Page 57 of Truck

“Okay, I’ll pay.” Echo steps back, and we both watch the asshole head into the gas station to pay. What we didn’t expect was Xero chasing the fucker out, drop-kicking him, and then pounding shit out of him.

Turning to Echo I smirk, “Whoops, it seems the fucker pissed off Xero now. Wonder if he paid for his gas?”

Echo chuckles. “Who cares? This is the most fun we’ve had in weeks.”

Rum appears and stands with his back to the gas station door but has a smile that only tips one side of his mouth. “Have you boys finished playing yet?”

“Be with you in a minute, Rum,” Echo grunts as he gives the asshole a kick in the back. “Get the fuck out of here and never come back.”

Now, the idiot gets to his feet and limps to his vehicle. It doesn’t take long for him to peel out of the gas station and to relative safety. Had to say that because if he had stayed, he would have found himself buddies with Tank, Bono, and Pyro.

“Okay, let’s get some work done,” Rum shouts out, and we all follow him inside to do just that.

I spend an hour listening to Rum explaining the system on the computer. How and where to place orders. Even how payroll works. Now, I’m not sure I’m manager material, but Rum is determined to make me a decent manager. He keeps saying he’s an old man, and he needs to know I can do the job if he’s ever not available. I can see his point, but I’d rather he did the job than me if I’m being honest about it.

Ian knocks on the office door frame, and as I look up, he quickly asks if we need lunch fetched. “Yeah,” I reply and dig into my wallet to hand him enough to cover everyone’s lunch. “Get what is needed and get something for Dice tonight. He’ll be pleased to see something in the fridge for him during his night shift.”

“Why don’t we have a tin where we all throw in some cash for lunch. That way you won’t always be paying for it, Truck. It’s not your job as manager to feed us. We either bring something, or we buy it. I’ll find a tin and tell everyone to throw forty bucks in it each week. If we get in front, we can have a week we don’t pay, it’s simple.” Rum is the sensible one amongst us, and his idea has merit.

I’m doing my best to save as much as I can to buy furniture for the house once it’s finished. “Okay, that works for me.”

Rum’s pen moves on the table, by itself, of course. I point to it as I ask, “Is that your wife again?”

“Probably, but I don’t mind. I like her being around,” Rum looks at the pen before picking it up, and I can see he’s giving a small smile, and not to me.

“Okay, I’m done. I’m going to check out the back where Bull is and see if he’s anything to report. I was sure Echo said they’d seen some movement around the property the other evening on the security camera.”

“Okay, I’m going to place orders for next week, and then make sure Echo knows he is on night shift next week,” Rum turns back to the monitor, and I head around back to speak to Bull.

Stepping into the office, I give a shout-out to Bull and Demon who are both sitting at one of the stations.

“Hi, Truck. How’s it hanging?” Demon asks.

Of course I give a smart-ass answer. “To the left, Demon, to the left.”

“Fuck's sake!” Bull shakes his head at me, but I can see the smirk he has going on.

“I wanted to check in and make sure all was good. Echo and Xero saw someone lurking around one night. He was around here and not at the front of the station. Dice saw nothing, so he had to have been damn sneaky. Anything been amiss?” I ask.

Bull frowns before he answers. “We have seen nothing. I’ll ask Keys to check the cameras. You know make sure we have enough and they are covering everywhere.”

“Okay. I just wanted you to be aware. Are you still locking up the back of the mechanic’s bay?” I ask because it is at the back of the gas station, and I don’t want anyone sneaking in the back when one of us is on our own during the night shift.

“Yes, it’s never open after six o’clock. We only open it if we need to use it, but repairs are done during the day. I’ll tell everyone to leave vehicles outside until morning. That way, once the place is locked it will stay locked until we are opening up in the morning,” Bull pinches the bridge of his nose, showing he’s more than a little stressed. “Demon is in charge when I’m not around, and now that we have all vehicles and brothers here, we can start to get some form of routine where safety is brought to everyone’s attention.”

“Okay. I’ll leave it with you. I’m off now because I need to grab Grady. School is breaking up for summer, so I’m going to have him working at the clubhouse. Earn his keep and start him on a good road for when he prospects.” That comment gets me the chuckles I’m after, and I can see Bull’s tension ease. That’s what I was after. Job well done.

Chapter 30

RORY

“I’m going home to be with Jill tonight, Rory,” Grady gives me a hug before he walks into school. I watch him go and think about how much he’s changed in such a short space of time.

“Hey!” I shout, and when Grady turns, I ask. “Do you want to go ice skating next week?”

Grady gives me a huge smile and shouts right back to me, “Yeah!” I give him a thumbs up sign as I turn and head back to my car.

I parked a little further away this morning so we could walk a little in the morning breeze. I’ve not been to the park in weeks, and maybe it’s time I got a routine of some kind going. It’s harder now that Truck has moved into the house, but I don’t regret that because he’s something special to me. That thought has me going still because the realization that my mind now jumps to Truck and not Terrence is telling.