Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
For a second, I felt eighteen again. Broke, scared, and pretending I knew what I was doing when I didn’t have a clue. I was taking it all in when I heard, “Well, I’ll be damned. Look what the wind blew in.”
“Hey there, Cyrus.” He was wearing his legendary jean overalls with a short-sleeved plaid shirt and a cap that looked older than he was. He looked a bit older and more tired than I remembered, but that spark in his eye was still there and bright as ever. “You’re looking good.”
“Wish I could say the same about you.” He wiped his hand on a rag and started toward me. “I was beginning to think you’d dropped off the face of the earth.”
“Sorry about that. I kept meaning to come by, but you know how it is… Time just kept getting away from me.”
“I get it. I get it… I’ve been busier than a dentist in a trailer park, but busy is good. Keeps the head clear, and the heart going strong.”
Before I could respond, Cyrus wrapped me in a rough, one-armed hug and smacked me on the shoulder. The force of the hit nearly knocked the air from my lungs, and somehow that made me smile even more. “Good to see you, too, old man.”
“Old man?” Cyrus stepped back, looking me over. “Best remember who you’re talking to.”
“I remember all too well.”
“I bet you do.” Cyrus chuckled. “You could use a haircut.”
Goose barked out a laugh behind me. I shook my head. “Not you, too.”
“He’s just stating facts,” Goose teased.
Cyrus finally noticed him, and his scowl returned. “This is Goose.”
“Nice to meet ya.” Goose stepped forward and shook his hand, and Cyrus obliged. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about you.”
“Appreciate that.” He glanced down at his vest, and recognition flashed across his face. “You’re one of Preacher’s boys.”
“Yes, sir.” Goose motioned his head over to me. “Your boy just patched in.”
“No shit?”
“It’s one of the reasons I haven’t been by,” I admitted. “I was prospecting.”
“Heard that can be rough.”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Glad to hear it. Known Preacher for a long time.” Cyrus turned his attention back to me. “He’s the reason Fury is what it is.”
“Damn right.”
“Makes me feel better knowing you landed somewhere decent.”
“Wouldn’t have stood a chance without you.”
Cyrus’s eyes settled on me again, and for a moment, neither of us said a word. Finally, Cyrus nodded and said, “You did good, son.”
His words hit hard. There hadn’t been many people in my life I’d wanted to hear that from, and Cyrus was high on the list. He’d seen me at my worst. He’d seen the hunger, the fear, the heartbreak, and the uncertainty, but that hadn’t stopped him from expecting the best from me. My chest tightened as I said, “Thanks, boss.”
“Ah, don’t go getting all soft on me.” Cyrus shook his head. “You know I can’t take that shit. Besides, I knew you’d figure it out someday.”
He smiled, and that was the end of that.
Simple and honest, just like he’d always been.
Goose and I said our goodbyes, and I promised to check back in with him soon, and I actually meant it. He’d spent years looking out for me, and I owed it to him to do the same for him. We got out to the truck, and I found myself looking over at the garage as Goose backed up and started back to the clubhouse.
The drive back was quieter than the trip over. Partly because of Goose, and partly because of me. The visit with Cyrus had left me with all kinds of thoughts. Some were welcomed while others were not. By the time we rolled through the gate, I’d managed to shove the memories back where they belonged.
Well, at least for now.
Goose parked around back and killed the engine. As we got out, I spotted Drifter talking with Memphis and Seven, and even from a distance, I could tell something was up. They weren’t talking. They weren’t laughing or cutting up. They were just standing there watching as we walked over.
Goose glanced over at me, and he mumbled, “That don’t look good.”
“Sure don’t,” I muttered back. “Got any idea what’s going on?”
“Nope, but I intend to find out.” As soon as we got closer, Goose looked to Memphis and said, “What’s going on?”
Seven let out a breath as he ran his hand over his jaw. “Maverick had an accident. Pretty bad one.”
His words stopped us all cold. I’d never actually met him, but I’d heard about him and the brothers from the Washington Chapter. They were the OGs, and all the clubs looked to them whenever something big came up. Maverick was the president, and from what I’d heard, he had big shoes to fill.
Maverick was a legend in his own time.