Aftermath Book Two Crash Series

Chapter Fourteen

Aria

            Slick’s Lube and tire shop is “conveniently” opened late for any daytime worker, so says their website. With the help of Wyatt, I was able to dig a little deeper and find out why they really stay open late at night. It’s all a front for their real business. The business that generates the biggest profits for any local tire/mechanic shop around. Yet it’s located in the part of the city that my friends at the homeless shelter sleep for the night, or where crime and the poor go hand in hand.

            This area of the city is run down and can be dangerous after-hours if the locals don’t know you. The buildings might only be a few blocks from Mason’s high rise slick office but the difference in appearance is almost comical if it wasn’t so sad. Every building around is run down, with peeling paint, broken bricks, or foundation. Doors that hang opened on their hinges and storefronts with metal bars blocking them to keep intruders out.

            Slick’s shop fits in looks-wise, the metal doors have seen better days. They may have been in their prime twenty years ago, but no longer. There are three large bay doors, the middle is crooked when it shuts leaving a small gap where one corner hits the cement but the other doesn’t. And the two on either side have more dents, gouges, and rust it’s a wonder they’re hanging together at all.

            And that’s just the outside…The inside is worse.

            Way worse.

            You know the metal-framed chairs from the nineties with the cushions that were made from rough, scratchy fabric, and almost always you could feel the bar through the chair defeating the purpose altogether? Yeah well, time wasn’t on their side. I’m actually astonished that they’re still capable of holding anyone's weight. The metal is rusted and brownish-yellow foam pokes through the ripped rough fabric. My ass wants me to shift but I know from experience it’s only more painful with any attempt to move.

            The thin lament flooring is full of wholes and caked with grease, dirt and god knows what else. When I first walked in I made the mistake of looking towards the corner of the waiting room where they have rickety old coin candy machines. The paper and plastic so faded and dirty you can’t even tell what candy if any sits inside. But what’s particularly appalling was the wadded-up piece of gum, maybe a collection of gum stuck to the floor and spanning out like putty, with hair and dust sticking out in all directions.

            It’s repulsive but not new. I grew up in a similar state of filth. There isn’t much cleaning you can expect from an alcoholic, so I learned to do it myself. I tried to keep it as clean as I could but cleaning up after any alcoholic is always overwhelming. But at least there I knew where the mess came from, here I’m left to guess as I try and play coy.

            Moonlight glows through the dirty windows reflecting off the glossy magazine pages as the receptionist flips through.

            Receptionist? Maybe, the bouncer is more like it. The guy is buff, boxy, and wearing scars to scare off anyone who doubts he can use the muscles he’s carrying. He’s kept his head down since I walked in. The only greeting was a slight nod of acknowledgment and nothing more. I guess he doesn’t have to do much when I talked to his co-workers in the parking lot. But I was really hoping to have some way to start a chat. Or an empty room to snoop.

            Of course, this can’t be easy or I guess risky enough. Nope, I’m in but now I need…something.

            It took me a while to set up my getaway to the bar or to even find a lead. Now that Wyatt and Tara are helping this one came easier. Turns out if you’ve been in the area long enough or been a bodyguard for as long as Wyatt has then it’s pretty much just common knowledge that this place is a front for the Russian mob.

            They run money, stolen cars, women, anything and everything through this place and that’s the real reason they’re opened late. It’s not so suspicious to see a lot of people around late at night when you’re the only mechanic around that’s opened late. I guess they make sure that stays the way it is but still.

            Rubbing the smooth surface of my favorite charm for some courage and a side of knowledge I carefully stand. I have to shake off the last of the chair before I can fully free myself of its awful grip and make my way to the window on the side of the room. It looks into the first garage unit where my borrowed car sits jacked up and tireless.

            Two guys around my age are working around the car with smiles and jabs as they flit from one task to the next. They don’t look as heavy-hearted or somber as the rest of the employees here which stands out and might prove useful.

            Squinting past them I try and see around my car and the half wall divider they have separating the sections but no matter how much I strain I can’t make anything out besides Tara’s car.

            “Damn,” I mumble under my breath as I search the wall and the room for the tenth time. A door leading into the garage sits at the end of this wall and that’s about all this room has to offer, an escape.

            “Sir?” My too high heeled boots stick with every step while my tight ripped skinny jeans click with every step I take closer to the hulk.

            “Hm?” Surprisingly enough his head stays in the magazine making it plainly obvious that I’m an annoyance and nothing more.

            “Is there a bathroom?” I don’t see one in here which honestly is a blessing I don’t want to end up trapping myself in a repulsive bathroom.

            “Nope.” Simple, to the point. Can’t get more straightforward than that. Definitely can get nicer but I guess you don’t need to be nice when your paycheck comes from drug lords and traffickers.

            Groaning I cross my legs and look around. “This is embarrassing but I just got my period and I really need a bathroom.”

            And what do you know… that’s all a lady has to say to make a hulk look up from his magazine and point me in the direction of the garage door with simple directions to go out the back door and the bathroom is around the back.

            I throw a quick thanks over my shoulder before shuffling away. The metal door sticks to the door frame making me tug on it with more weight than I shoulda few times before the fourth time has the door swinging at me as I stumble back with the momentum.

            My ass hits the ground first with an instant throb before my hands make contact with every icky thing you could imagine. Chocking back a gag I push off the floor and make it through the door as fast as I can without any further injury.

            I want to keep my fingers spread apart and stiff but I fight my urge and pat my hair down instead. I hope the bright red wig didn’t shift. Running my fingers along with my hairline I feel pretty confident walking down the few stairs to the garage floor until I see the slack jaws on the guys working on Tara’s car.

            I don’t have to see myself to know my cheeks are bright red maybe the same shade as my wig. So much for not making a scene.

            I try to rub my hands down my jeans but give up as my skin starts sticking to the fabric opting to wave at the guys instead. “Hey, sorry. I just need the bathroom.”

            “Why do y’all always go and ruin everything by opening your mouth?” One of the kids says with a chuckle pointed at his friend.

            “Excuse me?” Straightening my shirt out I glare at them in a challenge. Maybe I was wrong and they’ve already hardened more than I thought.

            “See what I mean man?” He keeps talking as he walks around the car towards his friend as points his head in my direction. His friend Mr. Sleaze bag keeps his eyes all over me.

            All over.

            He drags his gaze from my feet to the tip of my hair sending me spiraling instantly. “D’Know, she still looks tasty to me.” This guy actually licks his lip and raises his chin like that’s all he has to do to have me swooning at his feet.

            As f*****g if.

            I see red. It happens so fast I don’t have time to contemplate the risk of my behavior but Brian’s voice rings in my ears.

            “What the f**k are you even good for?”

            “You’re a piece of trash just like your piece of s**t father.”

            “You really think your good at anything but standing there silent and obedient? My little lap dog.”

            I was degraded for too long and have been through too much to stand here and take the looks, the judgments, or the disgusting words of ignorant, cruel men.

            I crouch down quickly grabbing into my boot before standing tall. I won’t cower…never again.

            “I mean a snack is a snack right. Sometimes you gotta settle for what’s in front of you,” says the first one.

            “I’m a five-star Michelin dessert and you’re nothing more than a pair of roaches.” Each word brings me closer to the assholes, my gaze on fire and my whole body ready for a fight. “You know what they do to roaches?” I let it sit there a minute neither of them paying too much attention to my words, instead, all their attention is laser-focused on the rock of my chest in this tight leather top.

            Which makes it very easy to pull out the pepper spray hanging off the key chain that was tucked in the side of my boot. Shifting the safety to the side I raise my arm and aim at Mr. Sleazy first but quickly shoot to the first one before he can get away as I say “They get exterminated.”

            Both of them start shouting and whining, wiping at their eyes and calling the attention of whoever’s in the rest of the garage. I got them pretty good and it felt even better.

            I feel empowered. Strong.

            Smiling for the men that are shuffling over here to see what the rucks is I continue for the bathroom like I have every right to. Calling over my shoulder, “Hopefully when you wipe your tears away you’ll be able to see straight. Pepper spray won’t fix ignorant pigs but you pigs can finish my car and give me a discount. Now, like I said I need to use the bathroom.