Family Matters

Chapter 9

Ellie locked the door behind Juice and, as he kicked off his boots, making himself comfortable, she got them each a beer. The first few minutes were spent in silence, awkward eye contact here and there, until Juice opened his mouth without much idea of what to say.

"You gotta tell him the truth," Juice said. "He's pissed but it's cause he cares."

"Seriously?" She hissed, glaring at him as her lips wrapped around the edge of her beer bottle. "Are you for real? He totally sent you the fuck up here."

"He didn't," Juice said quickly, "And he'll be pissed when you tell him. Whatever he's caught a whiff of is serious and I'd hate to see shit happen to you."

"I'm fine," Ellie said forcefully. "I can take care of myself, I can protect myself, I don't need him or his club anymore."

Juice didn't immediately speak. He sipped his beer and looked around the apartment while she huffed and chugged her bottle dry.

"I'm a goddamn adult," she added.

"I'm not saying you aren't." His rings clinked against the glass as he set his bottle on the table. "Shit, I need help sometimes too. Doesn't mean I'm not capable."

"What would you need help with?" She sneered in disbelief. "You guys would probably blow each other if you really needed it. Fucking gay ass brotherhood."

"Doth protest too much, methinks."

Her eyes narrowed and she slammed her empty bottle down. "How much have to dug up on me, intelligence officer?"

"No one uses my title," he said proudly. "And I found everything. Even your favorite book," he winked. "You don't strike me as a Shakespeare chick."

"You don't strike me as one either, but you knew that line."

Juice shrugged, "I googled it and that line was mentioned a lot."

Ellie sighed and shook her head. "What are you really doing here?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I just wanted to make sure you're safe."

"What does he know?" Ellie asked sadly, her body relaxing as she settled back into the couch.

"There's some chick looking for some African dude," Juice looked at her with wide eyes. "Don't tell him I told you this shit, Ellie, please."

"I won't," she sniffled. "There is a South African dude, we've been together, I guess, for about four years."

"You guess?" He chuckled as he leaned forward. "He a bad dude?"

"You have no idea," Ellie rolled her eyes. "I didn't know how bad at first and when I found out I was already so fucking in love. I know it's fucked and I know I need to leave but it's not that easy."

"Partially cause you don't want to," Juice said knowingly.

"Who is looking for him?" Ellie asked with a noticeable change in her mood. "He's no saint but none of us are."

"I don't know shit about her," Juice shrugged. "She tapped Hap to find this guy."

"Through me," Ellie scoffed. "What a goddamn asshole. He didn't say shit, he's fucking lying."

"Uhh, you been lying to him for years," Juice reminded her. "I think you both need to fucking talk."

"I think you need to mind your own business." Ellie popped up to her feet again and grabbed fresh beers.

"Could be your way out," Juice said in a sign song voice.

"I can get out when I want," she said defensively. "Besides, his business is separate and he treats really well."