“What about you? Why should I let you go into that unsafe situation?”
“Because I’ve been there before. This is turf that’s like my own backyard.”
She doesn’t answer.
“They carry actual pipes, Josie. And will use them.”
“Then you shouldn’t go either.”
“They have answers we need.”
I can sense her frustration in her small silences. Finally, she says, “What if I said I’d never give you another blow job unless you let me come with you?”
I almost choke on my oatmeal. Never have her mouth on me? Never feel the hot suck of her tongue around my shaft? Tears almost come to my eyes at the thought, but manfully, I answer, “Then I’d give them up. Your safety is more important.”
She sighs. “Fine, and for the record, I would never use sex to manipulate you. I was just curious how important it was.”
I let out a huge breath. “Very important.”
I’m almost lightheaded with relief but manage to help clear the table and clean up the kitchen from our breakfast prep.
“Do you carry pipes? Or what does Rider stand for?”
“We don’t use any weapons. Weapons give you added punishment by the cops if you’re ever caught.”
She looks surprised I know this. “Do you have a little ‘know your rights’ class as part of your induction ceremony?”
“Kind of. We’re of no use to the club if we get sent away.”
“Learn something new every day,” she says.
I walk her to school and then watch from the street until she enters.
Niki meets me a block away from the Pipefitters’ clubhouse. Unlike the Riders, who divide their crew into the minors and the adults with Clark heading up our mostly underage crew, and Kev Stand, who is the head of the whole group, the Pipefitters have a central hangout for everyone. It’s in a strip mall that has a gentleman’s club on one end and a pole dancing fitnessclub on the other. In between is a Chinese restaurant, a mobile phone shop, a nail salon, and a 7-Eleven. The 7-Eleven isn’t a convenience store. It’s where the Pipefitters’ bookies take bets and make payouts, but like a corner mart, it’s open all the time. If Cole was doing business with the Pipefitters, someone at this place would recognize him.
It’s dangerous for Niki and me to be on Pipefitters’ territory without an invitation, but it’s the best place to get answers.
“You think we’re going to make it out without a fight?” Niki asks as we cross the highway to the strip mall.
“Maybe? It’s too early in the morning for them to rub us out. They’d need to be caffeinated for that, right?”
“Hope so. If we do get into a tussle, make sure they don’t hit your face. It’ll be hard for you to explain that to Josie. Anytime Andy sees a scratch, she gets tight and unhappy.”
I grimace. “I don’t want that to happen.”
“Then get hit where she can’t see.”
I look down at my jean-clad legs and wonder what kind of situationship Niki and Andy have that there are parts of his body that she can’t see. A sharp pain blooms at the back of my head where Niki’s hand just made contact.
“What the hell was that for?” I growl, rubbing the sting away.
“I’m saying you wear a T-shirt to bed and take it off when she’s sleeping. Don’t be an idiot.”
“The idiot is you thinking Andy doesn’t know exactly why you’re wearing a shirt to bed.”
Niki frowns. “She’s never said anything.”
“Because she’s being a good egg, obviously.” I can’t believe I know more about the workings of the girlfriend/boyfriend thing than Niki does when he has been with Andy for several weeks now.
