"Was that your baby's name?" he questioned.
She nodded. "I lost it after that."
"I think it was warranted. Ghosts have a way of creeping up on us and knocking us on our ass."
"You too?" she asked.
"Yeah. Wasn't expecting it today of all days. The past can be a cancer that refuses to leave your cells. The what ifs eat at you until the present happiness becomes a fleeting memory." He'd revealed more than he meant to, but she had a way of getting him to let his guard down. Maybe because she was open.
"Good thing we have support then, huh?" She placed a soft hand over his and squeezed.
He peered up at her and nodded. "I think so. What was it you wanted my advice on?"
"My classes will be ending soon. I need to figure out my job situation. My sister-in-law, Jolene, is expecting me to work for a restaurant."
"And you don't want that?" he guessed.
"Not at all."
"Then don't. Pleasing other people will turn you bitter."
She sighed. "I know. I just … I owe her so much. She carried me on the days I couldn't do for myself."
"You're there for her, too, right?"
"Yeah. At least, I try to be."
"Then you're even. Friendship isn't about keeping a tally. It's who's there when it matters the most. What is it you want to do?"
"I want to work in a bar. I like the atmosphere, and being able to talk to people of all walks of life. I want to work the evening shift and break away from this monotonous existence I've allowed myself to fall into."
He could hear the longing for change in her voice.
"So do that. Right now you're allowed to be selfish. Listen, I work at a nightclub. Managing with a bit of bouncing when necessary. You want to come onto the payroll with me?"
"You wouldn't mind?" she asked.
He found the thought of being able to keep an eye on her appealing.
"Nope. I can talk to my boss," he said.
"Talk to him and then get back to me. It'll give me time to figure things out."
Seeing her stress level go back up, he deftly changed the topic. "Done. Better eat up. I'm about to challenge you to a pinball duel in a minute."
"That's not a real thing."
"Of course it is. We choose two machines side-by-side, and the first one to lose all their balls loses."
They swept the sadness back beneath the surface and immersed themselves in the light-hearted experience. He had dark days ahead. He'd soak up all the light and joy he could get to keep him from crossing over a line he couldn't return from. There lay the path of the nomad.
CHAPTER FIVE
Snake
He studied his face in the mirror, knowing today everything would change. For years, he'd sat on his anger, and bloodlust, biding his time until they caught the scent of the bastards who'd ruined his life. He clutched the side of the porcelain basin. Once he walked out of his dorm and found Data, he'd be ripping a wound he'd worked so hard to heal wide open. Bowing his head, he said a small prayer to whoever was willing to listen to a man who'd sinned as much as he had. Allow me my vengeance, so I can move forward. Es had shown him what the future could be like. He wanted it. With her. The woman had become a regular part of his life. He didn't see any upcoming plans without her. They worked well together. He couldn't remember ever having a female best friend he wasn't banging, but this tiny blonde seemed to like to defy the odds.
He pushed away from the sink and ran his hands through his damp hair. It's time. He walked out of the room and snickered. Couples littered the couches in various states of dress. A few of his brothers sat at the bar with mugs of coffee. He spotted Data among them.
"You got time for me?" Snake asked.
"Yeah, I have everything ready to go in my room," Data said.
"Let's do this."
His footsteps seemed to echo on the floor as he walked down the hall just behind Data. They stepped into his room and Snake leaned against the door.
"What did you find, kid?"
"His name is Hiram Soutter. Born and bred in the town. He and his entire family aren't ashamed of showing their rebel pride. I have his address and job. He works at the local hardware store. I can't connect him to anyone other than his cousins, but maybe you can get him to crack."
"Oh, I can get him to spill his guts, believe that." Snake clenched his fists. "Can you get me his work schedule?"
"Believe it or not, the place isn't digital. They still do everything by hand. So we'll need to scout."
"Get a cage, take Stealth, and scout for me. I want to know his comings and goings. I'm going to talk to Prez and sketch out a plan."
"I'll pack and get him up and be on the road in a few hours."
Snake nodded and slipped from the room struggling to hold it together as his emotions flared. Clearing his throat, be blinked to keep the moisture swimming in his eyes at bay. Soon he could settle the score and lay his loves to rest properly. The thought of a proper burial for Jocelyn had his heart fit to burst. Swallowing everything down, like a bitter pill, he smoothed out his features and called Mike.
"Someone better be dead," Mike croaked.
"Come on, Boss, it's after ten o'clock."
"Didn't go to sleep until six, you little shit," Mike said.
Snake shook his head. For a man in his mid-forties, he partied harder than some of the twenty-one-year-olds in their crew. "This is important."
"Shit, what happened?" Mike asked.
"Data found something."
"What do you need from me, brother?"
"Permission to send a scout and then go grab this fuck, once I have all the information I need. I want him and anyone else who had something to do with it to disappear."
"Might draw a lot of attention," Mike said.
"I can wait and spread it out if I need to."
Mike sighed. "You deserve your revenge, brother, but act with care. Last thing we need is this coming back on us."
"I understand. I'll make sure we're not targeted. I figure men like this have made a lot of enemies over the years," Snake stated, wondering how many lives they'd ruined. I'll make them pay for every one of those lives.
"Then you have my blessing. Take as many people as you need when the time comes. We're good here for now. Things are quiet and relationships are friendly with everyone," Mike said.
"I'm going to get to work on setting things up so I can get out of here. I'll make sure Kali knows she's in charge. The nightclub will run smoothly while I'm gone with her in charge."
Mike snickered. "Yeah. She came out the womb bossy as hell," he replied, referring to his baby sister.
"I bet she'd say the same thing about you."
"I'm six years older, I'm supposed to be running things."
Snake laughed. If women were allowed into the club, she'd be the perfect prospect. Instead, she'd become a den mother of sorts. "Hey, what do you think of Es?" he asked, turning his thoughts to something that would help him wait out the time.
"What? The little blonde you been bringing around?"
"Yeah."
"She seems all right, why?"
"She's graduating from Bartending School. I want to offer her a job at Rain."
"Hey, man, that's your spot. You own the deed on it."
"But I want your blessing," Snake said.
"You think she can be trusted if she happens to see something?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, man, she's loyal as hell."
"Then go ahead and put her on. But have Kali watch her, make sure she's up for it. We get a wild bunch in there and she'll need to keep her mouth shut. It might be a good idea to figure out where you stand with her if you plan on having her stick around."
"She's not going anywhere," Snake stated.
"Careful there, you're starting to sound like you care," Mike said.
"I do, more than I should," Snake murmured.
"Make sure you don't get so caught up you lose your focus, brother. You could be walking into a minefield."
"I got my head on straight," Snake promised.
"Keep it that way," Mike said before the dial tone sounded in his ear.
He made another call to Es.
"Hey, you're calling early," she said. Her voice was light and airy and he could imagine the bright smile on her face. When she was happy, she had the power to light up an entire room.
"I'll be heading out of town for a business trip soon and I wanted to get a few things set up first. I talked to my boss at Rain. He'd like to put you on a trial basis. You'll have ninety days to see if the club and you are a good fit."
"Are you serious?" she asked breathlessly.
He laughed. "Yeah, I take it you're still interested?" He forced himself to keep his tone neutral not wanting to sway her one way of the other. This was her decision to make.
"Yes, of course I am."
"Good. I'm going to set up a meeting this week for you and my co-manager, Kali, if you're up for it. I don't want to leave and have you waiting on me."