“You have the floor, Cannon.” Shovel’s eyes are all too knowing. He’s seated at the head of the worn and beat-up table that was once his father’s.
“Already know what I’ve been doing is wrong, but ever since Monroe, Sadie, and Henley were kidnapped, I knew it was now or never. I knew it would break an oath to my brothers, but I’ve been seeing Monroe these past few months. It wasn’t her idea to keep it a secret. She was new out in the nursing field, and I asked her to keep it between the two of us in case shit fell apart. I’d have been the one to go Nomad had that happened.” My voice doesn’t waver even when Doc’s face is nothing but red, his fists clenching and unclenching.
“You know what’s going to happen. Can’t say I’m not disappointed in how it all rolled out. Also know that you’ve got plans. You’re finally planting roots, and you wouldn’t have gone Nomad, because I’m no fuckin’ tool. I see the way she looks at you, how you look at her when you think no one else is looking. Glad you found that, brother,” Shovel says. Not an ounce of anger is oozing from him.
“Apparently, I’ve had my head up my own ass. I didn’t see shit. Breathin’ easy happens when your life is full of fuckin’ happiness with a woman by your side. I’m with Shovel on this. You’ll get what’s expected, but we’re still brothers at the end of the day. Which makes us fuckin’ family.” Razor’s gaze leaves mine, levels on Doc’s, allowing him to have the floor.
“I get three licks. The rest of you can get one like normal. Monroe’s my only daughter, and if shit went sideways, he may have gone Nomad, but I know my girl; she would have left too. And I’m not thinking I’d be all too fuckin’ chipper about that.” I don’t blame Doc one fuckin’ bit. Whatever he has coming my way is my own fault, but the outcome will be worth it, having Monroe by my side.
“Well, that’s stated. Anyone object?” Shovel asks. None of the brothers say a word, and I hold no grudge because of it. “Alright, it happens now. It’s a clean slate afterwards. Tomorrow is a new fuckin’ day.”
I stand up, moving away from the table, preparing for what’s to come. Shovel doesn’t disappoint, punching me in the gut. Razor manages to hit me in the same place. I don’t double over in pain though; that would only be for pussies. I square my shoulders, prepared for Dice as he hits me in the lower back right in the kidney. Bullet is no better, and I’ll be pissing blood tomorrow, there’s no doubt about it. Rage grabs a bat from the corner, getting me in the gut. It’s Crank who has me staggering back. The fucker loves to play dirty, which is why he kicked the back of my knee in.
“Fuckin’ hate having to do this, man, especially knowing you finally got a woman who is settling your ass down,” Ruger says as he walks towards me. He does me a not so solid favor. Swear he, Shovel, and Razor are a force to be reckoned with, and who knows what else is left. Ruger hits me in the stomach. I flex my muscles there, preparing myself, but still the wind gets knocked out. Standing is hard as fuck, but I do it knowing Doc has his turn next. My face so far has been unscathed, but by the way Monroe’s dad is looking at me, it won’t be for long.
“I respect the hell out of you for telling me like it is man to man, and even though you’re about to be hurt and my daughter will talk my ear off for a year about it, probably be pissed as shit too. I’d rather she be with a man like you than some other pencil dick sick fuck at the hospital.” His fist meets my jaw, then my chin, and the final blow is to my nose. That last one has me sinking to my knees. It’s my brothers who lift me up afterwards, helping me to my room, until I fall flat on my back, groaning in pain.
“Thanks, Doc,” I grunt when he puts two pain pills in my hand and a bottle of water in the other. The fire burning through my whole body hurts like a motherfucker, but those two pills will have me seeing nothing but darkness soon enough.
“We’re even. I’m not telling Monroe tonight. She’ll find out tomorrow morning, and I imagine we’ll both have some hell to pay, so sleep while you can. I’m not sure if you’ve been in an argument with her yet, but damn, that girl. If she weren’t a nurse, I’d have pegged her for a lawyer.” I toss the pills back. He shuts the door behind him, and I fall asleep with a smile on my face. It’s all fuckin’ worth it when my woman is the prize at the end.