“Greer Porter,” the man reintroduced himself. “I knocked; you didn’t hear me, so I waited five minutes for you to say fuck off or come in, but I ain’t got all day to be wastin’,” he explained, then nodded at the untouched food on Reaper’s plate. “You gonna eat that?”
Reaper looked at the unappetizing sandwich. When he had been held captive, he had sworn to never eat another sandwich, yet they were the only thing he could hold down without vomiting.
“No, you can have it.” From his ashen features, Greer looked like he needed it more than Reaper did—and that was saying a lot.
“Thanky. I appreciate the hospitality.”
Reaper watched as Greer carefully unfolded a napkin, placing the sandwich inside. Then he wrapped it neatly before looking at him.
“You ain’t never going to get any meat on those skinny bones of yours by eating puny sandwiches like this. A few T-bones will fatten you up in no time. If I had a brother as loaded as Viper is, I’d be eating steak every night, and a few for lunch, probably a bitty one for a midnight snack. Why you settling for cheese sandwiches?” he barked. “There’s a good steakhouse about a mile away from here. Made Shade take me there when I came here with him.”
“They’re the only thing I can keep down,” he admitted, feeling like he was a ten-year-old being scolded.
“Then order two. Eat one, and when it comes up, eat the other one. You’ll be able to keep the second one down. If not, who cares? You ate two steaks.”
Reaper stared at the man who was laughing at his own joke, beginning to understand why Shade had been in such a bad mood the whole time he was there the day Greer was with him.
Greer’s face turned serious when Reaper didn’t laugh at his humor. “If your stomach is giving trouble, quit trying to eat meals. Just take a couple of bites at a time. If you can keep it down, take another couple. Start slow. I’d go with the petite sirloin then work myself up to one of those T-bones. They have a special going on now; you can get unlimited shrimp. Pop a couple of those babies in your mouth with a couple bites of steak, and you’ll be right as rain in no time.
“Just don’t tell them I sent ya. They might still be a little peeved at me. I ate dinner there last night. The manager had to send a worker to another store for more shrimp. Pissant manager wouldn’t let me in the door this afternoon when I went there for lunch. Going to talk to Diamond—that’s Knox’s wife—when I get back home. I think they violated my constitutional rights by refusing to serve me. What you think?”
Reaper wanted to tell him that he was crazy as fuck but restrained himself, afraid he would send the man into another rant. “I wouldn’t know.”
“I’ll let you know what I find out after I talk to her. You met her yet?”
“No.”
“She’s a decent lawyer. My wife works for her. When you meet her, don’t mention my name. Me and her had dealings in the past. She gets a little testy when she hears my name. You ever need her services, make sure you get a set fee, or you’ll be buying her more than one of those expensive shoes she loves.” Reaper watched the man in stunned silence. He wouldn’t shut up.
“Damn,” Greer swore, staring down at his watch. “Got to be going. My old woman will be wondering why I’m not home for dinner. Word to the wise: marry a woman that can cook.
“Oh, by the way … I forgot what I came for.” Standing up, he went around Reaper’s chair to pick up a box that was on the ground. Reaper couldn’t understand how it got there. “I need to leave this here for someone to pick up. You got a place I can stash it?”
Looking at the large box, Reaper shook his head.
Greer ignored him, carrying the box into his room, then shoved it in the closet.
Reaper gaped at him. “You can’t leave that here.”
“Why not? There ain’t nothing illegal inside. I’ll have you know that I’m an officer of the law … part-time,” he clarified, walking back to the patio table to pick up the sandwich. “You can open it if you want. Just give it to anyone that asks for it.”
“When will they come and get it?”
“Don’t know.”
Greer moved to his side, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Order that steak, you hear me? You’ll be able to keep it down. When you get back to Treepoint, ask Shade to bring you around the house. I’ll introduce you to my old woman and the kids. Shade said you like lighting one up on occasion; we’ll celebrate your homecoming in style. Of course, we’ll have to go to the barn. My woman gets a little touchy about us lighting up the green around her and the kiddos.”