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Jane: I don’t understand what you’re asking.
Me: I’m asking if you’re gonna make a decision for yourself this weekend or let someone else tell you what to do?
I didn’t see bubbles appear, and I waited. After a few minutes, I knew I had pushed her too far. She wasn’t ready to admit how much she bent to everyone else’s will, and I wasn’t being helpful by pointing it out.
But I wanted to see her.
And telling her that disclosed way more than I wanted her to know. Disappointed, I put my phone back on the table. Crossing the garage, I popped the hood of Becs’s Jeep and shook my head. This Jeep was a piece of shit, yet she kept it. Bear had told her a million times to get rid of it, but she refused. Hell, even Race was trying to talk her into getting something more reliable, but she wasn’t hearing it. She was as stubborn as her brother.
“Tank.”
I’d just leaned in when I heard my name. Backing up, I looked around the hood and saw Bear walking toward me. “Yeah?”
He frowned at the Jeep. “Damn Jeep. Why the hell is she so stubborn about this thing?” I snorted out a laugh, and he looked at me. “What?”
“Don’t want to point out the obvious, brother, but she’s just like you.”
He shook his head, but he was smirking. He knew he was just as stubborn. “How’s the kid doing?”
Leaning my hip against the bumper of the Jeep, I faced him fully. Dominic was one of Josie’s students who graduated this past spring and started working in our garage as an apprentice. Considering I worked with him most often, it was obvious that Bear would ask me for an update. Little did Dom know, “kid” was likely becoming his nickname in the club. Everyone got one eventually because every member had a road name.
“He’s doing good. Fast learner, good worker, does what he’s told without too many arguments. Wish I had more like him.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Bear replied. “I think we’re gonna need to hire.”
“Hire?” When he nodded, I continued, “Last time we all met, we were going to wait and see how much time you planned to commit to the track. What about Gunner?”
“He’ll be around, but the more we talk, I just don’t know how to split my time between both places right now. Race has been working with the Dimarcos during the day. Then with Bull and Skinner at night to get shit up and running, but he’s runnin’ out of steam. Told him I’d step in and do more, Gunner offered the same. Truth is, if we want this track to bring money to us and tourists to New Hope, we have to get it going soon.”
“You already planning a race?”
“Talking about it.” He acknowledged. “We’ll have church before we do, but it’s gonna happen sooner than later.”
I wasn’t surprised he planned to call another meeting or church, as it was referred to in motorcycle clubs. This was a big decision and one the entire club would have to agree on. “Everything you’re saying makes sense, brother, but we don’t hire outsiders.”
He ran his hand over his beard. “Yeah, I’m struggling with doing that, but I’m not sure I have a choice. The Dimarcos just hired a handful of our prospects to help with excavation and shit, but let’s be honest, training them to shovel dirt is a lot easier than training them to work on cars. We just don’t have the time we need to train them the right way, and I don’t want to sacrifice our reputation for some quick labor.”
I thought about Race’s dad and uncle. “What about Race’s dad? He ever work on cars? Could I use him until you need him?”
“I asked Race. He said no. His dad stole cars and sold them for parts for most of his life. That’s what landed him in jail, but apparently, he’s only good at tearing them apart, not putting them back together.”
I studied my boots, thinking of anything that could benefit us when something occurred to me. Dom took some classes at school to learn skills. I wondered if the school ever did a school-to-work program for kids learning a trade. “You think the school would do a school-to-work thing?”
His eyebrows drew together. “What are you thinking?”
I shrugged. “That’s how Dom learned. Just thinking if they wanted kids to have on-the-job training, maybe the school would send some out.”
Bear nodded, and I could tell he was considering it. “Not sure the school would send those kids to a motorcycle club, especially after all the shit we’ve been through lately with the Widows.”
“It can’t hurt to ask.”
“Let me talk to Josie.” He jerked up his chin. “See what she can find out.”
“Alright.”
“You sure you want to spend your day teaching and supervising a bunch of kids?” Bear asked.
I considered that. “A bunch of kids might end up being better employees than a bunch of grown-ass men who don’t like being told what to do.”
