Page 6 of The Echo of Violence
“Fuck no. That’s what prospects are for.”
I can’t argue with that. We’ve all been in their shoes. It’s a rite of passage to be treated like shit and given grunt work. Those who want to stick around have to prove how much they want it.
“I can help out. I’m pretty good with a paintbrush,” Mercy offers.
Scope scowls at her, making me grin. You’d think by now he’d have cooled off on how possessive he is, but if anything, he’s worse.
“I’ve got it covered for now, Mercy. But thanks. Fingers crossed, I’m on the home stretch now.”
“Well, the offer’s there if you change your mind. I’m going to go and see if I can find Kaz. He promised to feed me, but he’s disappeared.”
“I saw him heading to the kitchen about twenty minutes ago.”
“Really? Sweet, I’m starving.” She hops off the stool. “I’ll be back.” She tips her head back for Scope, who kisses her like she’s leaving for a year. Pulling away, she grabs her drink before heading off to find Kaz.
Scope turns back to me before taking a sip of his beer. “So that’s where you’ve been spending all your time lately?”
“You want to make small talk with me, Scope?”
“I want to know why you’re never around unless I call church.”
I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. “The place has been keeping me busy for sure. By the time I’m done, all I want to do is crawl into bed.”
“Was a time when you’d be crawling into a woman,” Scope points out, nodding toward the other side of the room where a few of the club bunnies are dancing with a couple of my brothers.
Eightball and Splinter are sitting on one of the sofas as Daisy and Snow give them a lap dance each.
“I know. I’m not sure what to tell you.” I shrug. “Everything just feels off right now.”
“Off how?”
“I just said I don’t know. Do I seem like the kind of guy that’s in touch with his feelings, Scope?”
He laughs. “I don’t think any of us are.”
“True.” I take a swig of my drink and look around the room, taking in my brothers and the girls before my eyes move over to the two prospects in the corner.
“You’re bored,” Scope huffs with a laugh.
I look at him, but I don’t deny it. “It’s been a busy couple of years, but it’s been so quiet lately. And you know how I get when things are quiet.” Scope nods. “But it’s not just that… I’ve been thinking about going nomadic for a little while. Thought the open road might blow away some of the cobwebs. But with the loans business finally near completion, it’s not the right time.”
“I know it’s not the same, but you could ride up to the mother chapter—take a week to get your head straight. One of us can keep an eye on things for you here.”
“Yeah, I might take you up on that. A change of scenery can’t hurt.”
I turn when I notice Eightball heading my way.
“Toss us a beer.” He sits beside Scope and nods—“Pres”—before looking at me. “What has you looking so serious?”
“Nothing. Just figuring shit out. How’s your dad doing?”
Eightball’s dad fell off a ladder and broke his arm and leg.
“He’s home now, probably wishing like hell he was back in the hospital with how much my mom’s fussing over him.”
I laugh. “No way. He fucking loves it.”
Eightball grins. Most of us have a fucked-up story, some worse than others, but not Eightball. His mom and dad were high school sweethearts—prom king and queen—who had Eightball right out of school. They were doomed to fail, yet thirty-odd years later, they are still blissfully happy together.