Page 60 of Lick

“What’d I miss?”

“Nothing. One of them for me?”

“No, I thought I’d drink them both in front of you.”

“Well, you do look like you need it.”

“That’s like the pot calling the kettle black.” He laughs, handing me the drink.

“You don’t have to stick around. I know you’ve got shit to do.”

“You think any of it is more important than my kid?”

I give him a look that says I’m used to coming second to the club. I’m not condemning him for it. It’s just the way it is.

“I’m not going anywhere, Dad. There is nothing for you to do here. What will help me is catching this fucker. Those Scorpion bastards can’t get away with this shit. Guns in the UK draw a lot of fucking attention. I can’t help but wonder if that was the aim, more than taking me out.”

“The club is looking into it, and not just our chapter either. This will have a ripple effect for all of us for exactly the reasons you outlined.”

“It was a good job he opened fire in the venue and not at the tour bus. Because if that became evidence, we’d have been fucked.”

“I know. We have the bus back, and it’s been unloaded. But for now, we’ll have to think of something else. There will be too many eyes on us if the connection has been made between us. And I have to assume it has been, even if it’s not been shouted about in the media. It’s the kind of thing the police would keep quiet so as not to cause a frenzy. Nobody wants a turf war. It’s bad for business.”

“You think that’s what it will come down to?”

“I think they hurt my boy. They can’t be allowed to walk away without repercussions.”

“Looks like I won’t be the only one not walking away then.”

“Lick—”

I wave him off. “It was a joke. Seriously, though, go home, shave, shower, and sleep. Then do whatever it is presidents do. I’m going to be in and out of testing all day, and when I’m not, I’ll be sleeping. I’ll call if any of that changes.”

It looks like he wants to refuse, but a nurse walks in, announcing she’ll be back in five to give me a sponge bath.

“Fine. But you’d better call if you need me. Em will be by sometime today⁠—”

“Tell her not to bother.”

“No. I made her wait all this time.”

“Then make her wait some more.”

“Fuck that. If you don’t want to see her, you can be the one to tell her that.”

“I haven’t asked you for anything.”

“Fuck, Lick.” He sighs, but nods reluctantly. “You can’t avoid her forever.”

“I know. I’m not planning to. I just need more time.”

“Alright, I’ll talk to her.”

“Thanks.”

He heads out just as the nurse pops her head back in. “Ready?”

“Got nowhere else to be,” I tell her, which makes her smile. Not sure what the fuck there is to smile about, but I let her get on with her job and pretend I’m anywhere but here.