Page 7 of Bullet

When I join them, their heads are under my hood, and Bullet is spewing profanities, some I’ve never heard before.

“Calm down, bro. We should get one of the guys to make sure before we jump to conclusions,” Crush says.

“We’ve been around the shop long enough to know new parts from old parts. But, yeah, you’re right. Can you text War and see if he can swing by?” he asks, then runs his fingers over his shaved scalp. “It fucking pisses me off that someone takes advantage of a woman, especially you, babe,” he says to me.

“I wonder what they charged her?” Crush asks as he sends his message to their friend War. His phone pings shortly after. “He’s on his way.”

I clear my throat. “Um, I, uh…found the bill.” I’m almost afraid to give it to Bullet because he already looks like he’s ready to strangle Freddie from Freddie’s Auto Repair. Bullet holds out his hand to take it. I don’t give it to him immediately. “He said it took two days to fix. And that the parts were hard to get hold of because of back orders,” I explain. Bullet sighs. “Promise you won’t get upset, because you already look very angry and it’s done. It’s not like I can do anything about it now anyway. Maybe it’s best I don’t know because I’ll just get more upset with myself for being so stupid.”

I totally said the wrong thing! Bullet comes right to me, puts his hands on my waist, and drags me close so that our bodies are almost touching. “Don’t you ever call yourself stupid. You’re a smart, beautiful woman. It’s those morons who think it’s okay to cheat innocent people out of their money who are pissing me off right now. Rest assured, Amelia, you aren’t the first or the last this shop has conned. It’s people like that who give mechanics a bad rap.” My eyes grow wide, and he lowers his voice. “Please hand me the bill. War is on his way. If I’m wrong, I’ll go apologize in person to the owner, but if I’m right, I’ll take care of it another way.”

“Why would you do that? You don’t even know me,” I whisper, my eyes meeting his.

“You know why, babe,” he answers, but before I can respond, a huge shadow falls over us, and I look over Bullet’s shoulder to see a monster of a man stopping at the fender of my car.

“Hi,” I choke out. Bullet takes the bill from me and hands it to the giant who must be War.

“I’m sure War would love a cup of coffee,” Bullet says gently and urges me inside.

Bullet

I watch as War goes over to Amelia’s car, and every grunt is telling me that Freddie has taken advantage of a good woman. It’s an hour later when War finishes. He leans against the car, wiping his hands on a rag.

“The mechanic patched the problem, but the part wasn’t replaced. It’s only a matter of time before she’s stranded again. Half the parts on the list weren’t used, and the rate for the mechanic’s time is ridiculous. At most, and I’m being generous, the bill should be a third of what they charged,” War says. This doesn’t make him happy. War believes in treating people fairly, and he hates that mechanics get a bad reputation because of guys like Freddie.

I’m livid. I feel the blood boiling in my veins. “I’m going to go pay them a visit,” I grit out between my teeth.

“Why?” War asks. “Did she ask you to?”

“No—”

“Then why the fuck get involved?”

“She was taken for a ride,” I insist.

“Agreed. But why is this your problem? You’re here to fix her roof,” War points out.

“Sure, but⁠—”

War holds up his hand to shut me up. “Who is this woman to you? A customer, or more? If it’s more, then cool, I’ll ride with you, but if you’re getting involved in shit that doesn’t concern you, then step back.”

I nod, taking a breath. If this were anyone else, would I get this upset? Truth is, no matter who it was, I never would have asked for her keys to check it out. Crush has been quiet through the entire thing. I almost forgot he was with us until he steps forward.

“You like her,” Crush says. “I mean really like her.”

I look to my brothers. “She’s different.”

“So? What’s the problem?” War asks with a shrug. “Look at me and Maddie. She looks like a goddess and sings like an angel. She’s one of the biggest rock stars in the world. I’m a biker, bodyguard, mechanic. We couldn’t be more different, but we work.”

“You have an accounting degree,” I point out.

“You and Crush own a business. You were smart enough to know you wanted more and went back to school. Never think less of yourself,” War says.

“I don’t. I’m fucking proud of what Crush and I started. But she’s a principal, and it doesn’t really mesh with the biker lifestyle,” I point out. “Why go there if it’s going to go to shit eventually?”

“That’s complete bullshit!” Crush says emphatically. “Biker lifestyle, my ass. You don’t know Amelia well enough to make that comment, for one. And the woman made you muffins. We’ve worked with hundreds of clients, and not one ever made us muffins. I’ve been at that school a dozen times at least, and Amelia’s always been really nice, but I never got muffins. She’s good people. You’re good people. Get the fuck over the status shit and if you like her, do something about it!”

Crush playfully bumps his shoulder into mine. Just then, the door to the garage opens, and I see Amelia standing in the doorway in her faded blue jeans and oversized pink hoodie that nearly comes down to her knees. She looks sexier than any woman I’ve ever seen, with her face free of makeup and her hair pulled back in a ponytail.