5. Q
Q
“We got the radiator hose replaced but...”
“But?”
“The tires are in rough shape. I’d say they got about a couple hundred miles left on ‘em, maybe less.” Torch glanced over at Savage as he asked, “What were you saying about the water pump?”
“Damn thing’s starting to flake. Won’t be long before it’s shot.”
Savage was the spitting image of his ol’ man.
He was tall with the same athletic build.
Hell, he even had Cotton’s thick, unruly hair, and just like his father, he was good at fixing shit.
His true talent just happened to be with engines—something he and Torch had picked up from Torch’s ol’ man.
Clutch had always had a special touch with engines, which was one of the many reasons he was such a good Road Captain.
Torch and Savage both worked on all our bikes and vehicles, so I knew I could trust them when they told me about the work that needed to be done.
I knew I didn’t owe Jules anything, none of us did, but for some crazy reason, it didn’t feel right returning her car when it was still fucked up.
I knew Jules wouldn’t like it, but I couldn’t stop myself from telling Savage, “Go on and fix it, and try to be quick about it. She’s gonna need her car to get back and forth from work. ”
“Should be able to get it done by the end of the day... If I can get the damn parts. Darrel’s stock has been running low for months now.”
“Yeah, I know. Just do the best you can.”
“You got it.”
Without saying anything more, he and Torch walked out of the family room and headed back out to the garage.
Once they were gone, I turned back to Stitch and Maverick and found them both staring at me with goofy smirks on their faces.
I knew they were about to give me a hard time, so I held up my hand and said, “Don’t start with me. ”
“What?” Maverick’s smirk grew even wider as he teased, “We were just about to go grab some breakfast. Thought we’d see if you and your new girlfriend might wanna come with.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” I thought about our last exchange as I told him, “Hell, she’s not even a friend.”
“But you’re having the boys fix her car.”
“She’s in a tight spot.”
Stitch gave me one of his knowing looks as he asked, “Why the hell do you care if she’s in a tight spot or not?”
“I don’t... I mean, I was just trying to help her out.” Realizing how dumb this all sounded, I decided to try another route. “And I wasn’t the only one. She’s one of Smokey’s girls. He’s the one who brought her car here.”
“Um-hmm.” Maverick turned to Stitch as he said, “She’s one of Smokey’s girls.”
“Wonder if he knows Q is making a play for her.”
“Not making a play for her,” I snapped. “Chick’s not even my type.”
“Why not?” Maverick glanced over at Stitch as he chuckled, “She not breathing? No pulse?”
“Fuck you, Mav.”
“Hey, I’m just looking out for ya,” Maverick snickered. “You know, you aren’t getting any younger.”
“Not getting any younger? Are you fucking kiddin’ me?”
“Yeah, he’s right, brother.” Stitch grimaced as he continued, “Won’t be long until you have a head full of gray and need a bottle of Viagra to keep you going.”
“You speaking from experience there, brother?” I goaded.
“Fuck no. I’ve never had any trouble in that department. You, on the other hand...”
“Me nothing! I’ve got no problem. Never have. In fact, I’m good all around, so you both can fuck off.” Before they could say anything more, I shook my head and started out of the room. “I’m out. You two can go find someone else to harass.”
“What’s wrong, brother? You gettin’ sensitive in your old age?”
Without responding, I headed outside to my bike.
I needed a few minutes to clear my head before going to work at the club’s construction site.
There was no way I could go there when I was so wound up.
Guardrail would’ve had my ass. He ran the club’s construction company, and he took his role seriously.
He never treated the place as just a front. He wanted it to be the best construction company around and expected nothing but the best from the guys working for him. He would ream me out if I showed up there and wasn’t on my A-game, especially when we were working on such an important project.
The city council was working on a big project to update several historical buildings, hoping they’d help bring new life to a once-popular area of town.
After a strenuous bidding process, they hired us to complete the renovations.
We had already completed the bank remodel and were currently working on the chamber of commerce and the coffee shop next door.
Both buildings were over a hundred years old and needed tons of work.
We had a long day ahead of us, so I cut my ride short and went on to work.
Once I was parked, I grabbed my tool belt from my saddle bag, then started up to the front of the coffee shop.
I hadn’t gotten far when I found Guardrail talking to Moon—one of our brothers and Big’s eldest. He’d learned a thing or two from his father and used what he’d learned to become the best electrician in the county.
He could wire anything, so I knew it was bad when he said, “The wiring in this place is a nightmare.”
“What’s the problem?”
“Too many to count.”
“Surely it isn’t that bad.” I glanced over at Guardrail as I asked, “Didn’t Marlon redo the wiring a few years back?”
“Yeah, he did it right after the fire in 2012.” Guardrail ran his hand over his beard with a grumble. “Always heard Marlon was a good electrician. I was counting on it when I wrote up our bid.”
“Well, if Marlon did it, he needs to take a refresher course.” Moon sounded beyond frustrated as he told us, “The guy’s got too many outlets on one line, wires that are too short and can’t make connections, and the damn box isn’t flush to the wall.
It’s a wonder this place hasn’t burned to the ground. ”
“Damn. Can you fix it?”
“Yeah, of course I can. It’s just gonna be a fucking pain.”
Eager to get the job done, I asked, “What do you need me to do?”
“I know it’s not a necessity, but I’d like to get all that old wiring out. I just think it’ll make for a cleaner job.”
“You’re right. I’ll start upstairs.”
“Great. I’ve gotta get my tools out of the truck,” Moon replied. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
“Me, too.” Guardrail sounded a little less panicked as he told us, “Just give me a minute to get the others going.”
“Take your time. We got it covered.”
He and Moon made their way out to the parking lot while I headed up to the top floor of the building.
I slipped on my tool belt, then got busy ripping out the old wires.
It was easy to see why Moon had been so upset.
The wiring was a complete mess, and little could be salvaged—which was a big hit for the club.
We’d have to eat the added expense, and no one would be happy about that.
I was halfway done with the west end of the building when Hayes came trudging into the room with a soured look on his face. Without so much as a word, he walked over next to me and started jerking wire out of the joist. It was clear he was pissed, so I asked, “Something wrong?”
“Yeah, you could say that.”
“What’s going on?”
“Dad wants me to wait another six months before I start prospecting, and it’s total bullshit.” His dark eyes flashed with rage as he roared, “I’ll be twenty next month. The same age he was when he started prospecting.”
“I’m sure he has his reasons.”
“Yeah, he’s been spouting them off for the past week.”
I hated to overstep, but I could tell this was something he needed to sort. So, I asked, “Like what?”
“He thinks it’ll be too hard for me to take classes and prospect at the same time.” He kicked the wall with his steel-toe boots with an angry scowl. “He thinks I should get my stupid degree first, then see how I feel about prospecting.”
“Makes sense.” When he turned to me with an angry scowl, I lifted my hands in surrender and said, “Hold on, now. Hear me out. I get where you’re coming from. I know you’re eager to become a brother, but prospecting is tough. Hell, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.”
“I can handle it.”
“You say that now, but when one of the brothers calls you to clean up Wrath’s puke at four in the morning, or they order you to do a run to Seattle in the middle of the night, it’ll be hard to make it to that eight a.m. class.
A few nights of that shit, and I guarantee you’ll be singing a different tune. ”
“I’d find a way to get through it.”
His expression softened as he admitted, “I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember.”
“Yeah, I remember that feeling. It’s tough.” I gave him a pat on the shoulder as I said, “But wanting it for a few more months or even a year isn’t going to kill ya.”
“I was afraid you were gonna say that.” His eyes dropped to the floor as he grumbled, “I hate that he’s always right.”
“Just be patient. One of these days, you’ll prove him wrong.”
“We’ll see about that.” Hayes started prying out one of the knobs that were nailed to the framing, then started pulling the wires through as he said, “You know Dad is planning a get-together this weekend.”
“Yeah, I heard something about that.”
“You’re going, right?”
“Suppose so. You?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
Without saying anything more, we both got back to work, and it wasn’t long before we’d removed all the wiring from the top floor.
Knowing there was still lots of work to be done, we headed downstairs to help Rooster and Chains.
They were working on removing the old drywall, and as expected, they were both busting their asses to get it done and get it done right.