Axel: Chapter 3

Making my way into the kitchen, I grab some bread, throw it in the toaster, pour a coffee, and nod at Ruger and Sting, who are leaning against a counter, looking as though they had a rough night.

Mia bustles in as she usually does in the morning. I’ve never known anyone so bright first thing. ‘Morning Hammer, everyone.’ She grins, as I’m sure she knows we’re only going to give her a grunt.

Picking up a bowl, Mia throws some cereal and milk in, then walks off with it, still grinning. That’s when I remember I need to speak to her.

‘Mia, hang on, babe, I need to talk to you if you can spare a few minutes.’ I rattle off quickly, pick up my toast, and don’t even bother to butter it before rushing to catch up.

Sitting at one of the dining tables, Mia looks up and carries on eating, so I sit and take a bite of my dry toast.

‘We’re gonna be working together in the sandwich shop. Do you have any ideas at all?’ I ask and notice she has a laptop and notepad with sticky notes stuck all over it.

‘I have a lot of ideas, Hammer. I think we need to see if Joan will let us take measurements of the rooms, so we can use it to do a plan.’

‘Good idea. I’ll see if we have one of the SUVs available. No way can you get on the back of my bike,’ I tell her, as I’m not getting on Axel’s wrong side. He’s maybe a laid-back guy, but fuck, he’s a nasty bastard when he wants or needs to be.

When we pull up in front of the sandwich shop, I see it needs some serious upgrading, but the basic structure is solid. Windows will need replacing, and it will need security cameras and alarms installed. The area is pleasant enough here, and since we shut down the gang that tried to start up in town, it’s a reasonably safe place.

On entering the shop, it’s clear that it was a nice place in its day, but it needs upgrading in style and customer base. For the old lady, it’s a nice little income to supplement her savings probably and give her company and something to stay busy.

Mia shouts, ‘Joan, you around? Can we bother you to look around again today, please?’

Joan walks into the shop area from a door to a back room. She takes one look at me, lifts her eyebrows, gives me a wicked grin, and astounds me when she says, ‘Well, aren’t you a tall drink of water. If only I were fifty years younger.’

Mia bursts out laughing, and for the first time in fucking years, I blush. I can feel it rising from my neck and into my face. I then laugh myself and respond, ‘Well, if you were fifty years younger, you could’ve had a seat on my bike.’ which has her and Mia giggling.

‘If it’s okay with you, Joan, can we take measurements so we can plan what we’d be able to do with the place?’ Mia asks Joan as they walk through to the back rooms.

I’m pretty impressed, and the kitchen is a size anyone would appreciate. We can really do something with this place, open the whole thing up, especially with two floors up and a basement.

Four hours later, we leave the shop and head out to a diner further into the town, as we’re both well ready to eat something.

Sitting in the diner, we eat a burger with fries, and I’m studying the sizes of the rooms, and I think we can make a larger shop with supporting beams that can be made into a feature of the new place.

‘What do you think about a specialized coffee house? Every coffee bean you can think of, grinders so we can sell it freshly ground and in brown paper bags with the coffee house logo on it. Seats where we can serve the coffee’s and panini of different varieties?’ Mia asks me, and her eyes are sparkling with excitement at the idea, and I have to admit her enthusiasm is catching.

‘I like the idea, and I think it would be great. People would probably come from the surrounding towns to it when they’re here shoppin’ too,’ I respond.

After we’ve eaten, we head back to the clubhouse and report to Axel before it will go back in front of the brothers in Church.

Entering the clubhouse, I hear Bubbles and Candy arguing over who will clean the kitchen—walking past I shake my head in disgust because fuck who would want to eat anything they make anyway, ass hanging out shorts and tits hardly covered, you don’t know where their hands or mouths have been.

Knocking on the office door, Axel shouts, ‘Enter,’ so that is precisely what we do and find him up to his neck in paperwork. His desk is covered in papers, and his laptop is open on one side.

‘You too busy, Pres? We can talk to you later,’ I state as I know what’s it like when you’re in the middle of something.

‘Can you give me an hour to finish this? Then I’m all yours.’ Axel states, giving us a weak smile, and holds his hand out for Mia to go to him.

Mia steps to him, puts her arms around his neck, standing behind him, and kisses his cheek. They are making some headway; I think to myself, small touches and smiles, spending time together. I know they are not in a full-on relationship sexually, but I’m sure they will get to it given time. Mia has to have that time to learn to trust us all, and the more relaxed she is getting, the more I know we will earn her trust.

MIA Axel is snowed under with work, so I make my way out of the office and take my laptop and notes back to my room. I place them on my dresser and walk into the bathroom. After freshening up, I sit on my bed and think how nice it is here because everyone seems to care about each other, a true brotherhood.

Looking in the mirror on my dresser, I cock my head to one side and see the woman I was in jail, the one I need to grow from, never will I let anyone step on me again, but it doesn’t mean I have to be a bitter person.

Picking up my purse, I head back downstairs and look around for Abbie. She is the only one I would associate with on any kind of level, the other women I would never bother speaking to unless forced.

Abbie is just walking into the kitchen, so I follow her through. ‘Abbie, can I ask you something?’

‘Of course you can,’ she responds, while turning to look at me. She is wearing jeans and a club tee, nothing like the other women here. It makes her stand apart, and I think that is a good thing for her.

‘I’m going to have my hair cut and need to know somewhere good. It’s time I had the color reverted to my own, and the length shortened, but I want a good stylist,’ I tell her, holding my braid, which reaches my hips even though it is over my shoulder.

‘Luscious Locks Salon is run by a woman who went to school with me, she’s pretty awesome, learned most of her trade from her mother if truth be told,’ Abbie tells me, ‘She is exceptional with colors and restyling, you can’t go wrong by talking to her Mia.’

‘Thanks, Abbie. Do you have the number so I can call and make an appointment?’

‘Sure do,’ and Abbie takes out her cellphone and gives me the number. ‘Here you go, babe, tell her I sent you, and she’ll give you a discount.’

I smile and thank her, then walk out to see if I can find a prospect to take me into town if this woman can fit me in.

Two hours later, I’m sitting in the salon listening to Tricia talking my ears off. She is giving me all the gossip about anyone she knows, a shame I do not know who they are, but hey, at least it’s not boring.

Joe, the prospect who drove me over, is standing outside the salon’s door as though he is on sentry duty. I cannot help but smirk at how the prospects try so hard to earn their full kutte.

‘Let’s wash this out, hun, then we can give you a cut. Any idea what you’d like?’ Tricia asks me while bustling me over the sink.

‘I want to keep it as long as the bottom of my shoulder blades, I may go shorter later, but for now, that is enough to cut off,’ I say, and I don’t think Tricia is happy as she has a squished-up look on her face, but no way do I want it short. Nothing fancy needed as I like it tied back most of the time.’

‘Okay, hun, if that’s what you want. The natural auburn color is back, and we can highlight that a bit?’ Tricia offers.

‘Hm, no, as it highlights itself once I’m in the sun,’ and I grin at that as she gives me a side-eyed look, but I know the smallest amount of sun and gold streaks appear without me paying for them.

I’m thrilled with my hair. I look more myself, like the person I was when I worked in the bank. I pay and thank Tricia, then head outside to ask Joe if we have enough time to stop at the small Victoria’s Secret store in town.

Piled high with bags, I purchased bra and pantie sets, pajamas, cami sets, leggings, joggers, and t-shirts. That is every penny of my savings gone, but I don’t care. This is me giving myself a new start.

Joe shakes his head at me as I’m grinning for all I’m worth. I use the scrunchy to tie back the top half of my hair and put the radio on. Taking a deep breath, I relax back into my seat.

Entering the clubhouse, I’m laden with shopping bags, and so is Joe. He looks a bit embarrassed at carrying lingerie bags, but hey, whatever, he should be relieved he’s having a bit of time away from the garage, although he is on call for the recovery side of the business.

Abbie rushes over and takes the bags from Joe and laughs at the grin on my face. ‘What you been doing, girl? Look at you grinning like a Cheshire cat.’

Laughing, I tell her that Tricia wanted to give me a short cut after getting rid of the black from my hair, and it disgusted her I wouldn’t let her.

‘Let it loose, Mia, let me see it now you’ve had it done,’ Abbie asks while grabbing the bags from my hands and sitting them next to the ones she had been holding.

I let it loose and run my fingers through it, then shake my head turn so Abbie can see the back, giving it once last shake as I hear her gasp.

‘Fucking hell Mia, it’s gorgeous. Your color is incredible, and I like the length better. It has some real natural wave going on,’ she says while walking around me to have a good look from all angles.

‘Thanks, Abbie, I like it. Now I’ve got to put this lot away that I spent all my savings on. I’ve got to find a job next.’ I tell her, picking up half the bags and heading to my room, with Abbie right behind me with the others, reaching my room, we throw all the bags on the bed and grin at each other.