Page 47 of Bound by Family
Strolling back into the clubhouse, I see Deke sitting at a table by himself, twirling a metal ashtray. He looks up, scoffs, and goes back to his twirling. I sit down in the chair in front of him, but he doesn’t say anything.
When we were younger, we were always hanging out together. That all stopped when I got about fifteen, sixteen. He seemed so young then, and I was getting into shit he didn’t need to be a part of. We drifted apart.
“What’s goin’ on?” I pull out my smokes and light one.
“Go away.” When he looks up at me, there’s a sinister glint in his eye. One I’ve never seen on him. Come to notice, his eyes are bloodshot, as well.
“Did you take somethin’?”
“Go. The fuck. Away,” he growls.
“Answer the question. What did you take?” The erratic behavior, the obvious temper flair, bloodshot eyes, fidgeting. Hell, it could be a number of things.
“You think you’re so fuckin’ perfect.” He stands, or tries to, but wobbles. Yes, he’s definitely on something.
I search the room and see Buzz. “Go get GT.”
He nods and leaves.
“Oh, yeah, call my daddy. Just so you know, I’m blood,” he spits out, pointing to his chest. “I’m real Ravage blood. Two presidents and my dad are Ravage. This will be mine, not yours!” He comes at me, but he’s so out of it that I’m able to grab him around his arm and halt him.
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
“Why can’t you be more like Cooper? Why can’t you act like him? Why don’t you treat your sister like he does his? Why don’t you get your shit together so you can prospect like Cooper did at sixteen?Cooper. Cooper. Cooper.”
I release him and push him away from me.
He turns. “It’s always about you! The fuckin’ golden boy, who can never do no wrong, Cooper. Don’t think the other kids don’t see it, too. We all have to live up to the mighty you. Well, fuck you!”
GT comes in through the doors, pulling his sunglasses off. “What’s goin’ on?”
“Let me guess. Gonna take me away so I don’t embarrass you because Cooper never embarrasses anyone!” Deke screams.
GT looks at me, and I shrug. “Apparently, this is Deke’s club because he’s blood and I’m not.” I shake my head. “He’s on somethin’, GT. He’s not thinkin’ clearly. Need to get him some help.”
“Help? No, I need to get away from you!”
“That’s enough.” GT grabs Deke’s neck and pulls him out of the clubhouse.
Angel, who stepped in after GT, wipes a tear from her eye.
“Nothin’ like a good ol’ family quarrel. Now, let’s drink!” Ryker calls out.
The shots keep coming, and I keep taking them. One after the other. My girl isn’t here, Deke has lost his damn mind, and again, I’m here. My head swims as Tina, one of the club mommas, comes up to me.
“Hey, Coop. Haven’t seen you in a while.” She traces my arm and goes under the arm hole of my shirt.
The smell of her instantly hits my nostrils, and I jerk my head slightly. It’s a floral scent, but not like the kind Bristyl wears. No, this is fake, a cheap imitation, and I want nothing to do with it.
“Been busy,” I clip, just wanting her to leave.
“How about we go play?” She traces my arm with a finger, and I automatically bounce back.
I may be drunk, but Tina doesn’t hold a candle to Bristyl.
“No. Go find someone else and tell all the others I said no.”
“Seriously? You’ve been gone forever.” The damn woman pouts.
