Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 137310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
The men caught them, handed them out, and before Hugger could look at the cover, Rush was speaking again.
“Looking at three lots. Two are empty. One, if we decide to do this, and pick that one, there’d need to be some demo. The two empty lots are huge, way bigger than what we need, but that’s because Aces High has approached for a partnership. They’re ready to expand too. They want to open another store and they’d be willing to hitch up with Ride if we go for it. Good opportunity there for cross marketing.”
Fighting to breathe and hiding he was, Hugger flipped through the real estate report.
He didn’t know the exact addresses, but because his woman was as she was, while he was in Phoenix, he’d had ample opportunity to get around, so he had a sense of where they were, and they were good spots.
“Obviously, before we get down to talking about property, we need to decide whether we’re gonna expand out of Colorado into Arizona,” Rush said.
“Millie’s folks are getting on in years, and they live down there” High piped up. “She was already talking about us getting a place so she could have somewhere to land when the time comes they need more attention. And Cleo’s got her heart set on the nursing program at U of A. Zadie will go where her sister goes. So reckon we’d be looking at having someplace down there sometime soon anyway, if not movin’ down full stop. Millie won’t want me far away from my girls.”
What High left unsaid was, since Millie was thick and thieves with her stepdaughters, she wouldn’t want to be far away from them either.
“Red’s done with snow,” Tack chimed in. “And the boys are gonna be out of high school in a few years and wreaking havoc on Denver, so she’ll want it not to be easy to get to us for bail money.” There were some chuckles, but Tack spoke over them. “Won’t be full-time, not leavin’ my grandbabies, and Red won’t want to either, but for the winter, need to get my woman out of the snow and cold.”
Hop threw in then, “Where Tyra goes, Lanie will wanna follow. And I’m good with any place I can ride all year long. We got a longer wait for Nash to be done with school, though.”
“Gonna get a winter place down there,” Big Petey added. “That Phoenician sun was good to these old bones. Seize up completely if I gotta spend another four cold months here.”
“Renae good with that?” Snapper asked after Pete’s old lady, who was also Snapper’s mother-in-law.
“Yeah, son,” Big Petey answered. “She was beside herself at the thought of not having to scrape another windshield.”
“I’m good to be down there all year,” Boz announced. “Not the snow, a fresh menu of pussy.”
There were some groans, and Hound threw his market report and hit Boz in the side of the head with it.
Boz’s angry gaze shot to Hound, who just grinned.
But before anything could come of that, Rush asked, “You men wanna read the report, or are you good to vote?”
“Obviously I’m in,” High said.
“In,” Tack grunted.
“In,” Hop added.
“Totally in,” Big Petey declared.
“Aye,” Shy said.
“Aye,” Dutch and Jag said in unison.
“Wouldn’t mind movin’ down there either,” Roscoe announced, looking at Hound. “And don’t throw shit at me, but seriously, down there, you don’t have to put up with five months of women covering themselves up in big sweaters and bulky coats and shit.”
Joker, Snapper, Dog, Chill and Saddle all gave their ayes.
“Already talked to Brick, Arlo, Tug, Bat, and Speck, and they’re good with it,” Rush said. Those were the members who’d moved to the other locations to see to business there. Then he looked Hugger in the eye. “You haven’t voted, Hug.”
He hadn’t, because he couldn’t talk.
When he left Denver for Phoenix, no word they were looking at expansion.
He knew what this was.
They were doing this for him.
This was for him.
So he wouldn’t lose his family.
So he wouldn’t lose his home.
So he would know precisely what made him.
“Hug?” Tack prompted.
“Aye,” he forced out.
Tack nodded.
“Looks like Ride is headed to Phoenix,” Rush decreed. “Now, have a look at those properties. We can decide on that later.” Rush turned again to Hugger. “Gonna task you with being our man on the ground down there. You good with that?”
Hugger had to clear his throat before he said, “Yeah.”
Rush switched his attention to Dog. “Brick’s in to help, but also gotta ask if you will too. You two have the most experience opening new shops. Hug’s gonna need some brothers at his back.”
“You got it,” Dog said and grinned. “Anway, Sheila will be all over trips down to the Valley. She can spend time with her brother and spoil her nieces and nephew to shit.”
Sheila was Buck’s sister.