Page 25 of Truck

I jump at the chance. “Of course, we’d be happy to have your help and advice.” I look at Xero who is grinning like a fool.

“I will come on Sunday morning and help if that’s good for you? I work at the diner five evenings a week, but I take a little time for resting on Saturday evening, along with a movie and a bag of popcorn.” Rory giggles, and it’s the sweetest sound I think I’ve ever heard.

“Okay, that’s great, so we’ll see you Sunday morning.”

I look at Collins who has just walked over from where he’d been wiping down the new gas pumps. “I’ll get the dumpster ready for the weekend. We’ll have a lot of shit to be taken away once we’ve cleared all this away,” he says while looking at the area in front of us.

“This is Rory. She’s been kind enough to come and help organize us. Rather than paying the huge prices companies charge for landscaping,” in my way of introducing Rory to Collins.

“Hi, Rory. Do you have any idea of what we are going to do?” Collins asks while giving Rory a good look-over. It’s a look over I’m not keen to see and I’ll be telling him to back the fuck off when Rory has left.

“Well, I’m not a gardener per se, but I will visit the garden place and speak to the person in charge. I’m good at getting information, so leave it to me to get what we need.” Rory gives me a pat on the forearm, taking me by surprise somewhat. “I’m going to have to leave you now, Truck. I have some paperwork to get organized for clients that I am helping.”

“Clients? What are you helping them with?” I know I’m nosey, but hey, you don’t find out shit unless you ask.

“I’m a financial manager. I help people manage their money to the best they can.”

I rub my chin and frown before asking, “So what do you do? I have no idea what a financial manager does.”

Collins, Xero, and Mitchell step a little closer, wanting to hear the answer, I’m sure.

“I oversee accounts, produce financial reports, manage budgets, and create strategies on how to make a profit and also cut financial risks. That’s the basics of what I do,” Rory looks at us and gives a shrug. “Okay, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you Sunday.”

With that, Rory wanders over to her vehicle, and we all stand stupidly watching her leave. I even lift my hand and wave for fuck's sake!

“Christ, she is something else. I wonder if she can look at the gas station’s financials once we are up and running? It may save us spending money we don’t need to, and it’s about making enough money to supply us all with an income after all,” Collins throws out before he turns and walks away.

“Oh…” I forcefully state, “Rory is mine; she just doesn’t know it yet.”

Mitchell gives me a dirty look. “You don’t even know her, and have you even taken her out for a meal or anything? Well, she’s open fodder as far as I see it.” He winks at Xero who chuckles before agreeing, and the fuckers walk away mumbling to each other.

Goddamn, I’m going to have to up the timeline on getting to know Rory. If that fucker thinks he’s going to jump in and get to Rory first he has another think coming!

Seven in the evening, and although I was going to the diner to eat, I wanted to speak to Coin about what I had learned about Rory. I’m sure the fact that she knows about organizing money will be of interest to him.

I finish the meal and am about to take my plate to the kitchen when Ghost bursts into the clubhouse shouting for Pres. We all jump to our feet and are ready for whatever the fuck is going on.

“Pres, you've gotta see what I brought you…” Ghost laughs loudly.

Tracker, who had been heading back toward his office turns and walks toward Ghost. “What have you got for me?”

“You need to see what is in the back of my truck. You’re gonna like it,” Ghost is laughing the entire time he’s speaking.

Of course, we all follow behind to see what the fuck he has in his truck. What none of us expected was a man tied up like a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Tracker, now in President mode, looks at Ghost and blandly demands, “Explain!”

“This is the man who sent the two assholes you had in the shed. He’s the one who is a cousin to Maddog Hughes and thought he was brave enough, and clever enough to take you on, Pres.”

Ghost is saying all this with so much excitement in his voice that I have to look at him twice. He is the blandest person you could meet. Normally hardly speaks and can get in and out anywhere without you noticing, but at this minute he is gushing with excitement like a girl at prom.

“Nice!” Pres replies as he gives a flick of his head to Cap and Hot Rod who are standing closest to him. Normally it would be Finger, but he’s gone to the house with Cilla because Ayla was grizzly.

Rubbing his hands together Pres follows the pair carrying the asshole to the shed. I’m not missing this, so I quickly follow behind and don’t even try to stop the smirk that’s plastered across my face.

Half-an-hour later I’m leaning against the shed wall, inside of course, and watching this asshole being beaten to a pulp. Cap, Rides, Finger, who arrived after being told what was going on, Hot Rod, and Scalpel have had a round of boxing with his body. The ‘My punch was harder than yours’ and ‘Hey, he bleeds if you hit him here,’ to which the asshole pisses blood. Seems his kidney is taking a battering. Am I sickened by any of this? No, certainly not. From what we know so far, this bastard was working alongside Maddog, and should have run when he had the chance. Now he thought he was going to get some payback for his cousin; instead, he is going to meet his cousin in hell.

“Stop, please stop. I’m sorry, I’ll disappear and you’ll never see me again,” the sniveling asshole cries.