Page 25 of Ripper
“You or any of your buddies come within a few feet of here and I will personally dig your fucking grave. You got it?”
I could tell that they were fresh meat because once they got to their feet, they were off before I could do anything. I winced at the pain in my jaw, inching closer to Ronnie, caressing her cheek.
“What happened?”
“They came in here trying to steal a few of the bikes I was working on. I’m usually never here this late, and I left the door open. It was my fault,” she said, glancing down at her feet.
“Hey, Ronnie. This is not your fault. Those fuckers aren’t gonna bother you again, okay?”
She nodded, resting her head on my chest. She looked up at me, and I pulled her in close, pressing her lips up against mine. She pulled away slightly, grabbing a clean washcloth from her work belt, dabbing my lip. I winched again as she pressed on my wound and she lessened the pressure.
“I don’t know what would’ve happened if you weren’t here, Ripper.”
“I’ll always be here for you, sweet pea. Always. I’ve got your back, remember?”
“And I’ve got yours,” she said, her eyes averting to the wrench on the ground.
I chuckled, watching the fear leave her eyes, and her expression softened.
“Just promise me you won’t close up the shop this late again.”
“Oh I promise,” she said.
Chapter Six
Veronica
I washed my hands in the metal sink inside the garage, drying them with a washcloth before I started closing up shop. I was still on edge after the little incident last night, but I felt better knowing that Ripper was just a call away. It felt good closing up a bit early, hoping I wouldn’t run into too much trouble, but now I started to see that all the warnings I’d gotten from Uncle Axle were definitely warranted.
I knew I couldn’t tell him about it because he’d never leave me working alone again. I thought about Ripper rescuing me, about how he practically pummeled those bikers because they got near me. I smiled, feeling the familiar warmth well up inside me, the same one I felt whenever he kissed me.
I felt the Mascid heat rippling through the entire building, making the blonde ends of my dark hair stick to my neck, turning a warm chestnut color. I took a good look at Anna’s bike, studying every inch of it to make sure it was in good condition before she arrived to see it. I heard the sound of a clanky, old car outside and when I peered out the window, I saw the taxicab drop her off. The shop was quiet tonight with everyone deciding to head home early, and Uncle Axle was getting some much-needed rest. I felt better now that I had some company.
“How’s the bike coming along?”
“Come see for yourself,” I said, waving for her to join me.
Her high-heeled boots clacked on the concrete as she approached me. Her perfect blonde hair was pulled back into a low bun with a few strands left out to frame her face. She wore a soft shade of pink lipstick and smelled of roses, just like last time. She glanced down at the bike, taking in the new paint job, how her new wheels and rims were perfectly fit to match the rest of the body. She looked up at me with a warm smile.
“I can’t believe you got all of this done already,” she murmured in disbelief.
“You’ll be back on the road in no time. Trust me. So, how have you been spending your time in Mascid? I know it must not be the same without a bike, huh?”
She rubbed her hands together, and her eyes averted to the other side of the shop like she wasn’t even listening to me. She studied the back workbenches, the door to Uncle Axle’s office, and the bathroom signs closely. She shifted around for a moment, and it was clear to me that there was something on her mind.
“Anna, are you okay?”
“Y-yes, sorry. I just didn’t get a good look at this place when I dropped my bike off. I’ve got to say, it’s one of the nicest garages I’ve come across and I’ve been all over the country,” she said.
“Yeah, it’s pretty great.”
She lifted her chin, her hands folded behind her back, taking another look around the place. I found it strange in the moment because it felt to me like she was looking for something, but I let it go. I knew that I’ve been a little on edge lately, and the last thing I wanted was for it to cost me a friend.
“Hey, so am I your last order of business for today?”
“You sure are. I should have this one all done when I come in tomorrow morning,” I said.
“So, does that mean that your night is free?”
