CHAPTER 28

I can hear Devin get out of the truck and move over to Kori and Katy while I see Ben start to flank me on the right as he's watching the rest of Johnny's boys. I let Johnny weigh the options before he backs down and gets a more talkative look on his face.

"Alright man, I did wrong by your woman and you're right we've been friends before," Johnny says calming down," You didn't flush my shit or turn it in right?"

I smile and open my storage area on my bike removing the two bags of 'goods' before handing them off to Johnny who looks a little relieved that I still have his property. I let him hand off his goods to his people before pulling him aside to talk privately.

"So the two people I took their shit from what happens to them," I ask plainly.

"Well you lose your stuff you pay for it, cash or in some of the girls cases ass," Johnny tells me a little smugly," I gotta get mine back somehow."

"And I just returned it, I want their debts waived," I tell Johnny getting a surprised look," You want some sort of an agreement where I help you then here's the deal, your people get harassed while carrying they come to me and mine, I'll make sure the runners are protected within reason but if I have to take it and hide it with my people the runner is in the clear."

"Man that's a lot better for me but still you holding shit means it ain't selling and I need shit selling," Johnny tells me trying to play for more.

"Johnny this is the deal, either we keep your people safe when a real problem occurs or I just start shaking down every runner for cash and stash," I reply getting a grumpy look," You've got at least ten people running your goods at our school alone, even if I have two or three people covered you're still not losing goods or runners."

"Okay man, but are you sure you can't help me out with sales," Johnny asks, getting a glare before backing off the topic.

I walk back with Johnny and let him start talking down to his own people as I give my crew thumbs up and watch them relax. I explain what's happening to Kori and Katy who both give me 'what the hell' looks and I decide to explain.

"Johnny has been there for me and us in the past, either we make some friends and help out a little or I make more enemies for us at school and if you didn't notice not all of Johnny's people run weed for him," I explain getting a nod from both of them.

I make my way over to Mathilda who is feeling a little out of place not having been exposed to a punk community much with her old school. She perks up a little as she sees me approach.

"So what are you doing after all this awkwardness and conflict," I ask Matty smiling.

"Dad's home, he wants me back so he can spend some time with his daughter," Mathilda says, a little disappointed.

"Awesome, I get to meet your Dad and take you out tonight," I tell her, getting a shocked look.

"Dad won't let me go out, it's his first night back, and I don't think meeting my Dad would be a good idea," Matty tells me a little concerned.

"Baby I need to meet him sooner or later and besides, it's just you and me tonight," I tell her letting the incentive of some more one on one time linger.

I head back and let everyone know to head home and get the others dropped off at their homes before I get back on my bike and head towards home. I get in the driveway and immediately head inside to get cleaned up and get changed. I got a pair of dress pants with one of the 'summer' shirts that I got while I was down in Texas with Loretta and her family before grabbing my coat and waiting for Katy to get back with the family car.

"Where are you taking your date tonight," I get asked by Liz as I wait.

"I honestly have no clue, gonna let her pick what she wants to do," I reply shrugging.

I watch Liz give me a look like I'm making a bad move but I'd like to think that I know my girls a little better than my sister does. Katy finally gets home and she passes off the keys and a kiss on the cheek before I get behind the wheel and head off towards Mathilda's house. It's about six at night when I arrive and I can see her car is there along with a big rig sitting out in front of the house. I've seen Matty's father before but only at a distance, I get out of the car and head up to the front door. A quick knock on the door and I'm looking at a large man in a beat up t-shirt and dirty jeans holding a beer in his hand, I'm more noticing the expression on his face as he looks down slightly at me confused.

"We're not buying anything," I hear him say as he starts to close the door on me.

"Sir I'm here to pick up Mathilda for our date tonight," I tell him as he starts to close the door in my face.

"You're dating my daughter," I get asked with some skepticism," Is this some sort of joke, did the kids at her new school send you to play a joke on her because if you are here to hurt my daughter I swear to god I'll chain your ass to my rig and drive to New York dragging your carcass the whole way."

"Daddy! He's my boyfriend, I told you he would be coming by tonight so we could go out," I hear Mathilda exclaim to her father," Guy please come in, Daddy be nice."

Mathilda's father steps aside so I can get through the doorway and into the living room. I watched him move in and sit down in what I was told by Matty was 'his' recliner during one of the first times I visited. I take a seat on the couch and note he's watching basketball.

"So how long have you known my daughter," Matty's Dad asks, taking a swig of his beer.

"About a year now," I answered calmly.

"So if you've known her for a year, why am I just meeting you now," He asks while taking another drink.

"Probably because she was afraid that you would kill me when we first met," I replied smiling.

"Considering I'm pretty sure I have a damn good reason to kill you for dating my daughter, why shouldn't I," her Father asks, putting his beer down and leaning towards me.

"Well aside from the fact that I have four girlfriends and she is one of them I'd say normally you'd have a reason with that alone," I tell him getting a wide eyed look," but in one year I have never lied to her, she's met my other girlfriends who treat her like a sister and I never make her feel like she is anything less than

my Amazon goddess."

"You have sex with my daughter," He asks, getting quiet.

"Yes sir, but mostly I make love to her," I say making the distinction.

I get a skeptical look before he resumes watching TV and drinking his beer. We talk a little about the game and after a few minutes Mathilda comes out wearing a yellow blouse and a black long skirt. I pause to take in my tough girlfriend in a skirt and watch her face get a little confused.

"You don't like it," Matty asks, confused.

"Baby you look wonderful, I want to take a picture so I can show the other girls," I tell her by getting out my phone.

"Don't do that, Kori is the one who helped me pick this," Matty says a little disappointed," I'm a little lost when it comes to clothes."