to the Bluetooth shit on their bikes. I just can’t do it.
I live for the ride.
The open road without distraction.
Hell, I don’t even have a radio on my Harley. There is no better sound to my ears than that distinct tick in a Harley Davidson engine. Feeling my phone vibrate over and over, someone obviously needs something from me. Which is why I’m taking a pitstop in one of the most unique places around Atlanta.
I’m off to the side of a parking lot when I drop the kickstand, kill the engine, and get off. Removing my helmet, I stretch as I pull out my phone. The annoying machine rings again. In the past shit like this would happen when a tweaker would get my number. Desperate for a fix, they will call over and over. That has been a while back since Bash and I made it our mission to step up the Kings business operations. Now, we supply larger quantities to others who then trickle-down disbursement. Less risk on our end to sell to an undercover cop and more reward in pushing out higher amounts which in turn brings larger profit.
“Pops,” I answer worried because it’s not like him to blow up my phone like this. I pray they didn’t move him early and he’s in a rough transition. After the gun situation I’m not sure how much more they will put up with from him. While there are other spots I can put him, he likes his nurses most days and he likes the private room, but having activities with other seniors. Overall, he enjoys living out the rest of his days there so I don’t want to upset that.
“Koa,” he whispers. “I can’t find your mom.”
He is panic stricken. The desperation in his voice cuts me deep. This is the hard part about his disease. Everything seems muddled in his mind.
“I’m coming to you, Pops. Can you sit tight for me?”
“You bringin’ Kal?”
“Pops, just don’t take off okay?”
He sighs, “I already tried that because I didn’t want to call and bother you son. I just need to find my Kal, but the nurse said no and put something in my IV. She said it was to settle me, but Koa, I’ll be settled once Kal gets here. It’s not like her to not be with me.” His voice cracks and I know he’s fighting back tears. “I just want to know where my Kal is. She would never leave me in a hospital alone.” He takes a deep breath before continuing. “They say I fell. I didn’t fall. Someone pushed me.” He continues rambling. This is another thing that takes getting used to. As quickly as he gets hung up on one topic from the past, he will switch to the present like the two parts of his life are merged.
I can’t focus on his muttering right now because a person catches my attention.
Little Five Points is a slurring of activity with traffic, but not like the streets of Atlanta, just in all the normal comings and goings of the melting-pot neighborhood. People are everywhere, but it’s this one woman who stands out to me.
She’s near the entrance to The Vortex that I happen to be parked near holding a cardboard sign that reads: Job wanted ASAP! Willing to work. No, I’m not a hooker! Clean your car? Yes. Clean your house? Yes. Mow your grass? Sure. Be your date? No.
Hell, the cardboard in her hands is half her damn size. I shouldn’t find this as amusing as I do. I can’t help but laugh. The woman isn’t dirty, but she’s in such oversized clothes and her hair a disheveled mess on top of her head I can’t help but to laugh. Maybe a desperate man would want to date her, but for me, nope, I’m not even getting a small chub from the tired-mom look she’s rocking.
A thought hits me as Pops continues to ramble, she’s perfect to clean the clubhouse!
Okay, so under normal circumstances I would certainly put more effort into my task. Background checks, fingerprints, hell even a drug test would be smart. Only, I’m not sure anyone will stick with this job so why not give this woman a try without wasting time on all the extra? It’s not like we will let her in on club business. She wants to clean not get fucked. It’s perfect.
“Pops, I gotta go. I’m on my bike. Just sit tight, I’ll be right there.”
I end the