Page 104 of Ruin
“We’ll hold another Community Day in a few months.”
“It’s going to be cold,” I say.
“We have a charity event in a few months,” he says, as if that’s the same thing.
“That was approved to be in the school gym. We won’t be outside in the cold weather.”
“So then do that.”
“I can’t talk the school into letting us use their facilities so you can scout new members.”
Coyote raises a brow. “How will they know that’s what we’re doing?”
“We?” I blurt out.
“Snapper,” my brother says in warning.
I bite my tongue and wait for Coyote to say something.
Yeah, I’m real close to being done with this guy.
“No one needs to know this is anything more than us strengthening this community. It’s about time we get more people on our side anyway.”
“Plenty of people are on our side,” Grizz says.
“Plenty isn’t enough,” Coyote answers. “This town isn’t getting any smaller, and the Iron Runners aren’t backing off. We need more people.” He turns his attention to me. “What about that guy you were talking to? I hear he’s a doctor.”
“No fucking way,” I bark out the same time my brother says, “Lucian?”
“We could use a doctor,” Coyote argues.
“There’s no fucking way,” I say with a shake of my head. “That’s an absurd request.”
“Why? He’d be helpful.”
“Lucian is not the kind of guy who joins an MC,” Shark says.
“And why not?” Coyote has the audacity to look offended, as if my brother asked a stupid question. There are people who join MCs and there are people who don’t. There is no in between. It takes a certain type of person to do the shit we do, and Lucian is not that person.
“He’s old,” my brother blurts out, and though it sounds like a legit concern, I think it’s just an excuse. Doesn’t stop me from glaring at him though.
“So we don’t have to worry about him being around for long if he doesn’t work out.”
I’m on my feet before I think better of it, but my brother is there grabbing my arms and holding me back. Coyote smirks at me from across the table, but instead of lunging at him like I was about to, I shake Kaison off and storm out of the room. I go right for my bike and ride.
I climb up the metal rungs, hoisting myself to the top of the slide because the last three are broken. This would have been easier when I was a kid and smaller.
My ass fits on the top of the slide, the sides hugging me. If I went down, I wouldn’t go very fast because my hips are too wide.
There’s a chill in the air, and I bet I look like a fool sitting here on top of this children’s slide that will likely crumble beneath my weight.
No one comes to this park anymore. They haven’t in years. There are bigger and better ones at the school and the edge of the town by the lake. That’s where all the families take their kids, as they should.
Kids deserve good things, not this piece of shit park that no one cares about. No one but me, it seems. It’s been my safe place for a long time, even if coming here dug up bad memories.
Even after Lucian left and I hated every single memory I had here, it was the place I came when I needed to hide.
I silenced my phone and left it on my bike. I bet it’s been ringing nonstop. No one will know to find me here, not that I think anyone would come looking, anyway. My brother maybe, but he knows to leave me alone when I get like this. Still, he’s been caring more lately, ever since he started dating Cora. Seems she’s softened him, and I guess I can’t blame him for that.
