CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

-:- ROCK -:-

Walking into Hot Hogs this morning, my mind is still thinking about Jessica and how upset she was when she knew she would have to leave Red, her school, and everyone else, including me.

It’s so hard to explain to her why everything is happening, because nobody wants to trash her Momma in front of her. She, however, has not once asked about Jerica, and that is telling.

When the mail came this morning, I was handed a large box, which I placed on the kitchen counter for Red to sort. No idea what it was, but it wasn’t anything I’ve purchased so I didn’t think about opening it.

Axel had spoken to me this morning on the phone before I left for work. It seems Garrett has been released and is on his way to Ryker and ultimately to be rid of Jerica.

I chuckled a few times as Axel explained Garrett had the divorce papers with him, and all she had to do was sign them. The judge was more than happy to get it put to bed. He’d also given sole custody to Garrett, who had in turn made Destiny the one to have Jessica if anything happened to him.

Now, I can imagine how upset Jerica is going to be. I just wish I could be a fly on the wall to see her face when she knows she lost her daughter and husband all in one day.

Axel had warned Ryker that Garrett was on the way, and he is well ready to get rid of Jerica. His plan is to throw her in the club’s truck, take her to the airport, and dump her ass with a handful of green. Done and dusted. Not our problem from that point onward.

Nearly lunchtime and my stomach growls. Missing breakfast isn’t a good look on me. The noises my stomach makes can wake the dead. Picking up an invoice, I see it’s one of Siggy’s and it’s a biggie. All the extra paint for the pickup truck and the Shelby Cobra has added up, but it’ll be worth it in the end. We have a buyer for the Cobra too, so we need that done and out of the cages building.

Splash has done some work for a guy who has a collection of vehicles in a ‘man cave’ and Splash did the interior artwork. Apparently, the guy has more money than he can spend and his passion is his vehicle collection. He already has a Cobra in his collection, but not a Shelby Cobra.

We had Specs run some checks on this one and at one time it was part of Shelby Racing, but there is no record of it ever having raced. It still bumped the price significantly, and the guy was happy to pay when Specs provided an image of the Cobra parked behind the racing team posing together. Splash must have been high in this guy's estimation, as he has only seen images of the original condition and then the restoration work that we’ve done. We even sourced some original wheels, as they had been replaced with some shabby-looking alloys.

We left TwoCents to arrange the payment as it was of such a high value, we didn’t want to screw it up with the customer. He’s already mentioned that a few in his collection could do with a refresh. That would be a good earner for us and could easily lead to other customers. Word of mouth is a good recommendation for any business.

The pickup truck is also finished and ready for Grease to hand over to Raven. TwoCents is dealing with the payment as it’s club business, and I would imagine Grease will get the work done for a song. It’s a damn fine-looking pickup truck and I can just imagine Raven’s delight when she sees it. Grease came around as soon as Splash had completed the spray job and given it a thumbs up.

I send a text telling Grease to get here with his woman and get the truck. It’s ready, had all the final detailing done, looks amazing and we want the space in the building.

An hour later, Grease walks into the hog's side of the business with a bemused Raven. Clay and Dice are not back until tomorrow and from what I’ve heard, they all have had a great time. Stopping at different places, pitching a tent for the night, then moving on again the next morning. A great riding vacation for any biker.

“Hi, Rock,” Raven gives me a smile, but you can see she has no idea why she is here.

“Hi, Raven. Grease, do you want to come through to the new cage side of the business?” I’m playing along a little, and Grease gives me a smirk before stepping forward to follow while holding Raven back with one hand on her lower back.

Walking through to the cages workshop, The Shelby Cobra is gleaming and waiting to be collected later in the week as soon as it has had its final checks. Under a dust cover next to it is the Apache.

Asking Raven to give us a hand to uncover ‘our next project’, we stand her at the front of the pickup with the excuse that she holds the cover high over her head so it doesn’t scratch the paint as Grease and I pull the cover off.

Once the cover is off, we take the cover from her so she can see the pickup for the first time. Grease takes her hand and puts a set of keys in her palm. “She’s all yours, Raven. A gift from me to you.”

The damn thing is so stunning I’m jealous. I’m a hog man, through and through, but this truck is just so amazing. The fact that the whole truck is a deep polished black and the graphics are in the darkest blue makes it look so menacing. The raven on the hood is done in the style you see of an eagle with its wings and claws extended. The raven's head on the doors are so subtle, and as you walk by, the eyes follow you. Grease walks her to the rear of the truck, showing her the bed has been trimmed in the darkest mahogany with black chrome runners.

Pulling her away from the tailgate, he shows her what I think is the icing on the cake. Where the tailgate originally had ‘CHEVROLET’ pressed into the steel, it now reads ‘RAVEN’ and Splash has it so that it stands out in 3D as though it's floating there.

The all black interior has RAVEN stitched into the seatbacks. There are raven feathers painted across the dashboard.

Throwing her arms around Grease, Raven cries into his chest. Holding her, he looks at me, astonished. “If it’s not what you want, we can have it resprayed. I just thought…”

Raven lifts her head and looks at me with her tear-filled eyes. “Rock! If he so much as mentions any change, no matter how small, to my Apache, you have my express permission to punch his lights out.”

Looking up at Grease, she says, “It is the most perfect truck I could ever imagine. I love everything about it. I especially love that it has no shiny silver chrome. The all black and blue makes it look so mean and scary. It should be in a movie, for God’s sake. It is too good for words. And it has my name on it! How fuckin’ cool is that!”

Once Raven is satisfied she’s seen everything we’ve done, paintwork, bodywork, and under the hood, they take the pickup for a drive and leave us, at last, with an empty bay. Grease states that he’ll be back later for his hog.

Drinking a fresh mug of coffee, I think about Red and her habit of using an Uber all the time. I heard about her attempt at riding Kya’s hog and that’s obviously not the way to go. I’m doubtful of a trike, too. Knuckles told me Jo said Red can ride bitch with her because it’d be far safer than giving her a motorcycle of any description. Maybe I’ll go with Grease’s idea and find her something as a surprise. There’s a thought.

Siggy walks into the office and asks for the invoice as she is heading to her accountant, and needs all the invoices she can get her hands on. Her words, not mine.

“Are you still interested in doing something a little different?” I ask Siggy, taking her by surprise.

“What do you mean, something a little different? Work you mean?”

“Yeah. Rolling Thunder Tattoo Shop, as you probably know, is owned by the MC. Reuse, who runs it, is looking for someone to help part-time. Even be able to call in to do extra when they are overloaded with clients. Both Reuse and Hashtag have full books and are having to turn customers away. If you’re interested go over and have a word. I'll let them know you’re going to speak with them.”

“That would be interesting. The paint business is doing well, but it leaves me short at the end of the month sometimes. I went to a friend's place for three days to help in his tattoo shop. That was a boost to my income.”

“I’ll let them know you’re going over to speak with them. Set the hours you want to give and they will book clients in at that time. If clients won’t bend to do that, then it’s their loss. It would be a second income for you.” I can tell she’s interested and her saying she’s a little short at the end of some months doesn’t sit well. “You know you could increase the prices slightly on the paint. You are competitive and you give a fuck of an excellent service. We’d be happy to pay a little more per can. It would add up for you at the end of the month.”

“I have thought about an increase in prices, but I didn’t want to risk losing the business that I have.”

“Understandable, but it’s your livelihood and you have to make a living the same as the rest of us.”

“I’m buying my house, so I have to keep the mortgage and utilities paid before anything else. But I’ll consider a small increase in prices.”

Taking her by surprise, I ask what’s been tickling my interest. “What’s goin’ on with you and Jig?”

Siggy takes a seat and looks at me with a frown. “I don’t know, Rock. We’ve been out and had a meal, and it was great. I do really like him, and any other time I’d be on him like white on rice…” sighing, “but it’s just not the right time as I’m busy with the paint business, I’m doing small jobs at the house because it’s a fixer-upper, basically. I’m tired out, to be honest.”

“If you like Jig, tell him, don’t leave him hanging. He’s a great guy, he’s ready to settle down, and he’s the type who would never stray. He’d do everything and anything to make you happy. You know he’d help you fix up the house. Talk to him Siggy, be honest and you’ll be surprised, I think, how much he’ll step up to help you.”

“But that’s the problem. I know he’s great and I could easily fall for him in a big way. What would happen if down the line it didn’t work out, and he’d helped me do up the house? I couldn’t pay him back for all he’d done.”

“I think you’re creating problems where there aren’t any, Siggy. You either want to give Jig the chance and you go all in, or walk the fuck away. He’s had enough women take him for a ride, don’t be another one. Cut him loose before he gets more feelings for you than he has already.” Yeah, I know that was rough, but at the end of the day, Jig is my brother and I’ll always have his back.

“I’ll have a talk with him. I like him. I just don’t want either of us to get in too deep and then it falls apart. I’ll go over to Rolling Thunder too. It may ease the money problem, then I’ll see other things more clearly.”

“Okay. If you need help at any time Siggy, you call me. Splash, Fist or Krylon would be there for you too, so don’t feel you are alone.” I can see that affects her, and I know from something Splash let slip, that Siggy has no family and finds it hard to let people get close.

Rubbing my hands on the dirty rag, I throw it in the bucket, ready to get rid of it. We go through so many rags that we now burn them in a barrel behind the business when the bucket is full.

Hanging the key on the board ready for the owner to collect the vehicle, I head into the office. That’s my quota for today. I’m not starting a new job as it’s Saturday afternoon and I want to get home to my girls.

As I’m thinking about heading to Red’s place my phone vibrates on the desk. Picking it up, I frown as I see a text message from Axel.

Pres: Come to the clubhouse when you finish work.

Rock: Something wrong?

Pres: No, I just need to speak with you.

Rock: OK

That is odd because I don’t think I’ve seen any issues or problems that I need to report to Axel. Maybe he has something he wants sprayed? Mia’s trike comes to mind because it’s scratched to all hell. No idea what she does on it, but it’s always scratched.

A while later I walk into Axel’s office. “What’s up, Pres?” I ask as I quickly take a seat.

“This Mrs. Philpott has annoyed all our women, it appears. Your woman especially. Mia as the First Lady…” which he says with that grin you can never quite understand, “tells me the club has to get rid of her. What information do you have? I will be speaking to every Ol’ Man, so spill what you know.”

“I spoke to Colt, her husband. He wasn’t aware of any of her current troublemaking. He told me this all started after she received an inheritance, and it seems to have gone to her head. He said he’d told her if she didn’t ‘behave’ he was going to call it quits and take off with the son. I can get back in touch and see what the score is?”

“Do that and let me know. I’m sick of her name cropping up and if Mia is asking for her gone, then it’s a done deal. Either by him or us!” Pres looks pretty pissed that someone has Mia so riled up she’s gone to him with it.

Making my way out of the clubhouse, I stop in the common room when I see Mia hanging on to the bar with one hand and her stomach with the other.

Now, this doesn’t look right, so I rush to her, “You okay, Mia?”

“I’m not sure, Rock. Can you find Stitch please? It’s not my time yet. I have four more weeks.”

I can see sweat beaded on Mia’s forehead, and I’m not liking this one bit. I take out my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and make the call to Stitch.

“What’s up?” Stitch asks as soon as he answers.

“Are you at the clubhouse?” I quickly ask.

“Yeah, I’m doing my monthly check of everything. Again, what’s up?”

“You need to come to the common room, something wrong with Mia!” The dial tone sounds, and it's only seconds before Stitch runs into the common room and over to Mia and I.

“Come on, Mia. Let’s get you to medical where I can look at you,” Stitch says gently.

“I’m having some contractions, Stitch. But they are milder than when I had the twins. Do you think I’m having the baby? My water hasn’t broken.” Mia is still gripping the bar, and if it wasn’t serious, I’d laugh because Stitch is gently lifting one of her fingers at a time so he can move her away from the bar.

Fuck this, it’s too slow. I step forward, pick Mia up and march out of the common room to medical, but on the way I bellow, “PRES, NEED YOU NOW!”

I’m lying Mia on the bed when Axel storms into medical behind Stitch, and I’m out of there. Leaving them to whatever the hell is going on. Something about Braxton Hicks, but I have no idea who that is, or why they are mentioning him?