Page 4 of Pedal to the Metal
Chapter Two
Savannah
I lookat the money Raze left on the counter— a $38 tip on a two dollar cup of coffee. I know most of the brothers tip well when they go out. I didn’t realize they tipthatwell.
“That’s an awful generous tip for a two dollar cup of coffee,” Rivet says, coming up behind me adding, “Don’t think I didn’t notice his cut. He must be pretty new.”
“I was thinking the same thing when I saw it.” I sigh. I always avoided talking about anything having to do with the club whenever Pops or Jager called, so I know nothing about any new brothers, prospects, or current happenings with the club.
All I know right now is that Jager is in the hospital and he isn’t doing well. Pops called a week ago, and we left the next day. Why have I been home for a week and haven’t told anyone? Because I’m scared. I’m terrified of losing another brother. “Hey, Buster texted me. He and a few of the guys are in town for a visit. They want to see what our race nights are all about.”
“Is it worth risking the brothers seeing us? Are we ready to find out what’s going on with Jager?” she asks, concern lacing her voice. Buster reminded me of that too. Is it worth it? Am I ready to face reality?
“It looks like we’re gonna have to be ready.” I shrug.
A few hours go by, and we finish up at work. We leave the diner and head over to Tink and Lolita’s house. They’re the only ones associated with the club that know we’re in town, but they don’t really count. Rivet and I met them in middle school, and we’ve all been best friends since. We’ve been crashing at their house until we decide to tell the club we’re back. They were total lifesavers and kept our cars for us while we were in Arizona, making it easier to come home without telling the club.
While we were in Arizona, Riv worked at a diner close to our house, and I worked at an auto parts store. That store is where I met Buster. We talked and got to know each other a bit. We made a deal if Rivet and I helped work on the cars, he would loan each of us one to race. We had so much fun. Racing gives us such a rush. I’m not into drugs, maybe just a little weed every now and then. So Friday nights, racing became my high.
We pull up to the house, and neither of their cars is here, which means they must be working. Lolita works atRosie’s, the 24/7 diner the club owns, and Tink works at Big Shots, the club-owned bar. You won’t find a better diner or bar in town.
Rivet heads straight for her room while I go to the kitchen to get a quick bite to eat. She always showers as soon as we get home. I don’t blame her. We always come home smelling like the diner. I know if I don’t eat now, I’ll get distracted and won’t eat until after we race. By then, it’ll be after midnight, and I’ll be hangry. And when I get hangry, I tend to be a bit sassier than normal. I finish eating and head to my room to shower. Before I do, I text Buster our address and tell him to be here at nine.
I shower and get dressed. I braid my hair, French braid pigtails, and tie a bandana around my head, Rosie the Riveter style. As soon as I’m finished, I go find Rivet. I find her in her bathroom.
"You about ready?" I ask her.
"Yup, just finishing up," she responds as she swipes mascara across her eyelashes.
I head out to the living room just as I hear the roaring of multiple cars getting closer. I look out the window and see Buster, Diesel, Clutch, and Shade all pull up to the house. They must all be planning to race since they each brought their cars. Buster and Shade both drive a Nissan Skyline GT-R. Diesel drives a Camaro. And Clutch drives a Honda Civic. All good looking cars, but they got nothing on my Chevelle.
We head out to the warehouse. It's in a great location. Nothing else is around it, so the chance of the cops showing up is slim. It's always at some abandoned industrial warehouse but a different one each week. A lot of people race on Friday nights to make sure their cars are ready for Race Wars at the end of the month. Some come thinking they'll make a quick buck, and others come for the fights held inside the warehouse. We park our cars along the side of the racing strip so we can watch some of the races. They’re just now getting started.
We're all reminiscing and laughing about some good times we had in Arizona when Buster hops off his car. His body instantly takes a defensive stance, and I turn around to see what he’s looking at.
I let out a light laugh when I see Rascal, Kicks, Sketch, Hollywood, Raze, and some other guy I haven’t met yet, walking our way. Rascal looks pissed. I look back to Buster and say, “Stand down, B. Those are the Savage Menaces.”
"I take it by the look on that guy’s face they didn't know you were back?" he asks as he relaxes just a fraction.
"Nope," I respond, popping the p. I turn back to the brothers. "Hey, Ras!" I call out as they get closer.
"What the fuck, Minx? Don't 'hey Ras' me. You just show up without giving anyone a heads up, with God knows who," Rascal yells at me. "Who the fuck are these guys? Do you know what kind of hell we've been going through this last month?" He peppers me with questions.
"Yeah, my pops, your Prez, called and told me Jager is in the hospital. That's why we're here," I spit back. "These guys are friends from Arizona, Rascal. Took care of us and helped us while we were there. They're good people, so calm your ass down."
"You should have called. There's shit going on with the Iron Lords. We would have put prospects on y'all," he says to me a little calmer but still pissed off.
"We don't need prospects following us around. We grew up the same way y'all did. We can protect ourselves better than those damn prospects, even on their best day," I bite out at him. My pops and the other brothers taught all of us kids how to shoot guns and fight. They would only teach us girls how to protect ourselves, but Hawk and Kicks taught us how to really kick some ass.
"Can you really, though?" Buster says just loud enough, so I'm the only one that hears him. I glare at him before looking back to Rascal, not wanting to have to explain anything to the brothers. "I'm not here to fight with you. I'm here to fucking race. So either shut up and watch or leave."
He looks taken aback for a brief second. Then turns and whispers to Raze and the other guy. He turns to me. "Come by the clubhouse and see your Pops tomorrow." And he walks away.
"Yes, Sir," I say with a mock salute to his retreating back. I grin as Rivet giggles.
Kicks, Sketch, and Hollywood tip their chins up in a silent farewell and take off after Rascal, leaving Raze and his buddy still standing here.
