Page 123 of Patching Over

FOURTEEN

Jingles

We leave Belle in the room where Moira’s staying and head to the common room. “Want a beer?” I question as we breach the doorway.

“Hell yeah, need to clear out the road,” Sleeper replies, smirking at me. “Swear to God, I swallowed at least a dozen bugs.”

“You’ve got a full helmet, Brother, how is that possible?” I ask.

“Who the fuck knows?” he retorts as we make it to the bar and sit on two stools. I motion for the prospect to grab us a couple of beers, and soon, we’re sitting there, just shooting the shit.

“So, your sister told me she had a major crush on me when she was a teenager,” I confess.

He chuckles while nodding. “Yeah, she thought she was being slick whenever she’d ask about you after one of your trips to us, but I wasn’t fooled. What did you tell her?” he asks, motioning for another two beers.

“That the feeling was mutual,” I admit. “Thing is, Sleep, I’m not good enough for her. She’s almost done with her degree, and well, you know what I’ve got.”

He slaps the back of my head causing me to grunt. “Fuck that noise, Jingles. All I want is for her to be happy, and if that’s with you, I don’t care if you stopped school in the fifth grade. I know you, you’d walk through a field of glass to ensure she was safe and happy.”

I nod because he’s not wrong; I’d do anything within my power to ensure that she doesn’t regret choosing me. “Yeah, you’re right. Just old insecurities trying to rear their ugly head is all.”

Brick walks over and grabs the stool next to me, motioning for his own beer. “Sleeper, glad to see y’all made it safe and sound.”

“Who else came with you?” I question.

“Ghoul and Wiley, of course,” he replies, smirking at me. “I think you and Wiley have a bromance thing going on, because when he heard where I was headed, he told his ol’ lady he had a run, packed his shit, and was waiting for me when I made it to the parking lot.”

I chuckle as I picture Wiley running around getting all his ducks in a row; we may never be best friends, but our high school rivalry has evolved into a mutual friendship. Plus, we’re both Bastards, so knowing he came to have Sleeper’s back, as well as my own, makes me happy.

“Do you think she’s going to want to come home?” Sleeper suddenly asks me.

“I honestly have no clue,” I say. “I’m sure she’s got stuff she needs to take care of in Cleveland, but based on our earlier discussion, us living in two different states is going to make it a bit challenging to have a relationship.”

Sleeper sighs, long and loud before tipping his bottle up and draining it of the last of the beer. Slamming it on the bar top, he motions for another round. Once he takes a long pull from that bottle, he says, “She does have things there to sort out, including her last semester of college. That being said, it’s not like you don’t know your way to our clubhouse, Brother. Because I suspect once it’s all said and done, she’ll be happy to come south to Roanoke.”

My heart soars at his words; I wasn’t lying when I said I’d ask for a transfer, but even though the Cleveland chapter has a piece of me based on what they did for me as a teen, Roanoke has my complete loyalty because they saved me, then gave me a home and the family I never knew I needed.

“So, basically, bide my time and be patient,” I murmur.

“Story of our lives, Brothers, when women become part of them,” Brick adds. “Sleeper, we’re going to have church later today and I want you, Ghoul, and Wiley in there while we discuss what we’re going to do with those two pieces of shit that Banshee and Phantom caught and brought back. Personally, I have no problem at all dragging their torture out for a while. They had those girls for what, almost two months? Maybe a bit longer? It would be a great Christmas gift to give both women if you catch my drift.”

“I like it,” Sleeper replies. “We can put them through the wringer then, and when we’re done, I’m sure Grim’s Reapers would be happy to dispose of the evidence.”

I snicker because having seen them in action, I’m positive they’d be thrilled to be a part of the motherfuckers’ demise.

“Wasn’t Rael on his way with his ol’ lady?” I suddenly ask.

“He’s sleeping right now, and Nylah is with Moira,” Brick replies.

“Is she any better?” I question, worry over my woman’s best friend consuming me.

“No. Angel did what he was able to do, but most of her injuries are mental, if that makes sense. I’ve got a call out to Dragon to see if he thinks Wrecker can help or not. Waiting to hear back,” Brick says.

Sleeper, who's been looking around while Brick and I talk, pops up and asks, “What’s with all the spooky decor?”

Brick chuckles before he replies, “Ry and Rory, as well as my dad, decided to decorate for each of the major holidays, and the first one up is Halloween.”

“Gotcha. Definitely different,” he mutters, looking at the strand of spider garland that’s been woven along all the shelves where the alcohol sits. A giant cobweb has been put up in one of the corners complete with a freaky looking, huge spider that has blood dripping from its fangs. It’s the stuff nightmares are made from, that’s for sure.

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