Crash shrugged. “Just met the dude. He seems like a good guy, but I’ll reserve judgment until I know him better.”
Butcher chuckled. “I seem to remember no guy was good enough for your sister back in the day.”
Crash grinned. “True.”
Butcher turned as two more brothers walked up. He slapped the brother next to him on the shoulder and nodded to the man next to him. “You remember Boot and Tater.”
Cole spoke up. “Hell, yeah. How are you boys?” They embraced, slapping each other’s backs.
Crash did the same.
“Slick’s inside. I know he’s anxious to see you, but he’s taking Bulldog’s death the hardest.”
They nodded.
Butcher lit up a cigar and waved it toward some other members standing off by the picnic tables and near the back door. “Lot of new members since you left. I’ll have to be sure to introduce you both around later.”
They nodded.
“How are things going around here?” Cole asked.
Butcher puffed on his cigar. “Pushing a major membership drive. Gulf Coast chapter just started up. Lost a couple boys to it. Sent ‘em down there to keep an eye on things.”
“Problems?”
“Some. But that’s a conversation for another time.”
“You short-handed?” Crash asked.
Butcher shrugged with a grin. “Not short-handed, per se, just pushing to be the biggest, baddest dog on the block.”
Cole grinned. “I see.”
Butcher looked between Cole and Crash. “Why don’t you boys come back home? Haven’t you had enough of that slick, west coast life style?
Boot grinned around his smoke. “At least here you don’t have to deal with earthquakes, landslides and wild fires.”
Crash laughed. “No. You’ve just got heat, humidity and hurricanes.”
Butcher let loose a deep rumble of laughter. “True enough. True enough. But, seriously, give it some thought. We could use you two.” He looked between them. “VP position just came open.”
Cole gave a sad smile. “I know, Butcher. Sad you gotta go through this. Can’t see walking in that door,” he nodded toward the house referring to Bulldog. “And him not being there.”
Crash added, “Between my granddad and that man, they’re the ones that taught me what it means to be a man.”
Butcher nodded and agreed, “He’s gonna leave a big hole.”
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Current day…
Crash stared out the window of the 737 jet as they touched down at Birmingham-Suttlesworth Intl airport. It seemed like just yesterday that he was here, and his sister and grandmother had been alive. Now he had no one here anymore. The plane taxied to the gate.
Ten minutes later the four of them carried their bags toward the curb in front of the terminal. Boot, one of their brothers from the Birmingham chapter, was waiting for them with a mini-van.
“Hey, guys.” He hugged Crash, giving him the whole man-hug back-slap thing. “Sorry for your loss, brother. They were good people.”
After stowing their gear in the back of the van, they climbed in. Boot pulled out of the terminal and got on I20/59 headed toward the city. He looked back over his shoulder. “We got you rooms at a hotel.” He looked over at the passenger seat where Mack sat. “Butcher has arranged for some loaner bikes for you to use while you’re in town.”