Chapter 17
TRUCK
Looking at Rum, I can see why the man was successful in his life. He has a determined attitude and a bullheadedness that keeps him on track. “What are you looking at, Truck?”
“Sorry, Rum. I was thinking you have been great in the way you have stepped up and helped with the gas station. I would have struggled to get through all the stuff that was needed to set up the office, supplies, gas, etcetera. You eased all that from my back and at the same time were educating me on how to run the place,” I gave Rum an honest, thankful look.
I want him to know how sincere I am in my thanks.
“Truck, I was sitting in the damn easy chair staring outside the window for hours at a time. Bored out of my skull, I’ll admit.
Since my wife died, I had lost my direction but helping you has made me get up in the morning and have a purpose.
For that, I’m thankful to you. We’ve helped each other, and that is all that matters.
Now, let’s get this opening ready. I reckon we need some badges, you know, manager, assistant manager, and the like. ” Rum smirks and I return it.
“You reckon we should have store one, store two, lol. Maybe have underling one…” I am stopped when I hear a snort from behind me.
“You’ve gotta be kidding? I’m not wearing a badge calling me anything, so you can save your money, because it’ll go right in the trash if you bother,” Xero looks at me with a face full of disgust.
I laugh at the look of him, and Rum chuckles beside me. Rum lets out a huge laugh, throwing his head back as he does. I’m watching this older man enjoying the moment and remember what he’d just said about staring out of the window. I’m happy to see how his life has changed.
Xero breaks the moment when he speaks. “Let’s have bunting up near the front with something that says when we are opening. The two registers have been checked and Coin, along with Keys, says all is good.”
“Let’s open on Tuesday. All we need is to be here when we open the doors. All of us are on duty sometime during the day. Who wants to take the first week of overnight shifts?” I ask, knowing Mitchell said he’d not be bothered about working at night.
“Mitchell said he’d do the first week. I’ll do the second and Collins can do week three. If you do week four, Truck, we’ll have the month covered without any gaps,” Xero throws in.
Rum nods, “It would work. I’ll keep the office running and supplies covered. Truck, I’ll show you during the first week what we need to watch for on the computer, while Xero, Collins, and Mitchell make sure the shop and the gas station itself are running without issue.”
“How many people do we need at one time in the store, Rum?” I ask, wondering if I have to hire staff.
“Often two, but that is sometimes because they are young women who are serving, so it’s necessary to have a man around in case anything kicks off.
We had an armed robber in here once, but he didn’t get far since he missed the fact that the Deputy was in getting his pregnant wife some shit she was craving.
” Rum laughs as he recalls the incident.
“You’ve seen no one run as fast as he did, but that deputy, he can run.
Took him down in moments, and he cried like a baby for his mama. ”
“Let’s see what we need, staff-wise. If we need more staff, then we’ll have to hire them. With luck, we’ll not need to. We can all load stock onto shelves when needed.”
Xero interrupts my flow. “I agree, and when the night person is on they can fill shelves, if needed. It would be fucking boring with nothing to do at all, and we can’t guarantee a flow of people needing gas during the night hours.”
“When Bull has the vehicle recovery set up here, he’ll need gas for his vehicles.
It has different payment options on the gas pumps and on the computer.
That way the recovery business only pays what the gas costs and not the profit that the gas station earns.
That’s how Coin said Keys set the system up.
” Rum looks at me and I shrug because that’s the first I’ve heard about it.
I’m going to have to catch up on office stuff that’s for sure.
“If you are staying on here are you thinking about becoming club brothers?” I ask Xero.
Xero gives me a steely-eyed look right before he smirks.
“We all knew you’d be asking us about that at some point.
We would be willing to be brothers, but we ain’t doing any prospect shit.
That’s the offer, and that’s all we’re giving.
We’d be brothers in every sense needed, but none of us will be ordered around like puppies. ”
“I’ll speak to Pres, and you know, I reckon he’ll be fine with you being full brothers, but he’ll put it to the vote in church. Are you all okay at Mrs. Ambles’ place?” I know I’ve changed the subject, but I reckon if they are staying they need to decide on their living accommodation.
“Yeah, the house is pleasant. We each have a room so we can have some alone time. The place is close enough to work that if we wanted, we could walk it instead of using a vehicle. But if we’re gonna be brothers, we need to get our bikes upgraded.”
After lunch, we were finishing the bunting outside when a heavy haul trailer arrived with Bull’s office perched on it. Bull is going to be more than happy now. I rush around the back of the building and shout, “BULL! YOUR OFFICE IS HERE…”
Now, I’ve never seen Bull move so fast from where he was organizing tools for the workshop area of the building. He pushes past with an urgency that is nothing other than laughable. Who would have thought Bull would be so excited about an office!
Rum and I stay back and watch Bull with the driver and his man reverse that heavy haul into the back of the gas station. “It’s a damn good thing the station has an enormous yard, Rum, or Bull’s office wouldn’t have been an option.”
“He’s like a child with a new toy.” I laugh as we stand on one side watching Bull running around like a fool. “It’s a good office, Rum. It is larger than I thought it would be.”
“The good thing is it has everything set up and ready to be plugged in, so to speak,” Rum chuckles.
By plugged in he means an aerobic treatment unit which breaks down human waste faster than a standard septic tank, and electricity and water are at the ready.
The office will have a working kitchen, small but needed.
Also, it will have a washroom area, which will keep everyone in the office in one place.
They’ll not need to run in and out of the gas station to use the facilities.
“They are setting it up over the weekend and into next week. I’m sure it’s going to take longer than Bull wants, but it needs to be done right or it’ll mean redoing it at a later date,” I mumble, more to myself than Rum.
Rum pats my shoulder. “Truck, it’s not our problem. Let’s get back to the office because I want to show you the list of suppliers. I don't want anything to throw you off balance if I become ill, taken to hospital or kick the bucket.”
“You better not kick the fuckin’ bucket, Rum.
We’ve far too much to do without you popping over to the other side.
I may have to speak to Cilla about you, and tell Bono and the boys to shove you back in your body if you dare do that,” I snap as I storm inside, thinking, fuck this, it’s not happening.
I need Rum here to help me sort out and keep this place running smoothly.
The rest of the day runs as it should. Xero and Collins are sticking around for the evening and will monitor the security feed at the house.
I reckon the club should buy that place and then, if anyone needs to be near for monitoring the gas station or the vehicle recovery yard behind the station they would be close enough to do something, or even catch someone.
It is early evening and I’m at the tattoo parlor looking at Scribe’s drawings. What catches my attention is a notepad on the side of the main counter with a panther drawing, which is so lifelike that I know this is what I want.
“That’s Jethro’s notepad,” Scribe informs me as he steps behind the counter. “He’s good. Very good, in fact. If you want that, then you will have to be happy with Jethro doing it because I don’t tattoo other designers' images.”
“Is he ready?” I ask keeping my eyes on the panther.
It’s a classic design, and it’s the most stunning black panther that you can imagine.
“If he’s ready, then yeah, let’s do it. I want it on my left shoulder blade, and if it runs above or below that, that’s fine.
I want the best fuckin’ panther you’ve ever seen. ”
“That’s going to overflow your shoulder-blade I’m sure. I reckon with Jethro’s skill set you are going to be talking six hours of work. So that could be done in two sessions.”
Jethro walks into the studio from the back and gives me a nod of recognition. He doesn’t ask what’s going on, and I reckon he’s one of the best prospects we’ve ever had. He’s going to make one hell of a brother when he is voted in.
Scribe looks at Jethro with a huge smirk on his face. “You, my apprentice, are going to tattoo your black panther design on our friend Truck.”
“What?” Jethro splutters, much to my amusement.
“Come on dipshit, let’s get this started. Two sessions Scribe reckons so let’s get the first session done.” I’m smirking because Jethro looks like he could shit his pants with fright.
It’s ten-thirty before I leave the studio, and my shoulder-blade is aching, but not in a bad way.
My next session is not booked. I’ll just walk in when I’m ready and it’ll be finished.
I told them I don’t want to see it until it’s finished, so they wrapped me up and I’m heading back to the clubhouse.
It’s been a hell of a long day and I’m ready for it to be over.
Climbing into bed, I lay on my side, giving my left side air and not lying on the tattoo. I think about tomorrow and date night. I’m looking forward to this, and I’ve never had a date before, so this is all new to me. But I’m more than ready to date and see where this takes us.
Thoughts of Rory and the life she’d had before crossed my mind. I don’t want to take her dead husband's place. I want a place of my own in her heart, if that was meant to be.
Cilla’s comment about the dead husband has me frowning, but I’m not going to pass by Rory even if the man didn’t like it. I’ll speak with Bono, Tank, and Pyro if necessary and get Pyro to light up the asshole’s ass, even if it doesn’t kill him, it’s still a threat.
Looking at the ceiling, I scowl as I speak, “Fuck off, husband. I’m here, you are gone. I’d not hurt her on purpose. Bono, make sure the asshole minds his own business. Make him move along!”