Page 21 of Thug

“See?” Brisco tossed his hands in the air. “She’s inside your head.”

Incapable of arguing with such idiocy, I looked away. Gray was in my head, no doubt. It wasn’t a spell, the product of manipulative thoughts, or coercive tactics. Having her tight little pussy clenching my cock felt absolutely fucking amazing. Shaking that memory was nearly impossible.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Nevertheless, I had to do something to prevent Pig Pen from showing up on the club’s doorstep. There were two options. Regardless of how I looked at it, I came up with the same answer, over and over.

I gazed blankly through the office window. A college-aged couple walked out of the donut shop, laughing.

“It’s not what you think,” I said under my breath.

“It’s always the same with you,” Brisco complained. “When you’re thinking, you don’t ever let anyone know what it’s about. On this deal, maybe you should. Don’t need the red and white rollin’ up in here waving pistols at us, I know that much.”

“No more thinking on this one, fellas.” I shifted my attention from the donut shop to Brisco. “My decision’s made.”

“What are we gonna do?” Brisco asked.

“We?” I shrugged. “Nothing. I made this mess I’ll clean it up.”

He scowled. “What are you going to do?”

“I think it’s best nobody knows. That way, ” I stood and stretched my arms over my head. “You can claim you don’t know.”

“I’ll claim I don’t know either way,” he replied. “I’m good at acting dumb.”

“No argument from me on that statement,” I said with a laugh. “But. If you don’t know and you claim you don’t know, you’ll be telling the truth. After listening to you two barf out lies and inaccuracies for the past thirty minutes, telling the truth will be a nice change of pace for you.”

He rubbed his temples. “You’re gonna keep fucking her, huh?”

“Sure sounds like it,” Carp said.

“Sure sounds like it,” I mimicked. “You’re like a fucking parrot. Repeating everything this big bald-headed fucker says. Pretty much, Brisco. Pretty much, Brisco.” I alternated glances between the two men. “We’re done discussing this.”

Brisco smirked. He peered beyond me, toward Carp. “That’d be a “yes” on the fucking.”

I shot him a look. “According to who?”

He stood. “When someone asks you something you don’t want to answer, you give an answer, but it’s not the answer. Most people hear what they want to hear. I’ve been around you enough to hear what you’re not saying.”

I folded my arms over my chest. “Whatever I do, you can bet it’s what’s in the club’s best interest.”

“I guess we’ll soon find out, won’t we?” He looked at Carp. “You ready to go get a beer?”

Carp stood from his seat. “Sure.”

Brisco faced me. “What about you?”

“I’ve leave you guys to it,” I replied. “I’ve got some shit I need to take care of.”

Brisco glanced at Carp and tilted his head toward the door. “Ten bucks says he’s going to Maggie’s.”

“Not interested.” Carp laughed. “That’s a sucker’s bet.”

7

Gray

The stranger raised his empty glass and tilted it toward me. “Can I get one more?”