CHAPTER TEN

-:- ROCK -:-

PT walks into my office at Hot Hogs and Cages with a huge grin on his face. “Here you are, Rock.”

I take the package he’s holding out and rip off the brown paper covering. It’s a billboard with a Staff Required notice inside. He’s added images of previous work we have completed which look fucking good, I’ve got to admit.

“This is cool. Since when did you learn how to do this shit?” I ask, giving him an appreciative nod while checking the back for how we are going to hang it.

“I did an online course in marketing. My time is spread out and once I’ve finished my duties in my office I help on the compound. But I wanted to do more for the businesses when, and if, needed and not make a complete pig's ear of it. So, I joined this online course and I’m learning tons of shit.” PT is grinning and I can see he’s into what he’s doing.

“I think it’s a great idea, especially if you can come up with shit like this,” admiring the poster as I reply.

“I’m doing the next one, which is intermediate marketing, that covers social media. I’ve spoken to Web ‘cause he does the website for the bike recovery and he’s interested in this one too.”

“Hey, that’s good ‘cause if one of you gets so you don’t know what you’re doin’, you can help each other.”

“Exactly. Anyway, let me know if anyone responds to the poster and I’ll do more, if and when you need them.” PT gives me a tip of two fingers to his forehead as he turns and leaves the office.

Clay walks into the office around twenty minutes later. “Do you want to look at the progress on Mikala’s hog? We have an issue and need to order some parts. Come and have a look and give me your take on it first.”

We walk around the bike twice, and I don’t see an issue anywhere. Clay is giving me a look that suggests I’m blind.

“Okay, Rock, maybe it’s just me then. I think the chain, chain guard and sprockets look fuckin’ awful. If we changed it over to a belt drive and black chromed it, that would be awesome offset against the paint job we have outlined.”

Tilting my head on one side, I try to envision the idea. The chain and sprockets do little for the bike, but without custom sprockets, they never do much. Imagining his take on the belt drive, I can see where he’s going.

“I like where you're going with that, Clay, but it’s not in the schedule or the work agreed. If we do it, we do it for free and if Mikala doesn’t like it, we put it back to how it was, for free. Take a shitload of ‘before and after’ images and if she likes the change, we’ll use them for advertising our ‘design feature capabilities’.”

Standing with a mug of coffee outside the front of the building, I’m hoping to get a glimpse of Red. Trouble is, I’m not sure what times she works at the Fire Station. From my old friend Flame, it turns out they have allowed Red to cook with them, which is unusual, but she’s such an excellent cook they couldn’t resist allowing it.

Watching a red jeep pull to a stop in front of me, I’m surprised to see the realtor dressed in workout gear. Christ, who does business dressed like that?

“Hi, I’m sorry to be rushing, but I needed to drop off the keys and some paperwork. Your man called into the office and squared everything with us. It’s all yours. Good luck.”

The woman literally throws the keys and papers at me, jumping into her jeep and driving off as though her ass is on fire. Looking at the keys, I make my way next door to the building and quickly unlock and enter. It’s dirty, smelly and a little on the eerie side. But we’ll soon breathe life into the place.

Walking to the vehicles, I lift a corner of the cover from one and grin before walking to the second one and doing the same. Checking the paperwork has me grinning even more. Yeah, I’m pleased with what I’ve found, but I’ll let Pres have a look before I give the pleasure to the brothers.

Taking out my phone, I text Pres and inform him I’ve found something very interesting, and it would pay him to come look. Quickly receiving a reply, I know he’s gonna be here in no time.

Stepping outside to wait for Pres, I look up when I hear my name called, and am more than a little surprised to see Target walking toward me. “Rock, this is a friend of mine, having a hard time of it, but he’s a veteran who is in need of a job. He’s a genius when it comes to fabrication, and I’ll sponsor him working with you.”

I look at the man, and he’s obviously living on hard times. Hair a little too long, clothes needing a wash, and yet he’s holding himself proud. I like that, and I like it a lot because many don’t fight to improve, yet he is standing here looking me right in the eye.

Holding my hand out to shake, I quickly speak to him. “Rock. I’m the boss of Hot Hogs and Cages. This here…” pointing behind me, “is going to be the custom cages side of the business. I’m needing a reliable body guy, who we all can step away from when needed and know he can work unsupervised. Fist is going to be the boss on this side, so you’ll be answerable to him foremost.”

“Yeah, I can work unsupervised.” Pumping my hand a couple more times. “Name’s Ryan Rawlings, but people call me Raw.”

“Okay, Raw. You got somewhere to live?”

“Yep, I’m bunking with a friend, but if I do okay here and you are happy with my work, then I’ll find somewhere to lease.” Raw is around 6’ 1”, with shaggy dark hair and dark eyes, a medium build which I think is through lack of working out and good food.

“Okay, if that changes you tell me, ‘cause I’m sure we can find you somewhere to put your head down.”

Looking up the road when I hear hogs approaching, I see Pres, Drag, BS and Grease arriving. Fucking hell, I’m thinking, everyone must have had nothing better to do. And Grease too?

“What the hell, Pres? Road trip or what?” I exclaim.

“You know I can’t go anywhere without Drag and Buzz dogging my heels! Well, I left Buzz watching the clubhouse, but BS jumped into his shoes pretty damn quick. Grease was eavesdropping on the conversation I had with Drag, while he was grabbing lunch from Meat for the garage crew, and soon as he heard me say, ‘You had found something very interesting,’ that was that. So, what is so interesting you called me here?”

“Remember, there were two vehicles in the building? Come and have a look at them.” Walking into the workshop, I head over to the first vehicle. “Ready for this?” Pulling away the cover reveals a pickup truck.

Grease is the first to appreciate it. “That’s mine. I don’t care about anyone else. That is mine. Have you got the title for it, Rock?”

“Sure have.” Holding up one set of the paperwork and waving it at him. “The title to a 1958 Chevrolet Apache pickup.”

“Done deal. I’ll pay the going price but I’ll want it customized. We can talk specifics later, but I’ll have a total budget of around forty grand. You hold that truck for me.”

Pres looks at Grease and then at me. “Well, someone doesn’t want to share the toys, does he? Whatever's under the next one is club business.”

Pulling the cover off the ‘next one’ has everyone gasping. Revealed in all its glory is a Shelby Cobra 427.

“We need to do some digging into this thing's past, and see if we can find some history. If this is a genuine Shelby, we are looking at maybe a couple of million dollars. If we get some provenance and a racing pedigree, we could be looking at considerably more. I’ll give Specs the title so he can work his magic.”

“Get him over here to get some security on this place. No one discusses what we have here until I say so. I don’t want a call saying the place has been emptied overnight. Drag, BS, Grease. You three were so insistent on coming with me, you can take turns babysitting until Specs is happy they can be left alone. I don’t care how you do it, but one of you is to be here with those cars. Grease, as you apparently now own one, you can go first.” Pres gives Grease his feral grin and walks away.

Arriving at Red’s place, I quickly make my way to the front door and give it a few sharp knocks, turning to check out the street while I wait for her to answer. The street is quiet and not as good an area as I would like Red and Jessica to be living in, but there is nothing I can do for the moment.

The door is swung open behind me and I hear, “Hello, you come to take us to eat?”

“I sure have,” replying as I turn and see Jessica. She is dressed in jeans, a t-shirt with a unicorn on the front, and her hair in pigtails. But what has me smiling is the shoes she’s wearing because every step she takes lights up the sides of the soles. Now, I have to tell you she’s walking on the spot and watching her feet the whole time.

“We are ready,” Red says as she walks out the front door, turning and locking it.

Red is wearing a white blouse, skinny jeans, and sandals and looks damn beautiful. Her red hair is in a messy bun and has all these wispy bits hanging around her face. She is going to catch some brother’s eye, and I’ll have to make sure they know to keep their fuckin’ distance.

Arriving at the clubhouse, I help Red out of the SUV and lift Jessica out of the back seat after unsnapping her seatbelt. I watch with a smirk as she jumps around laughing at her feet.

“We are going to be watching that all evening,” Red sighs.

“Yeah, but she’s happy. That’s what counts. Come on Red, let's go eat,” I reply.

“Red? That’s the first time anyone’s called me that,” smiling as she responds with surprise.

“Well, you’ll always be Red to me. But you have a beautiful name.”

“Thank you, Rock.” Red blushes slightly, and we both rush forward when we notice Jessica has skipped all the way to the clubhouse door.

Red takes Jessica’s hand and I open the door for them both to step inside before me. I stand behind her, giving everyone a look that tells them to keep to themselves because she’s mine.

Jo rushes over, smiling. “Destiny, how great you came. Come and sit with me and Knuckles.” Grabbing Red’s hand, Jo drags her away while all the time speaking to Jessica and Red.

I’m tagging along behind at this point, and I see Knuckles grinning at me while shaking his head at Jo’s excitement. Now we all know Jo gets a little overexcited, but we love her for it. She’s brought fun to the clubhouse at times, and she’s a good friend to everyone. Also, helping the Three Stooges and Mia with the twins when needed.

I’ve no idea that thinking of the Three Stooges will have them appear, but they descend on the table like locusts. They are talking at such a rate that Red hasn’t a hope of keeping up. Jo is giggling away to herself as she watches the commotion. Red’s answering questions as fast as she can, but glances at me with a panicked look.

Giving Jessica a nudge, I tell her to show off her shoes. Jumping up and down, she runs around the Three Stooges and diverts their attention from Red, who casts me another glance and mouths ‘thank you’ at me.

The Three Stooges soon realize they are supposed to be dishing up the meal when Meat calls them back to the kitchen, and they scuttle off. Jo begins chatting with Red, and Jessica goes from table to table, giving them all a demonstration of her shoes. Watching how she interacts with everybody has me smiling, until I see Knuckles watching me and he’s struggling not to lose the grin, and just all-out belly laugh at me.

Seeing Wings watching Jessica hopping around and her shoes lighting up has me worried, not for me, I’m not in their prank club, thank fuck. Wings smirks at me and gives me a wink.

Oh…My…God. Someone’s in for it!