CHAPTER 10
Shar
An hour later, Zara and I are sitting in Sharp’s office, discussing the option of opening a salon. Snore beat me to Sharp and told him about the incident with Clarice. Sharp took me to one side and said that he understood why I had told Clarice to stay away. He did, however, make the point that it was okay as a one off but that he would make those calls in the future. Accepting that I probably crossed a line here, I apologize, giving him my sickliest girlie smile.
Shaking his head, we rejoin Zara and I give him all the details of the salon on Main Street, and some rough figures I’d worked out for any type of profit we could achieve. I did calculate the salary of a manager who, of course, would be a stylist, and an extra stylist to cover all bookings.
“I think the club could stand doing that, Zara, but can you get your qualifications?”
Sharp asks while giving Zara a thoughtful look.
“Yes. I can and I will achieve this, Uncle Sharp.”
I look at Zara out of the corner of my eye, then to Sharp who must know I’ve not heard her call him Uncle before as he has an amused glint in his eye.
“I’ll speak to Gunner and see what his opinion is before I bring it to church and the brothers. But your dad will have to put some money up if you are going to be a co-owner of the place.”
Sharp looks at the door as someone knocks and cracks it open.
“Pres, the woman in the kitchen has given us a list of what is needed from the store. Is it okay to run with that?”
Looking over to Bank waiting for Sharp’s response. “Yeah, she’s doing a damn fine job in the kitchen, so give her free rein to get what she needs. Oh, and ask her to make some more of those cookies she did yesterday.”
“Will do, Pres,”
Bank laughs as he gives me a slight nod of recognition before closing the door.
“Okay. I’ll speak to Gunner. You two form a financial plan so we can see all the figures on a rough scale before we decide on what to do about this salon. I don’t think the place will sell out from under us when it’s been standing empty for so long.”
“No, I don’t think so either. I also think I’ll be able to get the price knocked down quite a bit because the realtor was very eager to show us around and looked disappointed when I told him we wanted to think about it.”
I give Zara’s hand a squeeze of encouragement.
“I’ll speak to you later about the apartment renovation too, Shar. Cord told me it is a good place but needs to be stripped down to bare bones.”
“Yes, it does, but it would be a good place for a manager to live. Or perhaps keep for the brothers to stay when they are working the night.”
I think it would be an ideal option for the brothers as it’s not in town, and they do their evening's work, then have to ride back here.
“Okay, I’ll speak to Bank about finances, then I’ll take a ride over and look at both places. I’d like some idea of what this is going to cost before I put it to a vote with the brothers.”
Sharp leans back in his seat.
“Thanks, Uncle Sharp.”
Zara jumps from her seat, kisses Sharp on his cheek, and near enough skips out of the office. I look at Sharp and he gives me a shit-eating grin, at which I frown, then hightail it out of there.
“Thanks, Shar. I think things will work out. But, I’ll look at figures and let you have them. Then, if I’m wrong, you can show me where I’ve gone wrong. I have to learn and learn fast if I want this to work.”
Zara is growing up, and fast. I give her a hug, as I can’t hold back the pride I’m feeling for her.
“Off you go, and when you have it all done, let me know.”
I watch her walk eagerly away, and I head to the kitchen.
“Stop. Don’t touch those,”
I hear as I walk into the kitchen, just in time to see Trip grab a handful of cookies from a plate and rush past me, grinning like a fool, I might add.
“Oh dear, are they playing you up?”
I ask, but I’m smiling as I do so.
“Honestly, they are like kids. You would think grown men would have seen cookies before.”
Lira is smiling as she responds, mind you.
“At least they like your cooking.”
We giggle between us and talk about what she has been making. Then I ask, “Are you happy to stay working here at the clubhouse? No trouble with the club women?”
“I like it. I am left to decide what to make each day, and I do prep for the day I’m not here. I have one day a week free, but I make sure the men here have meals they can heat up. I have to say they are all gone when I come back, so they must be using them.”
Lira has such a soft smile, and she is someone I could make into a close friend. If I was staying, that is.
“I’m really happy it’s worked out for you and for the club. As long as the women don’t cause you trouble!”
I noticed she hasn’t said if they were giving her hassle.
“No, everything is okay.”
I’m not sure I believe that mainly, as she was hesitant in her response. But I’m not going to push her, as she’ll tell me if things get bad. Well, I hope she will.
“Can you get me the trash can I left outside the back door please, Shar?”
Lira asks, covered in flour I might add while making more cookies.
Grabbing the can, I lift it inside as I hear a nasty voice. “How can you cost the club so much money? You are making all this stupid cookie and cake stuff…”
Oh, I know who this is and I’ve had enough of her. I storm into the kitchen, throw the can near Wendy’s feet, which has her jumping back out of harm's way. “Shut your mouth. Who do you think you are to tell Lira what she can or cannot make? You the Pres?”
“She’s spending money the club can’t afford.”
Wendy tries to continue her rant, but I step up so close to her that she takes a large step back.
“SHARP!”
I shout loudly, which has the kitchen door fly open and Trip burst inside.
“What’s wrong?”
Trip asks, looking around for any danger.
“I need Sharp because this bitch thinks she can tell Lira what to cook. She is also saying the club has no money to buy food. Well, that’s basically what she’s saying. You can watch the camera feed to see what’s gone on,” I snap.
Sharp walks into the kitchen with Brawl and Crack behind him. “What’s going on?”
He asks as he looks from one of us to another.
I step towards him, keeping my back to Wendy. “You sort her out Sharp or I will, and Meat taught me how to get rid of bodies.”
I leave the kitchen after giving Lira a pat on the shoulder and whisper that everything will be okay. I head for my room where I am going to relax in the quiet for a while.
Sitting on my bed cross-legged and checking my text messages, I smile when I see one from Axel.
Axel: Mia has transferred the title to the SUV into your name. Enjoy it with Raging Barons MC’s compliments.
Shar: Thank you so much. Tell Mia I love her, and I’ll contact her soon. Give the kids kisses from Auntie Shar.
Axel: Will do.
I’m so lucky that Mia and I connected when in prison. If I had a blood sister, I would wish it was Mia. She has to be the kindest person I know, but she’s no fool, either.
I’ve been keeping a close eye on Gunner, and I have to admit he has changed a lot since he was with Mia. He learned a hard lesson with Cara, and I think the whole thing affected him more than anyone knows.
A knock on the door grabs my attention and I open it to see Zara standing in a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt. I pull her into the room and point at her clothes. “That is how you should be dressing at your age. Don’t you let me see you in a dress again, not like the one you wore earlier, anyway. You can wear dresses but have some class. I’ll put you over my knee and spank your ass if I see you looking like the club whores.”
“Oh. I thought it was a nice dress.”
“It is a nice dress for someone else, but for you it’s a no. I’m going to take you shopping and we are going to spend some money on clothes. I’ll teach you what is classy and what is trash.”
“Okay, thank you. I have savings we can use. I keep all my birthday money from the club brothers. They are all uncles to me really and give me money because they have no idea what they should buy me. I have quite a lot in my savings.”
Zara takes out her phone from the jogging pants pocket and finds her banking app, logs in and shows me her balance.
“Good grief, Zara, you could buy the salon yourself without the support of the club or Gunner.”
I am astonished at how much she has in her savings account. She has far more than I do and I want to travel.
“I know, but Mia told me to make sure I had money for a rainy day.”
“You do what is best for you. Make sure you have some savings so you have a safety net, like Mia told you, something put away for a rainy day. Now, what did you come to ask or tell me?”
Zara blushes, “Oh, shit, I was supposed to ask you to come have a conversation with me and Dad about my school.”
“Okay, let’s go then.”
We head out of my bedroom, and I lock the door because I don’t trust the club women, especially Wendy.
Walking into Gunner's room, I am surprised at how clean and neat it is, but I keep my mouth firmly closed. I’m trying to break the habit of blurting out the first thing that enters my mind.
Taking a seat next to Zara on the edge of the bed, I look at Gunner, and before I can speak, he does. “Thanks for coming, Shar. I wanted to speak with Zara about her school and needed a female’s thoughts on what I think we should do. You know, from a man’s way of thinking.”
“Oh, okay. So, what is the problem?”
“Zara may have already told you that she is on a break from school because of the bullying that was going on. Zara wasn’t bullying. She was being bullied.”
Turning my head, I look at Zara, who is looking extremely uncomfortable at this conversation. I take her hand in mine and give it a squeeze, showing her that she’s not alone.
Gunner continues, “Home schooling has been longer than the week that she was supposed to have. I went into school and told them that I wasn’t happy that my girl got sent home, but the bullies were still in school with no punishment.”
“Is this because she is part of the MC?”
I ask, because I know from Mia that sometimes the MCs get the short end of things just because they are a club.
“I think so, and I don’t want Zara in that kind of prejudiced environment. I have been thinking of asking the woman that is helping Zara if she will take her on to finish her education. I’m more than happy to pay for private tuition because even after only three weeks Zara is much further with her lessons.”
Gunner gives Zara a look that shows how proud of her he is, and that makes her blush once more.
“I reckon it is a good idea, but only if Zara wants to continue her lessons at home.”
Zara quickly replies, “Yes, I would rather not go back to school. I’m learning quickly, and Mrs. Gallager said that I’ll finish my education early if I keep learning as I have been.”
“Wow, that’s good to hear. Gunner, it’s your decision at the end of the day. But it looks like it could work out well.”
Nodding before standing and taking Zara into his arms, he hugs her before kissing the top of her head. “Let’s do that then, Zar.”
Oh, that’s so nice. He’s using a nickname for her, and I have to swallow the lump in my throat. This is a lovely scene of father and daughter bonding. I think I have some nice things to report back to Mia regarding Gunner and his relationship with Zara.