I cocked my head. “You’ve met Teagan, right?”
“Okay, she’ll mostly get over it. What can I say, like father like daughter.”
I nodded, even though I didn’t quite know how I was going to do all of that. I rose to my feet.
“One more thing,” Hatch said, and I turned back. “About this Hooks guy. Anything I need to know?”
“Like?”
“Did you put him in the hospital? Is there gonna be blow-back?”
I shook my head. “Nah, he’s just a small time, punk-ass kid. Nothing permanent, just enough to make sure he’ll be jackin’ off with his left hand for a while. Also found out he’s not affiliated with anyone.”
“Good.” He jabbed a finger at me. “You go rogue again, kid, and I’ll tax your ass so hard, you won’t be able to afford a tank of gas.” He raised an eyebrow. “Got it?”
“Got it, Prez.”
I headed back out to the garage via the back door and straight to the Mustang I’d been neglecting. I needed a minuteto figure out my next steps without the girl squad jabbering a hundred miles a minute.
“Cash?”
I turned to the sound of the feminine voice and tried to keep my expression neutral.
“Hey, Glo.”
“Hey, honey,” she crooned. She sauntered toward me, her overly bleached hair teased high and in the style that Teagan described as, ‘let me speak to your manager.’ Gloria was a few years older than me, but with how much makeup she spackled onto her face she looked a hell of a lot older. She was wearing jeans that were way too tight and a crop top that exposed a belly ring on her stomach that flopped over her waistband.
“Did you need something?” I asked.
“Oh, no. I was just checking in. I got here a few minutes ago and saw you. I wanted to make sure you were set for the day. Can I get you coffee, or…” She ran her hand up my arm. “Anything?”
I stepped away from her. “No, I’m good, Glo. Thanks.”
Her face fell slightly as I hightailed it out of the breezeway and into the auto bay, Teagan’s words running through my head. I’d never seen Gloria as someone who’d been overtly after me before, but now that I was lookin’ at her through Teagan’s lens, I was seein’ things a little more clearly.
* * *
Teagan
Along with Cash, Hatch had assigned Flea, Booker, and Razor to oversee today’s ‘punishment.’ Although, Booker didn’t arrive until almost noon. Being the VP had its privileges. Cash had been MIA since our little tiff, so we were down to Flea and Razor until after Booker got there.
“What you lovely ladies see before you,” Flea said. “Are some of the finest specimens of modern machinery you’ll ever lay your pretty little eyes on.”
Cambry huffed as she crossed her arms.
“I want you to think of each and every one of them as a priceless work of art.”
“I’m partial to the modern impressionist movement myself,” Tillie sassed.
“First of all, there’ll be no back talk from the detainees. You belong to me now, which means, you’re nothing but three little grease monkeys. You will each be given a tray of tools. On that tray, you will not find a nail file, tampons, or a tissue to wipe away your tears. You will use the correct tool for the correct job with the utmost of care and will not, I repeat,not, scratch, dent, or damage our beautiful babies.”
“I thought you said they were priceless works of art,” Tillie droned sarcastically.
“They’re both,” Flea said. “They’re art babies. More importantly, they’re to leave this shop in better condition than they came in. If any of you disrespect our bikes, we can always change your work detail.”
“Ooh, we have a choice?” Cambry asked. “What does the other job entail?”
Razor grinned. “You ladies probably don’t know this, but this property isn’t hooked up to the city sewer system.”
