Page 19 of Small Town Beast

“I have meat.”

“You could smoke the extra,” said Roman.

“I don’t have the time.”

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “Last night you weren’t fit to drive, so we gave you a lift back. Thought you wouldn’t mind us crashing here.”

“You’re not welcome in my house.”

“I even got your truck up here for you.”

Saverin caught the keys Roman tossed to him.

“Next time just leave me facedown,” he said uncharitably.

Roman flicked his Stetson against his thigh. He was growing his hair out now. It was black and curly like Tanya’s.

“How’s the wife?” Saverin asked sarcastically. Last he heard Roman had a baby on the way. One big happy family.

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “I heard you threw down with Hiram. Heard you were talking big.”

“Maybe I was.”

Roman asked the older cousin to wait in the hall.

“Rat,” Saverin said before the man shut the door. The man gave Saverin a dark look but on a signal from Roman let the insult slide.Look how they leap to his bidding. Like I used to do. Like Sam did.

Roman shut the door; they were alone.

“Saverin, what happened to your brother was regrettable.”

“Regrettable,” Saverin repeated.

“I take responsibility—”

“Then let me have my justice. But you won’t do that, will you? Peace…you talk of peace but the war’s coming and nothing you do can stop it.”

In spite of Saverin’s hostility Roman crossed the room to look at the drawing on the table.

“Who is this?”

“Just a drawing.”

“You always could capture a likeness…Remember when you did that one of Rebel?”

“He hated it, as I recall.”

“Yes…That girl looks familiar. I reckon she works at one of Laura Jane’s places,” Roman said, turning the drawing sideways, as if it helped him see it better. “Appletree, I think.”

Roman was known to never forgot a face. The girl probably did work for Laura Jane. Imagine that.

She set me up for Hiram…She was beautiful and tight…

“Who started the dust-up last night?” Roman asked.

“I did,” said Saverin.

“I don’t want you making static with the Snatch Hills and Green Trees, Saverin. I’ve been trying to get some peace on this mountain for two years. You were alright up until a month ago.What changed?” Roman looked around and almost seemed to answer his own question. “Where’s Fang?”

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