“Well, hell, let’s go get it done. Ain’t gonna let a little rain stop you are you? Or are you afraid you’ll melt?” Ghost grinned at him.
JJ looked at him hopefully. “You’ll go with me? I need two brothers to go with me, and in this weather I figured there was no chance of talkin’ anybody into the ride into town.”
Shades grinned over at him. “I ain’t afraid of a little water. Besides, it looks like it’s easing up.”
“Damn. Thanks guys. That means a lot.”
Shades looked over at Crash. “You want to tag-a-long?”
Crash shrugged, taking in the lightening sky on the horizon. “Beats the hell out of standing around here. I’m game.”
“Hell, count me in, too,” Wolf replied, dropping his arm from the frame.
The five men moved toward their bikes.
****
Crystal stood at the window of the shop, staring up at the rain. It had started pouring a couple of hours ago, and the town had pretty much emptied out, including their shop. About twenty minutes ago, the film crew had wrapped up and left. Thank God.
Not that it wasn’t a great opportunity for Jameson and the boys, but having them underfoot was tedious. They were constantly in the way. Not to mention every time a customer realized they’d be filmed (and signed the required paperwork) somehow the tattoo process always took twice as long. They dragged their feet over picking a design and really played up to the camera, causing the whole process to drag out.
“You think it’s going to let up anytime soon?” Max asked, peering out the window.
“Hard to tell. Radar doesn’t look good,” Jameson replied, standing next to him.
The distant rumble of a hoard of bikes could be heard coming down the street.
“Well, the rain’s not keeping everyone from riding.”
They all watched as five bikes slowed and then backed into the spots in front of the shop, their back tires to the curb. The Evil Dead MC patches on the back of the riders’ cuts clearly visible. Three of the bottom rockers read Alabama. Two of them read California.
Crystal straightened, whispering, “Oh, shit.”
Jameson’s eyes darted to her, then over her head to his brother, Max. She saw them exchange a look and could only imagine that Max had reported back to Jameson all about their night out and running into the MC at the bar.
“Uh, maybe we should close up,” Max mumbled to his brother.
****
Wolf and Crash exchanged a look when they realized which tattoo shop their brothers had picked. Brothers Ink. Jameson’s place. The place Crystal worked at.
Wolf dropped his kickstand and threw his leg over the bike, turning to look up at the place. He pulled his daylight KDs off and wiped the water from his face.
Crash exchanged a look with Wolf. “You gonna be cool with this?”
“Yeah. Its fine, Crash. We talked.”
“You do more than talk?” When Wolf didn’t reply, Crash had his answer. His voice dropped to mutter in a disappointed or perhaps warning tone, “Brother.”
“You were right. What you said. All of it.”
Crash let out a sigh. “She gonna be good with this? Us showing up here?”
W
olf moved with the rest of them towards the door. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
****