Page 112 of Truck Off

“Do I wanna know how you’re gonna make that happen?”

“Nope.” He pops his P the same as I did, and it makes me laugh.

“Alright. She’ll be staying with me tonight and leaving for work from there. I told her I’d check on her dad. She doesn’t get off work until six, but I think I can keep her there later if it’ll help.”

“Oh, it’ll help.” He tosses back the rest of his beer before pushing to his feet. Then he holds his hand out for a shake. I take it. “Gotta say, it was nice doing business with you. No bullshit, and straight to business.”

“I see no reason for bullshit when the questions and answers are simple. Besides, you’re paying the club’s debt to me with this one. Just to be clear.”

He stares at me for a moment like he’s trying to figure out if I’m legit or full of shit. Because of my jovial personality, most assume I’m full of shit. Thankfully, Edge is the kind of man that can see past that and right to the heart of the matter.

“That’s a hell of a debt, Chase.” His voice is impersonal, but it’s not directed toward me. He knows the score, and the club loses by a long shot.

The club’s past actions are the reason my mom is an addict. They’re the reason Christian is a recovering addict. When Edge took over as president, he promised me retribution. All I had to do was name the price.

“It is.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “And I’m cashing it in. For her.”

He takes a long pull from his beer before he speaks again. “In that case, we’ll double up our efforts. She won’t recognize the place by the time we’re done.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“Lina’s a good girl. I hate what my predecessor put her and her family through. I also hate what they did to your family. I’ve been waiting a long time to right that wrong. Thanks for making it happen.”

I nod. “She means a lot to me. I only want the best for her. As much as she and George need a better place to live, she needs this closure with the MC more. I hope this act will give her that.”

“Me too.” He narrows his eyes and studies me. “What about you? Will this ease your mind? Give you the closure you’re looking for?”

I shrug. “Don’t know. But I hope this will get me one step closer.”

With a heavy sigh, he pushes to his feet. Pausing next to me, he squeezes my shoulder. “You’re a good man Chase. Lina is lucky to have you.”

Then he heads back to the poker table. I finish my beer and head for the exit.

I came here tonight prepared to convince Edge to help. Thankfully, he made it easy on me.

Let’s just hope Lina thinks this is a good thing. Otherwise I’m fucked.

Chapter 27

I’m so mad at you

Lina

Without my permission, my eyes wander over to the clock on the wall. I’m finishing up the details on my last client of the day, and instead of focusing on my work, I’m watching the damn clock.

Chase insisted on driving me to work today. He said he had a surprise for me when I got off. No one has ever given me a surprise before him, and he’s already surprised me on more than one occasion.

If his teasing grin this morning was meant to evoke anticipation, it worked. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him and this surprise all day.

I shake my head and assess my work. Today is the last session for a regular of mine, Jazz. Every tattoo on her body is a custom design of yours truly. She came in for her first tattoo four years ago and was instantly hooked. After this large shoulder and back tattoo is complete, she won’t have much skin left to ink.

“Almost done,” I say as I grab the black ink. “Just need to add a hint of shadow in a few places to give this depth.”

“Sounds great,” her raspy voice replies.

Jazz is about ten years older than me and has probably had a much harder life than me too. She smokes a pack a day and drinks like a fish out of water. Her hair is a different color every time she comes in, and her clothes barely cover her body—even in the dead of winter.

But she’s got a heart of gold and is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.

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