CHAPTER THREE

“What is this place?” asked Trevon in wonder. “Better still, what are those amazing smells?” The men all chuckled, slapping his back.

“This is our cafeteria,” said Nine. “You signed a non-disclosure agreement when you arrived today. We all live here. Us, our families, our friends, all of us. We’re all former Special Forces. It’s important for us to keep our anonymity and privacy. Gaspar’s parents, Mama Irene and Matthew, own all of this land. They decided decades ago they wanted their children to come home and built all the homes you see here.”

“Are you their son as well?” he asked inquisitively.

“Yes! Yes, he is,” said Mama Irene, walking toward them. “Now, let me look here. Oh, you’re a fine young man. Fine. Big, strong, smart too. I can tell. Come on, I got a plate filled with fried catfish, gator fries, hush puppies, a little gumbo on the side, and some coconut cake.”

Tailor and Alec were smiling at Trevon, nodding toward the table.

“Come on, man. It’s all good.”

“Oh, I have no doubt. I’m just freaking out a bit. Those are all my favorite foods. How did she know that?”

“Best not to ask, my man,” smiled Tailor. As they took their seats and began eating, Tailor, Alec, and Miller asked a few questions here and there.

“How is the team doing overall?” asked Miller. “My apologies for not following closer. I follow the NFL, but I don’t follow the minor leagues. To be honest, I didn’t even know we had a minor league team in the city.”

“It’s not a big deal, man,” said Trevon. “Our league has only been around for about twenty years. It gives guys like me, who didn’t get drafted out of college, the opportunity to play and maybe be seen by the bigger teams. Problem is, there’s a lot of great talent out there. After a few years, I realized I was making great money, loved New Orleans, and didn’t really want to leave. I’m happy where I am. I also realized that the NFL doesn’t exactly send guys out to scout us. I’m not sure they even know we exist.”

“That’s good that you’re happy,” nodded Alec. “Nothing better than being happy with your work, your life, all of it.”

“I couldn’t agree more. I think that’s where Butch and I had our biggest disagreements. He just didn’t seem to be happy at all, and I couldn’t figure out why. He had no commitments at all. No girlfriend, no wife. He lived in a condo close to downtown, but he paid cash for that with his last signing bonus. He never shopped for new clothes. We all had to force him to buy a suit for our annual banquet.”

“I guess what I’m confused by is what anyone would have to gain from killing him,” said Tailor. “I mean, it sounds like he was going to be forced to retire either way. The doctors wouldn’t have let him play after a fourth or fifth concussion.”

“Money,” said Trevon, moaning as he took a bite of the cake. “Damn, that’s good. Sorry. Money. All of it. If he were gone, it would free up money for the salary cap, the new QB might get more money, the team might have more to play with. It’s always about money.”

“That’s a shitty way to have to live your life,” said Alec.

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said, wiping his mouth. “I was born and raised in southern Indiana on a farm. My folks weren’t poor, but we barely made enough. Tack onto that my size and finding clothes was a serious problem for me.”

“That I can relate to,” grinned Tailor. “It’s how I got my name. I had to sew my own clothes sometimes.”

“Seriously? Hell, I could use some lessons on that. Even now with all the big and tall stores, I find it hard to find good stuff in my size. Anyway, my folks had just enough, and that always seemed just right for me. When we get our bonuses, I bank those as fast as I can. I drive an eight-year-old car, live in a two-bedroom apartment. I bank almost all of it. I don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs. My biggest expense?”

“Food,” said the men at the table at the same time.

“Yep,” he laughed. “I should buy grocery stores as an investment.”

“Pops did that, and we ate his profits,” smirked Miller. “Bought the General Store you passed on the way in. Great food, lots of homemade stuff from Mama and some of the other women. But damn, we could eat away at some groceries.”

“Wait, are y’all brothers?” he asked, pointing to Alec.

“Yep. Him and seven more. We have nine boys and six girls in our family, and if you ask Mama, all the rest are hers too.”

“That’s so cool, man. I’m really glad I met you guys. Football is getting to me lately, and I can’t figure out why. Maybe it’s time I retire and do something else.”

“Well, you’re built for security, so if you ever want a career change, let us know,” said Miller.

“Maybe,” he nodded. “Ironically, I’m not a man of violence unless it’s on the field. I don’t own a weapon, I don’t know how to use one. Don’t laugh, but I’d love to do something with farming or gardening.”

“We would never laugh at that,” said Alec with a sober expression. “It’s honest, hard work, and we owe everything you see here to our farmers, fishermen, and cattlemen. Mama is a fanatic about her gardens, the crops we grow out back, all of it.”

“Trevon, honey, this is Noelle. Noelle owns a landscaping business and greenhouse. I thought you two should get to know one another,” smiled Mama Irene.

“How…”

“Don’t ask, brother. Just don’t,” smirked Miller. “Oh, and the grumpy bastard behind the beautiful Noelle is Zeke Wolfkill, her husband.”

“I’m not grumpy,” he snapped. “I mean, look at him. He’s young, good-looking, and big as a house.”

“Honey, I love you and you only. Trevon? Do you have time to talk about what we do?”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously,” she smiled. “I need help, and I’m getting too old to do all this on my own, in spite of what my handsome husband thinks.”

“You mean you did all these decorations? Alone!?” he yelled.

“Well, the others did help a bit. But this isn’t all of them, and we’re not done yet. If you’d like to learn more, we can take a drive around the property, and I, Zeke and I will show you around.”

“Man, y’all are the best,” said Trevon. “Yes, ma’am. I’m all in. Fellas, thanks for the lunch and the conversation. I feel better knowing y’all are looking into Butch. If you need me, just reach out.”

“We’ll be in touch, man.” They all shook his hand as he left with Zeke and Noelle. When Tailor stared at the faces around him, he frowned, shaking his head.

“Something is seriously fucked up about this.”