Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 166

CHAPTER 100-2

“Thank you.” I said and another customer entered behind him.

“Is this the famous mechanic?” He asked and I laughed.

“Depends who you ask.” I said and George smiled.

“She’s the best one here.” George said as Mia called from behind the counter.

“Don’t let her hear that too often.” Mia called out and the customer laughed.

“I’ve heard good things.” The customer said and I nodded.

“We’ll do our best.” I said as he looked toward the workshop.

“That’s all I need.” He said.

By late morning, I realized something important.

The partnership hadn’t scared customers away. It had done the opposite. People seemed more interested in the business than ever.

Some customers congratulated me. Others asked questions about the club.

I kept my answers simple because Lawson Customs was still a business and I didn’t want to mix everything together.

“We’re just working together.” I explained and one customer smiled.

“Looks like a good partnership.” He said.

“It is.” I said and I meant it as Mia handed me another work order.

“You’re booked through next week.” Mia said as I stared at the sheet.

“Already?” I asked.

“Already.” She said as Ben walked over.

“We need more storage.” Ben said and I laughed.

“I know.” I said.

“We need another workbench too.” He said.

“I know.” I said.

“And we need somewhere to put all these customer bikes.” He said as I looked around the workshop.

“I really need to start looking seriously at that land next door.” I said as Mia smiled.

“Now you’re thinking like a business owner.” She said as I shook my head.

“I’ve always been a business owner.” I said.

CHAPTER 10***

You’re becoming a bigger one.” She said and I smiled.

25 Ponts

The morning continued. I changed oil, replaced a worn chain, checked an engine, spoke with customers and I answered phone calls.

I even managed to eat half a sandwich between repairs.

By noon, my hands were covered in grease, and I was exhausted. But it was a good kind of exhaustion.

The kind that came from building something.

I washed my hands at the workshop sink and dried them before walking toward the office and Mia was sitting at the computer.

“What’s wrong?” I asked but she didn’t answer.

“Mia?” I asked and she turned the monitor toward me.

A local newspaper website was open. The headline stretched across the screen.

LAWSON CUSTOMS LINKED TO ORGANIZED CRIME, LOCAL BUSINESS FACES QUESTIONS OVER IRON

VIPERS CONNECTION

My stomach dropped and I stared at the screen.

“No.” I said and Mia nodded slowly.

“It was published twenty minutes ago.” She said as I scrolled down.

The article mentioned the Iron Vipers, the recent violence, the fires, the weapons recovered from the Black Reaper convoy and the new partnership with Lawson Customs.

It suggested that the garage was more than a legitimate motorcycle business.

It suggested the shop was being used as a front.

My hands tightened around the edge of the desk.

“This is exactly what happened before.” I said as Mia looked at me.

“Only worse.” She said as I kept reading.

The article quoted unnamed sources who claimed Lawson Customs had been connected to suspicious activity for months.

There were photographs of the garage. Photographs of club members outside. Photographs of Jace. And then I saw one of myself.

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