already nodding. Whatever Gunny was about to say, Myrt’s sister was entirely on board with it. “We’re going to take the van and head out. I’m pretty well rested, and it’ll be better if we get on the road sooner than later. Wanna get back to my old lady and kids, too.” He pointed at Bane. “You two—” Gesturing towards Myrt, he turned fully and faced her. “—need to take care of the local business so we don’t have anyone”—he glanced at Luke, who was now engrossed in telling Thad a story—“ookinglay for the oysbay.”
“How am I supposed to do that, brother?” Bane stood in front of the tiny microwave, watching his plate go round and round, not bothering to turn around for this discussion. Myrt was lost, the conversation between the two men making no sense. “Here, where I got no pull or sway?” He shrugged and took the plate out of the microwave when it beeped, turning with fork in hand, already hovering over the food. “You forget, my patch ain’t your patch.”
Gunny started laughing, the raucous sound rolling through the room.
“You first used his name and then bothered to gain permission. The fuck you think he’d do, play at taker-backers? Mason’s word is good, and unless you hear differently from the big man himself, you’ve got one clear path ahead of you.” He lifted his mug as Myrt’s stomach flipped over. “Patch or no patch. You’re no fraudy fraudy froggy frog, waitin’ on the princess’ kiss to start things movin’. Do your thang, brother. It’s all good.”
Marian blurted, “Do you mean Davis Mason? You know him?”
The boys had gone still at the name, and Myrt wondered if they felt the same paralyzing fear she did. Davis Mason’s shadow fell across more mountains than just theirs. He was the powerful son of a local man. His father, Irving Mason, was remembered in cautionary tales about how not to live and what not to do. That man starred in many people’s nightmares, still.
His son was known as a much better man than the father had ever hoped to be but held enormous amounts of power locally. He owned a number of businesses and was known to offer interest-free loans to help younger couples stay in the area, buying houses he sold back to them as lease-ownership deals, and brokering benefits for businesses to keep jobs from moving out of the county.
“Yeah, you know him?” Gunny tipped his head to the side and stared at Marian, then swept his gaze to Myrt and the boys. “He’s a good man. Good to his core. I’d do anything for him.” He shrugged. “Hell, me being here right now is because he asked. I’d planned on stayin’ back with my family and letting a local crew help Bane here.” Gunny’s hand swept wide to indicate the man still eating, albeit more slowly. “But Mason picked up the phone and asked, and I answered.”
“We—” Marian looked at Myrt, who nodded her approval, not knowing what her sister was going to say but understanding it needed to be a joint effort. “—know of him. Good things. Real good things. He’s like the local guardian angel.”
“His daddy was a bastid.” Luke’s blurted words were loud in the still room, and every eye turned towards the boy. He flushed red as a beet, hiding his face against Myrt’s shoulder. “Sorry.” His mumbled apology was muffled and quiet.
“His daddy was indeed a bastard and a half,” Gunny agreed readily. His expression had changed, darkening as if with something remembered. “Glad as hell the old man’s no longer around to dirty the same air you and I are breathin’.”
“Okay.” Bane set his plate down and lifted his mug, taking a long drink. “Got it. Name’s got significant collateral around here and should be able to pull things into line with what we want. So if you’re headed to Florida in the van, what are Myrt and I gonna ride around in?”
“On, not in.” Gunny gestured towards the window. “Pulled a favor outta my ass and got a bike dropped off last night that one of the Florida boys is interested in. You’ll save him the delivery fee if you ride it down. It’ll be like we owe you. Kinda hilarious, if you look at it that way.”
Myrt looked at Marian, who shrugged and nodded, then swung her gaze to Bane, who was studying Gunny intently. It took several beats, but he relaxed eventually, giving Gunny a sharp lift of