Page 24 of Ghost
“Bunny, what the hell do you think you're doing?” he asks, trying to sound stern, but I see the small smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
“What's it look like? This place is absolutely disgusting, so I decided to start cleaning. I'm getting this place back to its old glory!” I throw my hands in the air and spin in a circle.
“Baby girl, you do know this place is a cover… it's supposed to be dirty and disgusting. It keeps the would-be customers away,” he says it like I'm not supposed to know this already.
“You have this place locked down tighter than my gran’s good china! No way anyone would know there's a whole daggum city down below, even if this was a headliner in Vegas! But let's play this your way. This place is run by some shady club, right? So, in the eyes of the town, this would be the place for the lowest of lows to hang out, right? Wouldn't that just put the club indanger of being discovered? If I was the po-po, somewhere like this would be the first place I would look. Clean it up, make it a family joint, and there's no way some rough and rowdy bad busters gonna think this place is a secret hideout for the deadliest men this world has ever seen.” I smirk, and he narrows his eyes on me.
I can see him thinking, can nearly watch as the wheels turn over and over in his brain, trying to find a flaw in my fruit snacks, but he ain't gonna. I let the smile slowly take over my face as his eyes narrow further and I know I’ve got him.
“Grr.. fine! Just… be careful! You get yourself hurt, and I’ll spank your ass!” he yells.
I perk up at that promise, “accidentally” twisting my ankles and falling… gracefully… to the floor I just cleaned. Then, placing the back of my hand across my forehead, I muster, “Oh, heavens! Someone help me, help me; I’ve fallen in these devil heels.”
“I’ve seen you hike in higher ones, Bunny. You ain't fooling me,” he says, walking back to me, picking me up like a doll, smacking my ass before turning to stomp back downstairs.
“Damn! Got his panties all in a twist, didn't you, girly?” one of the old guys chuckles.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” the other snorts before taking a chug from his beer.
“Well, I’d be a liar if I said he didn't have me all hog-tied up, either.” I smile, grabbing my rag and wiping down the counter. I grab a new trash bag and head for the overturned trash can behind the bar.
“Don't even think of it, sugar. You ain't got no business touching that nasty ass trash can. I’ll pick it up, but that's all I’m agreeing to,” the grumpy one says, getting off the stool with an oomph.
“Yeah, we don't want this place looking all spick and span. Don't need no new crowds coming in here and overtaking our nice little setup we got going on here. With their loud music and skinny jeans. What the fuck is with skinny jeans?” the other one grumps, and I can't help but smile. These two are a hoot.
“Aww, come on now, wouldn't you enjoy coming in here and trying your hand at a Friday night bowling league? I bet you'd be the first to get a three hundred. I’d have your picture hanging right behind the desk,” I tell him, gesturing wide. Once again, I get a snort from both grumpy old men.
“I’d break a hip throwing that fuckin’ ball, then shoot the fucking pins down with my trusty old Glock. I’ll stick to my bullets, bike, and my beer.”
I spend the next few hours getting to know Hag and Fossil as we laugh, well, I do most of the laughing, but these guys and their quibbling have me nearly on the freshly polished floor.
“You should have seen him on his first mission. Hag and me, we didn't take it easy on the boy,” Fossil chuckles softly. “You remember that time we woke him up with those old firecrackers? Shit, I ain't never seen someone move so quick.”
“Or the time with the icy hot.”
“Fuck, I forgot about that one!” Fossil hollers.
“If you two old hens are up here spreading misinformation to my woman, I’ll have to kick both your old asses out of here,” Devon says, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around mywaist. “The place looks good, baby girl,” he whispers into my hair before kissing the side of my head, then turning back to Hag and Fossil.
“The firecrackers were me. The Icy hot was all Lambert,” Devon tells them.
“Lambert!! I remember him.” Fossil snaps in recognition.
“He was a good kid. Whatever happened to him?” Hag takes another swig of his beer as I place a new one in front of him.
“His whole unit was ambushed, and he was the only one to make it out alive. He retired and has been trying to drink the memories away ever since,” Devon responds, his tone flat.
“What the fuck, Ghost? And you didn't bring him back here?” Hag bangs his hand on the old bar top. Lordy, mercy, if he does that again, the whole things liable to fall like the London Bridge.
“Don't you think I tried? Hell, I did everything but hogtie his ass to the back of my bike,” Devon growls.
“Hmph… well, looks like we ain't completely retired, brother. Still got to deal with these pissy ass boys and their tantrums. Come on, Fossil,” Hag says, grunting and climbing from the seat.
“Where are you two going?” Devon asks, confused.
“Someone's gotta take care of this family, and I guess since you're too busy running around here with your finger up your ass, it's going to have to be us.”
And with those parting words, they hobble… yes, hobble, out of the door. It's not two minutes before I hear two loud engines fire up.