“Mom, I’m coming as soon as I can. Call Uncle Harry.” The worst fuckhead in the world. “Until I get there. You can’t be alone.” Later, he’d find out why she hadn’t called his father’s brother in the first place.
“Can you call him?”
“No.” It didn’t matter how overwrought his mom was, he wasn’t subjecting himself to his uncle’s abuse, sooner than necessary. “I’m sorry.”
The call dropped. Or his mother hung up on him. He’d prefer to think it was the former, instead of the latter. After dressing, he called Cash with an update, then telephoned Fee.
“I’ll call you as soon as I can,” he told her.
“We’re here for you,” she swore. “I’m here for you.”
One thing Stretch was realizing was they each needed to have separate relationships with the other for their triad to work. If they got along as couples, then all else would fall into place.
“I know.”
“Do you need me to do anything?”
He wished she could go with him, but he wouldn’t place that burden on her. This trip would drain his savings and he only had his ticket to buy. The cost of last minute airfare was ridiculous. If he invited Fee, he’d want to buy hers.
After hanging up with her, he dialed Outlaw’s number. “It’s four-thirty in the fuckin’ mornin’,” he yelled. “What the fuck you want, motherfucker?”
“My dad’s dead.”
Long moments of silence before Outlaw sighed. “I ain’t sorry. He was a motherfucker. He wanted you to fuckin’ die of your injuries, Stretch.” Another sigh. “Gimme ten minutes. I’m headin’ to the club.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, I do, so shut the fuck up. You woke me the fuck up when you coulda fuckin’ waited, so you musta fuckin’ wanted my ass there.”
“Okay,” Stretch mumbled.
Ten minutes later, Outlaw and Meggie arrived just as Stretch entered the main room. While Meggie made coffee, Outlaw sat and talked to Stretch, and arranged airline reservations.
Stretch pushed to the back of his mind that he’d made love to Fee the night before, knowing of Outlaw’s rule, and now watched as the man helped him without second thought. Now that he’d gotten in so deep with Fee, Stretch would have to address his secrets sooner or later.
Only, he didn’t know if he could. He’d either have to give up Fee or leave the club to escape Outlaw’s wrath. Either way, Stretch would lose. Maybe, he’d even have to give up Cash.
What would happen to him then?
As the time drew near to leave, Stretch decided to consider his relationship later. With his father dead, he hoped he and his mother could reconnect.
Shame and guilt rushed through him at the thought. He’d never wanted anything to happen to his dad. He’d just wanted respect and understanding for the person he was.
Swallowing, Stretch decided to push those thoughts away, too. They’d only bring him down. His dad was dead. He’d never have the chance to make up with him.
Back in his room, he tried both Fee and Cash, but neither of them answered their phones, so he left messages for both of them, ignoring his disappointment. Cash was allowing his disapproval over Stretch’s decision to stop him from being a friend. He hoped one of them would return his call, but neither of them did. At three o’clock, he grabbed his bag to head out. The time to head to the airport neared.
Hoping he hadn’t forgotten anything, Stretch flipped off his light, then locked his door and headed to the main room, surprised to find Mort, Digger, Johnnie, and Val there. Still no Cash, though.
Mort held out his hand. “Sorry about your old man.”
“If you need to talk,” Digger started, biting into a cinnamon roll and licking the sugar from his fingers, “hit me up on the phone, bro. I can show you a few moves to dance on his fucking grave.”
“Have some class, fool,” Mort snapped.
“We danced on Sharper graves, Mort. Most of them anyway from where we buried the pieces Johnnie gave to us after he finished making fish food in the chipper.”
“Boring shit,” Johnnie complained. “That meant nothing without participating in fucking him up.”
They all sniggered.
Val clapped Stretch’s shoulder. “Let us know when services are. If it’s a few days from now, we could blaze down there to support you.”
“Only if my ass goin’ to spit the fuck on his fuckin’ grave.” Outlaw looked at Stretch. “You ain’t obligated to go.”
“Cash said the same thing,” Stretch admitted.