BREAKING THE RULES: Forsaken 99 MC Page 5

  If that happens, I’m going to have to get a bigger truck, go more often, or start having the stuff delivered. She smiled at the thought. Adding on was going to be a ton of headaches… but if she is going to have headaches, having headaches because her business was growing was the kind of headaches she wanted to have.

  She was only fifteen or twenty minutes from home, and jazzed up with her plans, when she saw a couple of trucks sitting on the side of the road. She lifted off the throttle, preparing to stop if necessary, but as she approached, she could see it was just kids trying to get a truck out of the ditch. As she accelerated back up to speed, she shook her head. The dumbass kids had tried to cross the ditch straight-on and had gotten stuck. Three of them were pushing while a fourth drove, the spinning tires spraying the sandy soil everywhere.

  She didn’t bother to stop. With the other truck there, they could either push the truck out or, failing that, pile into the other truck to ride into town for a tow. Besides, what can I do that four strapping teenage boys can’t?

  ***

  “Jesus, Jules, you look like hell!”

  “Hi, yourself,” Jules grumbled as Rachel pushed a hand-truck out of the back of HNH. He was here to make the deposit… the term Forsaken 99 used for the cash they funneled through Rachel’s business to launder for them. He had guessed she would be back sometime around noon, and it looked like he had guessed right because the van was still piled high with her inventory.

  “Looks like you had a big night last night.”

  “Yeah. I didn’t have you around to cut me off and I got a little carried away. I’m here to make a deposit, if that is okay.”

  “Sure. You want to just throw it on my desk?”

  “I can. You want some help with this?”

  Rachel grinned. “Are you sure you are up for it? You look like you have been eaten by a wolf and shit over a cliff.”

  He couldn’t help but bark out a laugh. The pounding headache he woke up with was nearly gone; the ibuprofen was doing its thing and he had drank enough water to float a boat.

  “Yeah, I think so. I’ll wheel it in and you can put it away,” he said as he hefted the first case and sat it on the dolly.

  “Okay. Thanks! Then I’ll buy you lunch.”

  As Jules brought the cases in and ripped them open, Rachel stacked the contents on the shelves, placing the newer behind the older.

  He could unload considerably faster than she could stock, so after wrestling the beer kegs in, he began to hand bottles and cans to her so she didn’t spend so much time running up and down the stepladder.

  “You’re looking a little better,” Rachel remarked as she stacked. “I’ll talk to Rachel about letting you get so snockered. You didn’t drive home, I hope.”

  “It wasn’t Rachel. I did it all by myself, at home.”

  “Oh? Were you alone or did you have a… companion? Drinking alone like that is a bad sign.”

  “By myself.”

  Rachel paused and looked at Jules. “You know, if you ever need someone to talk to, my door is always open.” She took the two offered bottles of Southern Comfort and added them behind their mates.

  “Thanks, Rachel. I appreciate. I do. It’s just…”

  “Just what?”

  “Just… I don’t know.”

  “Ghosts?”

  Jules offered her a half-hearted grin and two more bottles. “Yeah. Ghosts.”

  Rachel stepped down off the ladder. “Jules, talk to me. Tell me what’s bothering you. Maybe I can help.”

  “I doubt it.”

  “Look, it’s just the two of us here. Whatever you tell me will go no farther than these four walls. You have my word.”

  He looked into her eyes for a moment. “It’s nothing really. Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of my discharge.” Technically that wasn’t true as he had spent another eighteen months in uniform after the ambush.

  “It’s been tough? Why did you leave?”

  “Medical condition.”

  “Medical condition?” she asked as her eyes widened. Jules looked pretty damn healthy to her.

  “Yeah. My left lung doesn’t work right, and that… limited... my career opportunities.”

  Rachel could tell he was dancing around something, but she didn’t know what. “They didn’t know that when you enlisted?”

  “It happened after I joined.”

  “Oh. An accident?”

  “Something like that.”

  “But you’re okay now?”

  Jules grinned. “If by okay you mean, can I hump a fifty pound rucksack twelve miles in under three hours, the answer would be no. But short of running a marathon or something like that, yeah, I’m okay.”

  “And that is what has you down? The accident and the discharge?”

  “I guess you could say that.”

  She smiled at him. “I’m sorry, Jules. I really am, but if it makes you feel any better, I’m glad you’re here.”

  He returned her smile. For some reason, having her say that did make him feel a little better. “Thanks, Rachel. I appreciate that.”

  Feeling like she was making a little progress with him, Rachel looked at the mess in the storage room. “I’m starving. How about that lunch? My treat for all your hard work. Then I will come back here and finish up.”

  “Okay, thanks, but you don’t have to buy.”

  “Hey, it’s a business expense!”

  “Okay. I’ll let He’s Not Here buy my lunch. You want to go in the van or ride on the back of my bike?”

  “Let’s take your bike. It’s such a nice day.”

  Jules didn’t know if he would agree that almost ninety degrees was ‘such a nice day,’ but he wouldn’t mind Rachel hanging onto him on the back of his bike.

  Rachel locked up before she stepped up to his bike. He handed her his helmet. “I didn’t think about you not having a helmet,” she said as she took the offered helmet.

  “Don’t need one. My head is hard enough.”

  She snickered as she plopped the helmet on her head and tighten the strap. “Oh, right. Army.”

  Jules chuckled as he mounted the bike and waited for Rachel to get on. When the bike sagged under her weight, he sat down and thumbed the hog to life. “Where to?” he shouted.

  “How about Kirklands? I’m in the mood for barbecue.”

  ***

  “What did you do in the Army?” Rachel asked after they had placed their order, picking up the thread of the conversation from the bar.

  “Nothing special. I was just a grunt.”

  “So what happened to you?” The moment she spoke the words she saw Jules stiffen. Ah… there’s the sore spot, she thought.

  “It happened in Iraq,” Jules said softly, “on a convoy protection detail.”

  “What happened? You get hit by a truck or something?” she asked playfully. She knew she was pressing, but she could sense there was something important in this.

  “You could say that. Here’s our food,” he said, clearly changing the subject.

  She decided to drop the subject for now, not wanting to seem nosey or rude. “Good. I could eat a horse.” She watched as Jules forced a smile. Fuck… now I’ve upset him.

  They ate in silence for a moment. “Did you have a good trip to El Paso?” Jules asked as a way to break the growing silence.

  “Not bad. I got in some shopping while I was there. I bought some new shirts and pants to wear at work.”

  “You always wear white shirts and black pants. Why is that?”

  Rachel grinned. “No reason. Tradition mostly. Granddad always wore a white shirt, and so did Dad. I’ve just continued the tradition. It’s the unofficial uniform of He’s Not Here. Plus I don’t ever have to wonder what I’m going to wear to work.”

  This is the first time he has had a chance to talk to Rachel when she isn’t busy. “You took the bar over from your dad?”

  “Yeah, after Mom died. Let’s see, about four years ago, he packed it in. Sold me the bar
and, well, retired, I guess you could say. He’s toting the note for me. Will had just re-upped for his second tour in Marines so Dad asked me if I wanted it.”

  “Will is older than you?”

  “Yeah. Four years. He couldn’t wait to get out of Vallecito. That was just before Forsaken 99 arrived. It was bad back then. Real bad.”

  “So I heard. Your dad, is he still in town?”

  “No. Not anymore. He’s in an assisted living place in Fort Davis. He’s suffering from Alzheimer’s.”

  “Alzheimer’s?”

  “Yeah. I go up and see him on most Sundays. Sometimes he knows me… sometimes he thinks I’m Mom.”

  “I’m sorry, Rachel. That has to be tough.”

  She gave him a wan smile. “It’s okay. I can be Mom if it makes him feel better.”

  “How old is your dad? Seems like he would be a little young to have Alzheimer’s.”

  “He’s, let’s see… fifty-five.”

  “Fifty-five? I thought you had to be, like, eighty, to get Alzheimer’s.”

  “No. Most people who have Alzheimer’s are older, but there is something called early-onset Alzheimer’s. It’s rare, but it happens.”

  “Holy shit, Rachel. I’m so sorry.”

  She shrugged. “It’s tough, but you deal and move on. I think it is part of the reason Will is getting out. What about you? Any brothers or sisters?”

  “Only child. Mom said after me they couldn’t print enough money for her to have another.”

  Rachel laughed in delight. “You were a little hellion?”

  “Let’s just say that I was busy. According to them, they couldn’t take their eyes off of me for a moment. I think I was six when I wrecked my dad’s new truck. And mom’s car.”

  “Both? And you were just six?” she exclaimed.

  “Yeah. Got in Dad’s truck and was…” he made tick marks with his fingers, “…driving. Knocked it into neutral. It rolled down the drive and rear-ended mom’s car.”

  Rachel giggled as she imagined a six year old Jules jumping on the seat of his dad’s truck as it rolled down the hill. “I bet that went over well.”

  “I couldn’t sit down for a week. I don’t think he has ever completely trusted me with his truck again.”

  “Boys will be boys. I saw a group of them trying to get their dad’s truck out of the ditch on the way home this morning. They had driven the truck into the ditch, trying to cross it, I guess. Except they went straight in instead of crossing at an angle. Looked like they stuck it but good.”

  “Where was this?”

  “On 118, about twenty minutes north of town. Why?”

  “Just wondering. I would say it was drug runners, except that they were kids. It’s probably just a bunch of kids out tearing up someone’s pastures.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I figured. They’re going to have some explaining to do if they tore up their dad’s truck, though.”

  Jules grinned. “Yes they will. Been there, done that. Except it was a snowmobile.”

  “That’s right. You’re from Montana or Minnesota, someplace like that, right?”

  “Montana. Grass Range. Grass Range makes Vallecito look like New York City.”

  Rachel gave a dramatic shiver. “I don’t know how people live up there. I would freeze my ass off.”

  “I don’t know how you stand it down here in the heat,” Jules countered. “I nearly die in the summer. Winters are nice, though.”

  “I’ve seen you out walking around in short sleeves in the middle of winter. People think you have lost your mind.”

  “Your winters are like our early fall, except sunnier.”

  “So tell me about the snowmobile.”

  Jules grinned. “Imagine a frozen lake. Now imagine a snowmobile on that lake. Now imagine that the ice wasn’t as thick as a young Julian Rivera thought.”

  “Oh my god! You lost your dad’s snowmobile in the lake?” Rachel began to laugh. “I can see why you are an only child!”

  “Yeah. My parents are saints.”

  “Sounds like they had to be.”

  “Are you ready to head back? I’ll help you finish up if you want.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t have to do that. You’ve done all the heavy lifting.”

  “I don’t mind.” He paused a moment. “It helps to have someone to talk to.”

  For some reason, having him say that warmed her. “My door is always open if you need to talk.”

  “Thanks,” he said as he started sliding out of the booth. “I’ve got the tip.”

  ***

  “I got an email from my brother while I was in El Paso.” Rachel said as she and Jules stocked shelves. “He will be coming home in about three weeks. I’m so excited!”

  “That’s good news.”

  “Yeah. After three tours, he’s bailing out. What are you grinning at?” she demanded when Jules looked away to hide his grin.

  “You just gave away your age.”

  “I did? How?”

  “Assuming he went in at eighteen, three tours, twelve years, that would make him thirty or there about, so you’re twenty-six?”

  “Twenty-five, thank you very much. But how… oh yeah… I told you he was four years older than me, didn’t I? Don’t you go spreading that around, Jules Rivera. I’ll have to hurt you if you do.”

  Jules chuckled. “What does your brother do in the Marines?”

  “He works on the bomb squad. What does he call it?”

  “EOD? Explosive ordnance disposal?”

  “Yeah! That’s it.”

  “Jesus. Those guys have cajonies the size of bowling balls. Brass ones.”

  “Yeah. He still has all his fingers, thank goodness. I’m not sure he can say that about all his friends.”

  Jules considered a moment. If we had someone in Forsaken 99 that could rig charges, that is a skill we can use. Besides, blowing shit up is just plain fun.

  “Let me talk to Todd. See if we can’t arrange a little surprise for him. Where is he flying into?”

  “Surprise? What kind of surprise?”

  “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.” When Rachel cocked her hips, put her hands on them, and gave him the stink eye, he grinned. “Okay… but don’t tell him. Where’s he flying into?”

  “El Paso.”

  “I’ll see if I can’t arrange an honor guard to escort him back.”

  “Forsaken 99?”

  “Yeah. We may not be able to get one hundred percent participation, depending on the day, but I think Forsaken 99 would be honored to escort your brother home.”

  “That would be wonderful! Thank you, Jules!” she gushed as she stepped in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips then a hug. She had intended it to be just a quick hug, but when his arms closed around her back, she found she wasn’t in any hurry for the embrace to end.

  After a moment he released her. She stepped back and looked into his eyes. Damnit! If I didn’t have to open in an hour or so, I wouldn’t mind seeing where this would go.

  When Rachel kissed him and stepped in close for a hug, he took her into his embrace without thought and held her warmly. It was a damn nice hug, and he reluctantly released her after a moment. He looked into her eyes as she looked at him, like she was waiting for something. He took her face gently in his hands and held her delicately as he kissed her lightly on the lips.

  “Thank you,” he whispered as he pulled back.

  “For what?”

  “For caring.”

  Her lips quirked into a smile. She did care, and how much she cared surprised her, especially after that sweet little kiss he gave her. “You’re welcome. As I said, my door is always open if you need to talk.”

  He released her face and took a half-step back… much to her disappointment. “Thank you for that. Maybe I will take you up on it some time.”

  “It would be my pleasure.”