Page 30 of Stag

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I sat back on my ride to dig it out of my leathers, and the two words that showed up made my blood chill in my veins.

Bennetts: You’re welcome.

What the fuck. Why were they messaging me right now? And what was I welcome for? What the hell did they do?

I didn’t want to ask, but I had to know because these fuckers counted everything they did as a debt to be repaid, and I didn’t even know what they’d done. Not knowing could be more deadly in the long run.

Me: Welcome for what?

I stared warily at my phone to wait for a response, but what if they didn’t reply? Then I’d just be wondering and shitting my pants for the rest of my days, or at least until they called again wanting me working for them.

Bennetts: We have connections. You got off early with good behaviour. We help out our friends, see. It’s a reciprocal thing. So… you’re welcome.

Fuck me. They were the reason my sentence was over? They somehow made that happen? Who the fuck were these people and how did they have that kind of power? The dots started bouncing again, telling me they were about to message again, and I panicked, because I don’t want more messages, not from them, not ever.

Me: Thank you. I appreciate it.

The dots stopped in the nick of time. Were they going to keep hounding me until I thanked them like a good little boy? How would I ever have known if they didn’t push me for a reaction? These fuckers were way scarier than I realised.

I figured I should let the Pres know, but at the last second, I dialled Harley instead.

“Hey, brother. All okay?”

I sighed, leaning on my helmet as I wondered about the answer to that question.

“Not sure. The Bennetts got my sentence cut short, so I’m uh… I’m done at the road crew.”

His sharp intake of breath was what I’d hoped for. It wasn’t just me thinking this shit was bizarre, and somehow risky for us.

“How do you know they were involved?”

“They messaged me to make sure I knew. I never asked for their help, you know that, right? I’d never fucking ask them for anything.”

He chuckled, but there was no mirth in it. “I know. They aren’t making any demands right now, right?”

“No. Just making sure I appreciate their unwanted help, I guess. Not sure what to do with myself right now though.”

Harley chuckled again, a slightly less strained sound this time.

“You could come and help me out. I’m just rearranging the shop. We’re bringing in a new range of helmets and I need to show them off by the window.”

Ah fuck. I opened my mouth to answer, and that’s when my future old lady saved my bacon.

Her door opened and slammed closed behind her, and she marched down the road in my direction. Had she seen me? Was she pissed at me? Nope. She suddenly halted, tugging her coat tighter around her.

“You.”

Busted.

Claudia

Movie night was a mistake. She spent the first ten minutes willingly watching quietly beside me, and then she tapped my arm.

*I just love you, you know that, right?*

I sighed, because clearly she wasn’t done justifying her behaviour lately.

*I know. Can we just watch the movie?*