort of thing. Always bring them boys a few cakes as well. Y’all gonna help him?”
“There’s nothing we can do for him, Mama. He’s at the end of his life, but at least he’s reconnected with family,” said Gaspar.
“God love him,” she said quietly. “I hope he finds peace. Terrible thing to happen to anyone. I’m glad him and his daughter will have time to visit with one another.” Again, the men stared at one another. How did she know he had a daughter?
“Pops? Did you see the apartment building you bought?” asked Gaspar.
“I did. Went up there yesterday with Grant and his crew. We got a lot goin’ on right now. A crew workin’ on that flood wall that Finley designed, crews workin’ on extra cottages on the main property, and now this. But it’s worth it.”
“Cottages? Who for?” asked Ghost.
“Well, you never know,” smiled Matthew. “Grant says the apartments will be fixed up and ready for new tenants by the end of summer. They’re workin’ fast to fix the ones occupied now. Some of the appliances weren’t to code, and we replaced those. Installed all new air conditioning units as well. Can’t expect twenty-year-old machines to cool a place down in this kind of heat. Anyone that wants to stay in their apartment can. New apartments will go first to low-income seniors.”
“I love it,” smiled Ian. “I’ll take a drive out there in a few days. Mr. Houston was definitely grateful for the help, and his daughter has already sent three fruit baskets and flowers to us. It was something we were all happy to do.”
“You boys go on to bed,” said Irene. “You’ve got a lot goin’ on with this new business, and we have to make sure you’re fresh for whatever comes your way. Now, go on. Y’all need your sleep.”
“Mama,” said Gaspar, shaking his head. “Again. You’re older than us. Shouldn’t it be us telling you and Pops to head to bed?”
“You could try, but it don’t matter. I got ten times the energy y’all have. You might wanna remember that.” The four men hugged the elderly couple, walking away, shaking their heads.
“She’s right, you know. They have way more energy than we do,” said Ian. Nine just laughed, looking back as Matthew and Irene stole a kiss on their front porch.
“Maybe we should all have whiskey and beignets before bed.”
CHAPTER TEN
Ian and Miller were up early, heading into the city to visit a few restaurants. They’d prepared themselves to eat several meals, hoping to find something other than a belly ache.
“This all feels so strange,” said Miller. “Why would you want to run a restaurant out of business? I mean, I know these restaurants compete, but there’s never been a shortage of lines for food in this town. If one wins, they all win. It’s something the city is known for, and we’ve embraced it.”
“I agree. It feels like something personal to me, but we’ve not seen any signs of that,” said Ian. “From what the guys are telling us, he runs the kitchen like a fucking drill sergeant, but everyone responds and seems to do their job.”
“Brother, I had enough of being yelled at in the Army,” said Miller, shaking his head. “I came home only for Mama to yell at me because I was acting like a stupid kid and wasn’t coming home to see them enough, then it was Kari.”
“Kari has a reason to yell at you,” smirked Ian. “She’s your wife.” Miller laughed, shaking his head.
“Yeah, well, Mama had a reason too. I was fucked up when I got home. Joined the force, almost married a gold-digging bitch. Then I joined Nine and the team with REAPER and didn’t come home but maybe once every few years. I hate myself for doing that most of all. I missed my brothers and sisters during that time and was afraid to admit it. I was stupid, brother. Almost missed out on so much. The case when I met Kari changed my life.”
“I understand,” nodded Ian. “I had a lot of SEAL instructors screaming at me, then became one myself for a while. Then, I missed the action and wanted back on a team. Before Faith, I was dating a woman but just couldn’t commit for some reason. I was constantly deployed, never knew when I was coming home, and she fucking bitched my ass out every time I left and every time I returned.
“Came back to find the apartment empty, the bank account empty, a note that said goodbye. That was it. I started couch-surfing after that, but staying with guys who had kids fucking sucked. That’s when I met Faith. Changed my whole fucking world.”
