12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Mackenzie

“ L ast squat. Hold it for a second…and done.” Spencer claps his hands together with a grin as Grinder and I stand. “Well done, guys. Keep up with the list of exercises I’ve written down for y’all and you’ll be back on those two-wheeled machines in no time.”

“It’s not the machine I’m worried about. My dick hasn’t pounded into anything for fucking months.”

“Well, you were in a coma for a while, Grinder. Kinda hard to get your dick wet when you’re unconscious.” Boner swigs from his can, chuckling and shaking his head from where he’s sitting at the bar watching our unofficial physiotherapy session.

“Pfft. Unconscious or not, someone could have emptied my sack once in a while. Y’all did me dirty by leaving me blue for so long.” Grinder makes his way over to join Boner and I roll my eyes at their banter.

Violet places a shot of something clear in front of them both and leans over the bar, pushing her huge tits together so they both get an eyeful. Leaving them to it, I slide the chair I used for some of the exercises beneath the nearby table before sitting next to my best friend.

“Thanks for that. I know it’s not something you’ve trained for, but I appreciate the help. I’m sure Grinder does too, but he’s too much of a douche to say anything.” I tilt my head to the side, watching the guys at the bar throwing peanuts at Violet’s cleavage and finding it hilarious, laughing when Spence and I make eye contact again.

“Kristoff from the physiotherapy department gave me the sheets and a quick rundown of what was needed for your kind of injury. Grinder’s too. It was no biggy.” Spence shrugs and picks up his cell, checking it for the billionth time since he’s been here.

“Everything okay?” I’m aware our conversations have centered around me and my problems a lot lately, but I hate the thought of something going on with him that he’s keeping to himself.

Nodding for what feels like too long, Spence finally stops, looks up, and sighs heavily. “No, not really.” Now that I’m looking at him properly, I can see the dark circles beneath his eyes and I notice he’s not as cleanly shaven as usual. “It’s Steve.”

“Is he hurting you? Being an asshole? What can I do?” Maybe I’m overcompensating for my lack of action in our friendship recently, but it pains me to see him looking so down.

“Nothing like that.” Spence huffs and allows a half smile to tip his lips. “He’s just been a little off over the last few weeks, and I found some pills in his jacket pocket last week. I threw them away, but I’m worried. With all the deaths in town, the missing bodies, I think it’s all connected and, somehow, I don’t know why, I think Steve’s involved.”

“Oh, God. Were they the smiley face ones?” I tried hard to get as many of them off the streets as possible when I was the Toxic Rebels’ drug mule, but now, I’m surprised they haven’t closed the town off to the outside world. It’s like a pandemic with the number of deaths caused by this thing.

“No, these ones had an indented X across the top. Before last night’s shift, Anthea—you remember Anthea, from the fire station radio—she gave me and my new partner some information on the new drug we had on board…” He pauses, likely for dramatic effect because that’s what he does. Serious conversation or not. “One only to be used in emergencies when we get called out on drug overdoses. I mean, weird, right?”

A twinge of something rumbles in my gut and I recognize it as a sense of longing. It’s the same feeling I get when I think about how long it’s been since I’ve ridden a motorcycle. I miss having a job, a purpose, but I’m not going to wallow on that because this isn’t about me.

“Yeah, totally weird. Have you asked him about it?” Look at me being all mature, suggesting an actual conversation happens rather than coming up with assumptions and fucking things up.

“I tried, but he avoided my question and made excuses about needing to get to work. I haven’t seen him in a couple of days.” Spence sighs and shakes his head. “I don’t know. Maybe there’s been an influx of dead bodies for his department to deal with at the hospital and he can’t get to his phone.”

He and I both know that what he’s saying is bullshit, because there’s no way the hospital would keep Steve there for two days without a break of any kind.

“You wanna stay here with us for a while?” I don’t know what else to suggest other than stalking him and forcing the truth out of him.

“Nah. I should get going. Got to feed the cat or she’ll scratch me to death next time she sees me.”

“You have a cat?” That’s surprising. I was sure Spencer is allergic to cats or is grossed out by their hair or something.

“No, Steve has a cat. Old and ratty with an attitude that could kill, but she’s growing on me.” He stands and shoves his cell into the back pocket of his jeans. “Make sure you both keep up with your physio, okay? The top sheet is for you, the other one for Grinder, because you have different exercises.” Back to business then.

“No problem, boss.” I mock-salute him, giggling when he rolls his eyes.

“Go eat something. I’ll text you later.”

“Okay. Keep me updated with the Steve thing, though. And don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything. Got that? Anything !” I raise both my brows at him and push my fists into my hips, giving him my best stern face.

“Got it. Love ya.” Spence air kisses my cheek, then quickly looks over to Grinder and Boner at the bar before leaving through the double doors at the end of the room.

Physiotherapy is a lot better than I thought it would be, and I’m just as excited as Grinder to get my ass on a motorcycle again so I’m for sure going to do all I can to make that happen.

My cell pings and my eyes widen as I read the message.

“Yes!” I can’t help my vocal outburst. Finally, Aleko’s birthday present is ready, albeit a few days late.

“What’s the yessing all about, Mac?” Grinder spins around on his stool at the bar and tilts his head in curiosity.

“Can one of y’all take me into town, please?” I’m practically giddy with excitement. Not only is Aleko going to love it, but so is Ninja. They’re both at Rocks Off today, finishing off some final cleaning or whatever so they can open again by the end of the week, and even though I miss Aleko when he’s not with me, this timing couldn’t be more perfect.

“Oh no. Nope. Not happening.” Boner is first to respond and I deflate a little, because I get it. I’m the reason Grinder nearly died on my last little outing into town.

“Don’t listen to him. What kind of adventure are we going on today, Miss Thing?” Grinder’s grin is catching, and I can’t help but smile back at his mischievous face.

“I am happy to not be in control of driving if it helps? Here…” I show them both the message I just received.

“Fuck yeah!” Grinder slides off his stool and knocks back his drink. “Any of the prospects around? We’ve both been drinking and I don’t trust you driving for shit. Adventures or not.” He winks at me as Bash seems to appear from nowhere, a mop and bucket in hand. “Bash, drop the tools. Run to the garage and grab the keys for one of the trucks. Let’s bounce.”

“Where are we going?” Bash, rightfully, looks a little concerned about our little outing.

“We’ll tell you on the way. Go on. Mush, Prospect, mush.” Grinder mimes a whipping motion, grinning like a madman the whole time, before looking directly at me. “Text your man, tell him we’re going out because I’m not being held responsible if he comes back and finds you gone…again.” There’s a hint of humor in his tone, but also a seriousness that I totally understand.

I nod, unwilling to do anything to jeopardize my future any more than I already have.

Me: Bash is taking me into town with Grinder and Boner. I have to pick something up from the shop. Promise we’ll go there and come straight back.

Aleko: Don’t leave their side. They’re troublemakers ;)

“Are y’all going somewhere?” Mom and Sabrina are in the main foyer as we get to the front doors of the huge building that houses the bar and the living quarters.

Nodding, I show Mom the message I received and Sabrina leans over to have a peek also.

Sabrina taps Mom on the shoulder before signing something—making me wish I’d paid attention when Mom tried to teach me some things as a kid.

“Can we come with you? Sabrina wants to get a few things from the supermarket, so if y’all drop us off in town and we meet up when you’re finished…” I swear, Mom is flourishing by being here. The quiet days are now few and far between and she’s integrating herself into the daily lives of the people here more and more. She still doesn’t participate in the larger gatherings for very long, but baby steps.

“Sure. Bash is just getting a truck. Oh shit, I don’t know if there will be enough room for all of us.”

Before I can debate any longer, Boner pipes in, “I’ll ride behind y’all.”

Well, okay then. That solves that problem, though I will admit to being a little jealous.

“You fucker. The minute I get back on my Bella, me and you, Boner, we’re racing for funsies.” Grinder bumps him on the shoulder as we all exit the building to find Bash waiting patiently for us to join him.

“Whatever, dude. You couldn’t beat me on your best day.”

Boner and Grinder continue to rib each other as we walk toward the truck, then Boner veers off, presumably to grab his motorcycle from the side of the building.

Crow and Hoops are in the garages as we drive past, one with his head beneath the hood of a beat-up sedan, and the other tweaking something on what looks like the exhaust of a badass Ducati. I know which job I’d prefer.

The drive into town is short, and as soon as we pull up outside the building, excitement begins bubbling in my stomach. Bash is a gentleman, opening the door for us to get out and watching as Mom and Sabrina head in the opposite direction for the supermarket down the road.

Me? I look up at the sign on the building and grin.

Time to pick up my Bandit.