I sat my cup of Joe on the counter. I didn’t know if I would have time to drink it.
“You’re never going to tell me about last night, are you?”
“You don’t need to know, Amber. Plus, you’ve done enough for me.”
“You saved my brother’s life, Colt. So I think it’s the other way around,” she said quietly.
“It’s nothing to me and easily solved. I’m going to hit the shower and get ready.”
“Okay.”
I dove into the shower and washed off the remnants of our lovemaking. I came out fresh and squeaky clean, ready to handle whatever the day threw at me. I kissed Amber goodbye and left, thinking that after all the battles I’d endured, maybe things were turning around for the long term.
I pulled up to the house and noticed Hector was already at the front fences, slogging away.
“Hey, you’re hard at it already. You good out here? It’s pretty hot.”
“Yeah, I could use a glass of water.” He wiped his brow. It looked like he was trying to shake off last night.
I went inside and grabbed a bottle of water for him and one for me. I switched over to my cowboy boots and took him the water.
“Hey, brother. Stop for a minute.” As he gulped the water down, I studied him. I squinted from the heat picking up. “You worried about that guy last night?”
“No, and yes. I mean, I’ve seen someone overdose. I’ve seen a person die before, but not like that. I don’t know, it was kind of scary.”
I nodded my head solemnly. “Like I said, you ain’t cut out for that lifestyle. What you saw was a scumbag being eliminated. If he wasn’t shot, he would have killed you or me.”
Hector twisted his lips as he thought about it. “Yes, I know. He came out of nowhere, though. How did we not see him?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I mean, who knows? He was probably lying down in the grass like we were on the hilltop.”
“I guess,” he mumbled.
“You check the horses?”
“Yep. Sure did. That Moonlight is a hell of a horse.”
I swatted away the flies from my face. “She sure is. Hey, I want to take you somewhere today. I want to give you some extra backup.”
“Backup?”
I looked at him again. “Yes. I want you to meet my brothers in the MC, The Outlaw Souls.”
“Ah, okay. Are we headed there now?”
“No time like the present,” I claimed.
“Okay. Sounds good.”
I went inside to grab my keys, and we drove over to where the trouble started. This would be my first time seeing all the boys in action. I pushed the ugly monster of fear back down. We came up to a large warehouse with a parking lot in the back. It had a few neighboring businesses, but not many.
As we parked, I saw Diego with his long hair and greasy towel come to the front of the warehouse. He was there with a few of the other Outlaw Souls members. Vlad happened to be there, too. He was puffing on a cigarette, looking like the Grim Reaper himself.
I looked over at Hector as we approached, and he looked like a scared little rabbit.
Vlad gave me a hard handshake, and Diego brought me in for a warm hug. Two very different men, but brothers nonetheless.
“Hey, hey, if it isn’t Mr. Cowboy himself!” Diego gave me his big rosy smile, a refreshing change from all these diabolical, hard-nosed criminals.
“It’s me.”
“Glad to hear you’re out now,” Diego said, looking hard at Hector.
“Hey, guys, I want you to meet Hector. He’s with me. I wanted to bring him in so he could check out the bikes and see how it’s done, Diego.”
Diego smiled and summoned him in. “For sure. Any friend of Colt’s is a friend of mine.”
I walked a step behind with Vlad. He spoke out the side of his mouth. “If you want back in, just say the word.”
“No. Never again.” I clenched my jaw hard. I was pissed that he was even asking me. Vlad’s cold eyes surveyed me. The guy was pure darkness.
“All right, all right. The operation is much smoother now. We are, you know, doing some things a little differently.” He moved his hands side to side like a weighing scale.
I sneered as we walked over to the bikes resting on the platform station. “I’ve heard that before. No, no. I’m good now, Vlad. Number one, my girl would kill me. Second of all, I did my time. Third, I’m focused on running the farm. Ryder offered me a job here to work with Diego, but given the way Diego and Hector are hitting it off, this might be his gig.”
I nodded at both of them getting on like a house on fire. Hector was talking in an animated fashion and making all kinds of noises.
“You’re right. I commend you, and we will be forever in your debt for not snitching. If you need anything, you call,” Vlad responded.
“I will, brother.”
“Much respect, Colt.” He put a fist to his heart. “I have to slip out. I have errands to run.” He didn’t give me time to respond. The master of darkness, as I liked to call him, slipped away without saying goodbye. I watched his black Jeep ride out.
I returned my gaze back to look at the lineup of bikes. Diego had come a long way from the beginning of opening the Merced chapter. He had three regular guys working in the shop with him, and ten bikes were in front of us, all of them ranging from dirtbikes to choppers to crotch rockets.
“Hector, what do you think?” I asked.
“I’m freaking out right now. That’s the new Ducati. Custom painted. Man, I wish I knew how to fix these beasts. I mean, I got a basic bike, but these puppies are next level.”
“You’re in your element, I see.”
I signaled to Diego. Hector had no idea, as he was busy checking out the chrome detail on the bikes.
“Hey, man, do you think you could take him under your wing, in terms of the shop? Teach him some things?” My voice was lowered from the earshot of Hector.
Diego didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I need an extra pair of hands, and he can help out on the paperwork, too. I’ll teach him the ropes. Leave the kid with me. We’re legit here. I don’t know what Vlad told you, but I wouldn’t even think about heading back that way with him. Never was you, Colt.” He tapped me on the back. “I know you were trying to get money for the family, so I respect it. Stick to your horses.”
“I hear you. I’m not anxious to go back to that hellhole any time soon.”
“Good. Let me talk to him.” Diego winked. “Hey, young man. How about you come work with me? We got some rides going on, too. We head up to Yosemite sometimes. What do you think about that? Twenty dollars per hour as a trial, and as you get better, I’ll raise the salary.”
“Are you serious? Isn’t this supposed to be Colt’s gig?” He looked at me
“This is your gig, brother. I’m happy for you. You’re a better fit for it. Follow your passion.”
“Well, shit, then hell yeah, I’m in! Thanks!”
Watching Hector beam with excitement made me realiz that I wasn’t following my own passions. That had to change. I had an idea, but I needed to run it past Bella first.
“Hey, now you know where your new workplace is, you can come here and start. I have to go pick up Bella.”