Page 28 of Shar: A Woman Alone

Once Gunner has left the office, I lean back in my seatmulling over all that is happening at this point in time. I am more than happywe are coming away from the illegal shit. We’ve lost brothers in the past dueto gunrunning and drug hauling. I’m not willing to lose more if I can help it.I’m not down for burying any more brothers apart from old age and disease.

Tapping on the desktop I consider my next job of the day,which is speaking to Psycho and Porky because if they are not willing to workthe junkyard, there is no point us trying to purchase the place. I would needthem here to check it out before they gave me a solid decision.

Picking up my phone, I call Psycho’s number, and he answerson the second ring. “Yeah, what’s up?” He quickly asks.

“You chilling somewhere?” I ask and grin to myself as I heartalking in the background.

“We just stopped at a diner to grab a bite to eat and adrink. We didn’t want to stop a few more miles down the road again, except forgas. Anyway, what can we do for you?”

Sighing because I’m not sure this is going to go as I wantit to, but it won’t happen if I don’t push for it. “You know the junkyard onthe edge of town?”

“Yeah, passed it enough times. The place has gotten rundown, and time the old fucker sold it to some younger and fitter people.”

Now that is interesting. Seems Psycho has taken notice ofthe place, but shocks me even more when he continues, “If me and Porky hadenough, we’d have pushed the old fuck to sell it to us. It has potential forsure, and you know the town needs that place. It caters to towns around us,too.”

“Well, it’s funny you say all that because the club isthinking of purchasing the place, but we need someone to run it. I was thinkingof you, Porky and Croc, since you are the closest of brothers.” I hold mybreath because this is the point he’ll either tell me to go fuck myself or beinterested enough to come look. “Now, before you say anything, I reckon itwould be ideal if you come on back to take a solid look at the place. We’ll notput any offers in until you have given it the go-ahead. You’ll be responsiblefor the place, answerable, and keep it legit.”

“Let me discuss it with Porky and I’ll get back to you,Pres. But it’s a possibility if we are going to be left to run it as we thinkfit, keep legit too.” Psycho cuts the call and I lean back in my seat with asmall grin on my face because I think I’m going to get my brothers back.

Pulling up the group chat on my phone for all my officers, Iquickly tap out, I need them in the office. Placing the phone on the desk, Isit back and wait.

Fifteen minutes later, all officers are sitting in myoffice, waiting for me to start the meeting. “Okay, I wanted you all herebecause as officers of the club, your opinion counts more than most, and ofcourse you know where the club finances, etcetera, are at. I spoke with themayor and asked what businesses he felt the town was lacking. It wasinteresting and his reply was the junkyard, for starters. Now, I’ll come backto that in a moment. Apart from the junkyard, he mentioned a hardware store, abutcher shop, and a tech store. Personally, I think the butcher shop needsdropping, but that is just my way of thinking. What do you all think of thosethree?”

Atlas, our road captain, nods, “Well, I think a hardwarestore is well needed in town. I have often heard people complaining they haveto go out of town for stuff, or get online, but then they have to wait fordelivery. There is that small store on the corner of Fourth and Main, thatwould be an ideal location for one.”

“Yeah, I think you're right, Atlas. I’ve heard Cord had toorder shit through Zip for the garage, and it’s making it take far longer thanit should to get things done,” Pen adds to the conversation.

Zip leans forward as he speaks, getting my attention.“That’s right. I’ve had quite a few ask me to order stuff for the strip club,garage, and the diner. I have to make the orders then throw the invoices overto Bank.”

“I think all these are good ideas, and there is not enoughwork for all the brothers. I think this is where the dissatisfaction stemsfrom, as they are worried about where their next dollars are coming from,”Brawl, our Sergeant at Arms, states.

“Okay, Pen, Bank and Zip, get all the information you canand we’ll discuss it in church. We’ll need to see who wants to step into whatrole. Now, are we talking tech store as well?” I ask, looking at Zip becausehe’s our tech man after all.

“You know, I reckon if we go for a larger shop, or store,depending on what you want to call it, we could have half the hardware and theother half tech. That way, it would always be covered if a brother or brothershad to step out.” Zip looks from one of us to another, and I can see the momentthey all agree.

“Okay, I see you all like that idea, so we need to look fora place big enough to do that. Get all the information before we decide onanything.” I tap the desk and look at Bank because he’s the money man afterall.

“Yeah, we’ll do that, Pres, then let you know when we areready to bring it to the table for the brothers to vote on it,” Bank responds.

“What about the butcher's idea?” I ask, knowing what theresponse will be, and sure enough, it’s voted down for the time being at least.It’s put on the shelf for now, but we may look into it at a later date.

“So, what about this junkyard?” Brawl asks, and he looksmore than a little interested.

“I think it would be an ideal way to get Psycho and Porkyback. I’ve spoken to Psycho, and he’s interested. He’ll speak to Porky, thenget back to me. Those two and Croc would be ideal for the place, and we couldlet them run it as they see fit. The club would benefit as owners, and we addthat as an extra business to our collection. Because that’s what we’re doingbrothers. We are collecting businesses that suit our brothers. Ground them tothe club and the town, giving them regular cash, and I sincerely hope a goodlife.” The brothers are all nodding in agreement, and I’m proud of them formaking the jump for the shit we were involved in, to coming clean. “Oh, I wantto just ask if you are all happy to keep Lira as a permanent member of staff,so to speak?”

Again, all heads are nodding and ayes, called out. Shrapnel,our medic, grins. “For sure we keep her. Have you tasted her cooking? She cookshealthy too. You know that the meal last night was vegetarian, and not a singlebrother complained we didn’t have meat.”

Now, I am not sure any of us noticed that because he’sright, no one complained, and that meal was damn tasty. I had second helpings,and I think Trip had three. “I can still taste it,” I admit and get chucklesand nods from the brothers in agreement. “Okay, we tell her she’s in for thelong haul. Make sure that room is good for her, Trip. It was shabby, and nowshe’s here permanently, it needs to be decent. Oh, check on her grandmother'ssituation too. I think all is good now, but let me know.”

“Will do, Pres,” Trip responds.

“Okay, let’s wrap this up and report back to me beforechurch.” I watch as they all leave apart from Crack, who has been quietthroughout the meeting.

Standing from his seat and heading to look out of thewindow, Crack sighs before turning and looking at me. “Well, I did my best,Pres. I kissed Shar.”

“You did, and how did it go? You going to be coupled upnow?” I grin as I ask.

“Nope, we didn’t have a spark. Not a single one. It was flatas fuck. So, we sistered and brothered up, and that’s it.” Sighing again, Crackwalks out of the office, leaving me thinking shit, he really wanted her.

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