Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Despite this, I used to always enjoy this place. It’s cozy with its wooden-paneled walls, even if old-fashioned. And the fact that the neon stripes on the bottom of our old music box resemble the gay men’s pride flag has always given me a bit of a thrill, even though it must be a coincidence.
I’m distracted from my thoughts when I hear Harlow ramble to my uncle about something that piques my attention.
“I’m just saying that if we burn down their whole village, we’re putting the trees at risk, and fuck knows we’ve had enough forest fires in the past years. I’m no hippy, but regular folk have houses and farms some miles away from there.”
I slide my bar stool a bit closer, cringing at the screech it makes. At least I’ve got everyone’s attention. “It’s true. The warehouse fire didn’t have that kind of risk, so the cops dropped it with a little financial nudge. This wouldn’t fly.”
“That’s right. The sheriff’s parents-in-law live on the other side of the woods and could be affected. The cops would not let that go,” Bracer adds and adjusts his glasses.
Is that what we’re doing now? Discussing whether attacking the whole settlement of Vulture Hollow might end up siccing the dogs on us? It’s safe to assume that most of the adults there are involved in the Vulture operations in some shape or form, but they’re still just civilians, and then there are all the kids.
Puck shrugs, leaning back in his leather chair. “Well, at least we’d be done with them once and for all. Even if some of them survive a fire, they’d have to run with their tails between their legs.”
Samson snorts, nodding, as if he has the right to an opinion despite being only a prospect. “They could go live deep in the caves, eat the mushrooms off the walls or some shit.” He crosses his bulky arms over his chest, proud of himself.
I shake my head. “Or we could bury the hatchet with them, so they can live in their squalor, we continue to make money, and no one has to die.”
I hate the silence that follows for all too long. Really? No one wants that? I swear Bracer was talking about money again, just yesterday.
“Someone has died,” Grizzly says. “Your brother. And why would we share even scraps with those backwards cunts?”
“Yeah, are we to wait until they actually sacrifice one of ours again?” Samson asks, and this time, he’s squashed by a choir of unhappy grunts. I bet he wants an opportunity to prove himself so he can get patched in.
Grizzly shoots up from his seat and slaps the back of his head. “Enough of this bullshit. Roy was not sacrificed. The symbols and the crow were only there to let us know it was them, but no one fucking hangs a man off a crane at a construction site to celebrate Satan or… whatever it is the Vulture witch and their president believe.”
He’s flushed now and spits on the floor. Despite being chastised moments ago, the prospect rips a paper towel off a roll and scoots down to wipe the floor.
Bracer sighs, rubbing his thick rings across his palm. “I mean… If Clyde was able to let it go, I’d consider it.” Like he hasn’t pushed for that in private. The man is a snake, but could be a useful one. “I’m a numbers man, and a war feels unnecessary if we could come to an agreement with them.”
Hope blooms in my heart for a moment, only to be squashed by my uncle’s roar. “Who would we be if we let shit like that go? Out of the fucking question for as long as this patch honors my chest!” Grizzly taps his vest for good measure.
Bracer raises his hands, but I’m sensing discontent in the way some of the guys don’t want to look into Grizzly’s eyes. Has Bracer been talking to them too behind our prez’s back? Could this be useful?
“Fine, no need to get dramatic,” Bracer says, and Grizzly is at his throat quicker than an actual bear would be.
“Show some damn respect!” he yells, and before I know it, I have to jump off my stool to not be in the way of their brawl.
No one even tries to stop them as they wrestle their way through several tables, and even break a chair when Grizzly falls on it. Everyone understands they need to let steam off. Since no guns are being drawn, the level of violence seems acceptable. Some of the guys even choose sides and cheer them on.
It’s when Grizzly pushes Bracer at the bar, and a keg of beer falls over because of it that the fight cools off in an accidental fountain of beer foam covering both of them. They start laughing like good friends, pats on the back follow, one of the guys turns up the music, and like clockwork, women arrive through the front door with bags of food.