Page 60 of A Brother's Secret

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Data…

After Mali’s spectacular display of seriously hot physicality, I was ready to take her back to my room and let her manhandle me to her heart’s content, but that would have meant missing my favorite part of these club gatherings. The part where everything started winding down and mellowing out and just a few brothers remained outside by the fire. This was the point I would usually come out of my nerd-cave that was the fishbowl and rejointhem.

I was, for the most part, a mellow dude. While I liked a good party, this part was my idea of a party. I didn’t go for the rowdy stuff. That was all Mali’s department and I was totally cool with leaving it as a sort of more forher.

I was proud of her, and it was fantastic seeing her come out of her shell tonight. If anything, she’d certainly cemented herself as totally belonging. The thought made me smile as I rocked us idly on one of the swings. I had my booted heels up on a round stump of wood, gently bending my knee to give us some momentum. Mali was curled on her side, head on top of one of my thighs, eyes closed but awake and commenting from time to time on the conversation. My arm lay across her where she was snuggled under my jacket and cut, my other hand raising my second or third beer to my lips. I was sipping on it; nursing it pretty well. I wasn’t in the mood to be drunk, but it was pretty refreshing and I didn’t feel like switching to something less flavorful, like water or sugary, likepop.

“So what have you thought about doing, then?” Revelator asked and it was actually fitting that he, Trig, Reaver, and Disney were the ones outhere.

“Guess I’ll find something so I can rebuild my supplies. I mean, probably no chance in hell I’ll get my portfolio back. I mean, I disappeared for two months. I don’t think Joey is going to be apt to forgive that,” she said and gave a gustysigh.

“Fuck that, man!” Reaver crowed, “Your whole tattooing life is back there.”

“Artists are fuckin’ flaky by nature,” Trigger agreed. “Any good shop owner will keep that shit the minimum required bylaw.”

She snorted, “You’re assuming Joey is a good shop owner, but yeah, maybe.” She shifted uneasily and I scraped my lip between my teeth.

“Place have security cameras?” I asked her, taking another casualsip.

“Yeah, of course, it does; any business in Indigo City would.”

“Want to check and see if it’s still there?” I asked.

“What, you’re going to hack into Indigo Ink’s security systems and check?” she asked. “Just likethat?”

“What company do they run through, do youknow?”

“Shit, no… but there’s a sticker on the front window. Jesus, I looked at that thing just about every damn day. You would think I would remember what itis.”

“It’s okay, I have a trick for that, too,” I told her and said, “Hey Trig, let me see your phone.”

He brought it over and I opened up Facebook and typed the name of the shop and location muttering as I went through the pictures, “Nope, not there…” I opened up Yelp next and nodded. Google street view sometimes sucked for clarity, so I tried social media first.

“What’s that look like to you?” I asked Trig and handed it up tohim.

“Same company I run through, Advanced Guard Services.”

“Want me to grab your laptop out of the fishbowl?” Disney asked.

“Nah, this is going to require the big rig.” I declared.

“It’s past quittin’ time out here anyway.” Rev declared and woke Mandy who was sleeping against his shoulder, murmuring, “C’mon Red, it’s time I put you tobed.”

Sunshine had already gone in, telling Trig to take his time and Reaver simply lifted Doll saying; “I’ll catchup.”

Mali groaned, “This means I have to get up, doesn’tit.”

I chuckled, “Just enough to let me up. You don’t have to comein.”

“Fuck that,” she said rolling off of my lap and landing in a crouch. She stood up and managed to do all of it without letting my colors touch the dirt. I’m telling you, she was made for me and me forher.

“Help piss on this,” Trigger muttered and let fly. It was a cheap and dirty way to put the fire out, but between him, me, and Disney, we got the jobdone.

“Boys are gross,” Mandy muttered as she leaned on Rev and made her way sleepily down the berm to his club room. Mali just laughed.

“Join you if I could, but I’m just not built that way. Meet you at your mini-command,” she leaned over and kissed me and I shook it off and packed it back behind my zipper, laughing.

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