Chapter 9
TRUCK
Finishing the setup behind the counter, I look up when Xero walks over to me. “Are you going to ask her out on a date?”
Christ, I shouldn’t have watched her drive away. “Who?” I ask, trying to sound as if I don’t know who he is talking about.
“You know. Rory. You liked the look of her, and we all could see it. You need to step up and ask her out. Not a biker night out either, a proper date. Take her out somewhere and get to know her. Not a quick grab and bed her, then move on. She’s not that sort of woman,” Xero is leaning on the counter, smirking at me.
I know he’s taking the piss and I’m not falling for it. “Yeah, I may just do that. First, I want to see what she’s like at the diner. See if she’s as sweet as she appeared to be.”
“Yeah, well…hmm, maybe another brother will want to step up and invite her out…” Xero starts to say.
I growl as I turn to him and give him a hard enough look that he takes a step back, holding both his hands up. But the fucker has a huge smirk on his face.
I watch as he walks away, and I mumble to myself. “Not happenin’, asshole.” I need to find out if Rory is what my gut tells me.
A slap on my back takes me by surprise. “Take no notice of him, Truck. The fucker only wishes he could find and get himself a woman worth having,” Mitchell says with humor in his voice.
I don’t respond because I don’t want to get into any banter about Rory, or my intentions. I use the moment to change the subject. “Do you think we should have two registers, but only one linked to the pumps? That would leave one entirely for the store area.”
“Yeah, that way if two people are serving one can deal with customers who only have things they want from the store. Grab and go snack things I would think. The other can make sure customers who are here for gas only can quickly get gas and go. You have an area at the side where you could offer truckers a place to stay overnight. There is a shower area around the back of the building, so maybe at one time there was that availability?”
“Is that the building on the side, around the back? I haven’t even looked in that building as yet,” I ask, as I think this is a good idea if the shower block is there and in working order.
“Yeah. I went into the building and there are three showers, each having a slot for some kind of token to open them. It is in decent condition, too. But it needs a good cleaning. There are companies that will give that a clean with commercial-grade cleaners. It would bring in an extra income, plus somewhere long-haul truckers can clean up before getting back in their trucks to rest or move on.” Mitchell waits for me to reply, showing how patient he can be.
“I’ll leave that in your hands, Mitchell. You can organize it with Rum because at the moment he is doing more in the office than I am. He will speak to Coin if needed, too.”
“Okay, I’ll do that, Truck. I agree with the register thing too by the way,” Mitchell seems to remember to answer my question.
“I’ll get it organized because I believe it’s the best move for us. We’ve nearly finished in here, so get ready for the outdoor work we need to get done,” I shrug before stretching my back at the thought of all the work in front of me.
Xero and Collins walk through from the office area and give me a huge smile. “What are you two smiling at?”
Collins is the first to reply. “Well, the office is done, the restrooms are nearly done, and the storeroom is cleared of all removed cardboard packaging. The employee area is cleaned out, but needs new lockers, tables and chairs, and anything else you think an employee will need. We have to remember that if we have 24-hour opening, whoever is on duty during the night needs everything they may need. Fridge, microwave, air-fryer or something?”
Xero nods his head in agreement. “We’ll deal with this area, Truck, and then you’ll be free to organize what you want outdoors. If that suits you?”
“Okay, you finish those between you. I’m going to get two prospects back to help clean up the frontage.
The gas station looks like what it was, abandoned and a disgusting mess.
If I can get on to that and Mitchell is looking at the shower thing while you are finishing indoors, we can get the damn place done and ready to open,” I say all this with some frustration, because I’m ready to be done with the physical side, and start learning what is needed in the office.
Walking into the diner, I’m disappointed not to see Rory. I am about to ask Maisy what time Rory is working when I notice a board on the wall with the rotation of the serving staff. So, Rory is back on the evening shift. Great, I’ll come back and have my late meal here.
After grabbing a good amount of food for lunches I head back to the gas station. Passing out the food, I see the three assholes are smirking at each other. Rum has a blank face, but his eyes are fuckin’ sparkling.
“Say anything, fuckers, and you can feed yourselves from today forward,” I snap as I take a huge bite of the turkey and ham sandwich I’m holding. Interesting that they all shut the fuck up and eat quietly with no other comments.
Bull walks around the building from where he’d been working, and he has death in his gaze.
“The fucking office isn’t coming for another four to six weeks.” Snarling as he throws himself onto the bench we are sitting at, and right before he grabs a BLT from the bag in front of him.
“Why?” Rum asks as he places his sandwich down and picks up the bottle of water in front of him.
“Seems there has been a multiple-vehicle pile-up, and of course, my fuckin’ office was involved and it’s smashed to shit,” Bull takes an aggressive bite of his BLT, and we all look at him shocked.
I’m stunned at the news, and I can understand how pissed Bull is feeling. He was hoping to get the recovery business moved to the gas station before the end of the month, but with this it is not going to happen.
Rum surprises us when he asks. “Was anyone killed?”
“Not that I know of Rum. It thankfully didn’t take any lives. There are a few people in the hospital, mind you,” Bull responds.
Nodding, Rum speaks again. “Bull, it’s just an office. It will be replaced, and yes, I understand it is frustrating, but it is better for the building to perish than a human life.”
Bull’s response only takes a moment. “Yeah, you’re right, Rum.” Bull takes a bottle of water and two pastries before walking away from us. But he is much calmer, and we all look at Rum who, in his quiet way did what none of us were capable of.
The rest of the day passed quickly. Tomorrow, I start on the frontage of the place.
I know nothing about flowers or shrubs, so I may have to send a prospect to the nearest gardening place.
I need to arrange for two prospects to help, so I’m going to head to the clubhouse before I go for my meal at the diner.
I’d best get a shower and change. If I’m going to eventually ask Rory out on a date, I need to give her a good impression. I’ve never been on a proper date before. Maybe I should speak to Cilla about what I should do?
Sitting in the diner, I watch Shelby behind the counter and Rory serving. They are efficient, working together like a well-oiled cog. I ordered a double cheese and bacon burger with fries, and onion rings on the side.
I take my time eating and thank Rory each time she tops off my coffee. When she disappears into the back, I wave Shelby over.
“What’s up?” Shelby asks, and I point to the seat across from me.
“What can you tell me about Rory?”
Shelby looks at me for quite a while until she is satisfied that I’m not here to cause Rory any problems.
“Rory is a widow. Her husband died of a heart condition. She has moved here to create a fresh start, a new life, and you best not cause her any shit. She is a fantastic person, and I’m going to support her in any way that I can,” Shelby tells me a little more, followed by her giving me a look that says she’ll rip me a new one if I cause any type of problem for Rory.
“I have no intention of causing trouble, Shelby. I intend to ask Rory out for a meal. Maybe not yet but given time. I want her to get used to me being around. Get to know me a little and trust me some. Then I’ll ask her out with all intention of it being serious.”
Shelby studies me again, searching my face for my honesty, I’m sure. “I’ll be watching you, Truck.”
“I’m sure you will,” I reply, watching as she returns to her position behind the counter. I give her a chin lift and leave the diner, whistling because I like what I’ve seen so far, but I feel that I’ll have to take it slow now I know that Rory lost her husband, and not too long ago.
My phone ringing wakes me, and I roll over in bed and grab it from the bedside table. Seeing Collins calling, I quickly take it. “What’s up?”
“The cameras at the gas station have caught movement and sent a warning to my phone. You know the three of us linked our phones to the camera alarm system today, well it seems we did it just in time. We’ll meet you at the gas station,” Collins throws all that out quickly and cuts the call before I have time to ask a question.
Getting out of the clubhouse takes only a few minutes. I jump onto my hog and head out fast. Jet opens the gate for me to pass through and gives me a questioning look, but I don’t wait to give him any instructions. I head to the gas station as fast as I can.
Pulling into the gas station, I immediately see Collins with a man beneath him.
I say that because he literally has the man on the ground and a knee in-between his shoulders holding him down.
Mitchell has a man knocked out on the ground in front of him, while Xero is standing in front of the door to the store.
“What’s going on?” I ask as I step away from my hog and over to Xero.
“These two fuckers thought they could break in and steal whatever they wanted to take. But they are going to learn it’s not going to happen,” Xero bends down to the one under Collins, “you know this is something you shouldn’t have even tried to do.
We take it personally when someone tries to steal what is ours. You are going to pay the price now.”
We all turn when we hear a vehicle pulling into the gas station. Seeing its Tracker driving the club's van has me standing with my mouth hanging open. What the fuck is Pres doing?
Jumping out of the van, Tracker gives a grin that would have anyone pissing their pants. “Well, well, what do we have here?” Tracker asks as he steps over to the asshole under Collins.
“Let us go. We took nothing,” the stupid asshole says, and I don’t even try to hide the fact that I’m finding this amusing.
“You took nothing? Oh, that makes it okay then,” Tracker winks at me over his shoulder.
“Yeah, we didn’t touch nothin’. Let us go and we’ll never come back.”
“Put them in the van,” Tracker states coldly, and the idiot under Collins starts to thrash around in his panic.
I stand back and watch Collins, Mitchell, and Xero get the two idiots into the van.
Tracker is humming under his breath, and any fool would say nothing when they see the look on his face.
He’s enjoying this, and you’d not even recognize this as the same man that was feeding Ayla formula a few hours earlier.
“Secure the building, Truck,” Tracker states as he jumps into the van. “I’ll see you back at the clubhouse.”
“Okay, Pres,” I respond, and it’s the only thing I can think to say because he is whistling with what can only be described as glee as he starts the van and pulls out of the gas station.
Collins chuckles. “I didn’t know you had chains and anchor points in the van. Fuckin’ cool that is. Can we come with you to the clubhouse?”
Shaking my head at him, because honestly, I reckon I have bloodthirsty brothers and future brothers.