4. Screamer
SCREAMER
Life is good.
“Gotta say, I’m surprised you’re retiring.”
Jarod smirks at Crow as Journey and I sit back. Crow wanted to meet with Jarod as soon as I told him the club had a chance of buying his shop, but I was surprised when Jarod agreed to meet. I thought for sure he’d back out.
“The missus says it’s time,” Jarod says with a shrug. “She wants to spend more time with the grandkids and travel, and I can’t deny her that. She’s put up with way too much over the years from me.”
Crow chuckles. “So that’s what I have to look forward to with Addi… nagging to get me to do less with the club?”
“Happy wife, happy life,” my boss jokes.
“Maybe I’ll get lucky,” Journey chimes in. “With Wren’s different personalities, one of ‘em’s bound to be okay with me riding till I die.”
Jarod throws his head back and laughs. “Good luck with that.”
“If Peg has anything to say about it,” I begin, referring to the personality that doles out punishment. “You’ll be outta the club by the time you’re forty.”
Journey groans. It took him a while to sort through the different identities Wren has, but he’s managed. In fact, we don’t see a lot of them anymore because Wren’s therapist has really been helping.
“Let’s get down to business,” Crow states, refocusing the conversation. “Do you have a price in mind for the shop?”
Jarod arches a brow. “Do you?”
My pres grins. “Of course,” he says before giving a number.
“Wow, that’s generous,” Jarod says.
“It’s fair,” Journey comments. “We’ve all discussed what the club can afford, as well as what we think the shop is worth.
It’s understood that it took you years and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get the shop where it is today.
You’ve built a solid reputation in the community, and we recognize that you deserve to be compensated for more than just the building. ”
We spend the next hour going over details of the sale, and by the time Jarod leaves, the Soulless Kings MC owns another business.
There are stipulations to the sale, such as we cannot turn away any current customers, and Jarod wants to stay on part-time.
The sale won’t be final for another three months, which gives him time to adjust, and plenty of time to find some new employees and get them trained.
“Can you believe it?” Journey asks after Jarod leaves.
“Fuck, no,” I say with a chuckle. “I thought we were getting our hopes up for nothing. That man lives and breathes the shop.”
Crow slaps me on the back. “It might seem like it, but he lives for his family. You’d understand that if you ever settled down.”
I shake my head. “Nope, not happening.” Walking toward the door, I add, “I’m outta here.”
My brothers’ laughter follows me down the hallway. They know my stance on relationships and why I have an aversion to them, but it doesn’t seem to stop them from throwing out jabs every now and then, especially now that they’re all tied down to a woman.
“Is it done?” Stunner, our treasurer, asks when I enter the main room.
“It is,” I say with a grin. “There’ll be a Sinful Wheels in Marble Falls in three months.”
“You gonna talk to Jimmy about working there?” he asks, referring to one of the prospects.
“Yeah, I will,” I confirm. “Kid’s a killer mechanic, and he knows his shit when it comes to custom projects.”
“I know he’ll be thrilled,” Stunner says. “Whenever he’s here, all he does is talk about bikes.”
It’s true. Jimmy is a gearhead, and now that Journey and I will be in charge of hiring, we can bring him on board.
After talking with Stunner for a few more minutes, I head outside to go into the shop. As always, when I’m on my Harley, I feel alive, unburdened, happy. But when I arrive at the shop and see a familiar motorcycle, my stomach drops.
“‘Bout time you got here,” Shuffle states as I enter through the front.
The president of Limitless Throttle MC isn’t an enemy. In fact, I consider him a friend, but he never shows up without an appointment unless he has information I’m not gonna like.
“What’re you doing here?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Was in the neighborhood, and a little birdie told me that the shop’ll be transitioning to new owners. Just came to congratulate you.”
“Jesus, word travels fast,” I mutter.
Shuffle laughs. “Nah. Crow called to fill me in since Limitless Throttle owns the laundry mat down the road. He wanted to make sure I knew y’all weren’t encroaching on our territory.”
“No interest in anything here other than this shop,” I tell him. “You’ll have no trouble from us.”
“Fuck, I know that,” he says.
“Good. Now, can I get to work?” I snap, itching to get through some of the repairs waiting for me in the back.
Shuffle taps the counter. “Sure thing. Why don’t you come down and see me when you’re done here tonight? We can go grab a drink to celebrate.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. See ya later.”
“Later.”
After he leaves, I get to work. The day passes in a blur, but I can’t remember the last time I felt this content at the shop. Things are falling into place in a way I thought wouldn’t happen, and life is good.