“Laura’s boyfriend.”
“That fuckin’ little skinny jean wearing bastard? Did you find out his name?” My gaze pins Caelin to his seat.
“Yeah, Owen Fitzpatrick.”
“Big name for such a small dick.”
Drew snorts, trying to keep the smile off his face. He coughs to cover it up, then speaks to Caelin. “What do we know?”
“Real small-time weed dealer. I mean I don’t even think he’s growing it. He’s getting it from someone else. He’s been arrested a few times, looks like he’s got a court date coming up in about two weeks.”
“Maybe we should show up at court and see who he’s got on his side.”
“Wouldn’t be a bad idea.” Drew scratches at the beard on his face.
“Thinking like him.” I’m trying to put the pieces together. “A cash drop for Wet Wanda’s is more money than he sees in at least six months. He could be trying to buy his way into being a bigger deal.”
“Right.” Caelin smacks his hand on the table. “What about that dude you beat the shit out of at the gas station? He was trying to steal cash, too.”
“He was, but he took off like a bat outta hell.”
“It coulda been Owen, it’s been a few months since that incident.” Drew takes a drink of his coffee.
“I mean it could be, but what I really think is we should try and get some eyes on this Owen guy.”
“He knows all of us.”
“Not all of us.” I grin. “What about the teacher? The one who worked with B who was interested? This could be his shot to officially be a prospect.”
“Let me get in touch with him,” Drew pulls his phone out of his pocket.
“I’ll get to the shop and make sure everything is kosher down there, you take care of this. We’ll meet in the middle if we need to.”
“Y’all be safe,” Caelin cautions as we break our meeting.
“You too.” I point at him. “Don’t go poking around in shit you have no business poking around in.”
“Me?” He puts his thumbs toward himself. “Never!”
Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.
The shop is booming today, like always. We’re honestly blessed to be able to support ourselves with legal means and not to have to dip into the illegal shit most MC’s have to. Not to say we don’t make extra money on the side from Wet Wanda’s, but for the most part we do things the right way.
“Dalton,” Tatum yells.
She’s been going back and forth lately, working for both Charity and us when needed. I’m not even sure she knows where she’s supposed to be, and when, but it all seems to work out.
“Yeah?” It’s loud in the bays, so I start walking closer.
“There’s someone here to see you.” She points out to what looks to be a young kid, leaning against a bike. I’ve never seen him before, immediately I’m slightly on edge.
“Can I help you?”
He turns to me, and he’s even younger than I thought he was. Probably around Caelin’s age, if I had to guess. “Hey, man, I know this is weird, but my name’s Dakota and I met your wife in treatment a while ago. She told me if I ever needed anything, to let her know.” He scratches at his head. “I need a job, so I can get a roof over my head.”
My eyes stray to his arm as he scratches his head, there are old wounds, long ago healed on his forearm and wrist. He’s skinny, and doesn’t look like he’s had anyone to take care of him for a long time.
“My wife?” I play dumb. I need him to tell me what he knows.
“Yeah, Mandy. I met her at Magnolia.”
There weren’t many outside of the club who knew she went there, but I still need to verify before I trust everything he’s saying. Blind trust gets people hurt.
“Hang tight, my man. Let me make a phone call. Go on in there and tell Tatum you want some food and a drink. She’ll get you set up.”
“Appreciate it.” He puts his hand out for me to shake.
“No big deal.”
I watch him go into the office, knowing good and well Tatum can take care of herself, before pulling out my phone and hitting a pre-programmed button.
“Hey,” she answers.
The smile in her voice makes me smile back before I even realize what I’m doing. “Hey, babe, I have a question for you.”
“This sounds serious.”
“Could be. Maybe, maybe not. Just wanna make sure I’m not being swindled. Do you know a kid named Dakota, he’s got a scar on his cheek?”
“Yeah,” she answers. “Met him at Magnolia. Told him if he ever needed anything he could come to us. Is he there?”
My anxiety lessens slightly when I hear her confirm what he said. “Showed up today at the shop, asking for a job to keep a roof over his head.”
“He probably just got out. I’ll warn you that I don’t know a lot about him, but what I was able to see, he looked legit.”
My eyes float to where he’s at in the offices with Tatum. “I mean it’s not like we don’t have shit for him to do.”
“If you’re unsure whether to trust him, put him up at a hotel for the night, have Caelin run his background, and then make a decision. All I’m saying is what he’s told you about knowing me is true.”
“Thanks, I’ll see you tonight.”
“Don’t forget,” she warns. “We have the student-teacher conference with Walker’s teacher.”
“Shit.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I completely forgot. I’m gonna have to meet you there. We’re covered up.”
“You know when you come straight from the shop is my favorite way to get you.”
I chuckle low in my throat. “You’re the only woman I know who gets turned on by the smell of motor oil and sweat.”
“I was made for you, what
