Page 30 of Diamonds in the Mud

I didn’t see the two Taylor brothers arrive, and when the fight started, I initially stood back and watched all their jock friends mesh with a few of the Reapers. Then I took a fist to my left ear and out of the corner of my eye caught Ben watching for my reaction.

Shit. I guess I’m all in at this point. Jumping into the fray, I took down the brother who had punched me.

When the cops showed up, I figured I’d earned Ben’s appreciation as I and six of the other Reapers were cuffed and shuffled into a paddy wagon. I smiled knowing the two brothers and a few of their friends were being hauled into a second paddy wagon.

“That was fun,” I said and spat some blood onto the van’s floor.

“Don’t worry, Felix will get us out.” Declan laughed. “What a rush. Those pussies deserved a beatdown. They’ve been sticking their noses around town, asking about us.”

For the rest of the ride to the jail, I leaned my head back and pretended not to listen to Declan’s rant about the Taylor twins.

Two and a half hours later, I sat in the cell with my mates and waited while we were all processed and released. Ben was first, followed by Declan.

“See you at the swamp this weekend,” Declan called out as he half-danced out of the jail, turned, and double-flipped me off as he laughed. “Later.”

“Yeah.” I laughed back at him. I knew that there’d be an even bigger party at Felix’s place this weekend. Everyone was gossiping about some big news Felix wanted to share with everyone.

Being arrested was to the Reapers like a badge of honor. One I’d just earned.

After almost an hour of waiting for Felix to post my bail, I realized the second part of today’s stupid game. The get-yourself-out-of-jail badge. No doubt, they expected me to earn that badge today too.

I lay back and decided to get a little shut-eye before finishing the game. I was dog-tired. The fight hadn’t been a rough one, not compared to some of the brawls I’d been in. But I was working on four beers—no scratch that, five and two shots—and the burger and fries I’d shared with Rayne earlier.

“This is fun.” I woke to Rayne smiling down at me.

“Hi.” I smiled.

“Are you drunk?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

“Coming down from it,” I admitted. “Which is why I was sleeping it off before I post bail.”

She tilted her head slightly. “Your friends just left you in here?”

“I think it’s another initiation.” I sat up and ran my hands over my face and then through my hair. “What time is it?”

Rayne glanced down at her watch. “A quarter past seven.”

“In the morning?” She nodded and I groaned. “I guess I missed work.”

“Guess so,” she said, watching me.

“I heard you and the gang had a little fun with the Taylor brothers and their friends last night.”

“Yeah,” I said, glancing around the room. “Later,” I whispered when I saw the dark-haired cop sitting at a desk across the room watching us.

Rayne nodded. “I think he’s sobered up,” she called out to the other cop. “Come on,” she said to me and helped me stand. “You’re free to go.”

“I am?” I asked softly.

“The brothers decided not to press charges. So you’re free to go.” She walked with me out of the cell.

“Great.” I followed her through the building and realized I couldn’t remember much of the previous night. “I guess I did drink a little too much,” I admitted under my breath.

“I take it that doesn’t happen often?” she asked as they made their way down the hallway.

“Never,” I admitted. “You?”

“Only on my fake birthday,” she answered as we stepped into a large, empty waiting room. “Need a ride back to the bar?”