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I’m nearly done checking when Darius walks into the office. “Morning, Bull, Joker.”

“Morning, Darius,” I quickly reply, and notice all he gets from Bull is a grunt.

“Those two stations have had the security checks we are completing at the start of your shift, and again at the end,” Bull states as he points to me. “Joker will fill you in.” With that, the asshole walks out of the office, and I roll my eyes at the nerve.

I quickly fill Darius in on what is needed and ask if he’s heard anything about the impound lot.

“No, nothing more than we already knew. We are waiting for the sale to be completed. Then it’s going to be a case of cleaning the bungalow out, finding what needs to be done, replaced, or whatever, before Malik and I can move in.”

“The good thing is it’s not that far if you have to commute between the office and the impound lot. You can do that in a few minutes. Are you still driving that truck that needs more than a little tender lovin’ care?” I say it with a joke in my tone.

“Yeah, but once I get a regular salary I’m saving up for a Hog. If I’m going to be a brother of the club eventually, I’ll need a decent bike.”

I grunt an agreement on that statement. “Yeah, you’ll love the rides. They are freeing for the soul,” I tell him while meaning every word.

“I’m more than grateful that the club are allowing both myself and Malik to become a part of things at the garage and the impound lot. We were both losing our way some. We were thinking of leaving town to look for a better life.”

“I know for many people sitting around with nothing to do is bliss. But men like us don’t do that well. Once you’ve been in the service you were taught to move, do, keeping going, and none that I know would think of sitting on their ass all day watching TV,” I scoff at the thought, and I can see Darius feels the same.

I point at the screen and grin. “Look at Echo. He’s after Briony again. I’m not sure if she isn’t into him, or she’s giving him the runaround for the fun of it.” I chuckle when Briony slams the shower block door in Echo’s face. But when the fucker turns and walks back towards the garage, he has a shiteating grin on his face.

“Don’t get involved, Joker. Unless you think he’s harassing her, that is. Doesn’t she clean for Finger now?” Darius asks as he watches the monitor.

“Yeah, she does. She helps Finger and Cilla, Truck and Rory, and now Pres.”

“Have you spoken to her? She is very quiet, speaks softly, and gets on with her work without fuss,” Darius seems impressed, but if Echo thinks he’s interested in Briony, we could end up with a bar fight on our hands.

“Actually, no, I haven’t spoken to her. I’m mostly in here. I’ll make sure she has a pass for the compound. Just in case it has slipped everyone’s mind. The last thing we need is this fucked-up club coming and Briony turning up for work and she can’t get onto the compound.”

Darius nods as he answers the phone on his headset and coordinates the rescue. Another idiot who runs out of gas. I smirk right up until Darius gives me the job of taking gas and getting the idiot on his way again.

“Thanks, mate,” Mr. Markham says sheepishly after I filled him with enough gas to get to the gas station.

“Next time make sure you put gas in, because vehicles don’t run on fresh air,” I give him a smirk, and he looks embarrassed enough that I don’t say more. I left a condom tied to the handle of the back door of his car. Let’s hope he finds it before he gets home to the wife!

It doesn’t take long to get back to the gas station, fill up the truck, and head to the office. Passing the garage once parked, I see Malik speaking to someone on the phone. He waves me over, and I saunter my butt with no sense of urgency.

Finishing the call, Malik has a sour look on his face. “I just heard from a friend that the bikers we are waiting to arrive are in Colorado, but nearer to the state line on our side than the other. He said he’ll keep his eyes open and let me know as soon as they leave the state. When you go to the clubhouse will you let them know?”

“Good to hear shit that will help us be prepared. I’m going over to the clubhouse as soon as Bull gets back. I’ll tell Pres and Keys. It will give Keys a place to watch. He’ll follow the fuckers on the street cams. Pres will call lockdown and we’ll be ready. The town is waiting just the same as we are. It’ll be like a ghost town when they get here.” I smirk because I can imagine the streets being empty and no shops open. It will tell them we were ready, and if they are wise, they’ll keep moving along.

Later that same afternoon I head into Pres’ office and tell him what information Malik gained. As always, he listens without reacting. I can see the tic in his cheek, and that means he is pissed, or wired up for something to happen.

“We wait, but be ready. They are getting closer. Watch your back when out on a job, Joker. Don’t take any risks.” Suddenly Tracker’s face changes to one of sheer delight, and he’s staring at the door. Turning, I’m shocked to see Ayla crawling into the office. I take a step forward to pick her up, but hearing, “Stop!” I do and look at Tracker who has stepped around his desk and is squatting down with his arms out to Ayla.

Now, that little shit can move and she is crawling quickly, but all the while she is crawling, she is chanting, “Acker, Acker.” As she reaches Tracker and he picks her up, she squeals loudly and throws her arms around his neck. Tucking her head into the side of his neck.

The sight of Tracker with this child stirs something in me. He can kill a man without thinking twice about it, yet here he is loving this little girl. He is whispering in her ear while he holds her gently to him.

Cilla bursts through the door, and I step back out of the way because she can be crazy when it comes to Ayla. It’s a mama bear issue I think, and I’m not stupid enough to get in the way of that.

I sneak out of the office while Cilla and Tracker are bickering under their breaths, making sure not to upset Ayla.

Walking through the common room, I stop and listen to the prospect, Robert, speaking with Aspen. You’d never know they were cousins, but that’s another thought to be put away for another day.

“The cover is being tested tonight, and if it’s working without an issue, I’ll fill the pit tomorrow. Once that’s done, Robert, I’ll be moving on. I’m looking at working in Florida where it’s warm and I’ve had an offer for a well-paid job,” Aspen is looking at Robert with such a sorry look on her face I turn and look away.

We’ve all seen how close they are as cousins, and with Robert having no family to call upon, he sees Aspen as the only family he has. Once he’s a full brother, I’m sure he’ll have more family than he wants.