“They can’t even enforce within their territory,” Mack muttered.
Martin shrugged. “My contacts have told me that Hank and Theo have just gotten a huge shipment of stolen parts. My associates and I are going to take it back. Your president offered us a generous cut of the profits. After your last gig tomorrow, the shipment will be ready to take back to La Playa.”
“So, why does Hank own a diner if he makes all his money through stolen cars?” Chase asked.
“The diner is just his way of laundering the money he makes from moving auto parts, which is why the place is going to shit,” Martin answered.
“You don’t really strike me as someone who steals and strips cars,” I interjected.
“I’m not,” Martin said, shrugging. “But I know all sorts of people. This job is part personal and part lucrative. When you take this shipment from Hank, it will ruin him and cripple Las Balas as well.”
“Why do you want to see Hank and Theo ruined?” I asked.
“They hurt my sister,” Martin answered.
I nodded. It was obvious that Hank and Theo were a problem that needed to be taken care of. We finalized plans before Coyote, Chase, Mack, and I left. We had a few hours before our gig, and I needed to update Ryder on what was going on here in Seattle.
Back at the hotel, I filled Ryder in on the situation. He was pretty certain that cutting off Hank and Theo’s source of revenue would cripple them enough that they would be forced to return to La Playa, or at the very least, leave the immediate area. Either way, our job was to lay low and move the parts.
“How much do you care about this girl, Emma?” Ryder asked.
I thought about it. I barely knew her, but was drawn to her in a way I hadn’t ever been drawn to anyone.
“A lot,” I answered.
“Do you love her?” Ryder asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered. “I barely know her but I can’t stop thinking about her. I think I might.”
“After this job, you have a week before you are supposed to go to Oregon,” Ryder said. “You wanted to be a nomad. I hope she agrees to come with you. Stay safe and get the job done.”
We hung up, and my mind raced. I hadn’t thought about what completing this job might mean for Emma and me. I didn’t want to have just one night with her. I wanted more. I wanted the chance to get to know her. Could I convince her to leave her life here and go on the road with me? It was a question I didn’t have the answer to.
Six
Emma
My mind had not stopped racing since I left the library earlier. I’d give anything I had to not go into work tonight, but I knew that if I called off, Hank would fire me. The last time he threatened to fire me, I had to beg him for my job back. I had been sick with strep throat for a few days, and even though I had a doctor’s note, he still made me get on my knees and beg him for my job. I needed this job to survive and knew I could never stomach begging him again.
Sighing, I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and grabbing my purse, I left my apartment. At least I was working with Rose tonight and not Ashley, who was probably on her knees for Hank right now, although for entirely different reasons. I suppressed a gag at the image that thought brought to my mind.
“Hi, Em.” Rose smiled as I walked into the diner. “How’s it going?”
“Good,” I answered. “Martin here?”
“Not yet,” Rose said.
I checked my watch and frowned. We were going to open in an hour. Martin was never this late. Shrugging, I hung my coat up in the back and started helping Rose with the prep. We started Martin’s, too, so he wouldn’t be behind when the first customers came in. The Teton Lounge was having a concert tonight, so we would be pretty slow until the concert was over. It sucked because I knew it was Rex and his band playing, and I had really hoped to see them. But they only played on the weekends, and Hank made me work every weekend.
Glancing at the schedule, I saw that I was pulling doubles all next weekend. I closed my eyes, trying to control the tears that threatened to spill. I knew this was in retaliation for my rejection of Theo. Ashley had seen me step outside after my run-in with Theo and had told Hank. He and Theo were convinced that I knew who had slashed Theo’s tires. I wasn’t about to tell Hank that it was Rex, so I lied and said I didn’t know who did it. He didn’t believe me, and now it looked like he was punishing me.
“Bastard,” Martin said from behind me. I jumped and spun around.
“What?”
Martin pointed to the schedule. “That bastard is making you work doubles all next week. You should just quit.”
“I need this job to survive, Martin.”
“There is a whole big world out there, Em,” Martin said. “Why stay here in this shithole?”
“Better the devil you know,” I answered, shrugging.
“The world isn’t full of devils,” Martin said. “I bet those other biker friends you made last week would let you tag along with them,” he added, winking.
I blushed and swatted at him. “Mind your own business, Martin.”
He laughed and stalked off to the kitchen. I stared after him, thinking about what he had said. This weekend was the last weekend that the Nomad Souls were playing in Seattle. I had no idea where they were going next, but the thought of Rex leaving filled me with a sudden sadness. And a strong desire to jump on the back of his bike and go with him. Shaking my head, I grimaced.
Rex would probably think I was insane if I asked to tag along with him and his buddies, or he would get the wrong idea. I had no desire to be his groupie or whatever.
Picking up the ketchup, I began filling the smaller bottles for the tables, my mind racing again. What did I want with Rex? My mind and body couldn’t forget the kiss from earlier, and I thirsted for more, that was for certain. But could I leave everything here and follow him? Would he want me to? What if I was just a fun distraction for him? I could just be another girl in another town. For all I knew, he could have dozens of girls in dozens of towns waiting for him.
Frowning, I grabbed another small bottle and began filling it.
I will find that man and kill him with my bare hands, and if anyone ever touches you again, I’ll do more than slash their tires.
Rex’s words rang in my ears. He had said it with so much conviction that it was impossible not to believe every word. A man didn’t make that kind of promise for just another girl in just another town.
I should have been shocked or scared that he was threatening to kill someone for me, but the only thing I felt was warm and safe. I wanted to bury myself in his arms and never leave. Sucking in a breath, I stopped pouring the ketchup. Was I in love? I had never been in love, so I didn’t know what it felt like. But I knew my feelings were deep. But how deep?
Before I could explore those thoughts anymore, a loud barrage of cursing filled the diner. Rose and I ran to the back, where we found Martin completely beside himself, kicking the grill.
“Martin! What in the world?” I set the half-empty ketchup bottle on the counter.
“The damn thing is broken again!” Martin yelled, exasperated. “That’s it. We are closed. I am not going to fiddle with this shit tonight. Go home, girls.” He looked at us. “Or go to that concert at the Teton Lounge. You both deserve a night out.”