Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 167

CHAPTER 101-1

+25 Points

The phone hadn’t stopped ringing since the newspaper article went live, and every time Mia answered another call, I could tell from her expression whether we were about to lose another customer.

By one, we already had five cancellations.

By two, there were eight.

I stood behind the counter with my arms folded while Mia wrote another appointment cancellation onto her clipboard and she hung up and sighed.

“Another one.” She said.

“What did they say?” I asked.

“They don’t want their name connected to us.” She said.

I looked toward the workshop and the same place that had been full of customers an hour earlier now felt strangely quiet.

“Okay.” I said and Mia looked at me.

“That’s all you have to say?” She asked and I forced a smile.

“What else can I say?” I asked.

“You could be angry.” She said.

“I am.” I said.

“You don’t look angry.” She said.

“I’ve got customers watching me.” I said and she nodded.

“Fair point.” She said.

Another call came through and Mia picked it up.

“Lawson Customs, how can I help you?” She asked.

I listened while she spoke and her expression slowly changed.

“Yes, I understand.” She said.

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“No, the article doesn’t represent our business accurately.” She added.

“Yes, we are an official Iron Vipers partner business.” She said and she glanced toward me.

“That doesn’t mean we’re involved in criminal activity.” She continued.

The caller said something else and Mia’s jaw tightened.

“Thank you for calling.” She said and she hung up.

+25 Paints

CHAPTER 10*+

“What did they say?” I asked

“They’re thinking about cancelling.” She said.

“Give them the facts.” I said.

“Which facts?” She asked.

“That we’re a legitimate business, we’ve operated here for years and we’ve never been charged with anything.” I said and Mia smiled slightly.

“You sound like a politician.” She said.

“I’d rather sound like a mechanic.” I said and she laughed.

The phone rang again and Mia answered it so I turned toward the workshop and looked at the empty workbenches.

It hurt.

Not because we’d lost a few appointments.

It hurt because somebody was deliberately trying to destroy something Uncle Will had built and I had spent years trying to keep alive.

I couldn’t let fear take it away so I walked toward the front door and opened it.

A customer was standing outside and he looked uncomfortable.

“Can I help you?” I asked and he glanced at the newspaper in his hand.

“I wanted to ask you about the article.” He said and I nodded.

“Of course.” I said.

“Is any of it true?” He asked.

“No.” I said as he studied my face.

す

“None of it?” He asked.

“None of the accusations.” I said.

“What about the Iron Vipers?” He said.

“I know people connected to them and we’ve become an official partner business, but Lawson Customs isn’t a criminal operation.” I said and he looked toward the workshop.

“I’ve brought my bike here before.” he said.

“I remember.” I said.

“You fixed my brakes.” He said.

“I did.” I said and he smiled faintly.

23

CHAPTER IPH

“You did a good job.” He said.

“Thank you.” I said and he looked at the newspaper again.

“I don’t know what to believe.” He said.

“I understand.” I said as I took a breath.

“But I can tell you what I’ve seen.” I said.

+25 Peints

“I’ve seen people in this club protect their families, help rebuild businesses and put themselves in danger to keep others safe.” I added and he nodded slowly.

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