Page 1 of Rex

Chapter 1

Rex

“Where the hell is the Hudson work order? Reeves! Reeves!” I shout in frustration.

I’m tired, hungry, and irritated to hell. The last few months have taken their toll on my mind, body, patience, and ability to give a flying fuck about much. I’ve spent more hours in this chair in front of these computer screens than I have anywhere else, and I’m barely hanging on to the end of my rope today.

“Reeves!” I shout again, only louder this time.

“Calm the fuck down, brother,” Reeves shouts back.

I push out of my chair with only one thought circling my brain. How do I want to end Reeves’ miserable existence? As I’m deciding, I exit my office, grab a baseball bat that’s sitting next to Pigeon’s door, and walk with determination through Reeves’ door. Guess it wasn’t a hard decision to make after all. Raising the bat, I advance toward the dumbass who’s too dense to realize that his life is in peril.

“Sorry, Rex. Can’t let you do that,” Pigeon says from behind me as he jerks the bat from my hand.

Whirling to face Pigeon, my temper only flares more when I see his grin.

“Yes, you can,” I bark while reaching for the bat.

“Wish I could, but no. My wife wouldn’t be happy if I came home with blood on my clothes again,” Pigeon answers in his most reasonable tone.

“For fuck’s sake, Pigeon. Your wife has a fucking name. It’s Ivy. Say it with me. Iiiivvvvvyyy. If you call her Ivy, I promise even Horse is smart enough to know you’re talking about your wife,” Reeves states while giving me a side-eyed look. Raising his eyebrows, he asks, “Are you pissed at me for something?”

I can actually feel a twitch in the muscle right below my left eye. When it doesn’t stop, I close both eyes, breathe in through my nose and out through my mouth while interlocking my fingers behind my head.

“Rex, are—” Reeves starts to say but is interrupted by Pigeon.

“Shut it, Reeves. I’ve seen this before with Trigger. Oh, and Bailey. Lots of times with Bailey. My wife calls it a calming technique. Means our very own brother Rex wants to disassemble you, but he knows it’s only Friday, not Murdering Monday. Am I right, Rex? Nailed it, didn’t I?”

When my face quits twitching, I walk back out the door without another word. Back in my office, I rummage through a cabinet until I find a bottle of Tums. Ripping the top off, I tip my head back and shake several into my mouth. I’m still chewing when Gunner stops in the doorway.

“What?” I mumble around the half-chewed, chalky mess of heartburn relief in my mouth.

“You look like shit,” Gunner states with a small grin, but I notice his eyes are studying me carefully.

“Thanks, Prez. You always know just what to say,” I answer, then swallow and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “Please tell me you’re here to make some personnel changes.”

“Actually, I am,” my MC club President says.

I sit up a little straighter and start to grin when the bastard says words I can never unhear.

“Horse will be starting here on Monday. It’s a permanent position this time and not temporary like when he was here before. At least he has some knowledge already. Sorry, and good luck.”

“What the fuck, Prez? Seriously? Why’s the security company the dumping ground for the simple ones? Why am I suddenly the club babysitter of all things stupid?” I shout while jumping to my feet and beginning to pace my office.

Gunner doesn’t answer, but I wasn’t really expecting one. He’s laughing too hard to speak anyway. I wait, annoyed, until he can respond, but it’s not his voice I hear next.

“I resent that comment, Rex! I’m not stupid or simple. I’m annoying and frustrating, yes, but don’t lump me in with Horse and Reeves,” Pigeon insists as he pushes past a still-laughing Gunner.

“I’m none of the above. I’m just too fucking adorable, and it rubs you the wrong way,” Reeves states as he follows Pigeon into the room.

“No, Rex was right about you. You are stupid,” Pigeon declares.

“Am not!” Reeves shouts.

“How long did you date that Carlson girl? Enough said. You’re stupid, through and through,” Pigeon insists with a taunting grin.

“I didn’t know she was my cousin! I explained that to you fuckers then!” Reeves angrily defends.

---