Page 74 of Rigid

Tank shoved his heel against the man’s hip, rolled him onto his back, and then pressed his boot to the man’s throat.

“Don’t ever fuck with a man’s bike. Don’t look at it, breathe on it, take pictures of it, and you damned sure better not touch it.”

“O-okay.”

Tank lifted his foot. “Get the fuck outta here.”

The man rose to his feet, looked at me, and then turned and ran behind the adjoining restaurant.

Tank turned toward me. “Fucking shit head.”

I chuckled and then shook my head. “Fifteen years of riding, and that’s the first time anyone’s ever got near my shit.”

“Burns my ass when a man fucks with my sled.”

“Apparently.”

“Sorry I jumped him. Shoulda let you handle it, but that’s just how I roll.”

I slapped him on the back. “You did good, prospect.”

He didn’t know it, but he just earned a few points toward gaining my trust, and a few at earning a little more respect.

Hell, at the rate he was going, he’d be running with P-Nut and me in a few years.

“I’ll take that help moving Sandy if it still stands,” I said.

He turned toward me and nodded once. “Might keep me out of trouble.”

“Plan on it, then.”

I always wanted a little brother to harass, and realized Tank just might be able to fill those shoes.

With Sandy moving in, the pregnancy going without a hitch, Eddie healthy and happy, and Tank to harass, my life was looking up.

Or, so I thought.

TWENTY-THREE

Sandy

Cholo, Lex, and Tank had just left, leaving P-Nut, Eddie, Smokey and me at standing in the living room looking at a stack or cardboard boxes. I’d minimized my belongings to personal effects and a few pieces of furniture that Smokey and I agreed would be well-suited for his home.

Correction.

Our home.

“Relax.” Smokey waved his arm toward the couch. “Nut and I will get those boxes taken to the bedroom.”

“I can get them, they’re mine. And, they’re not heavy.”

“Gotta respect a bitch that’ll carry her own boxes,” P-Nut said.

Bitch?

“She ain’t picking up shit, she’s pregnant. “Smokey glared at him. “An, you need to watch it, Nut.”

“Watch what? The compliments?”