CHAPTER TWELVE

-:- ROCK -:-

It’s Friday already and I have a lot to cover today. I’ve spent the last two days in the new custom cage side of the business, and the building is looking cleaner. Raw has been working alongside whichever brother has been watching the classic vehicles each day, and between them, they got rid of a lot of dirt and trash that was thrown around.

We have the new door being fitted today, and I’m more than thankful the company I contacted put us down as an emergency. But it cost us some extra green in the process.

“Rock, do you want us to rip out the old plumbing ready for new?” Raw asks.

Turning, I give him a nod as I reply, “Yeah, the water is off, so you don’t have to worry about that. Do you want to write everything we’ll need on a notepad, and I’ll give it to Specs or TwoCents? They’ll sort it out. I’m going to get PT onto the insurance and anything else that we may need for the shop opening.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that.”

I watch as he walks away, and fuck me, he has a small pencil and a notepad. Hearing a chuckle, I see Grease giving me a look that says he understands what I was thinking. I’m gonna have to get myself a small pencil and notepad, ‘cause I’m not gonna be left out of this shit.

“Any sign of trouble?” I ask Grease.

“None. I think our name on the building has stopped anyone thinking of breaking in. It’s been empty a long time too, so you’d think there is nothing of value in the place,” Grease replies, but eyes the two vehicles that are still covered in the center of the floor space.

“With the new door fitted, it’ll help. But we need to get the windows replaced, and the roof checked.”

Grease nods, “Yeah, the windows need replacing and I think we should have bars put on them, too. But when the club logo is on the door, it will tell anyone not to fuck with the place.”

“Keep your eye open for the door fitters, and I’m going back next door as I have shit to do in the office.”

“Okay, no problem, Rock.”

Quickly making my way next door to the hog's side of the business, which is how I’ve got to think of it with the two buildings, I walk into my office and take a seat behind the desk.

I can’t help the grin when I see the note from Bren telling me how many hours she has completed, doing what, and that the computer system is up-to-date so not to let anyone mess with it.

Fist walks into the office, “Rock, did you know that Raw has done twelve-hour days or more? I’ve just been speaking with Grease and he said it doesn’t matter what time any of the three of them arrive to watch the vehicles, Raw is already there.”

“No, I didn’t. Do you think he’s staying there?”

“I don’t think so. I asked if they’d seen his gear hanging around and they said no. They looked because they’d thought the same thing. Grease reckons he’s sleeping out because his so-called friend wanted him to pay a lease for sleeping on his couch,” Fist smirks.

“Some fuckin’ friend, that is. Well, I don’t want him sleeping rough. Let me send Axel a text and see if it’s okay to give Raw a bed at the clubhouse.”

“Let me know because I’d be happy to bunk with him at the house, or he could bunk down with Splash since they are both needing somewhere to put their heads down,” Fist suggests.

“Actually, that’s a good idea. Speak to Splash and see if he’s okay with that. I’m gonna get my name down for the next cabin on the compound, that can be built after TwoCents’ is finished.”

“Okay, I’ll ask now and then I can organize it for tonight.” Fist takes off and I pick my phone up when it vibrates.

Specs: I’ll be there in 10 to put cameras and shit in the new building.

Rock: OK. Do you need me to get anything ready?

Specs: Nope. I have all I need.

Another job down when he’s finished that. I fire up the computer and check replacement windows, bathroom and kitchen fittings, and a hydraulic lift. We are going to have to spend a fair amount of green, so I need to make sure we get that cash back from the work we undertake. We’ll save some when I’ve spoken to Hammer as he gets discounts from nearly everywhere you can imagine.

Fist walks into the office again and chuckles, “Yeah, they are gonna share the room for now. But have you seen Dice and Clay today?”

“No, I’ve been next door most of the day. Why?”

“Oh, you need to see them.”

Before we can walk into the workshop area, I’m called to the back door of the building. “What’s up?” I ask Grease, who is leaning on the door frame.

“The door fitter is here. I thought you may want to check it out.”

“Nope, you can do that. I’ve other things to be doing. I’ll look when they’ve done and before they fuck off.” Turning, I walk into the workshop and come to a grinding halt when I see Clay and Dice looking sheepish, each sporting a blackeye. “What the fuck happened to you two?”

Dice grins, and I notice he has a split lip, too. “Well, you know we’ve been doing recon on this Stone fucker? We were sitting quietly drinking a beer, minding our own business, but watching all the shit go down at this pig hole of a bar. When fuck me we are kicked out.”

“Why?” I can’t help but ask.

“No idea at that moment. But we knew once we got outside and five fuckers were waiting for us.” Clay states.

“And?” Giving him a come on, spit it out look.

“Well, it seems someone followed us and saw us head to the clubhouse. How they followed without us noticing I don’t know because that’s four towns over. Anyway, seems this Stone isn’t keen on ‘bikers’,” said with air quotes, “in his territory. Yeah, you heard me, his territory. We’ve still got to have a word with Axel as this happened last night.” Clay is grinning, so I know he’s not worried about being run out of town.

“I’m thinking we’ll all be going for a drink on Saturday or Sunday night!” Chuckling because I know Axel well enough, he’ll not be fuckin’ happy at this turn of events.

Thinking about it, I’d better get one of these two idiots over to the clubhouse, so Pres is aware. He won’t be happy finding out shit like this twenty-four hours after the event.

“Dice, get your ass over to the clubhouse and let Pres know the details. And don’t be gone all fuckin’ day.”

Two hours later and I’m heading back to the office, I grab a coffee on my way and get settled at my desk. Hearing a ping, I check my phone and see a message from Pres that simply states that Dice is on his way back.

Reaching for my coffee I realize it’s empty, and this is probably the third time I’ve done that, drinking so fast I don’t realize it has all been drunk. Taking my cup back to the kitchen, I give it a quick rinse and leave it on the drainer.

I may as well check out the door fitters and also see how Specs is getting on. The old roller doors from the front of the building are gone. The fitters are fitting a new frame, and it already improves the look of the building. A good coat of paint, new windows, a pedestrian door, and the place will look professional and high-end.

Seeing Specs at the far corner of the building, I mosey on over and see how he’s getting on.

“Just about done, Rock. I’ll have the feed going to your office as well as mine. That should give us enough eyes to keep the place safe. The new door will be alarmed. I’ll get all the remaining doors and windows covered with a temporary set-up until they’re renewed.”

“Usual Specs top-notch job then, eh?”

Grinning, Specs states, “It will be more than enough to free up the three brothers from babysitting.”

“They’ve certainly got this place cleaned out while they’ve been here. The new guy, Raw, has worked his ass off, too. I’ll cover you all a few drinks at the bar over the weekend.”

Giving each other a fist bump, I turn to head back to the office when I see Splash eating his lunch at the front of the Hogs' workshop. He’s watching the door fitters and has a thoughtful look on his face.

“What gives, Splash? Planning to have a graffiti party on the new doors?”

Smiling as he turns to look at me, he grins. “I’m thinking that I could do a hell of a job with a blank canvas like that. That side is for vehicles, right? Cages? I’d do it in two halves. The first half, I’d have the two vehicles we inherited. One at the top, club logo in the middle, and the second vehicle on the bottom. Almost photograph type clarity. The other half, I’d do cartoon style renderings of some old and modern custom vehicles. I could make them stand out for miles. Add a cage to the design on one.”

“If Pres didn’t like it, how long would it take to clean off?”

“Didn’t like it, you say? He’d be blown away. If he wanted something boring and ‘normal’ for the business, I could just paint over it. There’s no way he wouldn’t like it, though.” Still staring at the doors, he has a glassy-eyed look as though he was staring into heaven.

“I’ll make a deal with you. You supply the time; I’ll supply the paint. You paint the doors and if Pres likes it, I’ll pay you overtime rate for the hours you put in. If he doesn’t like it, you put in the hours to do the cover-up. What do you say?”

Splash is on his feet in a second, holding his hand out for a shake. “Deal. I’ll get Siggy over here and she can tell me the best type of paints to make it stand out and weather resistant. She sure knows her shit for a job like this. Rock, you just made my day. Hell, the entire month!”

“You ain’t getting a month's overtime, Splash. Not on my watch.” Laughing, we both head back into the Hog’s workshop to carry on the day's chores.

A knock on the door frame of the office has me looking up from my computer. Seeing Raw standing there, I lean back in my chair and tell him to come in.

“Can’t stop, I’m on the last leg of clean up. Just thought you’d want to know that the door guys are packing up. I overheard a couple of them saying they wanted to leave before you had a chance to look over the doors.” Raw raises his eyebrows and I shoot out of my seat and head next door. What…The…Fuck…the fucker’s aren’t taking us for a ride.

“Right, Raw. Hang around inside the building by the doors and when I give you a shout, try opening them for me. Let’s see if we’re getting what we’re paying for.”

Seeing them loading the last of their gear into a van, I shout over to them. The look they give each other confirms to me what Raw said he had overheard.

Waiting for them to come over, I look at the doors. They certainly look good, but looks can be deceiving. “Everything went ok with the fitting then?” I ask when they’re by my side.

“A couple of challenges with it being an old building. You might find a bit of settlement in time that will need to be addressed. You should be good for a while before that happens, though.”

Now, I can’t be sure, but it sounds like a rehearsed response, and I’m not falling for that. Giving a shout to Raw, the doors slide open and I can see he’s not having to put any effort into it. One of the door fitters gives a sigh of relief until the doors suddenly start to drag at halfway open. Raw stops and gives me a shake of the head, telling me they won’t go any further.

“Well, well. Looks like you boys weren’t quite right about ‘settlement’. That looks more like poor workmanship than ‘settlement’. You’re going to be here longer than you thought. I’m not signing off on the work until they fuckin’ work,” I snarl, walk over to their van and take the keys from the ignition.

“Let me know when everything works as it should and you can have your keys back after I’ve inspected them again.” Humming the tune from Jaws, the movie, I head back to my office, wondering where I’d got that tune from. Sounds more like something Meat would hum!

Sending a text to Pres, explaining the situation, I ask him to send over any spare brothers he has available. I’m not expecting trouble, but a little intimidation can be a great motivational tool.

When the roar of bikes approaching reaches the office, I walk out to the front of the building. As the brothers arrive, I wave them to park their hogs near the van.

The two workmen suddenly take a greater interest in their work, and it’s only thirty minutes later when they ask me to come and check the doors. Surprisingly, the doors glide open to their fullest extent, as if they were floating on oil. Repeating the opening and closing several times has me grinning.

Tossing them the keys, I don’t waste my breath speaking to them. Getting everything locked down, as we’re now past our regular closing time, everyone heads off. Offering Raw a meal at the clubhouse, he declines, stating he has made plans to have a few drinks and a meal with Splash later.