CHAPTER 15
Sharp
I walk into church, which I’ve called early this morning, much to everyone’s annoyance. I don’t want to stop them from getting to their jobs. Most are working at the strip club, setting up the tattoo shop, watching over the diner and now getting the garage cleaned out and ready for opening.
I know it’s been a tough time with pulling out of the illegal shit, but the club had enough in the safe to pay a decent payout for each brother each month. The thing that I had to do was give them purpose, and I hope this time in church will do that.
Taking my seat, I look around and see everyone in attendance. The prospect Cody is outside the door making sure no-one tries to enter and watches over our mobile phones and weapons. Nobody is allowed to bring a phone or weapons into church unless we have a dire reason to do so.
“Okay, brothers, let’s get this meeting started. I called you all here as we need to cover some business information I have gathered. Well, the brothers here have gathered for us.”
I point to the respective brothers, and continue. “Now, let’s start with the apartment. Some of you have been working on it, and it’s stripped to the bare bones. I want you to get it done as fast as possible. I’ve not decided who should manage the place once Shar leaves, but leave it with me and I’ll update you later. I want to talk about the salon that Zara wants to purchase. I have looked the place over, and Trip here,”
to which I give a grin, “is tight with the realtor, Thomas.”
“Fuck you, Pres,”
Trip snarls, but only has me chuckling in response.
“There’s a story there…”
Tin says with a grin plastered across his face.
“Okay, back to it. The salon is good, it only needs cleaning and the equipment checked out. We can get the place for less than the asking price. The realtor has stated the owner just wants rid of it now. Gunner is happy to put in the largest portion, so Zara is the majority shareholder. But we will get profits for basically making sure the place stays secure. We’ll put our club badge on the window and on any signs, posters, or paperwork. That way, it will show anyone the place has our protection.”
I look around when Scribe speaks.
“It used to be a thriving salon. I remember when it was open and most of the women in town would go to that one, rather than the one at the other end of Main Street. But since that’s the only one now, it has gained that customer base. I reckon it would do well if they did some of that fancy nail shit they talk about, too.”
Gunner speaks out next. “Yeah, I heard Zara and Shar talking about a nail bar. Whatever the fuck that is? But, you know it’s women’s stuff, so it’s best they deal with it, in my opinion.”
“There isn’t an apartment in that place, is there?”
Croc asks.
“No, there isn’t, but that’s not a bad thing because I don’t want Zara leaving as soon as she’s qualified. I’m rebuilding my relationship with her, as you all know, and I can’t do that if she’s living away from here or the house.”
Gunner taps his fingers on the table, and we can all see he’s worried about not having Zara around much longer.
“Why don’t you sell that place? It’s not like it has good memories attached to it. You could get something else or build here. That way, you and Zara will build something new together, memories and a relationship,”
Cord adds, and it is a viable option.
Gunner nods, and I can see he’s storing the thought for later. I don’t want to have this hanging about too long, so I pick up the conversation again. “Okay. Gunner. What percentage do you want to put into the salon?”
Nothing like getting right down to it.
“I’ll put in sixty percent.”
Gunner leans back and folds his arms across his chest, showing that’s his one and only offer.
“I’m okay with that. What about you all? You know, let’s go right to the vote. Give me ayes if you are okay with the club owning forty percent of the salon.”
Well, it doesn’t surprise me everyone gives me an aye, and nods at Gunner to show they are behind Zara on this business venture. “Okay, we’ll get the place purchased. Trip, you get it for as little as you can. Play a little with the realtor to see what he can do for us.”
Trip grunts, and everyone is looking at him because they know something is going on. They just don’t know what, yet anyway.
Turning to look at Bank, I give him the nod. “Get it sorted out, and you all make sure Zara has the support she needs. We need her to be successful in this, for herself as well as for the investment the club is putting into it.”
“Will do, Pres. Pen and Zip are onboard with giving any help she needs. Gunner, don’t stress about this as we’ll watch carefully, and if anything needs to be brought to your attention regarding the salon, we’ll do that.”
Bank looks at Gunner, who gives him a chin lift in recognition.
Tapping my knuckles on the table to gain everyone’s attention. “Okay, keep me informed on the progress with the salon, and let's move on. Next, I want to discuss the junkyard on the edge of town. I spoke with Mayor Stonewall and he’s suggested a few things we could consider. But I reckon the junkyard is a good option. I have spoken to Psycho who was going to discuss the option with Porky. I offered them the chance to run the place, along with Croc here. Let them run it as they like as long as they stay legit.”
Murmurs, comments, and nods quickly spread around the room. RedLight speaks, catching everyone’s attention. “I would vote on this option as it’s a good one for the club, would bring in profits. The place has gone to shit the last few years, and needs people that want it to survive and succeed. Psycho, Porky and Croc are ideal candidates. They all three are like blood brothers, and I’m not sure if that house is still on the property, but if it is, we could do the fucker up so it’s livable, or we tear it down and get a decent trailer for the three of them.”
Croc leans forward and rests his forearms on the table. “I’ve spoken to Psycho and Porky. They are both interested, and although they wanted to keep the illegal shit, they really wanted to not feel tied down. By offering them the chance to run the place the way they want, I think will sway them to stay, and if they do, they’ll run that place like a military operation.”
“Anyone got anything else to say on this before we vote on it?”
I ask, looking around, but with all the nods, nopes, and other I turn to Bank. “Okay, get a look at the place, find out the costs and let me know, but let’s just finalize with a vote. All for the junkyard purchase, and the three running it?”
It takes seconds for everyone to give me an aye, and that’s another business dealt with.
Croc speaks out once more. “Oh, the brothers will be back tomorrow. They had a long way to travel home.”
I give him a nod and feel happy that I brought them back to where they belong. It’s going to be a discussion once they arrive about how this is going to play out, for them, and the club.
“Next is an idea the mayor mentioned, and it was looking at a hardware store, which we need in town. But if we got a big enough store, we could have half for hardware and half for tech shit. I’ve been looking at what you all have been doing, and what you are capable of. Before we bring this open to a full discussion, let me give you what I think would work.”
I look around and everyone is paying close attention, so I continue, hoping this is not going to come back and bite me on the ass. “We have the garage now, and if Cord remains manager, then we’ll have Torque, RedLight and Snore as mechanics, but we’ll have to make Snore a full brother, of course.”
“I don’t mind managing the place, but I’d need RedLight and Torque closely onboard because I’ve not done shit like that before,”
Cord states clearly while looking at Torque and RedLight.
“Of course, we’re all in doing whatever is needed. If the place is going to be successful, then you need to learn everything about the business, ordering, selling, and pricing. While we take the pressure off by making sure every job is completed efficiently.”
Torque looks at me, and I give him a nod that he’s on the right track with his thinking.
“Okay, then. Cord, you are up as the garage boss.”
Looking around, everyone agrees with that decision, and I move on quickly. “The tattoo shop is Needle and Scribe’s baby, and they have it open and clients coming through. Do you have any issues at all?” I ask.
Scribe shakes his head no. Needle leans forward to speak. “We are doing okay, Pres. Now we have the place as it should be. We may need to look for a receptionist because at the moment we have to keep stopping and answering the fuckin’ phone.”
Chuckles are heard, and we can all imagine Needle answering the phone when he’s busy. He’s not the most patient of men at the best of times. But thinking of him taking his gloves off, answering the phone, rewashing his hands, then putting new gloves on before re-commencing to only be disturbed again? It’s a nightmare scenario, and I look at Scribe who nods his head at me because he must know what I’m thinking by the look on my face.
“Okay, you get a receptionist if you need one, but no damn club chaser. If you get a woman, make sure she’s not looking for a fuckin’ man.”
Which, of course, amuses everyone once more.
“This hardware store, Pres, I reckon I could manage that. I know a bit about hardware stuff, and I have a link to a supplier I could pull our way,”
Runner says, and I‘m pleased he’s spoken out.
“Well, it was you I thinking of as the boss, and Tin along with Glue would be perfect to work with you.”
I look at Glue, who looked like he was about to go to sleep.
“Yeah, I’m up for that, and we got the names for it, even if that’s not what they mean,”
Glue laughs, nudging Tin, who is sitting beside him.
“I reckon it’ll suit us, Pres. The town is desperate for something like a hardware store because, from what I’ve been hearing, townsfolk are sick of businesses closing, and then they have to order shit online and wait for the mail deliveries. We all know they are shit these days. We’d be better off going back to the old days with the Pony Express riders.”
Now that has us all chuckling because he’s not far wrong.
“The tech side I was thinking Gunner, as you’ve had experience working alongside Zip. Ryder and Taps are the other two, and if Taps wants to add any cyber shit to the business, he can if he wants, but he’ll be responsible for that.”
Nods again run around the room, and I can see the enthusiasm from each one of the brothers. This is giving them things to get their teeth into, and earn a living at something they have control over.
“I like all these business ideas, Pres. It’ll give us all something to get ourselves occupied with. I think stopping the illegal shit left a void, and that void caused us all to worry about how we were going to make enough cash to survive. This, however, may be less money, but it will be more satisfying,”
Shrapnel, our medic says, then he continues. “I would like to float from each of the businesses, if that’s possible. I can help where and when it’s needed. Let’s be honest, we don’t need me to be on twenty-four-hour call for a cut finger. But if I can help at any of the businesses, then I’m happy to do that.”
“I reckon that can be arranged, Shrapnel. Now let’s do a vote so the officers can get on the ball with all this shit. Let’s run through from the beginning once more. The Junkyard, raise your hands if you are an aye vote.”
All hands are raised. “Garage hands?”
Again, all hands are raised for the brothers to run the garage. “Tattoo shop getting a receptionist?” That brings chuckles and everyone looks at Needle who shakes his head, but we can see he’s amused. “Hardware store?” I continue, and get votes again, “Lastly, the tech store?” All hands are in the air, and I feel satisfied this has been one hell of a good church meeting. “Okay, church over. I’ll make sure you are all involved in the businesses you are tasked with. All officers of the club make sure you are there with answers and support. Oh, and Trip, get Thomas to drop…the price of the salon.” Yeah, I gave him a suggestive look, for which I earned a scowl. We all know Trip likes women too much to want to mess with a man, but we also know he’ll play games to get what we need.
Walking out of church and heading to my office, I see Shar walking into the clubhouse, heading my way. Now this looks serious, but she can explain once we are behind closed doors. “You need to speak to me, Shar? Follow me into the office.”
I had grabbed my phone and weapon as I left church and quickly check for any messages. Nothing that needs my attention, so I open the office door and hold my hand out in an ‘after you’ motion to Shar.
I take my seat behind the desk and look at Shar, who is still standing in front of the desk. “Sharp, how is everything going with the business ideas?”
“Good. We are moving forward with the junkyard, hardware and tech businesses. We have the strip club, diner, garage and tattoo shop, and of course, we’ll be having Zara’s salon added on, too.”
Shar walks over to the window and looks out with that faraway look she gets. “I’m not going to be here much longer, Sharp. Once Zara is set up, and I’ve checked the other two businesses. There will be nothing left for me to do here.”
I walk over and stand behind her, taking in the slight scent she always carries, which reminds me of the roses outside Mr. Strickleton’s house. “Is there no way we can persuade you to stay?”
I ask, turning her by her shoulders gently to look at me.
“I don’t think so,”
Shar sighs. “I’ve brought the garage paperwork, all signed and sealed, over to the club. I’m pleased that I could get that for you all.”
Placing my hands gently on either side of Shar’s face, I lean down and murmur, “Let me see if we can change your mind.”
I place my mouth over hers and probe between her lips with my tongue. When she opens her mouth enough, I plunge inside and taste her, devouring her mouth and I have to acknowledge she returns the kiss just as fervently.
Clashing of tongues and teeth, we kiss for quite some time. My lips are tingling, so I know Shar’s must be. Looking down at her, I place my forehead onto hers, holding her face still between my hands. We both are getting our breath back, but what I know is that we have a spark, but it’s a small one, and not the soul-destroying one that says she is mine. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement.
“You’re not the one, Sharp. I hoped you were, but you’re not. You still have your woman out there waiting for you to find her. Accept nothing less than the woman who will own your heart.”
Shar kisses my lips gently, before walking out of the office and closing the door softly as she does so.