“Hey, Griff.” Dex shakes his hand. “Wasn’t sure if it was you or Remy coming tonight.”
“He won’t leave Molly alone overnight. But he’ll be here in the morning.”
Dex slaps the kid’s back and pushes him toward me. “Griff, this is Grinder. Grinder, Griff’s a good friend of the club.”
“Evening, sir.” He dips his chin at me.
“Thanks for coming over.”
“Not a problem.”
“Coffee?” I offer.
“Sure.”
Griff eases his large frame onto one of the stools at the counter and remains silent.
I like this kid already.
Dex also takes a seat at the counter.
I slide mugs to each of them. When the coffee’s finished, I bring the pot over and fill both cups.
My attention’s drawn to Griff’s scarred knuckles. He’s either a brawler or a damn hard worker.
“What do you do, Griff?” I ask. “Besides babysitting grandpas for the local MC?”
“Here we go,” Dex mutters.
Griff huffs a quick laugh. “I work at a garage. Hoping to buy the owner out eventually. We restore old cars, trucks, and bikes.” He glances at his coffee. “Remy and I run a small amateur fighting ring too.”
“By amateur, you mean illegal?” I guess.
“Eh.” He lifts one shoulder. “You know how it is. A few friends get together to knock the shit out of each other a couple times a week. Maybe a little money gets tossed around to show our support.” A smirk plays at the corners of his mouth.
Dex chuckles. “He’s being modest. They run a tight operation.”
“You from around here, Grinder?” Griff asks.
“Before I went inside, yeah. Been a little out of touch the last few years, though.”
He doesn’t laugh at my attempted joke. “You remember the detention center the State ran out here?”
“The kiddie jail? Yeah, I remember it.” I glance at Dex. “Teller spent a couple months there not long after I first went inside, right?”
Dex smirks. “Probably.”
“We got a whole alumni association going, don’t we?” Griff chuckles. “Anyway, the State closed the facility a few years back. They auctioned it off after it sat around for a bit. Remy and I bought it.”
“Big purchase.” Illegal fighting must pay more than it did when I was Griff’s age.
“Haven’t had the funds to renovate much.” He scoffs. “Or decide what the fuck we’re gonna do with the place long-term.”
“That where you learned to fight?” I ask. “Inside?”
He stares at his hands for a few seconds. “Yeah. They didn’t really give us much of a choice.”
I curl my hands into fists. “I did some prison boxing. In and out of a ring.”
“We got all styles. If you’re ever looking for a match…”
“Thanks, I think I’m good.”
Dex chuckles and slaps his hand on the counter. “I’m heading out.” He catches my eye. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“Thanks.”
I lock the door after Dex leaves. Griff’s still at the counter, sipping his coffee.
“You really don’t need to stay.”
Griff shrugs. “It’s no big deal. Dex said they’re worried about some guy who showed up on your doorstep making threats?”
Shit, the kid doesn’t even have the full picture of what he’s getting into and he’s still here? “Yeah, guy has ties to one of the prison gangs. Apparently we don’t see eye-to-eye on the terms of my retirement.”
His expression doesn’t change. He’s either dumb or brave.
“I’m sure it’s not easy to untangle yourself, even if you’re on the outside,” he says.
Not dumb.
“Some people need things explained more than once.”
He lifts one fist in the air, then the other. “I’ll help you drive the message home.”
The club should be looking to patch this kid, not as a support club but a full-patch. “You’re not even a prospect, Griff. Why’re you here?”
“We owe Murphy.” The corners of his mouth twitch. “Heidi too.”
“Heidi, huh?”
He nods once. “Your club’s helped us out. I want to return the favor. Besides, this is my home. Don’t like some outsider rolling in and threatening my neighbors, you know?”
“You got family around here?”
He shakes his head. “My mom’s up north. Wouldn’t really call her ‘family,’ though.” He lets out a wry laugh. “Remy and Molly. Eraser, Ella, Vapor, and Juliet. They’re the only ones I count as family.”
I understand all too well what he means.
Serena
Have courage or accomplish nothing.
Tonight, I decided to try something new on my YouTube channel, so that quote feels appropriate.
As I click off my camera, a muted bump and shuffling sound draws my attention.
Since I’m working in my little home studio, I left the lights in the rest of the apartment off. Enough light spills from my office to make out most of the shapes in my living room as I tiptoe to the front door.
All the locks are in place. I should thank Grayson for replacing the door and adding the extra security. I’ve felt safer ever since.
Another thud from the hallway.
I freeze in place, as if whoever’s out there has x-ray vision to see through my door and spy me standing in my darkened living room.