“Fuck yeah, I do.” I fell into step beside him as we headed through what used to be the front door and out across the parking lot that still bore the signs for taxiing planes. A smaller building had been turned into a shooting range as a way to make use of all the land we got with the deal. And because we all fucking love our guns.
“I got about a dozen different autos and semis because dudes love coming in here to shoot’em, and they pay a fuck load of money for the privilege.” Savior grinned back at me as we walked through the main retail area and back towards the stalls. “I got a good deal on’em too. Gonna get the prospects to review’em later.”
I laughed and shook my head because it was typical fucking Savior. “You really missed your calling as a cutthroat businessman.”
“Nah. This way I get to make a ton of money without having the Man on my ass, and I don’t have to fucking shave every day.” He pulled out two pieces and we were quiet as we loaded them up and headed outside. “It’s perfect weather for shootin’.”
“Yeah.” It was nice out and after sleeping a full night, I figured it was time to see how it felt being behind a piece of metal again. Squeezing the trigger to feel the quick jerky motions of an automatic weapon felt like coming home. Five seconds in and I already felt like I never stopped shooting, and I hadn’t. Not really, but I had taken some time away from everything that reminded me of my past. This felt nice.
Until it didn’t. I set the piece down, unloaded, disassembled and cleaned it while Savior kept firing with a shit eating grin on his face. He whooped and hollered until he ran out of ammo, then he reloaded and started all over again. I watched him and the joy he seemed to have at something so simple and I envied that. “You want another weapon?”
I shook my head. “Nah, I’m happy to watch you shoot like a fool.” And I was. Happy to watch him and let my thoughts wander to Jana. Eventually I wandered inside when a few of the prospects came to test out the new hardware, the area got loud and raucous.
“Looks who’s returned to the land of the goddamn livin’!”
I smiled and looked up, way up and the biggest, baddest Army Ranger the world has ever seen. “Cross, what the fuck is up man?” I greeted our club President with a broad smile and a fist bump.
“Shit. Keeping the monk
eys in line. You look good man, glad to see you around.”
“Yeah,” I sighed. “I’m trying something different, so we’ll see how it goes.” I didn’t want to get into it, but I needed Cross to know I was working on my shit.
“Glad to hear it. There’s some problem with the baked goods vendor and I need you to deal with it.”
I nodded and headed to the office so I could take a look at what he was talking about. For the next few hours, I could admit that it felt damn good to get back into things, even if for just a little while. In the middle of arguing with the baker about their use of new ingredients, a text came in.
Thanks for the basket. Want to share it with me tonight? ~JC
I smiled. Big. “If you want to keep our business you need to make this right. I’ll give you a couple days to figure out how.” I hung up and sent a message back to Jana.
More than anything. Should I bring anything?
I held my breath and waited for her to respond. When she did, all the air sucked out of the room.
Just you. See you soon, Max.
Damn. And just like that I was hot and hard, and eager to see Jana. I moved like my ass was on fire, saving documents and writing notes for shit I needed to do tomorrow, or whenever I wasn’t so distracted by a curvy blond with kind eyes. Kind eyes? That was how bad she fucked with my head and had me saying shit like kind eyes. What the fuck does that even mean? Dogs have kind, soulful eyes. Not women.
I needed to fuck her. I wanted to bury my cock deep, lose myself in a soft, willing female like Jana. No, not like Jana. I wanted Jana. There was something about her, maybe it was her sassy mouth or the way she seemed to just get shit, that called to me. But I was too fucked up for more than a few nights of fucking, so what I needed was to satisfy my hunger, my lust and move on. Like always.
“Leaving already?”
I looked at Cross. “It’s handled and something came up.”
“I’ll bet,” he laughed as two Bitches lounged across his big body, wearing next to nothing but mile high stilettos. “See you around Max. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I won’t. Later, brother.” I headed back out into the sun, threw on my shades and helmet and aimed my bike towards my little house. I lived in a regular ass neighborhood and I did it on purpose. Brandt had assured me that living among the people—the families and kids—I fought to protect would make shit easier. It did, but not in the way he meant. Kids didn’t give a shit if you were grumpy, especially when their parents had them convinced you were a goddamn hero. I wasn’t a hero, but I couldn’t tell them that, and the truth was I liked having those little faces look up at me like I was their god given protector. If I could bottle those looks and keep them for late at night when I couldn’t sleep, I’d be fucking cured.
The block I lived on would be described by a realtor as idyllic. Trees lined streets wide enough for cars to park and pass with no problems. There were basketball hoops, goal posts, bases and bats littering the yards and sidewalks. Bikes were turned on their sides everywhere to serve as proof this street was run by the ankle biter set.
“Hey Mr. Ellison!”
The engine still purred when Elijah Walker called out to me. “What’s up kid?”
“How do you keep that motorcycle up?”
I turned and grinned. “The same way you stay up on your bicycle. Muscles and good balance.”