tapping his fingers on the table. “But all these years, she hasn’t found someone she wanted to fuck. Then she did, and she added a bunch of hearts and flowers to the mix. That’s too much pressure. For you and her. I’m just saying since you’ll be around each other in the future, maybe stick to hookups.”
“Did she tell you all that?”
“Shelby tells the Fearsome Foursome everything. She also tells her mother almost everything. Nothing that happens with you and her will be a secret. She’s got as big a mouth as the sweet butts.”
“And you got no problem with me fucking her?”
“Shelby isn’t a ditz. She’s weird and sometimes crazy, but she isn’t stupid. She knows what she wants. If she wants to fuck you, why would I give her shit? She has my back, and I have hers. Now Shane will probably always hate you for defiling his beloved sister. However, he’s too busy with diapers to do more than grumble about it.”
“With her having my kid, I guess I oughta stay on her good side.”
“Just never ask for a blowjob,” River says and checks his phone. “That will shut shit down quick. Oh, and unless you have a tiny dick, she won’t do anal. Years ago, she swore on her favorite sandwich that she would never stick large objects in her ass. I think she would have mentioned if you were packing a pinkie dick, so anal’s off the table.”
“She’s pregnant.”
“I know.”
“Can you stick a dick up a woman’s ass when she’s got a baby in her?”
River acts like he’s thinking. “Probably, but not when she’s huge. I don’t know. We can google it.”
“Why would we do that?”
“I feel as if we’re bonding. Since I don’t want a bullet in my head when I’m about to be a dad, I feel as if bonding with you is a smart move.”
“You’re worried about me?”
“Why, are you worried about me?” When I shrug, River grins. “Dude, I’m the reason you weren’t killed after your release. Shane didn’t think it was worth trusting you. After all, you were tight with Swamp Thing and Grabby. Those motherfuckers sent an asshole to kill our women. So, yeah, Shane had a point, but I was the one who said we should give you a chance.”
“Because of my size?”
“No, dumbass, because of what you did for Lineke.”
Shrugging, I mutter, “Yeah, well, she asked, and I like killing.”
“You and me both, brother. But that doesn’t mean you’re not my fucking hero.”
“Now you’re being an ass,” I grumble.
“I see you’re unaccustomed to compliments. Good to know.”
“I killed some middle-aged loser.”
River studies me with his light eyes. “Did Lineke explain why she changed her mind about killing him?”
“I assumed he smacked one of her kids like he was always doing to her.”
River’s expression hardens, but he doesn’t explain. I assume the asshole—whose name I don’t even remember—crossed a different line.
“How did you kill Norman?”
“I just stomped on him,” I say, shrugging. “I broke in and waited for the asshole. Then I dragged him into the yard and smashed my foot down on his body until he stopped moving. If it makes you feel better, I stomped on his crotch for a while. Probably dislodged a ball.”
River smiles like a little kid on Christmas. “That’s a beautiful visual. I didn’t want him going quick.”
“No, he lasted around a half hour. I took breaks, so he’d think it was over. I knew he beat on Lineke more than once. Figured I’d beat on him more than once too.”
“That’s how I would have done him,” River says and sits forward. “You need to pull the stick out of your ass, Goliath. You’re the kind of man I need in my club. Right now, you’re acting as if you plan to ditch Shasta.”
“What about Shelby?”
“What about her?”
“So that whole deal doesn’t matter?”
“Shelby isn’t a child. She wanted you. She fucked you. She ended up knocked up. She’s going to have a baby. It’s not complicated unless you make it complicated. Do you want to make it complicated?”
“Nomp.”
“Then that’s fine. So, back to Norman. Do you remember where you dumped his body?”
“He’s in a hole nearby in the woods.”
River gives me a weird look and then suddenly stands up. “Is it close enough to walk to? I want to piss on it.”
“Really?”
“Sure. Does that offend your delicate sensibilities?”
Rolling my eyes, I’m unsure about a man like River Majors. In my life, there’s been soft, handsome men or hard, ugly men. This pretty