Trip shrugged one shoulder. “Better to be slow and careful than rushed and reckless.”
“Still thinkin’ they’re gonna strike back and soon,” Shade warned. “Can’t drag them all off the mountain and dispose of them cleanly. A couple I had to leave where they lay. They know someone’s goin’ in and takin’ them out, that they aren’t just wanderin’ away or escapin’ the cult. Truthfully, not sure why I ain’t seein’ more armed guards. They should know we ain’t gonna just walk away once all the men are gone. Not when there are young boys who’ll grow up to be a thorn in our fuckin’ side. Or women used to produce more Shirleys. Can see them bringin’ more men in from elsewhere. They rule that mountain, they ain’t abandonin’ it. That’s their fuckin’ kingdom.”
Trip frowned. “Especially when the pigs let them do whatever the fuck they want up there. They’re makin’ their money with meth and shine. The more scratch they make the more weapons they can buy.”
Jury groaned loudly as Judge rubbed her ears faster. “Gotta have a source to get their weapons illegally. They ain’t walkin’ into a gun shop and buyin’ them. No legit gun dealer’s sellin’ them a weapon without an ID and background check.”
“Sure they got a source somewhere,” Trip muttered. “Or they’re buyin’ parts and makin’ their own.”
“Haven’t seen that, but will keep an eye out,” Shade told them.
He had found stashes of weapons and ammo but not a “workshop” where they were putting those weapons together. That didn’t mean they weren’t doing it in one of the cabins or homes. The Shirleys were whacked enough to let their kids help assemble them or even reload ammo.
“Lemme worry about protection down here,” Judge grumbled. “Trust you to do whatya gotta do up there. You need help, let me know.”
Shade nodded. Judge trusting him was a huge about-face from when Shade first showed up, when the big man decided his prospect name would be “Shady” because Judge didn’t trust him. The night they worked together to get Autumn back changed everything. “We done for now?”
“We’re done,” Trip answered with a nod.
Shade rose to his feet. “Gonna head out.”
Trip’s eyebrows pulled together. “Ain’t stickin’ around for the party?”
“Got shit to do.”
Judge’s fingers combed through his long beard. “You ain’t goin’ up the mountain tonight, are you?”
“No. Switchin’ days up there so it don’t become a pattern.”
The enforcer nodded. “Good idea.”
“So, what or who do you have to do?” Trip ribbed him with a grin.
Shade wondered how much he should reveal. It wouldn’t hurt to let his prez know why he was disappearing so they didn’t worry. He didn’t need his brothers heading up the mountain looking for him, thinking he got into trouble up there. “Got a side job.”
“Job or piece?” Judge asked with one raised eyebrow.
Trip pushed his chair back and rose to his feet, too, his grin growing into a big smile. “Gotta be gettin’ pussy elsewhere since he hardly hits up the sweet butts.”
“Yeah?” Judge asked. When he stood, so did Jury. The blocky-headed bulldog did a quick yawn, then nudged everyone in the nuts like she always did. By now, everyone was used to it. Not that anyone liked it.
“Ain’t pussy. Just a small paintin’ job to make a little extra scratch.”
Trip’s brow dropped low. “You hurtin’ for scratch?”
“A little extra never fuckin’ hurt.”
Neither argued that and they didn’t dig any deeper.
Thank fuck.
Chapter Seven
Chelle carried two bottles of cold water toward the front of the house and shook her head when she saw her girls peeking around the corner into the room where Shawn was rolling the last coat of paint.
She sighed loud enough for both of them to hear her and they quickly straightened, knowing they were busted. When they turned with wide eyes, they giggled.
Giggled.
God, she loved the sound of that. She just wanted her daughters to be happy and healthy.
However, their giggling had to do with ogling Shawn. A man too old for either of them. Or, at least, she figured he was. She still didn’t know how old he was.
Doesn’t matter, Chelle.
But—and that was a big but—their mother had been ogling the same man. So, there was that.
That should be weird, right?
Both her daughters were old enough to date, and did so, but she never expected to be interested in the same man as them.
Yes, definitely weird.
Doesn’t matter, Chelle.
Unfortunately, her brain—and another important area—didn’t agree.
“Madison and Josephine,” she scolded as she approached them, hoping Shawn had no idea what was occurring in the foyer.
“Mom, he’s hot,” Maddie whispered.
“Yeah, like really hot,” Josie agreed. “I was too focused on Pumpkin the other day to notice.”
She bugged her eyes out at them and jabbed a finger toward the room. She mouthed, “He can hear you.”
They both elbowed each other and giggled again.
Chelle rolled her eyes and heat crept into her cheeks.
“Mom’s blushing!” Josie said way too loudly.
Chelle scowled at her. “Stop it,” she hissed.
“C’mon, Mom, don’t you think he’s hot?” Josie asked. Again, in what seemed like a deafening volume.
She pinned her lips together in a flat line, refusing to answer.
“Mom, we know you don’t date, but you need to get out there. It’s not healthy for you not to have sex.”
What?
“Yeah, you need your pipes cleaned out,” was what her seventeen-year-old daughter actually said next.
“Girls, stop!” She grimaced when it came out as a yell. “And you better not know what that means, Josie!”
“Mom, I’m seventeen, not seven. I date, remember?”
“You better not be getting your pipes cleaned out,” Chelle warned.
Maddie smothered a snort.
Chelle spun on her older daughter. “That’s not funny. Your sister better not be having sex.”
Maddie threw up her hands. “I have no idea if she’s boning any boys.”
Chelle’s mouth dropped open, air rushed out and she stared at her two girls. Both who were little girls not so long ago. With pigtails and everything. “I’m disowning you both before you give me a heart attack. Stop laughing! I’m being serious.”
“Mommmy,” Josie started and leaned into Chelle with a grin.
Chelle raised a hand. “No. None of this is funny. Just... go... elsewhere. Anywhere but here right now.” Out of hearing distance of Shawn. “We need to get this room done.” Though, Chelle wanted to disappear into the floor right now. Forget walking into that room.
He probably heard all of that, even with the radio on...
“Then can we go to Lycoming Mall? We’re supposed to meet up with Cherise and Sammie to watch a movie and grab dinner at Applebee’s.”