Page 30 of High Velocity

“Doesn’t look like your new rig is in need of anything dire,” Harvey started, “but if you want to follow the lady’s advice and return Monday, we’ll be happy to help you with something then.And if you need anything sooner, plenty of stores open in Kimberly.”

“Follow the lady’s advice,” he echoed before snorting.“As if.”He spit out his window before making a sucking sound through his teeth.

Charli stiffened and started to take a step forward, but Harvey’s hand on her arm stopped her.Stew and Tonto stepped forward to flank her and their boss.

“Sir, I’ll kindly ask you this one time to leave my premises and never return.”

Charli could’ve sworn the man was about to say something else, but the roar of bikes had him rolling up his window and backing out, nearly hitting one of the Harleys in the process.He stomped on the accelerator, spraying gravel, and peeling out onto the blacktop.Charli watched Roark, Griff, and Motley park their bikes, their gaze on the vehicle.

“Prick,” she mumbled.“Any of you know who that jackass is?”

Stew and Tonto shook their heads while Harvey said, “Not a clue.”

Suddenly, Roark came running over, grabbing onto Charli’s arms.“You okay?What the fuck was that?That’s the SUV I warned you about.”

“Hey, I’m okay.Guy was being a fuckwad.I don’t know who he is or what his problem was.”

“That the first time he try to engage?”Griff asked.

“Yeah, as far as I know,” Charli said.“Something about him...”

“What?”Roark urged after releasing her arms.

“Seemed familiar.Not sure why.I haven’t been here in twenty years.”She shrugged.

“Remember what I said about your gut,” Roark said.“Maybe we put a guy here for security,” he said, looking at his Prez.

“Roark, that’s not necessary,” Charli argued.“We can handle what happens around here.Right, guys?”She turned to Stew and Tonto.

“Right,” Stew said as Tonto nodded.“I keep my .45 in my toolbox.”Stew raised the handgun he’d had at his side all along.

“Jesus, really?”Charli said then looked at Tonto.“You too?”The man raised a similarly looking handgun.“Well, now I’m jealous,” she said.

The two chuckled but quickly quieted when Roark gave them a stern look.“Glad you can protect yourselves along with my lady.Guess it’s time to get her certified and carrying.”

“Roark, I was kidding.Do you really think that’s necessary?”

He stared right into her eyes.“Better to have and not need...”

“...than not have and need,” Griff finished.

“Okay, okay,” Charli mumbled as she turned and reentered the bay.“Going down.”Stew and Tonto rushed back inside.“We’ll finish up and be ready to lock up shop in a few.”She hit the button, closing the bay door.

“Roark’s right, Charli,” Stew said.“You ever shoot a handgun?”

“No.”She walked to her stall and put all the tools away, cleaning up her area.“Tonto?Will you turn off the compressor, please?”The man nodded and walked to the machine, ensuring it was off for the weekend.

Within moments, the shop was squared away, and the three had stripped out of their overalls and washed up.When they joined Harvey and the guys in the reception area, Roark pinned her with a stare.

“You good?”

“I’m good,” she said.“What brings the top members of the Club by here on a Friday night?”

“Got some information we thought we’d share so everyone’s in the loop,” Griff said.“Didn’t want to talk business tomorrow during the Club party.We try to give the families a break from all that.Just a day to have fun, ya know?”

Charli nodded, ready to listen to what he had to say.For ten minutes, he filled them in on the hits the Club had taken and the correlation of damage to the farmers.He also said Roark would fill Charli in on other happenings the Club was involved in.

“I don’t want you in the dark about anything, Charli,” Griff said.“You’re part of us now.You good with that?”