People often said I looked like my dad. I guess I saw it on some level. We were the same height and similar builds, but I was a little on the fairer side. I got that from my mother, Dani.
He frowned. “What’s this about Teagan at Elixir?”
I shrugged. “Not my monkeys, not my zoo.”
“Did you know Tillie was procurin’ fake IDs?”
I said nothing. Just sat there and stared at him because he knew I wasn’t a snitch. Never had been and wasn’t about to start.
“Cash, how long has this been goin’ on?”
I cocked my head. “Are you askin’ as my dad or my VP?”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ, just answer the goddamn question.”
“Honestly, I don’t know how long it’s been goin’ on. And I didn’t know about Teagan’s until after the fact.”
My dad closed his eyes slowly, then sighed. “Mack’s asked you to watch her?”
“He has.”
“You’re okay with it?”
“Define okay,” I retorted.
He tapped his fingertips on his desk. “I can talk to him, get someone else on her.”
“Nah, it’s fine. I’ve got time.”
“Yeah, but I also know you two butt heads.”
“I can handle Teagan Reed, Dad, don’t worry. If I need a change, I’ll let you know.”
“Right. We got a parts delivery comin’ in on Monday, so I need you in the shop by noon. That gonna be a problem?”
I was a mechanic who worked at the Dogs’ shop attached to the club compound. It had started out as Big Ernie’s Auto Body back in the seventies but had been expanded years ago to include a full service shop. Dad didn’t do much in the way of fixing cars anymore. He didn’t need to, considering the fact that before Hatch was promoted to president, he’d become a silent partner in the cannabis business with Sundance who rode with the Primal Howlers out of Monument, Colorado. This partnership had expanded to more of a club-to-club partnership which meant the Howlers had worked with the Dogs to expand the grow business into Washington and Oregon, so now the auto shop had become more of a passion project which Dad helped to run the back end of. This included ordering parts and counting the money. Hatch still ran that side of the business, Maisie ran the employees, while club members helped with everything in the middle.
“I should be there by ten,” I said. “I’m still working on that Mustang.”
“Your mom wants to see more of you.”
I smiled. “I know. I’ll text her and figure out lunch or something. I just have a lot on.”
“Need you to make time for her, bud.”
“I will,” I promised.
“Lecture over,” Dad said. “For now.”
I chuckled. “Right. I’m gonna grab a beer.”
He gave me a chin lift and I made my way out to the kitchen, stalling when I found Teagan laughing at something Razor had just said. “Teagan.”
* * *
Teagan
“Cash,” I said, mimicking his tone as he walked into the kitchen with a frown. “Whatya doin’?”
