“Is she cool about keeping her mouth shut when we pay this fucker a visit?” Wheelie asked.
“Yep. I already told her we’re interested in one of the guests. Judy said that as long as we keep it clean and don’t do any shit that’ll bring the fuckin’ badges breathing down her back, she’s good.” Smokey rested his elbows on the bar.
“It’s your call,” Throttle said, his gaze meeting Wheelie’s.
“Let me think about the best way we can do this. We’ll go over there in a few hours.” He turned to Puck. “Can you keep an eye on him, and let me know if he leaves?”
“Yeah. When Smokey and me were watching the bastard, it seemed like the fucker didn’t like the hot weather. This dude, Elmore, must’ve been a dumb fuck and gave him too much money up front because the bastard is a lazy ass. He’s not working too hard in finding you.”
“Elmoreisan asshole, so it makes sense that he’d pair up with a lazy, dumbass bastard.” Wheelie finished his beer. “What’s his name?”
“Tucker Morris.” Puck grinned. “I had Hawk check it out, and the dipshit used his real name. He was in San Quentin so that’s probably where Elmore met him. He was doing time for armed robbery.”
“Hawk knows about this?” Wheelie asked.
Throttle tilted his head. “Yeah. He said that if we need more brothers in on this to let him know. Banger’s down with it too.”
Warmth spread through Wheelie at Throttle’s words, reinforcing his love of the brotherhood; they were truly his family. The members fought and stood by each other, no matter what, and citizens just couldn’t understand the bond the members shared. To them, bikers were criminals in leather, riding motorcycles and pointing their middle finger at law enforcement.They just don’t get it, including Mom.Family wasn’t about the blood Wheelie shared, it was about those willing to bleed for him and him for them.
“Then we’ll wait for your call?” Puck said, breaking into Wheelie’s thoughts.
“Yeah. Figure it’ll be in a few hours. I gotta take care of some stuff at the car wash.”
“I’ll get over to the motel and let you know if the asshole leaves.” Puck finished his drink, bumped fists with his brothers then left.
“I’m gonna head out,” Wheelie said to the others. “I’ll text you when we’re ready to roll.”
“Sounds good,” Smokey said as Throttle and Animal grunted their agreement.
When Wheelie arrived at the car wash, the lines waiting to get into the parking lot were around the block. He hurriedly went inside and noticed the throngs of customers crowding around the store. Wheelie went behind the counter and opened up the second cash register.
“You should’ve called me for backup,” he said to Jada as he took the ticket from one of the customers.
“Sorry. I didn’t want to bother you. Animal told me you guys had church, and I know how serious that is for all of you.”
“Next time, just send me a text—no matter what.”
For the next hour, Wheelie helped Jada with the front counter until Melinda walked in and took over. He went into his office and closed his door. He looked at his phone and noticed a couple of texts from Sofia. Wheelie had been so busy, he didn’t even hear his phone ping.
Sofia:R u still in church? I’m dying here.
Sofia:It’s been over an hour since my text. R u still an Insurgent?
Wheelie scrubbed his face.I need to stay away until she leaves Tigger, but how the fuck can I do that?Sighing, he tapped in his response.
Wheelie:Still in the brotherhood. Hawk gave me a break.
A ping came almost immediately after he hit SEND as if Sofia had been doing nothing but waiting for some word from him.
Sofia:Whew!! I can’t believe Hawk did that. He’s always scared the hell out of me. He seems so hard and unbending.
Wheelie threw his head back and guffawed. All the old ladies were scared of Hawk, way more than they were of Banger.
Wheelie:He’s cool.
Sofia:I saw the lawyer Cara hooked me up with. She’s super nice.
Wheelie:And…?