“What the hell’s gotten into you? Since when do you care what Chuck does?” Mack leaned forward in his chair. “Not your business! I let you have him, because the two of you have never gotten along; I knew you didn’t want to share a patch with him, and he was causing Wyatt problems anyway. I did not give you permission to involve the club with a white slavery ring and kill an outsider.”
Cole just glared at him.
“What’s with you? Is it the girl? Is she what’s got you all twisted around?”
“Leave her out of this,” Cole snapped.
Mack nodded. The girl. He knew it. He’d seen this before. “You’re not the first brother to be turned sideways by a damn broad.”
“I’m not turned sideways, Mack.”
“Yeah. You are. She needs to go.” Mack pointed a finger in his face.
“We done here?” Cole snarled, grabbing his beer and standing up.
“She goes, Cole. I mean it.”
Cole turned and strode out, slamming the door. The guys turned to look. He ignored them, headed outside into the cool night air, and lit a cigarette. The door opened, and he turned to see Crash following him out. Cole took a hit off his cigarette and blew smoke into the air.
“You good?” Crash asked.
Cole took a hit off his beer. “Yeah.”
“That was some shit today, huh?”
Cole looked over at him and nodded.
“Not really our problem.”
“You got something to say?”
“It’s just, I’m trying to figure you out, man. What was that all about? We ain’t the Justice League.”
“Are you telling me, when you first got a look in the back of that van, that that shit doesn’t bother you? Some of those girls were only sixteen.”
“I know. It’s just that I don’t understand why you got the club involved. I mean, hey, you’re my brother and I’ll back your play every time, I’m just not sure where your head’s at.”
“My head is fine!” Cole snapped at him.
“Yeah. Okay. Cool off.”
They stood quietly for a few minutes.
Crash took a hit off his beer.
Cole smoked his cigarette.
“Angel seems like a sweet kid,” Crash commented.
Cole shook his head. “Where you goin’ with this, Crash?”
“Nowhere. I’m just sayin’. I see the attraction.”
Cole gave him a warning look.
Crash held his hands up. “Okay, Brother. Okay.”
Cole looked away and took a hit off his beer.
“She stickin’ around?” Crash asked.
“Not your business.”
“Brother, I’ve been ridin’ with you for what? How long’s it been? Ten, twelve years, now?”
“Something like that,” Cole replied.
“We’ve known each other since high school.”
“Your point?”
“My point is I’ve never seen you act this way around a piece of ass.”
“Don’t go there, Crash.” Cole stepped up, bringing his face an inch away from his brother.
“All right, Brother. All right.” Crash held his hands up and stepped back.
Cole turned away and took another hit off his cigarette.
“Hey, we’ve got nothin’ goin’ on the rest of the week. Maybe you should take off for a few days. Take a ride. Clear your head.”
“Clear my head?” Cole asked him flippantly.
“I’m just saying, ya know, get away from here for awhile.”