CHAPTER THIRTEEN
-:- TwoCents -:-
Monday morning and I have a list of things I need to get done this week. I’ll need to go over figures the businesses are showing for last week, because I want to get these pay raises sorted out quickly, so they are not on the list of things I still have to get done.
Picking up my phone from the corner of the desk, I send a message to Forest.
TwoCents: Any news from your FBI friend? Or Dep?
Forest: They have nothing concrete to report, but they have set up a meeting with Aaron, so maybe we will know more later today or tomorrow.
TwoCents: OK. What news on the woman who was in the bank with us?
Forest: She fainted is all. I spoke to her, and she’s a whiny-ass bitch who’s making the most of it. She’d not have saved you, that’s for sure.
TwoCents: OK. I’ll not send her flowers [sarcastic emoji]
Forest: Nah, I wouldn’t either.
Checking the figures, I’m happy to give the pay-raises I mentioned in church, and set the figures ready for payroll at the end of the month. It takes a while, as we have quite a few employees.
Nearly lunchtime and I think I may make it to my next chore of the day if I move my ass. Rushing out of the office, I throw my kutte on and grab my brain box as I rush out of the front door. I didn’t notice Paisley as I walked through the common room, but Mia said she and Jo were going to get Paisley to help with the twins this morning.
Walking into the shooting range, I give Target and Chaos a wave and walk over to the reception, where they are both drinking coffee out of mugs with the shooting range logo on.
“Winter around? I want to get Paisley a weapon and book her in for lessons so we can get her carry permit.”
“She has someone with her at the moment, but she won”t be long,” Target tells me. “Oh, and how’s married life going?”
Before I get to tell him to fuck off, Winter walks through from the range and I give Target the finger and walk to meet her.
“Hi, TwoCents. I take it those two are giving you a hard time, hence the finger. What can I do for you?”
“I need to book Paisley in so she can get her permit to carry, but I also want your advice on what weapon to buy her. I don’t really see her as a big caliber type of girl, but I want her to have something with stopping power.”
“Well, let’s get her booked in first and then we can see what we’re working with. Once I’ve had a couple of sessions with her, I should be able to tell what her weapon of choice would be. She might be a natural markswoman or just an old-fashioned shotgun gal!”
“I hope she doesn’t turn out to be a shotgun kinda gal. That would be awkward to conceal. How soon can you fit her in?” The sooner she’s carrying the better, as far as I’m concerned.
Winter checks her schedule and grins at me. “I’ve had a cancellation for Wednesday morning. How’s that? 10 am?”
“That’s great. I’ll be sure she gets here in plenty of time. Thanks, Winter.”
Back at the compound, I head out back to check on Hammer, who said when I spoke to him this morning he’d be on site, as he was putting the finishing touches on Meat’s cabin.
Knuckles has his order in for a cabin, similar to Meat’s, so it’s the next one going to be built. But I’ve my eye on a spot and I’m going to make sure I get that marked for me and Paisley.
Seeing Hammer standing in the front yard of Meat’s property, I wave and give him a shout. “HAMMER!”
Turning, Hammer gives me a chin lift and walks toward me. “What’s up?”
“I want that area over there marked for me, and to get my build in after Knuckles. I’ve plans in my room that I’ll give you when you’re ready.”
“Okay. Let me have them, I’ll price the job and give you the estimate. Make sure you get it marked on Pres’s damn compound map, ‘cause man, he’s obsessive about it,” Hammer chuckles.
“I’ll do that. While we are speaking I wanted to ask if you had an idea which warehouse you wanted?”
“Yeah, that old one at the end of Jackson Road. It’ll be a suitable building. It’s solid, not been broken into that I know of, so it’s not trashed. It has a good parking lot at the back and one in front of the building. The only thing could be the price.” Hammer rubs the back of his neck.
“Why? What’s wrong with the price?”
“Well, it’s being sold by ‘Property by Conrad’.”
“Oh, I see.” Now we all know Conrad Gillins is nothing but a piece of shit who wants more for the properties he sells or leases than they are worth. But I’ve dealt with him once before, so it’ll be a repeat performance unless I get my point across early. “Let’s go look at the place, then leave the dealing of the purchase to me.”
Hammer shrugs, “If you say so. I’ll see if we can look this afternoon.”
“Let me know. I’m going to go have lunch. My stomach thinks my throat has been cut.”
“Will do, brother.”
Turning, I quickly make my way to the clubhouse, passing the treehouse where Meat and Star are sitting on the walkaround with fishing rods in their hands. But what has me shaking my head is the wading pool that they have underneath them which has small fish swimming around, and the song they are singing.
Brad Paisley–I’m Gonna Miss Her
Well, I’m gonna miss her
When I get home
But right now I’m on this lakeshore
And I’m sitting in the sun
I’m sure it’ll hit me
When I walk through that door tonight
Yeah, I’m gonna miss her
Oh, look there, another bite!
Yeah, I’m gonna miss her
Oh, look there, I’ve got a bite!
I’m not going to say anything, I’m not going to ask, I’m going to pretend I didn’t see or hear a thing. I give them a wave and keep walking.
Finding Paisley sitting with Mia, Jo and Axel, I grab a sandwich from the trays laid out on the kitchen island, then take a seat next to Paisley.
”You okay?” I ask as I take a bite and watch her for her reply. What I don’t like is the bland look and response which has no tone to it. Aw, what the fuck is going on? Because I’d be an idiot not to realize something is wrong. Like when you ask a woman, are you good and they say ‘Fine’, and you know damn fuckin’ well they are not fine at all.
I make nothing of her quiet reply, but will take her to our room once we’ve finished lunch.
Once Paisley and I are in our room, I watch as she sits in the easy chair, but she takes me by surprise when she asks, “What happened to the lady in the bank? The one you told me fainted or something.”
“Well, it’s funny you should ask because I just asked Forest that exact same question. He said she was fine and just fainted. In his words, she was a whiny-ass bitch who would not have saved me.” I watch as Paisley nods then gives me a small smile. “Good job she isn’t your wife, then.”
“That’s for sure.” I perch on the side of the easy chair, place my arm around Paisley’s shoulders and kiss the top of her head.
Paisley also asks, “Why haven’t you wanted to sleep with me? Do you not love me anymore?”
“Oh, my God, no, no, Paisley. My lack of sexual appetite isn’t your fault. It’s the stress of everything that happened. I will always want you, but you’ve not remembered who I am, so it would have been taking advantage to sleep with you. It would have felt like sleeping with a stranger.” I’m digging this hole so fuckin’ deep I don’t think I’ll ever get out of it.
Shit, shit and double shit. Blaming my lack of sexual appetite on the stress of everything that’s happened, I can’t believe I’m basically saying that I can’t get it up. Thank God we’re in our room and no one can overhear us. I’d never live this fucker down if a brother got to find out.
Now things are smoothed over with Paisley, I respond to Hammer’s text, letting me know we have to meet up with Conrad at three to view the warehouse.
Downstairs I find Axel in the playroom talking with Mia and Bitty, who are both bathing the boys, which could be the second, or the ninth one they had today.
“Axel, two things. Firstly, I need you to mark my home spot on your compound map. I’m taking the spot over from Knuckles, okay? Secondly, I’m going over to Jackson Road to look at that warehouse with Hammer. Do you want in on this?”
“I’ll check the map but I’m fairly sure you’re ok with that plot, and yeah, get Buzz, Drag and tell Wings he’s here to watch things while we are out of the compound. I’ll go grab my kutte from our room, then meet you out front.”
Heading out on our hogs, we only take a few minutes, and we’re at the warehouse. Seeing an SUV already in the front parking lot, we sweep straight around to the back. Conrad can walk round to us. I’m sure as hell not walking to him.
As soon as we’re parked, we all step over to the furthest part of the lot. Pointing out anything, and nothing, to justify making him walk further after us.
Hammer immediately points things out to Axel that will need work, such as better security, new fencing, etc. Conrad takes out his phone and starts snapping photos of damaged and missing fencing. I guarantee that this is a cost he’s going to try to pass on to his last tenant.
Axel looks at Hammer and asks, “Are you sure this place is suitable? I’m not convinced that it’s even big enough, man. Maybe we should wait and look at the others TwoCents had lined up. They are older properties, but sure as hell looked better suited to our needs than this pokey little dump.”
“I did say that before we wasted our time coming here, Pres. They had better yard storage for vehicles and equipment, too.” Shaking my head at Hammer, I roll my eyes too, as though in exasperation.
Axel looks at Hammer in disgust. “Hell, you’ve got to work from wherever you choose, but I’m not even going to waste my time looking inside there. Buzz, Drag, we’re outta here. We’ll take the long way back and at least get to enjoy the ride back. You two can look the place over and make your own minds up. If you go over budget, Hammer, it’s coming out of your pocket. See you pair later.” Axel walks off, shaking his head and muttering to Buzz and Drag, who are both muttering back to him and looking over their shoulder at us as they go. All three making a show of not liking this place, even though it will be perfect.
“Okay, Hammer, we may as well look since we’re here.”
Nodding at Conrad to lead the way, we go to the rear doors. Opening a single pedestrian door, we enter, and Hammer opens one of the two roller doors at the back. As light floods in, we see that most of the interior space has been racked out. There is space at one end that would allow a couple of work vans to be parked inside overnight, if required.
Walking through the shelving to the front of the building, we can see that there are some offices in one corner at two levels. That’s not a bad set-up. It would give Hammer his own office space above, and it has windows looking out over the warehouse. Offices below could house a reception area and a breakroom, perhaps.
Conrad keeps babbling on about how much racking costs and that he’s happy to give us a discount on the rental of it while we lease the building.
“Take it all out. I’m not paying rent on racking when I have more than enough for my needs in my old yard. I’ll purchase the building and have my own racking installed and inspected.” Hammer keeps walking as Conrad splutters at the cost involved to remove the racking and then find somewhere to store it all.
“The building is for lease, not for sale,” Conrad gloats at Hammer and me.
I nod at Hammer, and we head back out the back doors to our bikes, Conrad almost running to keep up.
“Wait, wait. Where are you going? We haven’t finished looking around yet.”
I smile at Conrad and carry on putting on my helmet. “Conrad, we both know that leasing this building is only going to line your pockets on a monthly basis. We need a property that we own. We don’t need to be paying twice every month either, which is what you’re trying to hustle with the shelving costs. Now, we can agree on a sale, or we can go our separate ways. The only thing this place has going for it so far is its location, and that’s not perfect either. It’s up to you how desperate you are to be rid of this shithole.”
“We haven’t discussed financials yet.” Conrad looks hopeful that he can still make a killing at this, but I’m not giving in to any of his overpriced contracts. I’ve heard too many tales as to how much profit he makes from some of his less fortunate customers.
“Give me a piece of paper and get yourself one. I’ll write my budget on my piece and you write your sale price on yours. Then we’ll see how far apart we are.”
Once we’ve written on our respective pieces of paper, we hand them over. I don’t look at the one he’s handed me, as I already know the asking price for the warehouse from his website.
“What does two-thirds mean? I don’t understand.” Conrad looks confused, first at me and then Hammer.
Taking the paper that he handed me, I write ‘Consuela Gonzalez’ on the back and hand it back. His face pales when he reads the name and I grin at him as he realizes what I know.
“We’ll pay you two-thirds of your asking price and you’ll throw in the racking. Ask yourself how much it will cost you if your mistress, Consuela, finds out how much you’re actually worth, but keeping her in that tiny house you pay for. Also, the cost to you for the divorce that your wife will undoubtedly sue for when she finds out about Consuela. I think that’s a cheap price to pay for my silence, don’t you?”
“I think it’s a dirty, shitty, low-life, underhand way of doing business.” Conrad is almost ready to go berserk he’s so angry.
“I know how some of your deals have been concluded in the past as well, Conrad. Should I write ‘half’ on that piece and go see some of your shop owners, too? I’m sure they would love to have the upper hand for a change and get some of their hard-earned cash back from you?”
“That won’t be necessary. Call in at my office, at your convenience, and we’ll close the deal. This, however, will be the one and only dealing we have.”
“Pleasure doing business, Conrad. I’ll see you soon. Come on, Hammer, let’s go tell Axel you have a new yard and warehouse.”
Fist bumping before we straddle our hogs, we watch Conrad scuttling around mumbling to himself about asshole bikers. Chuckling, we head back to the clubhouse with the good news.