CHAPTER 28
JAZMIN
I tighten the last bolt on the exhaust manifold before I step from under the car. “This one’s done,” I call to Nails, who’s standing behind the service desk counter.
“You don’t need to replace the pipes?” Nails asks.
“Nah. They can last a while longer. With James laid up with his back, I don’t wanna hit them with more bills.”
“Would you replace them if they could pay?” Nails asks.
I think about it for a second. “If it was my car, no. Somebody else’s? Probably.”
“Do we have salvage pipes in back that are better than what’s on it?”
“I’m sure we do.”
“Then put ’em on.”
“There’s no way Cora can scrape together the money.”
“They’re on the house,” Nails says and returns to the paperwork she was working on.
I smile. “Yes, Sergeant.”
That’s why I like working at Black Briar Motors. I’ve seen customers panic when they realize they can’t afford to fix their only means of transportation. But with the Thorns, if someone needs help, we help. That’s why we hustle other ways—like Casino Night.
Casino Night. Dimples called last night and recruited me to work it tonight. It’s not my thing, but I’m a prospect. Besides, if Dimples asks, I’m in.
“Prospect,” Nails calls. “Do you have time to do the work today?”
I nod. “Yeah, it won’t take me long. Besides, Storm’s bringing Shadow to pick up her bike, so it’ll give me something to do while I wait.”
We’ve been so busy we’ve been working some Saturdays. Today, it’s just me and Nails, but some weekends, we have three or four girls at the shop.
Nails comes from around the counter toward me. “And hey, thanks. Dimples says you’re helping with security tonight.”
I nod.
“You carry, don’t you?” she asks.
“I prefer my Glock 19, but I’ll bring my 43X tonight.”
“Perfect choice. We like to keep our firepower low-key. We’ve not needed it, but I’ve never needed my bike insurance, either. I wouldn’t ride without it.”
I measure my words. Since I’m a prospect, it ain’t my place to ask. “Ya think if the girls knew we carried, it’d calm them?”
Nails takes a deep breath through her nose. “We talked about it but couldn’t decide. It might put some at ease, but others might freak out. Like I said, we’ve never had to draw our weapons. We’re careful who we let in and stay away from the serious high rollers.”
“I could see them being trouble.”
“When Diesel turned over the role of sergeant to me, it's the first thing she stressed. Best way to keep the girls safe is to be careful who has access. I’ve taken her words to heart. We’ve passed on a lot of players over the years who coulda brought us serious money.”
I grin. “Serious bank leads to serious headaches.”
Nails laughs. “You got it, Prospect. So why’d you decide to help out?”
“I’m a prospect.” It’s true. Just not all of it.
She studies me for a beat, then winks. “Good answer.”
I smile, though my mind is racing. That felt loaded. Shit. I don’t want her asking any more questions, so I say, “Figured I’d better volunteer before I was recruited. Security suits me better than waiting. I don’t look good in a cocktail dress.”
Nails laughs. She runs her hands down her body. “I do. But you won’t see me putting one on for them. I save that for my old lady.” She shakes her head. “But some like what they see when I’m wearing my cut.” She grabs her boobs as she says it.
“Can I ask a question?”
“If it’s about my boobs, no.” She grins. “But anything else, sure.”
“Why wear our cuts for Casino Night at all?”
“The gamblers pay for the vibe, not just the game. Several years back, we switched to civvies, but the gamblers complained to Aces.”
“Turns them on to be around dangerous biker chicks?” I say with a grin.
“Probably. Plus, we’re selling the experience. Giving them an old-time speakeasy feeling, and we’re the gangsters.”
I nod. “Did you recruit enough servers?”
“Barely. We thought we were gonna have to pay some locals, but with Dimples and Storm helping, we should be fine.”
Holy shit.
Nails laughs. “Put your eyes back in your head. Storm’s bartending and wearing a tux.”
“Thank god. That’s a sight I’m not ready for. Our president in a cocktail dress.” I shake my head as if trying to clear the image from it.
“None of us wants to see that. It fucks me up seeing some of the sisters glammed up, but Storm’s a step too far. Dimples, on the other hand, that girl can pull it off.”
Dimples. My heart rate quickens. I try to act normal and hope Nails doesn’t see the heat rising up my neck. Even though I already know Dimples is serving, I say, “I thought Dimples was working the kitchen. Last-minute change?”
Nails’ gaze bores into me, or is it my imagination? “Yeah. Only reason Rouge agreed to deal was Dimples being on the floor.”
From what I understood, they didn’t even ask Frost, but I’m not gonna say that. “It’s cool they’re stepping up instead of forcing anyone.”
“It’s the long game. We can’t have the gamblers sensing tension, or it’d ruin their experience.
Plus, it sends the message we ain’t afraid.
” Though we’re the only ones in the garage, Nails leans in and lowers her voice.
“We’re gonna flash around the tips we make tonight.
Some girls need the money, so it’ll be an incentive for next game. ”
“Smart,” I say and mean it. The Thorns’ leaders know what they’re doing.
“Well, I gotta run out to the Velvet Rose. See how things are coming along.” She motions toward the car on the lift. “And you have pipes to replace.”
“Yeah, I wanna finish before Storm and Shadow show.”
Nails grins. “Storm’s got it bad.”
I nearly reveal Dimples said the same, but the less anyone knows Dimples and I talk, the better. “Shadow’s cute.”
“Yeah, but she ain’t Storm’s usual type.”
“What type’s that?”
“Ultra femme and slutty. Shadow may be pretty, but she’s got some toughness in her.” Nails chuckles. “It’s about time someone gives Storm a run for her money.”
I’d finished the exhaust job and swept the garage, so now I’m just waiting for Storm and Shadow. I’m killing time scrolling my phone when I hear the roar of a bike. Sounds like Storm’s. Since I work on the club’s bikes, I can identify them by sound.
The small garage door rises. Yep, it’s Storm. Only her and Nails have remotes. I stash my phone in my back pocket and greet them as soon as Storm pulls in and kills her engine.
Shadow slides from behind Storm, removes her helmet, and shakes out her hair. I can’t help but think about what Nails said earlier. She might not be ultra femme and slutty, but she can hold her own. There’s just something about her.
Storm dismounts and puts a hand on Shadow’s lower back. “I told you I could shave thirty minutes off.”
“That’s good and bad.” Shadow grins at Storm. “Less time riding, but at that speed, the vibrations are heavier.”
Storm laughs and winks. The way she’s looking at Shadow, I’m not sure she remembers I’m in the room.
Shadow breaks eye contact with Storm and says to me, “I wanna thank you for all the work you did on my bike, uh…uh…”
“Jazmin,” Storm says, surprising me. “It’s just us. You can call her Jazmin. She deserves the respect after the magic she’s worked.”
“Thanks, Jazmin.” Shadow smiles, making it clearer what Storm sees in her.
While her smile doesn’t compare to Dimples’, it’s still a good one. I must be getting older since I’m noticing smiles over anything else, or maybe Dimples has just ruined me.
“You’re welcome.” It’s always nice to be appreciated for my work. “Do you wanna see her? I took the liberty of polishing her up.” I don’t mention that Dimples lent me a hand.
“You guys are too kind. Thank you.” She turns to Storm. “And thank you, too.”
Storm puts out her arm, and Shadow takes it. Apparently, they ain’t hiding it, or since I’m a prospect, it doesn’t matter what I see. No, that ain’t fair. Storm just showed me respect, telling Shadow my name.
When we arrive at her bike, Shadow’s eyes light up. It’s shiny, but the real difference she can’t see.
“Ya wanna tell her what you did to her baby?” Storm says.
“Yes, ma’am.” I meet Shadow’s gaze. “A Shovel’s always gonna run hot, but I doubt you’ll get stranded on the side of the road again. I swapped your ignition, sealed the manifold, rejetted the carb, installed a high-flow oil pump, and added an external cooler.”
Storm laughs and puts her arm around Shadow. “Don’t worry, I didn’t understand half of what she said, and I wrench my bike sometimes.”
I bite my lip so I don’t smile. Changing oil and tightening a few bolts ain’t wrenching, but I won’t contradict my president.
Storm points at me. “And don’t you say a word.” She turns to Shadow and smiles. “I’m not a gearhead like the girls who work at Black Briar.”
I choke back my surprise. Storm’s always decent, but she’s got an edge to her. This version of Storm is throwing me. She’s grinned more in the past five minutes than I’ve seen her smile in the past five days.
I’m beginning to think Nails is right. Storm has it bad.
“So you’re confident that she won’t overheat?” Shadow asks.
“You could ride her through the Sahara in August and be fine.” I smile. “That might be a slight exaggeration, but you get my point.”
“Can I get a hug?” Shadow asks.
“That’s the best payment there is,” I say as I open my arms. She gives me a genuine hug, not one of those polite pat-you-on-the-back hugs.
When we separate, Storm says, “Hey, I’m getting jealous over here. Don’t I get a hug, too?”
A huge smile breaks out on Shadow’s face. “Of course.” Before she can say more, Storm has Shadow wrapped in her arms. “I still wish you’d let me pay.”
If Shadow knew how much it cost, upward of seventy-five hundred dollars, she might not be so eager to offer. But I’ve been sworn to secrecy, so I’ll never tell.
“Ain’t happening,” Storm says as she hangs on to Shadow.
Shadow rests her head against Storm’s shoulder. “I appreciate it.”
I should disappear to my apartment and give them space, or maybe it’d be better to give them my key. Just as I’m about to leave, Shadow steps back.
“You did amazing work,” Storm says. “I’m gonna quick take Shadow around to the clubhouse, and then I haveta get her home.”
Shadow puts her hand on her hip. “I told you, I can make it home on my own.”
“Ain’t gonna happen.”
“But you’ll ride an hour and a half only to turn around and ride back. That doesn’t even make sense.”
Storm smiles. “Makes sense to me.”