Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
Finley
I hurt so badly I want to cry, but I know, from prior experience, that if I cry, it’ll pull at the stitched areas and will cause further pain. So instead, I allow my thoughts to wander as I think about how I got where I’m at right now.
As a foster care kid, when I aged out of the system, I found myself at loose ends.
I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to go to college, although I had a full ride courtesy of the state.
So, I went to a technical college instead and got my ASE certification as an automotive mechanic.
For the past few years, I’ve been moving around the country trying to find a place to call home and three months ago, I decided to try Montana.
No, I’m not a huge fan of snow, but the mountains are so beautiful, it brings me a sense of peace that’s been lacking in my life.
The only reason I was at the hospital the day I was abducted was to get a current tetanus injection since I managed to cut myself at work thanks to a lazy coworker who didn’t toss some scrap metal but instead, laid it on a shelf.
When I reached in, it sliced my hand and I earned a trip to get stitched up and a booster shot since it had been longer than ten years from my last one.
“I probably don’t even have a job now,” I grumble, “especially since I definitely went beyond a three day no-call, no-show event. Dammit, I finally had a little bit of savings to my name, too!”
“What do you do for a living?” Orion asks. He’s apparently checking on me before he takes off to the hospital and goes to see Skippy, which is fine. It seems like every day, one of them shows up, although Mercury’s been conspicuously absent.
Not like he owes me a damn thing. Actually, I owe him because if he hadn’t found me, I would’ve died out there. The weather alone would’ve gotten me and while I didn’t ask, I’m sure I was hypothermic when he found me. My clothes were little more than rags, I was barefoot, and severely malnourished.
“I’m a mechanic,” I reply.
“What do you work on?” he probes.
“Pretty much anything that has an engine,” I admit.
“I love tinkering on hot rods, but there’s not much of a market for those, so that’s more of a hobby.
But I can handle every make and model out there, computerized or not, and I’m always going to new classes whenever one’s available.
I just finished my Harley-Davidson certification, too. ”
I watch his eyes light up the more I talk and wait to see what he has to say.
Hopefully, it’s not something sexist or misogynistic, because I might be hurt and healing, but I can still throw my food tray at him.
I realize the stereotype is that men are the only ones who can work on cars, trucks, and even bikes, but the reality is, my hands are smaller and can get into areas that a man’s hand won’t fit.
And for the heavy shit? Well, that’s why there are hoists and chains. Work smarter, not harder.
“Could you be any more perfect?” he asks in a whisper.
“What do you mean?” I ask, cynicism bleeding in my every word.
“I’m working on opening an auto shop that’s going to cover both vehicles and bikes,” he says. “Gonna need some mechanics if you don’t have a job already.”
“You’d let a woman work in your shop?” I skeptically question, hoping he’s not messing with me.
“Why the fuck not? Aside from the fact that it would class the joint up having a pretty face to look at, y’all are just as capable of working on vehicles as a man is as far as I’m concerned.”
“Well, I had a job and in fact, had gotten injured at work which is why I was at the hospital that day. I had to see the worker’s comp doctor to get stitched up and was going back to my car when I was snatched.
I suspect that the fact I’ve been gone for over a month means I’m probably shit out of luck now. ”
“Their loss is my gain,” he mischeviously chuckles, rubbing his hands together.
“I’m still in the beginning stages, though.
The paperwork is all sorted, but I’m in the process of ordering all of the equipment needed for the workstations.
I could use some help with that now that my time is split between here, the hospital, and the shop.
You interested in helping me out? I’ll pay you for your time. ”
“Yes,” I splutter, dumbfounded that he’s willing to hire me on the spot without seeing my portfolio. “Aren’t you interested in interviewing me and checking my qualifications before offering me a position at the shop?”
“I have a good feeling about you, Finley. I do want to see your resume eventually, and I would like to sit down with you and discuss those qualifications, however, I need help now so I’m willing to go out on a limb for you.”
“That’s uh… unheard of,” I state. “If you have a secure connection to the internet, I can give you access to my online showcase. I’ve made quite the name for myself when it comes to customizations and taking jobs others have turned down. I love a challenge.”
“We’re kindred spirits, you and I,” Orion says, looking as if he’s a kid that’s been given free reign in the candy shop. “I’ll have our tech guy check you out and if you come back clean, I’ll give you a permanent position. How’s that sound?”
“Too good to be true,” I mumble. “What’s the catch?”
“Gonna be honest with you here, Fin. There’s gonna be a lot of long hours and not much sleep happening as we get up and running.
I’m going to be a demanding boss, you’ll want to call me all sorts of an asshole, but in the end, it’ll be worth it.
What do you say, you still in after me pouring my heart out to you? ”
He flutters his eyelashes causing me to bark out in laughter. I groan as I clutch my stomach, pain radiating through me from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. “You’re right, you are an asshole.”
He winks at me with a blinding, playful smirk coating his face. “I’m always available for a good laugh. It’s part of my magnetism.”
“You use it as a way to charm yourself out of trouble, don’t you?” I probe, already having his number. Men like him use humor to keep themselves out of hot water.
A thought hits me and I groan. His eyes narrow on me and he asks, “What’s wrong?”
“I need to find out if I can get my toolbox from my old employer, plus I have no damn idea where my wallet is with all of my identification. Hell, I don’t even know if I have a place to live any more!”
His face turns serious and he pulls his phone out.
“Gemini? I’m here with Finley. What can we do to get her toolbox from her old employer?
Uh huh, uh huh. Do you know if Orbit can work any magic with regard to where she lives?
She’s been gone for over a month and you know those landlords like to be paid.
Okay, good, thanks, I’ll let her know.” He disconnects the call and says, “Mercury already thought about the fact that your living situation might be jacked up and he had our tech guy find out where you lived. He’s spoken to your landlord and it’s all good, because you apparently paid ahead and had some wiggle room.
He and a couple of the guys are gonna go to where you worked before and get your belongings, as well as any final paychecks. ”
Are these guys real? I feel like I need to pinch myself to check because I’ve never known anybody who would go to such extremes for a mere stranger. I must be hallucinating, lost in a dream where all of my nightmares are slayed.
“Direct deposit,” I reply. “I had that, but I don’t have any identification or even my debit card. I’m pretty sure whoever took me disposed of all of that. Hell, what about my car? I just had it repainted after I did some modifications on it!”
As problem after problem presents itself, I find myself spiralling which is not a good thing at all. At least I have a place to live, but what about keys for the locks? And don’t even get me started on getting a new license issued. I detest going to the DMV with a passion.
“He’s gonna get Orbit on all the identification shit, and he’ll make sure that he has him get your debit card and any credit cards you have reissued, Finley. All you gotta do is breathe and get better.”
“Why are you guys willing to do this for me? I’m a virtual stranger and while I’m not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth, what’s in it for you?”
“Well, for starters, the fucker who’s doing this targeted Gemini’s old lady, and managed to get to her best friend, so we’ve got a vested interest because of that.
They fucked with the wrong men because in case you missed it, we’re with the Kings of Anarchy MC and nobody fucks with us because we’ll fuck them back twice as bad. ”
“They’ll still know where I live,” I murmur, almost to myself.
“We have a plan for that, as well,” he retorts.
“Right now, we’re rebuilding our clubhouse, but the old president owned a huge ass house on the property and there’s enough room for you to come stay there as well.
We can get what you need and want to have with you and the rest can go into the barn we’ve refurbished, or hell, go into storage while you figure shit out.
It’s a fluid situation right now so I’m thinking on my feet, but I promise I’m not blowing smoke up your ass. ”
“Well, that’s good because I don’t think that would be particularly pleasant,” I tease.
“If you’re sure it won’t be a problem, that might be the best thing for me.
I don’t know if they’re aware I’m still alive right now or not, but them having all the information to know where and how to find me kind of creeps me out, to be blunt. ”
“Blunt is always good. I don’t think it’ll be an issue whatsoever,” he promises. “I’ll bring it up to the guys when we next have church.”
I feel my brows raise as I sputter out, “Church? None of you inspire thoughts of an altar or hymnals, Orion, just saying.”
“It’s what we call our meetings where we talk about club business. Oh, you might wanna get used to that phrase because you’ll hear it a lot, I’m sure.”
“Why do you say that?” I ask.
He gets a smirk on his face then says, “Just a theory I’ve got that I’ll share with you at some point.
Now, if you’re good for now, I’m heading over to the hospital.
Don’t worry about a thing. We’ve got you, Finley.
When I get back to the clubhouse, I’ll get all the shit I need and will bring it to you so you can start working. ”
I can’t help the giggles that burst through as I look at my left arm to the IV that’s attached to my wrist. “Really? Is this how we’re going to start this working relationship?”
“Start as we plan to go, woman. We’ll stay on the same track as the one we begin on. Actually, you staying at the club is a good idea because we’re going to be attached at the hip.” When I glare at him, he throws his hands up and says, “Not like that, Fin! I do not poach on my brothers. Period.”
With that he leaves, promising to come back later today.
Meanwhile, I’m left wondering what he meant by he didn’t poach on his brothers.
What the hell does that mean? As I try to puzzle through it, the pain meds start coursing through me and I’m grateful I hit the button several minutes ago when the pain became intolerable.
At least if I’m sleeping, I’m not spiralling needlessly.