when he’d tell her how much he loved and needed her. Smokey’s mother had lived for those moments. Yeah … pretty fucked up.
Smokey turned into the lot of the shelter and parked near the smoking corner where Gavin, the gangly, dark-haired teen, was leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette. It had taken Smokey over three months to get the quiet and angry boy to interact with him, but he understood Gavin, because he’d once been just like him.
“Hey,” Smokey greeted as he approached him.
Gavin tipped his chin up at him. “Hey.”
“Smokey, my man. Gimme some.” Little Ricky held out his hand, palm side up, and slapped it against Smokey’s. “Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout. What’s happenin’?”
“Not much.”
Little Ricky came off as a tough kid, full of false bravado, but Smokey saw the scared little boy inside.
“How’s school going?” he asked him.
Little Ricky took a puff of his cigarette before answering. “I hate that shit. I don’t need it.”
“I hear you. I hated school too, but I got my GED. You need to do that if you hate the assholes in high school.”
He laughed. “I don’t hate the chicks. It’s just the homework bullshit that’s crampin’ my style.”
“Maybe you can get one of those cute chicks to help you study.”
A large smile spread across the teen’s face when Smokey winked at him.
“I like the way you think, dude.”
Clapping him on the back, Smokey turned his attention to Gavin. “How’re things going with you?”
He said nothing, his dark eyes darting from Smokey to Little Ricky, and back to Smokey again. “Okay,” he muttered.
Little Ricky laughed. “All he’s been doin’ is waitin’ for that chick to come by again.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Gavin said in a menacing tone.
Ignoring him, Little Ricky continued. “Can’t say I blame him. The chick’s sexy.”
Gavin’s lips thinned as he glared at the teen. Sensing a fight was about to break out, Smokey stepped between the two boys and pointed to his Harley.
“I got some custom artwork put on my bike. Go check it out.”
Gavin dropped his cigarette butt onto the ground and snubbed it out with the toe of his shoe. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he sauntered toward the Harley.
“Let me know how you like it,” he said.
Smokey had spent thousands of dollars customizing his bike, right down to the nuts and bolts that held it together. The latest design was a mural of demons at a poker game he’d had done at Hawk’s bike repair shop. The VP worked alongside a few local artists with whom he contracted, and the end result was kick-ass.
“So who’s this chick you’re ragging Gavin about?” Smokey asked.
“Some volunteer.” He cocked his head toward Gavin. “He’s got it bad for her. Me? I prefer chicks around my age.”
Smokey glanced over at Gavin, who was squatting on his haunches, looking at the Harley’s fender. “Oh yeah? How old’s this volunteer?”
He shrugged. “I dunno—maybe twenty-six or so? I caught him writing her name—Ashley—in a notebook.”
His eyes widened. “What color hair does she have?”
“Black, with blue eyes. The chick’s a real looker, but like I said, I like them younger.” Little Ricky took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to him. Smokey shook his head no, and the teen took one out and lit it up.
No fuckin’ way—it can’t be. She’s not the only woman in town named Ashley with black hair. And blue eyes? Fuck, what are the chances of that?
“It’s real cool,” Gavin told Smokey, interrupting his thoughts.
“It’s awesome,” Smokey replied as he walked over to him.
“I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”
“We gotta change that.”
Gavin straightened up and met his gaze. “Cool. Uh … maybe I could—I mean, if it’s allowed—check out your club?” The teen looked down at the ground. “Maybe someday?”
“I can ask the president about it. I’ll let you know when we can take that ride,” Smokey said. He knew Banger wouldn’t let a fifteen-year-old come around the clubhouse, but he didn’t have the heart to tell the kid that. The club didn’t need the feds accusing them of corrupting a minor. Once Gavin hit seventeen, he could come by, and if he liked what he saw, he could start prospecting.
A car honking dragged his attention away from Gavin to a silver Audi pulling into a parking space.
Gavin murmured, “I have to go,” then strode away, disappearing into the building.
“I didn’t know you were coming by,” Brady said as he slid out of his car.
Smokey crossed the parking lot. “Just stopped by to