Alex
I watch as the last patron is ushered out by our security. It’s earlier than we normally close but one of our ‘ins’ in the sheriff’s office gave us a last minute heads up that Wade’s brother, Cole Holt, might be making a visit, and even though it’s the family business there’s still bad blood we don’t want to make any worse between the two of them. We’re already an hour past what the county law says.
The last waitress finishes her clean-up as I count things down. Wade thanks her with a kiss on the cheek and walks her to her car himself. We’ve all been on edge since rumors started on the wind about a rival gang heading back to town. It’s the same one that was responsible for Cole and Wade’s father’s death, as well as the death of Zeva’s parents. Nobody is taking it lightly. He comes back in and nods to the bouncer, Stone, to stand out front to keep an eye out behind her as she drives off.
“I’ll head out front. I locked up the back. Don’t forget the side. Okay, Wade?” I say. It’s a nightly reminder, but Wade hasn’t forgotten once. “And hurry up with Zeva too. Don’t leave me waiting just to catch some alone time.”
“Yeah, keep letting me know what kind of scumbag you think I am, Alex!” Wade laughs. I get on his case to keep him on his toes. Not sure if it’s because of me or not, but he’s never actually needed it.
“You know damn well what happens when I turn my back,” I poke on as I walk out of the door. I jam it shut before he has a chance to respond. This time I was referring to something that actually did happen; I had to piss mid lap dance with a new girl one time and by the time I came back she was riding his cock. I was never really mad about it; I’m actually pretty impressed with how quick the man works. Never lost a girl to him since, though. I have my own charms too.
I stand next to my bike casually kicking a rock around in the dirt, thinking about the other evening. There was a lot more than just a lustful fuck going on in that room. I’ve passed a girl around the room more than once in my time; that’s nothing new. That kind of thing is purely animalistic, carnal. This was more. This was passion between all of us. We each connected together with Zeva in a way much more involved than what you could call a ‘fuck.’
Two sharp knocks on the front door shake me from my thoughts. Stone opens the door for Zeva to come through, Wade trailing right behind. She’s dressed down in some simple pink sweats, but still manages to show off her figure enough to get the mind going. On stage she’s a force of nature. In the act she’s pure animal like I’ve never seen. But I think Jason has a point; she still looks fucking amazing in even the plainest of clothes.
“Had a good night, Zeva?” I say as I approach them.
She greets me with a quick, tight hug first.
“Yeah, wasn’t bad. Slower night than usual. I took the time to try out some new things, were you watching?” she says, looking up at me.
Just meeting her eyes I’m a little caught off. I’ve faced down shotguns pointed directly at my face with more nerve. With eyes as dangerous as hers she’d make a fantastic old lady, for sure. But that’s not the right life for her, and I’d never do something like that without Jason and Wade. They’re my brothers, and they care for her just as much as I do. I mentally shake myself off quickly. Those aren’t the thoughts to have. Plus, they’re the fuck and forget types; why am I even thinking like she would be our old lady?
“Do you really think anybody WASN’T watching you? Slow night or not, you know full well every eye is on you.”
Wade nods in agreement. He scans the horizon warily before scooping Zeva up in a tight hug. “You get home safe, okay? There’s all kinds of talk about all kinds of things and-”
Before he even finishes the sentence our immediate concerns come to fruition. A brown and grey sheriff’s car pulls right around from the back corner, coming to a stop in its dust in front of the Honeypot. A young deputy steps out of the passenger’s side and stares at us warily. The driver side door opens up and out steps Cole Holt.
“It’s after hours gentlemen. Shouldn’t you be at home?” Cole says, his voice all business.
“Leave it to someone stupid enough to go against their own blood to also be blind enough to not see we’re already closed,” Wade says, stepping in front of Zeva. “Locked up, lights off, no customers. You have no business here. Fuck off.”
“I know damn well you’re operating after hours, Wade. I could write you up easy,” Cole says as he walks up, chest puffed out.
“I wouldn’t put it past you. You’re exactly the type of scumbag that would betray his family every chance he got.”
“You know damn fucking well it’s not about that. This life you’re living is the same life that got our dad killed. You’re just walking right after him like an asshole, and you’re taking our family name with you!”
Wade’s eyes grow dark. It was a low blow, in his defense.
“You shut the fuck up right now, Cole. Turn tail like the coward you are, and maybe you’ll at least keep your nose in one piece … unlike your dignity.”
“Threatening a sheriff with witnesses? I should give you a night in lockup just for that and see what we find in the club if that’s the game you want to play.”
Before I could even blink I see Wade tackle Cole to the ground. He goes to swing at his face but his rage has him blind. Cole easily blocks it and slams his fist into the side of Wade’s head. Wade falls into the dirt, dazed for a brief moment and then whips back around at Cole. It devolves into a full-fledged scuffle, blows filled with pure anger trading back and forth.
Zeva screams for them to stop while Stone, Cole’s deputy, and I rush to pull them apart. Even though our gang has a heavy amount of power and pull in the town, so much that even the cops will never actually touch us, Cole has a few years and plenty of experience on his belt. Wade knows how to hold his own but a few more minutes of them going at it and it wouldn’t be pretty.
“Stay out of my life, Cole. I don’t need your help and I obviously don’t need you. Dad’s legacy lives on with me,” Wade says, wiping blood from his mouth.
“You’re a fucking dumbass Wade. This isn’t about name or legacy, it’s about your goddamn life,” Cole says, brushing his deputy’s arm off him as he opens the door to his car.
His threats are empty, but his words are what stings Wade. They’re still blood at the end of the day. Unfortunately, we all know in some ways Cole is right, though. This isn’t a life you grow old with. Zeva doesn’t need to see any more of this side of it, but Honeypot is our life, our blood, and our home.
We can’t exactly just separate it.