Page 94 of Forty

“As could I, I assure you. But for the greater good, we are asked to come to some sort of truce.”

“No one asked me.”

“That’s because no one expectsyouto do what’s best for the club.”

Shame burns a path through my chest, and for a second, I feel sorry. Screw that. When I needed them, did the club do what’s best for me? Nope. They cut me loose.

“Then you’re wasting your time, aren’t you? You can leave now. You’re blocking my sun.” I sip my tea for effect.

“You really are a self-centered little bitch, aren’t you?” Annie Holt spits. Forty’s shoulders stiffen. He’s about to lose it.

I have my mouth open when Shirlene snaps, “Oh, hell no!”

She sticks out her hand. Forty helps her up, and she stalks over, gets right up in Annie Holt’s face. Annie doesn’t know what to do. Shirlene’s nothing but tanned, wrinkly skin and bones, but she’s scary as shit when she’s mad. Shirlene’s got her finger up, and she’s poking it in Annie’s chest.

“Don’t you dare open your mouth and call anyone else spoiled. Where are your kids right now, Annie Holt? They sure aren’t with their father. He’s down the OTB. Which was where he was when the first was born. And the second. And the third, as I recall. I will bet you a hundred dollars those kids are with Crista or Deb. Again. And don’t you think it’s self-centered to keep having kids you and their father have no intention of raising?”

Shirlene pauses to take a breath. Annie’s face is almost purple.

“I’ll tell you what, Annie. Bullet would take that bet.”

Fay-Lee whispers, “Oooooo.”

“Cheyenne and Danielle. I don’t even know what you’re doin’ here, but I will get to you in a moment.” They both kind of shuffle backwards. They want no piece of Shirlene Robard.

“Shirl—” Harper starts, and that’s where she does wrong.

Shirlene’s eyes flash. “Not a word from you. Not a word.” Shirlene holds up a finger, and she turns back to Cheyenne and Danielle.

“I know what I want to say.” She points at me. Her thin arm’s shaking. “You all think you’re tough? You pull some hair when you’re drunk, you think you’re bad? This girl—” She chokes up. “This girl istough. You don’t need to know what she’s been through. It’s not your business. But this girl has picked herself up and dusted herself off more times than I can count.”

My eyes burn. I grit my teeth so my chin won’t wobble.

“This girl rescued herself when all of you turned your backs on her. This girl gets knocked down, and she comes back, fighting for what she wants. For better. She’s gotheart.”

Shirlene turns her gaze to Harper, her mouth screwed up in disgust. “What are you fighting for, Harper? You fucked around on Charge, traded up to Des Wade, but that’s fine, that’s forgivable, ‘cause it’syou, right? You walk around that clubhouse like you own it, terrorize these girls, talk like you do it all for the club, but what are you fighting for, Harper? You’re drowning in a bottle, and you seem to think if you throw up enough drama, we won’t notice. Friend,everyonenotices. What are you fighting for, Harper? What’s all the manipulation and plotting for? ‘Cause you ain’t fighting for yourself.”

Harper is a statue. Her cold, gray eyes are locked on Shirlene’s.

“You’ve got no heart, Harper. When you get knocked down, you’re not gonna be able to get back up again.”

In the ensuing silence everyone can hear my straw when I run out of my drink.

“I need more tea,” I mumble.

“Ask Shirlene,” Fay-Lee murmurs back. “Look like she’s got itall.”

There’s an odd moment when Shirlene and Harper seem to take each other’s measure and come to some unspoken accord.

Shirlene sniffs and says, “I’m gonna go get some suntan lotion.” And she shuffles off into the house.

“Harper? Annie? You need anything for those burns?” Fay-Lee snickers.

Now that the tension’s broken, Danielle opens her mouth like she’s gonna spout off, but Harper raises a hand. I wouldn’t say she looks chastened, but there’s a thoughtfulness to her plastic face.

“The old bitch has a point.”

We all wait.

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