“I got a problem with a brother I like, a brother I respect, a brother I see reachin’ for somethin’, he gets the dregs, and he’s good with that,” Shy answered. “You haven’t told me, which is part of the problem, but my guess is, whatever family you had sucked. I get that. My parents were murdered, lost the family I liked, got stuck in one I hated. So I found one that worked for me. You found one that worked for you. Time for you to go all in, Joke. And time for you to stop accepting the dregs, reach for what you deserve, and take hold of butterflies.”

Joker turned to Rush. “Does it hit you,” he glanced to Shy, “either a’ you, that this shit is whacked?”

“What shit?” Rush asked.

“This chat,” Joker answered tersely. “I’m not feelin’ it. It’s none of your fuckin’ business, and I’m not good with you makin’ it your business.”

“Then that tells us you’ve never had anyone around that gives a shit enough to make your business theirs so they can do their bit to lead you to happy,” Rush retorted.

Joker clenched his teeth.

“Just to lay it all out,” Rush kept at him. “You can tell yourself, brother, that you don’t wanna catch butterflies, and that might work for you. That might stop you from takin’ a shot at gettin’ what you want. I hope like fuck it doesn’t. That’s up to you. This chat is part about us doin’ what’s right by you and doin’ what we can to open your eyes. You wanna keep ’em closed, your call. But in the meantime, while the Club wades in to Carissa Teodoro’s problems, you keep your shit sharp. You were actin’ like a caged lion today, Joker, ready to go for the throat of anyone that got in your way. She didn’t ask for it, but the Club’s all in because they know what you’re denying. She’s something to you. Since she’s something to you and you’re family, she’s family. So, while the brothers and the old ladies sort her shit, you got one job. Not fuckin’ that up.”

“No one asked the Club to wade in,” Joker pointed out.

“You did, by puttin’ her name in at the garage and tellin’ the boys to give her VIP on a fuckin’ twenty-year-old Toyota Tercel,” Shy stated. “You can deny that too, but I wouldn’t waste the effort. We saw her. We saw you. We know.”

Joker had had enough.

“We done?” he asked.

“I hope you’re not, but I’m guessin’ we are,” Shy answered.

Joker grabbed the bottle, didn’t bother pouring, but threw back a long slug.

He slammed it down on the bar, and without looking at either of them, prowled to the back hall.