JON

 

I didn’t think it was possible to be more wide-eyed than Sully was when he was a prospect but Nathan gave him a run for his money.

The kid looked like he barely finished high school even though he was a few years older. It didn’t help that he still had some acne and apparently didn’t know how to comb his hair.

The red-headed prospect might’ve looked sheepish but I knew that he wasn’t. I wouldn’t have stuck up for a guy who was a punk who didn’t know how to carry himself.

“See the trick is—”

“Stop. Stop right fucking there.”

I put my hand up and cut Needle off.

“What?” Needle said with his hands out.

“Don’t tell him what to do,” I said. “The last thing Nate needs is for you to be fucking with his head.”

“I’m not fucking with his head. I’m just giving him some good advice.”

“Good advice? From you? On poker? Next thing you’re gonna tell him it’s a good idea to stick his dick in a blender…”

“I already told him not to fuck around with Stephanie. Sluts around here are all over anybody with a patch.”

“Whatever…”

I sighed and leaned back in my seat. Needle continued with his bad advice.

“You see, the thing with Sully is that he always plays his hand. He never likes to bluff. You gotta have balls to bluff.”

Sully rolled his eyes along with the rest of the table. Nate was respectful, listening to Needle like he actually cared about what he had to say.

“Now Sully here just pushed a big bet into the middle of the table,” Needle said. “What does that tell you?”

“It means he’s got a big hand,” Nate said.

“Exactly! Now, you’ve got enough chips to cover him. The smart thing to do would be to—”

“I’m all in.”

Nate cut Needle off and shoved the rest of his chips into the center of the table. Everybody else turned their attention to Sully. He glanced at his hand and a smirk formed on his face.

“I told you,” Needle said.

“I call,” Sully said as he laid his cards out on the table. “Full house.”

“You should’ve listened to me—”

“Straight flush.”

Nate put his cards on the table one by one. The entire table fell silent as they looked at Nate’s hand. The young prospect scooped all of the chips to his side of the table.

“Wow,” Brawn said. “The kid knows what he’s doing.”

“I don’t believe it,” Sully muttered.

“Of course,” Needle sighed. “The only way to beat luck is with even more luck. I can’t believe I have to put up with two of you now. And to think I used to dominate this table so easily…”

“What are you talking about?” Petey said. “You winning is as lucky as anybody.”

Needle leaned forward and eyeballed Petey.

“You know the only reason you ever beat me is because I’m not paying attention,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right to take rent money from another patch.”

“We’ve got enough money from the Triads,” Petey said. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. You’re free to take as much of my money as you want.”

Needle stopped talking, which was remarkable, considering how much of a cocky prick he was.

“All right, all right,” he said, putting his hands up. “Enough of this shit. No more messing around. It’s your deal, Nate. Put the cards in the air.”

I put my hands up and pushed out of my seat.

“I’m out for this hand,” I sighed.

Playing poker with the boys was a good way to pass the time but everybody needed a break from all of the shit talk. While they went on with their card game, I made my way over to the bar and poured myself a drink. I figured a shot of whiskey would make Needle’s droning a little more tolerable.

The clubhouse was empty outside of a few regulars. It was mostly just guys looking to relax on a break from work. The atmosphere was perfect for another lazy day in Ivory.

I leaned up against the bar and pulled out a cig. I put it on my lips and felt for my lighter.

“Where the hell…”

I looked up and watched the front door to the clubhouse open up. A couple of guys who looked like they had no business in a place like The Grindhouse walked in. They were overdressed with their sports coats and slacks. These guys were here to start some shit. The badges on their belts only made that shit more obvious.

Of course, wherever there was someone trying to start shit with the club, Agent Lieberman was sure to follow.

She marched into the club with her nose in the air and that same fucking stare in her eyes like somebody pissed in her cereal. I just stood there as she walked over to me with her hands in her pockets.

“What do you want, Lieberman?”

“Is that any way to greet a customer, Brooks?”

“You’re not a customer.”

“But I am. My friends and I are here to have a drink.”

The two men accompanying her took a seat at one of the tables. Lieberman crossed her arms and kept staring at me.

“What are you having?” I asked.

“Can’t go wrong with three beers.”

It was clear she was playing some fucking game. I eyeballed her before looking at the bartender. I gave him a nod and he poured Lieberman her drinks.

“Don’t try anything funny with those drinks,” Lieberman said.

“Don’t tempt him,” I said.

Lieberman gave me a half-smirk. She grabbed the beers from the counter then walked over to the table. The three of them nonchalantly drank their beers. Even though they were acting like they were just here for drinks, they did a shit job of hiding it.

Garnet stepped out of his office and immediately noticed the federal agents sitting at the table. He walked over to me and whispered into my ear.

“What the fuck’s going on?”

“Just a lady having a beer with some friends,” I said.

“Lieberman isn’t much of a lady…”

“Don’t let her hear you say that. I don’t think she’d be too happy to hear it.”

“I don’t think Lieberman is ever happy. She’s been stuck in Ivory for a long time now. Can’t imagine she’s gotten used to it.”

“Yeah, well, she’s gonna be waiting a long time if she’s trying to fuck with us.”

Lieberman noticed Garnet had stepped out of his office.

“Declan Cunningham,” she said as she walked up to Garnet. “Just the man I was waiting to see.”

“And here I thought you just wanted to have a few beers with your friends,” I said.

I smirked at Lieberman but she wasn’t in the laughing mood.

“What do you want?” Garnet said.

“I just wanted to let you know that my team found something interesting,” she said. “Somewhere on the outskirts of town. Remnants of the Corps.”

Shit.

I held back my surprise and glanced at Garnet. Pres didn’t budge, just staring back at Lieberman with that same nonchalant look on his face.

“Remnants of the Corps?” Garnet said. “And why are you telling me this?”

“I have people who say that you had some beef with them.”

“No beef. Just a misunderstanding. It happens from time to time.”

“It must be nice knowing that the Corps won’t be around.”

“I heard what they did to the shelter… to Anna… I can’t say that guys like that will be missed around Ivory.”

Lieberman put her hands in her pockets and eyeballed Garnet. Her jaw clenched, Lieberman shifted her eyes up and down and examined him.

“The Black Reapers are an institution in Ivory,” she said. “I see that.”

“You’re damn right,” Garnet said.

“I just wanted to let you know that I’m on your side. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that this town stays safe.”

“Good to hear, Lieberman.”

Garnet reached forward and slapped her on the arm. She glanced down at her arm for a second before working a grin on her face. Then she pulled her hands out of her pockets with a wad of bills in one.

“How much do I owe you for the drinks?” she asked.

“On the house,” Garnet said. “Since we’re friends now.”

“Oh, I insist.”

She counted out a few bucks then laid them down on the counter. The two men she was with got up from the table and walked out. Garnet and I stared at her until she was finally gone.

“What do you think she’s up to?” I asked.

“It doesn’t fucking matter. We’re not gonna stop doing what we’re doing. But if shit gets too hot, I won’t hesitate to call off the deal with the Chinese. I think Lieberman is getting bored wasting her time here in Ivory.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“Of course I’m right.”

He slapped me on the arm.

“Oh, before I forget,” I said. “Anna’s coming over. She wants to talk about the boys coming over to the shelter to volunteer.”

“Nothing to talk about. We’ll give the place the donation it needs. We’ll give ‘em some time, too.”

I nodded to Garnet and he smiled at me.

“You’ve got your girl back,” he said. “You’ve got some money in your pocket. And there ain’t anybody beefing with us. Life is good.”

He walked away and headed back into his office.

I thought about what he said and couldn’t help but smile.

“Yeah,” I sighed to myself. “Life is good.”