“Make sure that patch is stitched on by tomorrow, yeah?” Micro muttered at me, as I stared at my drink, slowly pulling myself out of my memories.
“Maybe get your little woman to do it. She’s got the cutest little hands,” Grease said, grinning at me, but not in a way that’d get him punched. He’d picked a diminutive woman himself, in stature at least, because definitely not in personality or attitude. Jamie, the former cop, was not someone you should mess with, because she didn’t need Grease to fight her battles for her.
“Eat me,” I murmured as I sipped my drink again, and he snorted.
“That’s what she said.”
“Anyway, ignoring this prick, because if we do that, maybe he’ll go away…”
“You wish.”
I rolled my eyes, but I was loving the atmosphere at the club these days, and Micro and Grease were a big part of that.
“As I was saying, keep us informed on Rocket, because I’m on the fence about sending him back to Reacher’s house, the way he’s going.”
I really hoped I hadn’t just fucked my own business over by trusting the guy. Maybe Grease needed to add more cameras on the inside of the shop for during the day.
Chapter Nine
THE NEXT REASON WHY having Rocket around was turning out to be a bad idea was two days later, when my daughter Leah popped by to see me, and caught his eye.
I watched her walk through the door, and fuck me, she looked more and more like an adult every day. At seventeen, she was already learning to drive a damn car, but I knew she’d come here today on that fucking scooter, and why it bothered me that she was on two wheels alone, I don’t know. Hypocritical, but that’s parenting for you. Don’t do as I do, right?
“Hey, kiddo, is that for me?”
I saw Rocket’s head pop up from behind his counter, which was still covered with stuff while he and Has-Been worked on setting up the rest of his kit. Turns out bikers don’t get much done once they’re all shooting the shit, and Grease’s visit the other day had slowed things down more than I realised.
I stepped in his way so he couldn’t see her, and hugged her carefully so I didn’t crush what I really hoped was my lunch.
“Hey dad, I grabbed a burger from your favourite greasy hellhole.” She passed me the bag and stepped around me to the coffee machine, and I turned to catch Rocket’s eyes travelling over her in a way that sent a chill down my spine.
“Eyes off my fucking daughter, Rocket.”
His eyes darted to me and his mouth dropped open. “Daughter? The fuck, man, oh… sorry, didn’t mean to swear. Shit!”
She was giggling, and I didn’t want her finding him anything other than abhorrent, because she’s my kid and if I can encourage her to avoid sex for her entire life, I’ll do just that.
“You’re not in a church, prick. Just get your pervy eyes off her, or you’ll have to learn to do that job blind.”
“Dad!” Leah swatted my arm, and tried to approach Rocket, and that was a hell no from me.
I caught her with my arm around her shoulders, and steered her away from him to the seat by my counter.
“Sit.”
“I’m not a kid, dad!” Fuck that. Even when she’s older than I am now, she’ll still be my damn child.
“He’s a real dick, Leah. You don’t want to waste your breath talking to him. Oh, he smells too.”
“Oi, you fucker! I’m Rocket, love. Nice to meet you.”
Was he fucking approaching her now? Hell THE FUCK no to that too.
I got in his way and shook my head, pointing back to his corner.
“You know you’re behind getting set up, man. Can you just do your thing while my little girl visits me, can you just do that?”
I heard her grumbling about being referred to as my little girl, but I didn’t care. Rocket stared at me for a moment, like he was considering pushing things, but then he just rolled his eyes and turned back to his little area. I should have thought this through.I didn’t consider who I was giving him access to when I let him come here. I followed him to the spray booth and leaned close, while he watched me warily.
