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I chuckle, slap his shoulder, and tip my head back as a louder laugh builds. “Welcome to the club, Malik.”

“Fuck’s sake, Joker.”

“It’s how Pres works at times, Malik. Go with the flow. It helps not to worry about what he’s up to. Usually, he is spot on with his ideas, and his intentions are always good. You’ll make a fantastic brother once you are past the prospect stage, and thankfully you are a working prospect, not like Ian and the others have been.”

“I suppose so. I’ve seen some of the shit they’ve had to do and I’d not want that.”

“Okay, let’s get to it. As it is, I’ll get my ass reamed when I go inside,” I chuckle as I know Bull will be ready to rip me a new asshole for being late.

I quickly enter the office and am shocked to see Darius sitting at the station next to mine. He has the monitor on and, looking over his shoulder, he is tracking Tread and Winger via their vehicle trackers.

“What’s going on?” I ask Bull and he’s smirking at me from behind his desk.

“Well, Darius has been here for two hours already. He’s worked out how to follow the tracker system. How to check the vehicle cams and answered three calls,” Bull smirks again, and I shrug my shoulders.

“And?” I question, then turn the table on Bull. “Oh, I see. That’s good. I’ll jump in a truck and wait for my destination since Darius is up to speed.” I grab my cut which I’d just this minute removed and placed on the back of my chair.

Darius, I can see is wearing amusement all over his face. Bull looks shocked and is trying not to sputter a reply to my sarcastic comment. While Bull is struggling to find an appropriate reply, I slap Darius’ shoulder, “Give me a recovery and I’m out of here.”

I make my way out of the office fast and rush to where the vehicles are parked. “Malik, which ones are fixed?”

Malik steps out of the garage and lifts an eyebrow. He doesn’t ask what’s going on. He points at a flatbed and a light-duty wrecker. I give him a thumbs-up and lean against the flatbed, waiting for a call from the office.

Malik walks over, and I can see he’s bursting to ask what’s going on. Obviously, his interest is piqued. I fill him in and he laughs with that deep rumbling laugh he has when he knows Bull fucked up when trying to get one over on me.

My cell phone pings, and looking I see the notification has come through for a recovery job. “Good one, Darius,” I say as I turn the phone and show Malik. Who shakes his head and makes his way back to the garage. I run into the garage and grab the keys from the board in the wall cabinet for the wrecker and wave them at Malik. He’ll lock up the cabinet when he leaves, and thanks to Keys it’s used with iris recognition. Not sure when he did Malik’s, but I’m not really interested either.

Checking my destination, making sure it’s in the system so Darius can track the wrecker. I also double-check that the camera feeds are working, and then I get on the road.

Window down, warm breeze flowing over my arm, shoulder, and neck, listening to hard rock on the radio, and I’m made. I’m happy to be back on this side of the recovery business.

By the time I get to the vehicle, the woman is hysterical. She has a Pitbull that is not happy because its owner is not happy, and I give it a wide berth. I love animals, but when that fucker is glaring at you with saliva drooling from its mouth, I’m not stupid enough to try and stroke it.

“Ma’am you need to fasten the dog in the back of the vehicle before I…”

The woman cuts me off before I could finish speaking. “No, Pretty stays with me.”

‘Pretty!’ What the fuck! Who in their right mind calls a huge Pitbull ‘Pretty?’ Well, sorry, but it seems I’m looking at a person who is not in their right mind.

“Lady, I’m not attempting to do my job with your dog getting more and more worked up. I have to get the wrecker lined up with your vehicle, get it set up, secure the wheels and lift so the back end is off the ground. Then secure it further with the secondary safety chains. I’m not doing all that with your dog close enough to have a go. Now, secure the dog, or I’m leaving you.” I lean against the wrecker and fold my arms over my chest while she decides. She’s taking far too long stroking and fuckin’ about with the dog. I take out my cell phone and make the call to the office.

“Joker, what’s up?” Darius asks from his end. I quickly explain the situation and wait while Darius speaks to Bull.

“Give the phone to the woman,” Bull asks from his end of the call.

“My boss wants to speak to you,” I say as I hold my hand out with the phone for her to take. I don’t step toward her because it’s safer if she comes to me. The dog is still alert and although it has stopped snarling, it is staring at me without blinking.

I’m paying no attention to the woman or the call. I’m concentrating on the fuckin’ dog. If it makes a move toward me, I’m in the wrecker and gone before you can say Joker.

The woman hands me the phone and steps toward her dog. I listen to Bull who I can imagine frothing at the mouth. “Get the fuck out of there, Joker. She can deal with her own ass. Darius has checked her membership, and she’s been kicked out of three other recovery companies because the fucking dog attacked the driver. Get in the wrecker now and haul ass back here.”

I do exactly as I’m told and leave the woman and her dog where they are. Funny thing is she doesn’t even try to stop me. She just sits back inside the vehicle with the dog and gives me a wave as I pass.

I settle back into the drive back to base and chuckle at what a waste of time that was, but think that I’ve enjoyed being out of the office. Darius may make a good office helper given time, and with the impound lot not needing someone all day if nothing is being brought in, then he can help wherever needed.

Back at the clubhouse, showered and changed I head downstairs. I overhear Trix speaking with Daisy because they are oblivious to what is going on around them.

“Trudy is in the hospital. You know she was a bunny for a club. Well, it seems a nasty MC was in town, and they wanted her to go to where they were holed up. She said no, and they beat her up badly enough she’s in the hospital,” Trix sniffles and I stand quietly outside the bedroom they are in, but with the door cracked open.