28. Chapter 28
Leigh
Sam was able to set the breaks and get Manny into casts. He was worked over, but other than the breaks and the damage visible to the eye, Sam believed he was okay. He suffered a concussion and probably blacked out from pain. Add to that dehydration and he was out.
Sam would keep working on him and try to get him to wake up, but I wasn’t needed. He told me to go ahead and go and he’d update Hammer. Nancy walked me out and locked the door, so I wasted no time heading to the house.
Poor Bruce had been crated all day and I needed my bike. He did well with it but usually wasn’t in there longer than eight hours. I wanted to see Glenda before I had to ride out, but he needed to stretch his legs and have a potty break.
I was already tired from working then finding Manny.
As the cleaner for the club, I had no problem with a few broken bones and blood, but Manny was a good kid.
Knowing what I did about where he lived, and the fact that it was no secret he was prospecting for us, I could only assume this wasn’t a random attack.
Hopefully he’d wake up and we’d learn more.
Pulling into the yard, I hopped from the truck and went in through downstairs to let Bruce out. He ran out the door and I stepped back outside, pulling out my phone.
Hammer picked up after only one ring. “Hey. You still at the clinic?”
“No, Sam just released me. At the house to grab the bike. I’ll be there in a few.”
“Don’t worry about the bike for tonight. But you gotta still come get Glenda, right? I need to holler at you about something.”
Relieved I didn’t have to ride out, but curious what he needed to discuss, I answered, “Alright. I’ll see you in a few.”
I shot a text to Glenda to let her know I was on the way, then knelt down, calling Bruce over.
He moseyed over and I rubbed at his neck. “Hey, bud. Sorry I took so long. I gotta go for a few, but I’ll be back soon. I’ll leave you out, but don’t eat the couch or anything, alright?”
Bruce groaned so I stood and patted his head. I went back in through the first level but ran up the steps so he could get to his food and water. He waited for me to walk back down before he went up, then I ran back out, locking the door behind me.
After the short ride back to the clubhouse in the truck, I stepped out, stretching before walking inside.
Glenda had replied to my text she was at the bar, so I went there to find her before Hammer.
I was surprised to see her at the bar with Hammer next to her. Linny and Bama were with them, too, and everyone seemed in a good mood.
They all looked over when they heard the door open, and Glenda smiled while Hammer and Bama gave a nod.
“Hey,” I said, kissing her temple. “You eat?”
“Yep. Did you?” she asked, threading her fingers into mine.
“No, but it’ll have to wait.”
Hammer motioned to the door in the back that led to the offices as he stood up.
Pinkie said, “I’ll have something waiting on ya.”
“Be back soon, hopefully,” I said as I leaned to Glenda’s ear. I hated letting her hand go but had to see what the prez needed to discuss.
Following Hammer, I headed to the office. Bama wasn’t far behind me.
Once inside, we all sat.
Hammer asked, “How’s Manny?”
Shrugging, I said, “Still up in the air. Sam thinks he just needs some fluids and calories, but we won’t know for sure until he wakes up.”
“I talked to Skeeter,” Hammer told us. “He said they went out a couple nights ago as instructed and did some asking around, but didn’t get any hits. I think someone knew something, maybe was friendly with the Scorpions and followed them.”
“Makes sense they wouldn’t get Skeeter since he’s been staying here,” I said.
Hammer nodded. “I told Manny he was welcome to stay, but he’d been here a bit the last couple weeks. Said he needed to do some laundry and shit. I think he was gonna call his boss, too. He wasn’t getting paid during his suspension and didn’t want to lose his job.”
“That’s why I didn’t drop him at the hospital. Just hope Sam can handle it.”
Bama chimed in. “You did what we all would have done. If he comes through, I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
“And if he doesn’t?” I asked. We tried to avoid cops at all costs.
You take someone to the hospital like Manny was, and there would be cops.
But it’s always risky. I wasn’t quite thirty yet but I still felt old compared to Manny.
Hell, I wasn’t sure he could legally drink.
I hoped the kid still had time to enjoy the scars and tell the story.
“Bama’s right. You did the right thing. We got enough problems. Plus, it would probably only make his boss more suspicious. Although if they reach out to him to reinstate him and he doesn’t answer, who knows.”
I rubbed my scruff. “Yeah, he ain’t driving no bus for a while. Not with those legs.”
Hammer rubbed his hand over his hair. “Well, maybe we can figure something out. I’ll talk to Sam tomorrow.”
I didn’t think about that in the moment. Even though we avoided the cops, how the hell would he explain to his boss he couldn’t work?
“So Skeeter didn’t see anything? Notice anyone suspicious?” I asked, switching gears back to something we may be able to deal with.
Hammer shook his head. “No, but it was lowkey. They’re just prospects. I told them to just poke around, maybe ask some girls if they’d seen any other colors run through. That sort of thing.”
“And you trust these prospects to not run their mouths?” Bama asked.
Hammer told him, “Well, if they can’t follow instructions, this is the kinda shit that can happen.”
“What if they didn’t?” I asked.
Hammer smacked his hand on the table. “What do you want me to say, Leigh? They’re prospects. They were doing prospect work. I know you’re struggling with what happened to Manny–”
“I’m not struggling. But if the kid didn’t fuck up, we don’t need to act like this was his fault.”
“Well until he wakes up or we find out something new, we don’t know either way.
Get a fucking grip. It’s not like we don’t have a reason to be suspicious.
” Hammer stood up. “I’m tired. You two aren’t going out tonight.
I already got Rogers and Froggy following up where Skeeter said they’d gone.
But tomorrow, we’ll spread out, or we’ll act on whatever they find tonight. ”
Hammer left the office and didn’t pull the door. Looking over at Bama, I asked, “You off the hook, too?”
“Yeah, I already had a quick meet up with a regular earlier, and he’s got me putting in some hours at the pool hall.”
I stood up. “At least it’s slow during the day.”
“Shit. I’m being Mr. Fixit, not watching the bar. That place is falling apart, so I’m patching what I can and telling him what we gotta replace. He’s moody as fuck about it.”
“When is he not?” I joked. “I was at the shop today.”
“Feel good to be back?” he asked as we started walking out.
“Yeah. Idle hands and all. But I’m looking forward to taking her home.”
“At least you know she’s safe here. And she and Hammer squashed their beef.”
I replied, “I noticed. I’m glad. She was nervous to be here. She really didn’t mean to break code.”
He nodded. “She’s a good girl. And he can be a dick, but he knows she’s good, too.”
“I’m gonna claim her.”
Bama stopped and grinned. “You sure do move fast.”
“Says the man who claimed a stranger.”
“Hey, I can’t help that I’m decisive. I knew she was for me. And she wasn’t a stranger after we met.”
“Well, I’ve known for a long time Glenda was mine. Just had to wait for her to realize it, too.”
He patted my shoulder. “Hey, man. I’m glad shit’s working out for you. Truly.”
I almost was afraid to let myself admit it, but it did feel like things were finally going my way.