Boomer

 

It’s Monday and I’m doing all I can to stay away from the little beauty. I want her so bad that I fucked my hand three times since I dropped them off last night. My day’s jammed packed because it always is.

I sat in on the sales meeting with the company I started the second I got out of the service. Having been an explosives expert, it seemed like a quality investment, within three years of working on demolitions I was able to afford to buy this small ghost town and start the rebuild.

With only a population of sixteen hundred and twenty-something people, we were too small to govern ourselves and were registered under the county guidelines which was fine by me because I still ran this shit and didn’t care to be a mayor or have some jackass politician fucking with the little slice of home I built. Since we had our club, the small police force wasn’t really needed at first. As more people moved in for jobs, the trouble started. It wasn’t the workers, but their city kids that got bored at night. I hope it stays that way. Little punks were easy to deal with. It’s the other problems I worry about when places become larger.

We have only three schools in town, elementary, middle and a high school. It’s all we need for the time being. As the town grows so will the schools. Now that I’ve met Crystal, I have a feeling we’ll be adding to the population in the near future. Within minutes, I decided that staying away from her was going to be too hard. If I left her alone, someone else would snatch her up and I know no one else could give her what I can. I had to make an excuse to see her again. Maybe, I’ll visit my wayward sister and bitch her out. Her behavior needs a makeover.

Mentally, I roll my eyes at least six times during this meeting, something I rarely do. My time is precious, now more than ever. I end the meeting ten minutes early because I have a list of things to do before I see Morgan.

I get a call from Wrench as I get to my next meeting. “We have a problem.”

“What is it?” A sense of dread creeps up my spine. Wrench doesn’t contact me for small problems at the shop since it’s his business. He’s one of the few who bought in with their own money. He built the shop and made it prosper with very little help from me.

“There was a fire at the shop. Dude, I think it was intentionally set,” he growls into the phone. I know he’s ready to put a bullet in someone’s head.

“Shit. Is everyone all right?” I ask, knowing I need to assess the situation before acting.

“Yeah, no one was there. And the damage is minimal, but fuck that’s going to set us back. I need to check the secret cameras and find out who was involved.”

“Did you call Law and Boss?”

“Yeah. They told me to call you after Law took the report and Boss filed the insurance information. I’m not in the mood for this shit. Thank fuck we set up the sprinklers in that section. I owe Morgan for that.” I can hear the relief in his voice. Insurance works, but when you work hard for all you have, starting over again can be painful as fuck.

“I’ll tell her. I’m sure she’ll be pleased her idea helped,” I joke. “Do you need me to go over the footage with you?”

“If you got time. I need to make sure I don’t kill someone.” That’s exactly what I thought. If he recognizes the bastard, he’s liable to kill the fucker. I’m with him if that’s what he’s down to do if the guy planned on doing more than that. Did he think Wrench was sleeping in the small apartment above the shop? That’s something to consider when we find him.

“Give me twenty and I’ll be on my way.” I’m driving my truck today because of all the running around I had to do. Some of the shit required my hardhat and meeting materials. I guess seeing Crystal may be out of the question.

Once I arrive, I see Wrench holding some kid up by his collar.

“What the fuck is going on?” I dart to his side. Wrench isn’t the out of control, irrationally angry type. He doesn’t say much, but when he’s pissed people better run.

“Hey, this is the fucker that set my place on fire. He’s stupid as fuck for lingering.” I’ve seen him around. He’s one of the workers at the restaurant in the little strip mall.

“I didn’t mean it,” he exclaims, looking at me for help. He’s out of fucking luck there.

“Fucker, you poured gasoline and set it on fire. That’s meaning to in my fucking book,” Wrench mutters through clenched teeth. “Why?”

“I was paid to do it.”

“By who?”

“Some guys came through town and paid me.”

“Bullshit.”

“I swear. I don’t know who they were, but they said either I do it or I’ll be missing a sister. I waited until no one was around and did it where I saw the sprinklers. I’m sorry.” The kid has to be sixteen, seventeen max, and he’s got fear visibly rippling through him.

Wrench let go of his collar, sending the kid to the floor.

I lean over him, staring into his scared eyes, then give him a warning, “You don’t say a word. We’ll be watching to see if they come back. When they do, you get us. Understood?”

“Yes, sir,” he stammers, running from the building.

“Where was he?” I stare at the burnt part of the building. The damage seems to be minimal, but it’s enough to ruin a bunch of auto parts.

“Lurking outside on a bicycle,” he mutters. His eyes are glued to where the kid ran out.

“For real? Why?”

“Maybe he’s being truthful,” he admits. It’s a scary thing to know someone is after you and have no idea who they are, but that’s how life goes in war. This time if someone wants to bring one to us, we’ll be ready.

“Either way, we keep this under wraps. If he’s telling the truth, we have some fuckers trying to start shit here. And his sister’s life is in danger. Or he’s just a little shit who’ll get an ass beating later.”

“You’re right, Pres.”

“As always,” I acknowledge, cockily nodding my head. “I need to get back to business. This day is getting motherfucking busier by the second. I want a meeting tonight. All of us.”

“Okay. Midnight?”

“Works for me. I’m out. Call if you need me. Get more men patrolling outside. I have a feeling that shit’s about to hit the fan.”

“I’ll be ready.” I walk out, laughing because he will be. I’ve got a few things to handle, but there’s something I need to do first. I call Law.

“You talk to Wrench?” he asks as soon as he answers.

“Yes, I’m just leaving. We’ve got problems. I want someone keeping an eye on my sister. I don’t trust whoever did this. Prospects need to be out in full force.”

“Understood.” After more running around, I make my way to the place I want to be.