The weight descended on Joey’s shoulders once more and she began to relay her tale.
* * * * *
“So, let me get this straight? This is Wanderer’s little girl?” Tiny asked from the head of the table in the meeting room.
“Yes, but she didn’t know that until this month,” Moose answered.
“Yeah, I got that part.” Tiny shook his head and whistled. “That’s fucked up.”
“Very.” Moose rubbed his hand over his face.
“Must be why Wanderer looked like he got hit by a semi-truck. He looked like he’d gone a few rounds with concrete. You can’t keep shit like that under wraps and get away with it,” Hawk said.
“Especially not when her mother’s father is a brother,” Tiny said.
“A real son of a bitch, from what I hear. Blood or not, if he steps to Joey crazy, I’m going to put him down,” Moose seethed.
“So you plan on keeping her?” Tiny raised an eyebrow.
“Fuck, I don’t know, man. I mean I care about her, but this puts a whole new spin on things. I don’t know what he’s going to demand to make it right, and I won’t be forced to make her my old lady. We work because we do things on our own terms.”
“I understand that, but you know we need to keep this working relationship in good shape,” Tiny said.
“Yeah, I gotcha.” Moose sighed.
“It doesn’t seem like she was malicious with this. I got no quarrel personally. I’m sure this shit is fucking her head up way worse than it is ours. The librarian is good people and I like her friends, Joey especially. She fits well with us. Given what I know about her mother now, it makes more sense.” Tiny shook his head and smirked. “Damn, you know how to pick ’em.”
Moose rolled his eyes. “I guess.”
“We’ve heard my opinion, but it’s mandatory we put it to a vote. All in favor of letting Moose and Joey continue as-is, as long as he squares shit away with Wanderer, say aye.”
The chorus of ayes bolstered Moose’s spirits. His brothers had his back. The rest of the decision was up to him.
“Good. Now you know what you need to do, man. I’m not saying you have to go out today. Give yourself a minute to settle and chill out, but don’t leave it too long.” Tiny met his gaze.
Moose nodded. “I won’t.”
“Good, then let’s call this meeting, and get back to enjoying our Saturday.”
“All right, you heard Tiny. I’m calling this meeting at…” Moose glanced down at his watch. “Two thirty-five p.m.” He brought down the gavel, and tension drained from his shoulders. The hard part was over. His family had his back. Now he had to make up his mind about what he wanted, how far he’d go.
“Come on, you look like you could use a drink.” Tiny patted him on the back.
Shooter chuckled. “I don’t know about that.”
“A little hair of the dog that bit you then,” Tiny offered. He steered him to the bar and sank down on a stool beside him. The universal signal Tiny wanted to talk. “Can we get two brews down here?” Tiny called out, nodding at the dark-haired girl behind the bar.
She nodded, walked over to the fridge and quickly returned. She placed two brown bottles on the bar, popped the caps and walked off.
“How you dealing with this, man? I don’t want to see you losing your head and making bad decisions.” Tiny took a swig of his beer.
“I don’t even know how I feel.” Moose shook his head. “I get it’s not her fault, but it still feels shady.”
“Probably because the truth came from Hawk.” Tiny shrugged.
“Yeah…” Moose said.
“Look, it’s not my business to pry, but I don’t want you to blow your top. Shit’s too serious right now for us to be breaking down from the inside out,” Tiny warned.