Satisfied that Bear would put out the word not to touch Crazy Bitch’s beer, he took a drink of his own, turning sideways on his stool. “I have a bone to pick with you.”
Cade lifted an inquiring brow. “I haven’t touched her beer.”
“Manson is Fat Louise’s cat; you need to take it to your home.”
“No.” Cade’s prompt refusal had Calder seeing red. He had already been irritated because Crazy Bitch hadn’t responded, and now Cade was being a shit, which he had to admit, he didn’t like that the man was refusing to take the devil cat.
“It’s Fat Louise’s.”
“Brother, I’m not arguing that fact, only that I’m not letting it in my house. I got a kid I have to protect.”
“If you were a brother, you would get rid of that cat for me. He’s making me look like a pussy in front of Crazy Bitch.”
“He sprayed your boots yet?”
Calder cringed at the thought. “No.”
“Then you’re good. He must like you.”
“That motherfucker doesn’t like anyone, and that includes Crazy Bitch.”
“I don’t know what to tell you. You’re stuck with him. I married Fat Louise to move away from that cat,” he joked as Looney came up to the bar.
“I’m not getting married to get rid of that spawn of Satan.” Calder’s shoulders drooped.
“You talking about Manson?” Looney raised his hand to Ginger, indicting he wanted a beer.
“Yeah.” Calder gloomily motioned to Ginger that he wanted another one.
“I thought of whacking that motherfucker a couple of times myself.” Looney grinned, opening his beer.
Calder gave him a steely-eyed look. “When have you been in Crazy Bitch’s apartment?”
Looney’s grin faded. “A couple of months ago. We went out a couple of times.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“No reason you should have.”
Calder’s eyes narrowed to pinpoints. “I hope you remember it, because you won’t be going again.”
“Why not? I had a good time.”
“Brother, I’d take my beer and go if I were you,” Cade tried to ease the escalating tension rising between them.
“Why? He’s got no reason to be mad at me.” Looney’s eyes widened. He hadn’t gotten his nickname by playing with a full deck. “Ah… I get it. You must have snored or far—”
Calder didn’t remember moving. One minute, he was staring at Looney snickering at him, and the next, he was punching him on the ground. It took Cade lifting him off the man for him to regain his senses.
Looney managed to get to his feet on his own steam and was smart enough to walk away without speaking.
Calder sat back down on the stool, feeling the brothers in the club staring at him.
“Anyone else met Manson?”
“Not me,” Bear mumbled into his beer.
“Me, neither,” Pike mouthed the words when Calder glanced toward him.
“Rooster, you have something to brag about?”
“Not me, bro.”
“Rolo?”
“I don’t even know where Crazy Bitch lives, and I didn’t even know she had a black cat.”
“How’d you know it was black?” he asked with hostility.
“Uh… I….” Rolo glanced back and forth at the men at his sides, seeking the answer.
Cade slapped Calder on the back. “Take it easy. They got your message.”
Stud coming in the door had him turning back to his beer. Grabbing a beer of his own, he took a seat next to Calder.
“Why is everyone so quiet?”
“No reason.”
“You sure? You look like someone took a leak in your drink.”
“That’s because I refused to take Manson off Crazy Bitch’s hands,” Cade answered when it became apparent that Calder wouldn’t.
Stud laughed. “That cat driving you nuts like it did Cade?”
“Yeah.”
“Skulls offered to get rid of him for Cade.”
Stud’s revelation had him considering the option. “Cade forgot to mention that.”
“It might be easier to neuter him. That would be easier to explain to Crazy Bitch.”
“Both options sound good to me. I knew having you as my brother would come in handy one day.”
The men started talking about Cade getting his license in Tennessee so he could go hunt with Killyama, Hammer, and Jonas.
Calder only listened with half an ear, glancing at his watch every ten minutes when he wasn’t turning to look out the window to spot Crazy Bitch’s car. When an hour had passed and she still hadn’t appeared, he realized he should have just driven home.
“Who you waiting for?”
Preoccupied, it took Stud waving his hand in front of his face to realize he was talking to him.
“I was hoping Crazy Bitch would stop by for a beer.”
“You should have told me. I could have saved you the trouble of waiting. She never comes in on Wednesday nights.”
“What goes on Wednesdays?”
Stud shook his head. “You want to know, go find out for yourself. She’ll rip my tongue out if I tell you.”
“How am I supposed to know if you don’t tell me?”
“Go to the beauty shop, and you’ll find her.”
“I don’t want to bug her if she’s working late.”
“Go and see.”