Free Comin' Home to You by Dustin Mcwilliams Page B

really want it.”
    “Being on top is a means to a fuckin’ end. As I said, it ain’t all about me.”
    Nicky’s thick eyebrows lowered, then promptly raised. He finally and silently understood.
    Lee's Bar was as shabby as it sounded, but it had been Scar's main dive since he was able to legally drink. Although, no one told him that he couldn't drink even when he was underage. Located to the west of Mineola, it was one of the closest bars for those who lived in the dry county of Van Zandt. The locale only sold longnecks and cans of cheap American draft beer, and there wasn't much selection in that department. The only liquor available was Jim Beam, though it was plentiful. It was a low-class establishment, and it was filled by men and women who enjoyed that sort of environment. It was a dimly-lit bar with a few neon beer signs lit to fit the mood. Two pool tables with flickering light fixtures hanging above them had their own section away from seating. An old jukebox filled with mostly outlaw country and a few random pop songs from the 80's sat in a corner. Currently, it was playing some Merle Haggard. The restrooms had piss stains all over the floor. They were probably cleaned once a week and the smell was evidence of that.
    Despite its lack of flair and choice in beverages, the bar felt like a home base for Scar. Many nights had been spent playing pool and drinking beers with his buddies until closing time. Nicky Suarez was a regular as well, and his best friend. Nicky moved to Adrienne in the third grade, and before he had even sat in his desk, a random redneck boy called him a “wetback piece of trash.” Nicky quickly ran to the name-caller and wailed away at his face, blackening his eye and bloodying his nose. He spent the rest of that day in detention, which is where he met Scar.
    Nicky was a tall and strong man, but not quite at the level of Scar. He was sturdy, smart, intuitive, and ruthless, but what Scar liked about him most was his loyalty. Nicky was like a brother to him, spending their teenage years as such, and he couldn't have asked for a better right-hand man at his side. He trusted him more than any single member of his family, and he did have quite the large family.
    Scar was the middle child of five siblings. The oldest brother, Roy, had been missing for fifteen years. Everyone assumed he was dead, but only Scar held a semblance of hope that he still walked this earth. Roy taught him a great deal as he grew up, so he had no intention of giving up on his elder brother. There was one man who probably knew of his fate, but the thought of that man's face made him angry. The second child was Mary, who was a year and a half older than him, but had already spent most of her adult life behind bars. She became hooked on meth as a teenager, never once attempting to kick the habit. Alas, court orders demanded such action. While she has somewhat quelled her addiction to meth, pain killers were her new vice. Shannon was the fourth child. She was noticeably smarter than every member of her family, and decided to attend college at the University of New Mexico, receiving a full ride to attend the school. But in reality, she wanted to get as far away from her troublesome family as possible. Even now, there was no contact from her. Despite his sibling no longer wanting to associate with her family, Scar was proud that she was probably successful.
    The youngest of the litter was Clint, who was proving to be the craziest of the siblings. Scar loved his baby brother, but there were times when even he had problems with Clint. While the kid had his issues with drugs and alcohol, Scar didn't deem that his main problem. His main issue with Clint was his unpredictability. He once threw a pound of salable high quality meth into a creek just because the man who manufactured it had sex with his oldest sister back in high school.
    A lot of his crazy had to do with his size. While the majority of Grayson men were tall and brawny,